THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ^*r^ f >- 
 
 \ 50
 
 PERSONAL 
 
 SKETCHES AND RECOLLECTIONS 
 
 IN A SERIES OF 
 
 FAMILIAR LETTERS TO A FRIEND. 
 
 AND 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS. ELOISE MILES ABBOTT. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY ABEL TOMPKINS, 
 
 38 & 40 Cornhill. 
 1861.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by 
 
 ELOISE MILES ABBOTT, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 
 
 Printed by 
 
 BAZIN & CHANDLER, 
 
 37 Corahill.
 
 ioot> 
 
 '(61} 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 In presenting this unpretending volume to that great and 
 discerning family, the public, the author does not come to 
 them beneatn the covert of an apology, or with an excuse 
 for intruding on their notice a book, for she has not a doubt 
 but it will be appreciated by her personal friends and rela 
 tives, beyond its real merits ; and to others, it does not pre 
 tend to possess any great value or interest, or be any consid 
 erable accession to the literary world. Those friends who 
 have flatteringly encouraged me to embody, in book form, 
 some of my newspaper articles, and essays of former years, 
 have my most hearty thanks. The incidents are such as 
 might be expected to occur in the everyday life of one who 
 engages in business which necessitates an exchange of thought 
 and opinion with the multitude. 
 
 There is, therefore, nothing remarkable or startling claimed 
 for them. Hoping that these pages may not be wholly useless, 
 or uninteresting to my numerous acquaintances, and others 
 who may chance to read them, I humbly submit them to their
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 kind indulgence, knowing they will not abide the test of se 
 vere criticism. 
 
 If there are any good and noble principles inculcated here, 
 they will survive when she who penned them, will be beyond 
 the reach of praise or censure. 
 
 ELOISE M. ABBOTT. 
 Hopkinton, St. Lawrence Co., N. T., Feb. 18G1.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To Miss FIDELIA HADLEY, Milwaukie, Wis. 
 
 MY DEAR FIDELIA : Many thanks for your last letter, 
 which came to me with a hearty welcome, as all previous 
 ones have, indited by the same kind heart. Your continued 
 assurances of a deep and abiding interest in my personal 
 recollections are truly flattering, and bear the pleasing im 
 press of genuine regard. To affect an indifference to the in 
 terest our friends manifest in our feeble efforts would betray a 
 vanity of greater magnitude than to admit the fact, that an 
 occasional smile of approval from loved ones smooth the 
 rough edge of adversity, and sweetens all the toils of life. 
 The memory of such friends is everlastingly enshrined with 
 the heart's most endearing remembrances. But for you to 
 imagine that others would read, with any considerable de 
 gree of interest, what your friend and ' ' most obedient ser 
 vant" has written for your eye alone, is to me but another 
 proof that you are blind to the faults of my indifferent com 
 position. 
 
 Hence, your request to have my letters and essays pub 
 lished in book form, came to me with a surprise which, I 
 1*
 
 VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 have already acknowledged, was a pleasant one ; and you 
 will need no other assurance of the truth of it, when I tell 
 you that I have concluded to comply with your request 
 
 Being a distant relative, perhaps, accounts somewhat for 
 your interest in the story of my family history ; and presum 
 ing on your good nature, as formerly, for a veil of charity to 
 be thrown over what will be written hereafter, I wait for time 
 to determine whether it would have been better for all con 
 cerned, had my rehearsals met with a rebuff at your hands. 
 
 The authors of books generally see the necessity of just 
 such a book as theirs, " to fill a vacancy long felt in the pub 
 lic mind," and their solicitude is more in behalf of the dear 
 public, whose servant they have reluctantly consented to be 
 come, than in their own. 
 
 In one respect, my book is like nearly every other one 
 published in these self-sacrificing times ; the object of it is, 
 to fill a "vacancy," but that vacancy is in my own purse, 
 and not in the public mind, for that would probably never 
 have suffered a great loss had it not appeared before them. 
 If any books are especially needed by the public in these 
 days, when a " mob of books," as some one has expressed it 
 before me, is being driven by steam from the doors of our 
 presses, Autobiographies of living persons are not of that 
 class, certainly of none but those who have attained a celeb 
 rity. 
 
 " What is writ is writ," and if the reader should be led to 
 mistrust by it, that the dollar he has paid me has had more 
 bearing on my motives for writing for his benefit, than feel 
 ings for him, perhaps he has good reason for it. 
 
 I have been somewhat amused by reading recently, a criti 
 cism on a book written by a woman in London, entitled,
 
 INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 " Fruits of Character. Being Twenty-five years Literary 
 and Personal Recollections. By a Contemporary. London : 
 Hurst & Baackett. 1860." The criticism appeared in the 
 " British Saturday Review," of Oct. 13, under the head of 
 " Reviews," in the Editorial department. The article is a 
 lengthy one, and every line cuts like a razor. I have 
 only space for a few extracts, which I give below, that you 
 may see the fate some books meet with from the lions of the 
 press. After all, there is a kind of exultant pleasure to us 
 pigmies, on this side of the water, in the fact that there are 
 silly women so called in the great metropolis of Great Brit 
 ain. It would frighten me into a, resolve never to put pen 
 to paper again, to have my meagre laurels withered and torn 
 with a single blast of such a mighty trumpet. 
 
 " The authoress of this work is evidently a well-meaning 
 woman in her way, but she has written a detestably bad book. 
 That she is a well-meaning woman, and has written a bad 
 book, is not much against her, for three well-meaning women 
 out of four write books, and nine out of ten books written by 
 well-meaning women are bad. ****** g ne has evidently 
 had a strong desire for many years to know something, how 
 ever little, of persons eminent for different degrees of good 
 ness and merit. She has picked up a kind of intimacy, or 
 managed to bring herself in contact, with persons whose ac 
 quaintance might fairly be an object of ambition to generous 
 and enthusiastic minds. But she has used her acquaintance 
 with them for the worst of all possible purposes. Eminence 
 has no worse penalty attached to it in these days, than that 
 well-meaning women should hook themselves on to its skirts, 
 and then bring all the little gossip they can collect about it in 
 to the light of day. It is a terrible curse on excellence that 
 it should attract to it persons who like to have the excitement
 
 Vlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of coming in contact with notoriety, and who take advantage of 
 the openness with which their advances are received, to sell 
 their reminiscences, and to distribute their petty measure of 
 praise or blame on characters equally above both. These har 
 pies of private life are always hateful ; but sometimes a book 
 is written in which one of the tribe accumulates all the faults 
 peculiar to the class. The worst qualities which a collection of 
 " Literary and Personal Recollections " can have, are, that it 
 should be empty, fulsome, malevolent, and egotistical ; and 
 these are the precise characteristics that mark these volumes. 
 
 " The emptiness of these " Recollections " rises to the level 
 of audacity. There is honor among thieves, and there are 
 recognized limits even of book-making. But the book-making 
 in these volumes is beyond all bounds. Of at least two-thirds 
 of the persons of whose character she pretends to give traits, 
 the authoress has simply nothing to say. She met them in so 
 ciety on one or more occasions, but that was all. Irrelevant 
 remarks, depreciatory of others, and laudatory of herself, car 
 ry her through many difficulties, but sometimes she goes fur 
 ther a-field. She takes the name of a man she has met, and 
 after one or two desultory observations on his personal appear 
 ance, she wanders into descriptions of anything she has ever 
 done or seen, that she may happen to recollect, and which she 
 can pretend to connect by the faintest tie with the person of 
 whom she is speaking." 
 
 " Sometimes the authoress praises freely and lengthily, and 
 it is then that her fulsomeness is displayed. The two of her 
 contemporaries, whom she chiefly idolizes, are Mr. Bellew and 
 Mr. Spurgeon. ******** As to Mr. Spurgeon, the au 
 thoress has confidence equally valuable to pour out. This 
 popular preacher is ' unquestionably a short man,' and it is 
 < somewhat singular ' that ' all our popular preachers are short, 
 except Dr. Gumming and Mr. Bellew.' She then, after an ac 
 count of Mr. Spurgeon's career, informs us that his moral 
 character is of unimpeachable purity, that he is happily mar-
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 ried, and that he has two very fine children twin-boys one 
 the miniature resemblance of himself, the other of his wife. 
 We further learn, that these children were born when Mr. Spur- 
 geon was away from home ; and that ordinarily, when he comes 
 home after his day's work, he ' becomes almost exuberant in 
 his gaiety,' rushes up to his wife with ' Come, Susy, give me a 
 kiss ' and tosses the twin babes, one by one, in the air.' There 
 is plenty more in the same style ; and it is a style which, for 
 anything we know, may be acceptable to popular preachers ; 
 but what could be more intolerable to any person of decent 
 taste, than that a woman should go and tell all the world in 
 print, what he does when he comes home to the society of his 
 wife and children ? This offensive pandering to a vulgar curi 
 osity is one of the most flagrant wrongs which can be commit 
 ted on its victims. A lady is asked to a house where a public 
 man lives in private, and she is noting down every action, and 
 every trifling word he does and says, in order to sell her notes 
 to the crowd. Such persons ought to be branded by society, 
 and rigidly excluded from every house where all self-respect is 
 not utterly lost. A guest has no more right to go and print 
 statements about the way her host kisses his wife, than she has 
 to make off with a silver spoon from the dining-table. In both 
 cases she commits a breach of confidence in order to get 
 money. ***** Lastly, the book is one mass of egot 
 ism. The authoress is always giving us to understand how de 
 lightful she is, and how delighted every one is to see her, &c."
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Place of nativity ; Death of a sister ; . The old home 19 
 
 LETTER II. 
 My parents ; Sketch of the life of Jonathan E. Miles 23 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 School-days; Our foremothers; Mrs. Sanford's letter; Pioneer 
 life in Jeflerson County; My father's library; Periodicals; 
 Parley's Magazine ; Death of Peter Parley 29 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 My father's general character ; Love of books ; of order ; His 
 farm ; His garden ; Love of flowers ; Religious feelings ; 
 View of death; Marriages; My mother's maiden name; 
 Their burial place; Death of my second sister; Extract from 
 Dr. Franklin's letter to his neice; Eccentricities; Joking 
 propensity; Extracts from his letters, illustrative of it; 
 Extracts from letters of travel; Obituary notice by Rev. 
 E. W.Reynolds 37 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 My mother; The Sheldon family; Rev. Henry Olcott Sheldon; 
 Silas Wright; Life on the farm 50 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 Childhood and youth; Remembrance of associates; Schools; 
 School-books; Miss Henderson; Ignorance of teachers of 
 physical laws; Reform in these respects; Organic laws 55
 
 Xll TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 Schools and school days ; Tyranny of school masters ; a descrip 
 tion of one ; My writing book ; Natural happy life of chil 
 dren; Playing by the way; The general current of my life; 
 The death of au infant; funeral 60 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 A great event; Marriage of my eldest sister; Her present place 
 cf residence; Accident; The charms of nature; New teacher 
 for three summers; An advanced maiden lady; Four o'clock 
 school; Her prayer; Not according to St. Paul's directions. 65 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Youthful follies; A foolish exhibition: Rebuke; Fable of the 
 lost axe 70 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 Character of the inhabitants in my native town ; The school dis 
 trict ; The school house ; Sandy Creek ; Scenery in its vicin 
 ity; Captain Richardson's orchard; Mr. Mantle's tan- 
 yard; Gliding and hand-sleds; Peculiar charms of Winter; 
 Play-grounds ; Our little seminary of learning destroyed by 
 fire ; Number of families and teachers in that time-honored 
 district; Temperance principles; Gambling; Amusements; 
 Dancing; School exhibitions; Industrious habits: Music; 
 Change of the world in that respect 74 
 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 Sent away from home to an Academy ; Studies multiply beyond 
 my capacity; Compositions; My first one; A description of 
 Burville ; Labor of getting lessons ; Inefficiency of teacher ; 
 Anecdote of a clergyman 81 
 
 LETTER XH. 
 
 Hugh Miller; His schools and school-masters ; My last school 
 teacher; The last term; Certificates of recommendation; 
 School-mates separate, never to meet again on earth ; Brook- 
 side Cemetery " 87 
 
 LETTER Xin. 
 
 Teaching school ; Boarding around; Examinations by the school 
 ^committee; Home once in two weeks; My mother's cook 
 ing; Connecticut habits; Saturday night; A series of meet 
 ings ; Ignorant ministers ; Dangerous heresy ; Persecution ; 
 Mr. French ; His style of preaching 91
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. *iii 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 A Winter spent in Watertown; Cotillon parties; Black Band; 
 Frivolous amusements; More enjoyment at church; Sewing 
 society ; A day spent solicitating funds to start with ; Con 
 versation with my companion on our return ; Correspon 
 dence embracing a period of twenty years 97 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 How our sewing society prospered, and what it has accomplished ; 
 Church burned and a new one erected on its site; Family 
 school at Mr. Woodruff's; Extract from a letter from my 
 brother; The Woodruff house; Riches and poverty; Hap 
 py families ; Reminiscence of a poor widow ; Faith in the 
 promises of God; The most enduring riches lil 
 
 LETTER XVI. 
 
 Extracts from my diary ; Reflections on the new year ; Woman's 
 rights ; The fable of the monkey ; Theological Seminary at 
 Andover; Men engaged in the woman's rights movement; 
 Henry Ward Beecher and others ; The employment of tak 
 ing care of children; Another view of the subject; Not a 
 fancy picture ; Ignorance of financial affairs and mechanical 
 trades ; what women have done in the face of these discour 
 aging circumstances; Their meager compensation; Idleness 
 and ignorance of a part of the feminine race, and slavery 
 of the balance ; The gospel sent to the heathen , when there 
 is so much barbarism at home ; The scandal that has been 
 heaped upon those who open their mouths in defence of the 
 truth; St. Paul's advice; Drunkards' wives; Widows and 
 others separated from their husbands not the legal guar 
 dians of their own children ; A man can will his children 
 away from their mother: A case in point in Pennsylvania; 
 Voluntary slavery ; The sister of Kossuth ; Tyrannical laws 
 with regard to women ; Laws in Germany ; Extract from 
 Miss Sedgwick's letters; The war with Great Britain, of 
 1776 ; Its cause ; Justice Pratt ; Inconsistency of the present 
 system of taxation ; Case of theft ; Improvement with respect 
 to the position of women in society; Legislation of the 
 different States in her behalf; Extract from a statute law of 
 the State of Ohio ; A change from such heathenish laws ; 
 Grateful for small favors ; The State of Vermont with re 
 gard to childless widows' property ; New York State Legis 
 lature; Their drunken frolic at Blackwell's Island; An 
 extract from Miss Catharine Beecher's "true remedy for 
 the wrongs of women ' ' ; Reasons why women ought to vote ; 
 All employments ought to be open for women and men in 
 discriminately ; Miss Helena Maria Weber 118 
 
 2
 
 XIV TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER XVII. 
 
 A few more "last words" on woman's rights; Dr. Franklin's 
 discussion; First advocate of woman's rights; Woman's 
 Education ; The fable of the cat and the bat ; Extracts from 
 my diary: Pedagogues; Extract from Johnson; Anecdote 
 of Dr. Johnson; A ball at Massey's hotel in honor of Jack 
 son's victory at New Orleans; Valentine's day; Vacation 
 in which I visit Ogdensburgh, Canton and Potsdam ; Dutch 
 party; Washington Irving's description of one; Dr. John 
 son's opinion of courtship; Lecture on the social destiny of 
 man; Fourierism; Elocution; Birth-day; School in Pa- 
 inelia 137 
 
 LETTER 
 
 Village School: My patrons; Boarding around; Conflicting 
 advice; General remarks with regard to teaching 1 ; Nature 
 of children not naturally depraved ; One case of perverse- 
 ness; Speech to scholars; Perplexities of the business of 
 teaching 146 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 School in Champion; Copy of my call to go there; Extracts 
 from my diary; City of the dead; Deer River Falls, Copen 
 hagen, Lewis County; Rev. Mr. Dutton's family of silk 
 worms; Habits of this insect; Study of the French language; 
 Marriage of Mr. M. ; Poor preaching; Nature's book 
 always open; Dedication; Mt. Auburn Cemetery ; Hannah 
 Adams' Slonument; Clouds in the west at sunset; Thanks 
 giving sermon and supper; Fire alarm; Baptist and Catho 
 lic churches ; Death of President Harrison ; A tea-party 
 and visit to Watertown jail; Temperance meeting; One of 
 my scholars drowned in Black River; Fourth of July cele 
 bration; Temperance lecture; Leave Esq. S.'s; Slavery; 
 Anecdote of Brainard, the poet; Point Salubrious ; Cherry 
 Island; A few weeks at home; The last 151 
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 Marriage; Description of Dexter; School-teaching again and 
 boarders ; Dexter and Sackett's Harbor 170 
 
 LETTER XXI. 
 
 Western New York; Wyoming County; Portageville Falls, 
 Buffalo; Tonawanda and Cay uga creeks; Fruit and grazing; 
 Cowlesville; Rev. J. S. Flagler; Dr. Stoddard; Rev. N. 
 Stacy ; Rev. C. G. Persons; Correspondence 175
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV 
 
 LETTER XXL. 
 
 History of a family; Modera Spiritualism; Correspondence; 
 General reflections on Spiritualism ; Extract from Edmond 
 H. Sears' ' ' Foregleams of im mortality. " 181 
 
 LETTER XXIII. 
 
 Genesee County; Its fruit; Orange County butter; General ap 
 pearance of this State from Rouse's Point to DunkirK; 
 Every-body's own country the uest, Skaneateles; Coopers- 
 town ; Rochester ; Mount Hope Cemetery; Mount Hope Nur 
 sery 193 
 
 LETTER XXIV. 
 
 Boston, Erie Co.; Our children; Aland flowing with milk and 
 honey ; Yankee anecdote of dairying ; Western New York 
 as it is and as it was, in an extract from Turner's Pioneeer 
 history ; The inhabitants of 860 contrasted with those of 
 1800; Ignorance of the poo, er class in the cities, with re 
 gard to the superior advantages of the country; Extracts 
 from Miss Sedgwick's lettei-s 198 
 
 LETTER XXV. 
 
 Parting with friends ; Farm life in Watertown; Good farming; 
 Castles in the air; Bookselling; Parents obligation to chil 
 dren 206 
 
 LETTER XXVI. 
 
 Commence travelling and selling books ; First field in Parish- 
 ville; Incidents in the trade ; Jefferson County, Parishville, 
 and Watertown; Printing offices turned into cigar factories 211 
 
 LETTER XXVII. 
 
 Progress in my business ; Too much labor for strength ; All my 
 labor in a small compass; Absurdity of the idea of the book 
 trade ever being exhausted ; Importance of parents keeping 
 suitable books on hand for children 217 
 
 LETTER XXVni. 
 
 Gratitude for favors; Kind treatment and liberal patronage: 
 Forbearance of creditors ; Means of success in selling val 
 uable books; American portrait gallery; Livingston's 
 Travels ; Extracts from other books ; Recollections of a life 
 time, byS. G. Goodrich; Horace Greeley's opinion of bio 
 graphies 222
 
 XVI TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 LETTER XXIX. 
 
 Journey to Malone, Hopkinton, Nicholsville and Bangor; 
 
 Franklin county fair; Sketch of the life of Sam Houston. 229 
 
 LFTTER XXX. 
 
 Journey to Westville ; The place and its inhabitants ; Death of 
 Mrs. Oberia Mann 236 
 
 LETTER XXXI. 
 
 Franklin County; Rivers, roads, and farming; Lack of fruit; 
 Villages; Moira; The northern part; Westville; Fort Covin- 
 ton and Bombay; Indian reservation; Hogansburghi St. 
 Regis Village; Allen Lincoln; Salmon River; Bangor; An 
 Incident; Clinton County, &c 239 
 
 LETTER XXXII. 
 
 Correspondence of the Miles family; Letter first, Mrs. Richard- 
 eon; Second, Mrs. Lamon; Third, Mrs. Waggoner; Fourth, 
 B. Miles; Fifth, J. Miles; Sixth, P. Miles; Seventh, Mrs. 
 Blount; Eighth, B. S. Miles; Ninth, Wm. Pitt Miles; 
 Tenth, 0. E. Miles; Eleventh, Mrs. Lord 247 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 Tfce Death Penalty, 283 
 
 Spiritual Experiences 291 
 
 Essay on Temperance and Tobacco, 297 
 
 Friendship, 314 
 
 Ingratitude, 316 
 
 Solitude, 319 
 
 Charity to the Poor, 322 
 
 Letter to Geo. V. Hoyle, Esq., Superintendent of Northern N. 
 
 T. Railroad, 325 
 
 Dr. Thomas Dick's Letter 337 
 
 Church Organization, 345 
 
 Christianity, 348 
 
 The Beauties of Nature, 352 
 
 Nature's Book 358
 
 SKETCHES AND RECOLLECTIONS.
 
 SKETCHES AND RECOLLECTIONS, 
 
 LETTEK I. 
 
 Place of Nativity Death of a Sister The Old Home. 
 
 MY DEAR F: 
 
 As the particular Geography and locality of a 
 place where the scene of the narrative is laid, are 
 considered by most people as essential to its interest*, 
 I will briefly describe to you the place of my na 
 tivity. In the State of New York, Jefferson County, 
 there are two ranges of hills, which pass obliquely 
 through the three towns, Rodman, Rutland, and 
 Watertown. In the southern portion of the last 
 named town, between these two ranges of hills, is the 
 beautiful valley of Sandy Creek. On a slight eleva 
 tion, near where this stream winds its way to Lake 
 Ontario, still stands the antiquated house which my 
 father built about fifty years ago on a farm of but little 
 over one hundred acres, purchased by him in 1801.
 
 20 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Here he lived and reared a family of twelve chil 
 dren, who all arrived at mature age. Your humble 
 correspondent, dear F., was the seventh in this 
 family catalogue, born March 29th, 1821. The 
 brown, time-worn dwelling, now stands in nestling 
 loneliness among moss-garlanded trees and flowering 
 shrubs, a heart-stirring memorial of decay, deser 
 tion, and death, a death so recent, that the fresh 
 ness and beauty of life still lingers within the walls, 
 in the thousand little mementos of handiwork, affec 
 tion suggested, for the comfort of those around her ; 
 in her favorite volumes of books, so often read for 
 herself and others ; in her flower garden, where 
 violets, tulips, asters, and a nameless variety of roses 
 have been planted with her own hands ; in her 
 favorite walks and haunts on "Poplar Hill," the 
 name she gave the farm ; and above all, in the nur 
 sery with her three motherless children, one, a smil 
 ing little infant, all unconscious of its sad bereave 
 ment. The beloved and favorite sister, of whom I 
 write, two years younger than myself, died sudden 
 ly, June 1st, 1860. Her husband, Asher Blount, 
 Esq., owns and occupies the old homestead. His 
 good taste and industry are in constant requisition, 
 planning and putting in execution improvements on 
 the premises. To a stranger's eye, there may not 
 be anything remarkable in the beauty of the land 
 scape, in that particular locality, but to me, no place
 
 AXD RECOLLECTIONS. 21 
 
 I have ever been in, is half so beautiful. The view 
 to the northeast, is lengthways of the valley, and 
 up the creek. Here, nature, always charming, must 
 have been in one of her happiest moods, when, with 
 consummate skill, she molded those exquisitely 
 formed slopes, on either side of the valley, and 
 dressed them with the gayest hues a blending of 
 all beauties. The woodman's axe has been too busy 
 marring the wild shrubbery that formerly skirted 
 the banks of the creek, and now the whole surface 
 of the ground, even to the summits of the elevations, 
 is laid out in meadows, fields of grain, and orchards, 
 interspersed with sweet pastures, where flocks and 
 herds graze. An occasional drooping elm, the most 
 beautiful tree in this country, still stands in stately 
 grandeur on the lowlands. Fair dwellings, built in 
 the modern style of architecture, half hidden with 
 foliage, spot the landscape here and there, giving 
 the whole a picturesque beauty, inspiring to the 
 poetical imagination. To the west, the magnificent 
 old hills lift their haughty heads, bounding the 
 horizon with their dark outlines. 
 
 " Far, to the east and south there lay, 
 Extended in succession gay, 
 Deep waving fields and pastures green 
 With gentle slopes and groves between." 
 
 You will, perhaps, smile, dear F., at my attach 
 ment to this little nook of earth where I first awoke
 
 22 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 to consciousness, but the magic charm that there is 
 in the word " home," embracing all that is beautiful 
 and lovely, accounts for it. What is it not worth, 
 with the rest and comfort it suggests to the mariner 
 on life's tempest-tossed ocean ? What nation that 
 does not think their own country, however bleak 
 and desolate, the best land in the world ? Even the 
 Icelanders have a proverb to the effect that theirs is 
 the best country the sun shines upon. The Lap 
 lander, fettered to his snowy deserts, has the same 
 feeling. " My heart's in the highlands," the Scotch 
 shepherd sang, and my heart ardently echos the sen 
 timents of his song : 
 
 " Here let no cold, unfeeling stranger come, 
 Where once in youth we careless roved; 
 We fain would rest once more in that " old home," 
 And gaze on scenes we dearly loved."
 
 LETTER n. 
 
 My Parents Sketch of the Life of Jonathan E. Miles. 
 
 MY DEAR F: 
 
 " Long, long ago," full fifty years since, my 
 parents commenced life together, in the place I have 
 attempted to describe to you, with small means, or 
 rather, with no means at all, but health and willing 
 hands, and these are better than all the gold in Cali 
 fornia, without them. Nearly forty years they lived 
 and labored together, died beneath the same roof, 
 and now repose side by side in the beautilful grounds 
 of " Brookside Cemetery." A short sketch of the 
 life and labors of the early settlers of Jefferson 
 County, has recently been furnished the columns of 
 the N. Y. Reformer, a temperance paper, published 
 in Watertown. The sketches are furnished by Solon 
 Massey, Esq. From this paper I quote the sketch 
 of my father's life, which will give you a far better 
 idea of the state of the country at that period than 
 anything I can furnish. 
 
 MESSRS. EDITORS : I had not intended writing 
 the history of any man who is now living, however, 
 much material may have accumulated on my hands,
 
 24 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 and, however much the facts and incidents connected 
 with his history may have interested my own mind. 
 
 Yet, notwithstanding, I natter myself, I wish 
 nothing in looking for absolution at the hands of the 
 living subject whom I have chosen for this sketch, 
 as well as from your readers, if I depart from my 
 rule in a single instance, for the purpose of showing 
 what kind of young men they were, who shouldered 
 their knapsacks in New England, and pushed their 
 fortunes in these frontier settlements, in the first 
 year of the present century. 
 
 I am the more willing to undertake this life pic 
 ture, because the dates and figures were furnished 
 by himself, in answer to my call published in a 
 recent number of your paper. In fact, a large pro 
 portion of the " warp and woof" of the article is 
 his sentiment and language, fitted to read in the 
 third person, instead of the first, so as to be made 
 to correspond with the series which I am preparing 
 to write. 
 
 r Mr. Jonathan E. Miles, the subject of this sketch, 
 was born among the spruce woods of New Hamp 
 shire, in June, 1782. His parents had a numerous 
 family, and like most of the people of the eastern 
 States, they were under the necessity of practising 
 the most rigid economy, and of requiring every 
 member of the family to contribute to the general 
 stock by habits of industry. 
 
 At the age of eighteen, he obtained the consent 
 of his parents to strike out in the world on his own 
 account, and seek for himself such a fortune as might 
 result from unaided efforts with a kind expecta 
 tion, however, that he would not venture much 
 beyond the atmosphere of his native mountains, if, 
 indeed, he lost sight of the smoke of the old familiar 
 chimney. But, having in possession some ten dol-
 
 AND EECOLLECTIONS. " 25 
 
 lars in cash, the avails of a " clearing out sale " of 
 muskrat and mink skins 4 which were the result of 
 his skill in trapping for those animals he formed 
 the resolution, as expressed by language at the time, 
 of " seeing how large the world was," or at least of 
 ascertaining " where the sun went down." With 
 something of this kind in view he set his face to the 
 west, and went steadily and courageously on, day 
 by day, crossing the " Granite State " to the Con 
 necticut River, below Dartmouth College, and then, 
 nothing daunted, right across the " Green Mountain 
 State," and down its western slope to " York State," 
 and so on by the way of Albany and Schenectady, 
 up the Mohawk river to White stown. 
 
 Not finding the "jumping off place," yet, neither 
 the place " where the sun went down," thougjh 
 nearly out of money, he made arrangements to 
 work the balance of the season at wages, with a 
 view of replenishing his purse for another tramp 
 westward. 
 
 But, about this time nearly the whole of the 
 eleven original townships comprising the Black 
 River tract south of that river, were opened and 
 offered for sale, and emigrants were flocking in and 
 making purchases. The accounts given of the 
 beauty of the country were such as to interest a 
 mind like young Miles', and he forthwith sought 
 and obtained the approbation of his employer, in 
 the resolution he had formed, to push his way at 
 once again towards the " setting sun." 
 
 By the advice of this kind employer, he now set 
 himself about an equipment, in the shape of apple- 
 seeds, for a large apple nursery, as soon as he could 
 find the beau ideal of his ambitious day dreams. 
 Leaving Whitestown, with his knapsack on his back 
 containing apple-seeds, and a fair supply of pro- 
 3
 
 26 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 visions, together with a somewhat scanty wardrobe, 
 and with a gun on his shoulder, he put his face to 
 wards the " setting sun " again, and proceeded to 
 Fort Stenwix, (Koine). Soon after leaving Rome, 
 he entered a dense and tangled forest, and following 
 a rough road which led to Turin, on the Black River, 
 where there were a few settlers, he passed on 
 through Martinsburg, which was entirely unin 
 habited, toLowville, which was called the "eleventh 
 town," where there were a good many families. 
 On the eighth, ninth, and tenth townships, not a 
 human face or habitation was to be seen. He saw 
 but one family in the fifth township, (Denmark), 
 two families, Hubbard's and Harris's, on the fourth 
 (Champion) ; two, Keyes' and Millers' on the third, 
 (Jutland), near the pond. From here the road 
 was so indistinct and difficult to follow to the resi 
 dence of Johnson and Andrew Howk, in the present 
 Col. Hungerford neighborhood, that he lost his way 
 and did not find their clearings, which, so far as he 
 had any purpose, was to have been the end of his 
 journeyings, for the present. 
 
 Passing on, he went to Dry Hill, and not finding 
 inhabitants or any clue to the Howks', he began to 
 feel in a hurry, and urge " shank's mare " into her 
 fastest gait, lest, peradventure, his camp might have 
 to be made in the woods, with no " accommoda 
 tions for man or beast." For his dinner, he shot a 
 partridge, and striking a fire, he dressed and cooked 
 it, after which he renewed his search, and finally, 
 along towards night, discovered a smoke ahead, 
 which proved to issue from the shanty of Eliphalet 
 Edmonds, on Sandy Creek, in the town of Adams, 
 which he was occupying with a little daughter, 
 long enough to clear four acres of land and sow it 
 to wheat. They were just ready to return to their
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 27 
 
 eastern home, having expended their provisions 
 except a salmon or two, caught in Sandy Creek, 
 and a little unleavened bread. They gave him par 
 ticular directions how to make bread of the kind, 
 which is here transcribed for the benefit of others, 
 who may, at any time be similarly situated, viz : 
 " Take of wheat flour, and ' Adam's ale,' in due 
 proportion, and bake on a chip before the fire ! " 
 
 Leaving these hospitable quarters next morning, 
 he retraced his steps, and found the clearings of 
 the Messrs. Howk, without much difficulty. Mr. 
 J. Howk furnished land and assisted in sowing the 
 apple seeds, and he soon began to feel like having 
 an investment on his' own account, which might 
 prove the germ of a fortune in the* future. He 
 was not disappointed in his hopes, for the trees 
 grew apace, and in due time were sought for, far 
 and near, by those who would " take time by the 
 forelock," in cultivating fruit for their new homes. 
 Mr. Hart Massey purchased sixty trees from that 
 nursery, and planted them opposite the site of the 
 First Presbyterian church in this village, on the lots 
 which are now occupied by R. E. Hungerford, D. 
 D. Otis, Joseph Mullin, and Howell Cooper. 
 
 Mr. Miles purchased the farm he has lived on so 
 long, in 1801. That was fifty-seven years ago. We 
 have seen how much of a wilderness this entire 
 country was at the date of our journeyings. That 
 wilderness has all disappeared with the inhabitants 
 whose energies were taxed to the utmost in chang 
 ing it into the beautiful farms which now greet the 
 eye ; and we can hardly realize how there could 
 have been a time within the memory of Mr. Miles, 
 when a residence in the Col. Hungerford neighbor 
 hood could not be hunted out, by a description 
 given by such a man as Judge Keyes, to a keen,
 
 28 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 hawk-eyed lad, like the hero of our story. John 
 son Howk's land was the farm now owned and 
 occupied by Truman Hungerford, near Burville. 
 At that time there were only six families in this 
 town, viz ; Henry Caffen, Zachariah Butterfield, 
 Aaron Bacon, (whose son-in-law was the first male 
 child born in the town), Johnson and Andrew 
 Howk, and Dea. Oliver Bartholomew. 
 
 In looking over the town at this date, (August, 
 1858), it is believed that beside himself, there re 
 mains of the population of 1800, but two persons 
 now living, viz : Benjamin Woodruff, and Mrs. 
 John Wilcox unless it may be that Asaph Mat 
 thew's son was then here. Mrs. Wilcox was the 
 eldest daughter of the aforesaid Johnson Howk, 
 and Mr. Woodruff is the genial old gentleman who 
 has survived almost his entire generation, but who 
 still enjoys life on the premises where he has acted 
 his part for more than fifty-seven years, on one of 
 the slopes surrounding what is known as the 
 " Gotham Valley," in Watertown. A link in the 
 chain.
 
 LETTER in. 
 
 School days Our Foremothers Mrs. Sanford's Letter Pioneer 
 Life in JeSerson County My father's Library Periodicals 
 Parley's Magazine Death of Peter Parley. 
 
 MY DEAR F: 
 
 Few parents have labored more assiduously for the 
 moral and intellectual improvement of their child 
 ren than ours did. No pains were spared to give 
 us all a good common school education, and after 
 we arrived at suitable age, were all sent away from 
 home to some academy or high school. Of the 
 places in which were schools which my father 
 patronized, I remember the following : Albany, 
 Buffalo, Belleville, Canton, Clinton, Potsdam, Rod 
 man, and Watertown. If we have been unsuccess 
 ful in our efforts to get a decent knowledge of books 
 then in use, surely lack of parental exertion and 
 instruction has not been the reason, for both have 
 been untiringly applied for our mental improvement. 
 From my earliest remembrance, school-books, and 
 others amusing and interesting to children, have 
 3*
 
 30 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 been purchased and placed in our hands by our 
 parents. Besides our regular school which we 
 attended Summer and Winter with scarcely a miss 
 ing day, we spent many of our Winter evenings, 
 with slate and arithmetic at home ; or a spelling 
 class was formed with six or seven of us, with our 
 " toes to a mark " on the floor of the spacious old 
 kitchen which was also the sitting-room for the 
 family with either father or an older sister to pro 
 nounce words. The " finale " of the evening's per 
 formance would be " spelling down ; " then, about 
 eight o'clock the younger children would all retire. 
 Ah! Happy childhood, without a care or fore 
 thought for the morrow ! What a blessed ignorance 
 of the great duties of life, and of the future ! Our 
 good mother was the last to retire, and midnight 
 often found her still plying the everlasting needle, 
 making or repairing our plain wardrobe. With 
 what untiring effort and bodily labor she managed 
 to keep respectably clad, God only knows. ' Since I 
 have had the- care of a small family it has been the 
 wonder of wonders to me, how my mother performed 
 so much labor, and lived as long as she did. It 
 is no marvel that her over-taxed physical strength 
 gave way at a little past middle age. And yet, 
 what I have said of her, is true of hundreds of 
 other mothers of my acquaintance, and many of 
 them are in the first settled families of this very
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 31 
 
 town (Hopkinton). O ! that some ready pen 
 would write one half the labors, self-sacrifices, 
 and deprivations of our foremothers, to go along 
 side of the volumes that have been written in praise 
 of all these virtues of " our forefathers." One 
 would think that all of their duties were performed 
 for the good of their country alone ; for not one 
 word has been immortalized in song, or written 
 about the partners of their trials and sorrows. 
 True, most of the fathers in a newly settled farming 
 country, labor from early morn until dusky eve, with 
 scarcely an intermission for their meals ; and then, 
 in the course of the year, rainy days, Sabbaths, and 
 evenings, give them many leisure hours while the 
 mother is at work. At least, it was so with my 
 father, and his reading hours were as faithfully 
 occupied as his laboring ones. Here I copy for 
 your perusal a letter from a friend, showing her 
 trials of pioneer life in Jefferson county. 
 
 Hopkinton. 
 
 $[Y DEAR FRIEND : I believe I have told you 
 my mother was a native of Massachusetts ; my 
 father was from the Green Mountain State. 
 The first three years after their marriage they 
 lived on the banks of the Green River, between 
 the hills, where they could not see the sun un 
 til it was two hours above the horizon. This 
 was about sixty years ago. Rumors reached them
 
 32 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 of the fertility of the Black River country of 
 its majestic forests and flowing streams, and above 
 all of its level surface. They did not need much 
 urging to leave those hills, and take their all, 
 household furniture and two children on an ox- 
 sled, and thus they journeyed fourteen days to El- 
 lisburg, Jefferson County. AVe stopped at my 
 grandfather's a few weeks, while my father cleared 
 a spot and built a little cabin, covering the roof with 
 bark, and marking the trees as he went for his fam 
 ily. Thus they commenced life in that beautiful 
 town. My father exchanged work with the inhab 
 itants of that then sparsely settled town, often leav 
 ing my mother for days in that cabin home. At 
 evening, as she went in pursuit of her cow, she has 
 heard the howling of wolves ; and when she re 
 turned, she did not dare enter her cabin until she 
 heard her daughter's voice. 
 
 Time rolled on ; the opening was enlarged. The 
 soil was productive beyond their most sanguine ex 
 pectations. Their cabin was enlarged, and three 
 more olive plants were added to their number. But 
 mortal life has its clouds as well as sunshine. Dur 
 ing the war of 1812, my mother's strength and en 
 ergy was tested to the utmost. My father was a 
 member of the rifle company, and was summoned to 
 the garrison in Sacket's Harbor, where he remained 
 ten weeks, thus leaving his family in the wilder 
 ness, without a protector, or any means of support 
 except the cultivation of the soil. Mother and my 
 little brothers had succeeded in getting in the crops, 
 and they were very promising, when the cattle that 
 roamed the forests began their depredations. Many 
 a morning at dawn of day she drove them from the 
 enclosures, and every article of her clothing would 
 be saturated with dew. Expecting soon to be laid
 
 AND KECOLLECTIONS. 33 
 
 aside from even this, she saddled a colt and rode to 
 Sacket's Harbor, a distance of twelve miles through 
 the woods, over causeways, and across swamps, 
 and presented herself on horseback before the gate 
 of the garrison, and requested an interview with the 
 chief officer. It being granted, she stated her cir 
 cumstances ; the crops being the only dependence 
 for the support of her family. A Green Mountain 
 boy, six feet tall, stalwart, and of noble bearing, 
 was not easily moved, but she plead her cause with 
 such tearful eloquence that her boon was graciously 
 granted. My father obtained a furlough of absence 
 for two weeks, with the privilege of hiring some 
 one to fill his place until the crisis was passed. As 
 the shades of evening were thickening in the forest, 
 they reached in safety their cabin home. My father 
 still lives on that sweet spot, where the flowers 
 bloom from early spring until lingering autumn. 
 The staif fell from my mother's weary hands fifteen 
 years ago, and she sleeps in the beautiful cemetery 
 in sight of that oasis she labored so hard to beautify. 
 Yours, truly, 
 
 H. E. B. SANDFOKD. 
 
 My father seldom went to town to do the family 
 trading for dry goods and groceries, without bring 
 ing home a new book. In this way he accumulated 
 a library of three or four hundred volumes, which 
 was used by any one of the family at leisure, from 
 the eldest, to the youngest, all had free access to 
 it. As one after another of us settled in homes of 
 our own, a part of the library was claimed and
 
 34 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 
 
 taken away, but new books were added from time 
 to time, so that the large book-case was always full, 
 and several hundred volumes remained after the 
 last one of the children left the paternal roof. 
 Among the books, were Lewis and Clark's Travels ; 
 Kendall's Santa Fee Expedition ; Humboldt's Cos 
 mos ; Lacon, or Many Things in Few Words, by 
 C. C. Colton ; the complete works of Thomas Dick, 
 Elegant Extracts from English authors, Lives and 
 Portraits of the Signers of the Declaration of Inde 
 pendence, and many others of a kindred character ; 
 the poetical works of Pope, Milton, Thomson, and 
 Young ; Combe on the Constitution of Man, and 
 nearly every book published in the Universalist de 
 nomination, in their order of publication, from the 
 Life of John Murray, down to Theodore Clapp's 
 Theological Views, and Pitt Street Chapel Lec 
 tures. Besides a number of weekly secular news 
 papers, among them one agricultural paper, that 
 came into the house, my father took the "Herald of 
 Salvation," a Universalist paper published in Wa- 
 tertown, through its entire existence, and the "Mag 
 azine and Advocate," published in Utica from its 
 comencement to its completion, when it was merged 
 in the " Christian Ambassador ; " and he took that 
 also and read it faithfully until his death, without 
 missing a number. The juvenile books were any
 
 AND EECOLLECTIONS. 35 
 
 and everything published from " The House that 
 Jack Built " and " Goody two Shoes," up to "Mer 
 ry's Museum." Of all the works which were ob 
 tained, especially for children, there were three 
 which were such a feast to my infantile soul, that I 
 carry the memory of them with me still, and almost 
 every page is indelibly stamped on my mind^ 
 These were'Eobinson Crusoe, ^Esop's Fables, and 
 Original Poems, by Ann, and Jane Taylor. Books 
 of this description were as unsparingly supplied us, 
 as school-books ; and in addition to these, Parley's 
 Magazine, a juvenile periodical, was taken for sev 
 eral successive years. This was the best paper for 
 children, so decided by competent judges, that 
 had ever then been published. I doubt whether 
 one has been sent out on a mission to " little folks " 
 since that went out of existence, that has filled its 
 place in all respects. No writer of fiction has ever 
 more completely captivated the youthful minds of 
 the whole world than has Peter Parley, with his sim 
 ple tales of truth, drawn from real life. Now, as I 
 write, (May 15th, I860,) a melancholy voice comes 
 over the telegraphic wires announcing the death of 
 this great and good man. Perhaps it would be no 
 exaggeration to say, that the literary world has lost 
 one of its brightest ornaments, and most useful 
 members. His conversational and animated style of 
 description of places and things, at once drew the
 
 36 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 attention and fascinated the mind of the young 
 reader, while his almost inexhaustible fund of use 
 ful knowledge, clothed in his attractive style, 
 blessed the world of maturer minds. Thus, one af 
 ter another of the excellent of the earth, are leav 
 ing; hearts and homes desolate here, to commence 
 
 O ' 
 
 life in a higher and better state of existence.
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 My father's general Character Love of Books Love of Order 
 His Farm His Garden Love of Flowers Religious Feelings 
 View of Death Marriages, &c., &c. 
 
 MY DEAE F: 
 
 By what I have already written, you must have 
 gained some idea of the general character of both 
 my parents ; but, as little time and space as I have, 
 in which to communicate to you my imperfect 
 sketches, I am not satisfied to proceed without say 
 ing more in detail of them. 
 
 If any one trait of character shone more con 
 spicuously than another in my father, as I have be 
 fore hinted, it was his love of books ; and yet, his 
 daily labor was constant and unremitting the largest 
 share of his life, until he gave up the care of his 
 business at the age of sixty-six years, twelve years 
 before his death, which occurred Feb. 1st, 1860. 
 He was not one of that class who never find time to 
 read ; but he read something nearly every day, 
 and he had a great variety of reading at his com 
 mand, because he would have it. He considered 
 the cultivation of his mind just as essential to his 
 well-being, as his daily bread, and exerted himself 
 with as much zeal to supply himself and family 
 
 4
 
 38 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 with the one as the other. Indeed if he had been 
 compelled to take a choice between his favorite 
 books, and some table luxury, he would have lost 
 no time in deciding in favor of the former. Then I 
 need scarcely tell you that he accumulated a fund 
 of general useful knowledge which would have 
 been an enviable possession for many in higher 
 walks of life. His love of order, was another lead 
 ing characteristic, and this he had ample opportuni 
 ty for gratifying on his farm. His garden, fences, 
 gates, out-buildings, ornamental shade trees, or 
 chard, and everything under the immediate super 
 vision of his care, bore evidence of the truth of it, 
 and it could be discovered on his premises, by the 
 most careless passer by. A row of Lombardy pop 
 lar trees set with precise definiteness with regard to 
 distance apart, bordered the road on each side the 
 entire length of his farm, making one hundred in 
 number. These grew to an enormous size, and 
 being on an elevation commanded a view from a 
 great distance. Their very appearance is a sure 
 guarantee of the hand that planted them being 
 directed by a love of order. His garden beds were 
 laid out with the precision almost, of a square and 
 compass, and, what is a little remarkable for a far 
 mer, he had plenty of room in it, for flowers for the 
 " women folks." He spent a great deal of time, by 
 odd spells in his garden, and the flower beds were 
 guarded and hoed with as much care, as cabbages
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 39 
 
 and potatoes. If one was small and unprotected, 
 in the start, he would surround it with a row of 
 sticks, lest it might be crushed by some careless 
 foot, and often he would pluck a single rose, or 
 pink, and regale his olfactories, while walking in 
 the alleys to look at and admire the growth of ten 
 der plants. The last part of his life was spent in 
 close study, and travelling for pleasure and social 
 enjoyment, and when he saw any plants, rare and 
 beautiful, he would obtain seeds, bulbs or slips, to 
 carry home to his daughters who lived with him. 
 Once, while on a visit to Middletown, Conn., he saw 
 and admired a flowering almond, and procured it 
 root and branch while in blossom, and carried it in 
 his satchel to Watertown, and it lived and flourished 
 admirably. This was after he was seventy-five 
 years of age. These are trifles, but the whole of 
 life, and especially of domestic life is made up of 
 trifles, and I merely mention them, to give you a 
 key to his character in respect to his being an ar 
 dent admirer of nature. 
 
 He was naturally of a religious turn of mind, 
 and his faith and confidence in God, and a future, 
 and more glorious state of existence was almost 
 without parallel. I have heard him say frequently 
 that he had no more doubt of a future state of 
 blessedness, than he had that the sun would rise 
 to-morrow morning. He conversed with as much
 
 40 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 calmness and resignation about death, as he would 
 retiring for a night's rest. To him it was but the 
 drawing aside of a veil, or the opening of a door, 
 that had hidden from his view the loved and lost of 
 earth. He could freely respond in the affirmative 
 to Mrs. Scott's beautiful language : 
 
 " Death is but 
 
 A kind and gentle servant who unlocks 
 With noiseless hand, life's flower encircled door 
 To show us those we love." 
 
 When relations or other friends from a distance 
 visited him, he would go with them to the Cemetery, 
 and view the resting place of his heart-treasures, 
 and how often have I seen him with his cane point 
 out the place which he had selected for his own 
 burial. He was married twice, first in 1808, to Mary 
 Sheldon, who died in November, 1809, and who left 
 an infant child ; and second, in 1810, to Lucinda 
 Sheldon, who died in May, 1847. They were sisters 
 of Col. Joseph Sheldon, one of the early settlers of 
 Watertown. By his direction, a space was left 
 between these two graves for his " narrow house." 
 After he was " three score and ten" years of age, he 
 spent a winter near St. Louis, with one of his sons. 
 When he left home for this long journey, he gave 
 directions to have his body returned to this place, in 
 the event of his being taken away in a strange land. 
 His heart-yearnings corresponded with those of the 
 Patriarch Jacob, when he said : " Bury me not, I
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 41 
 
 pray thee, in Egypt ; but I will be buried with my 
 fathers. And thou shalt carry me out of Egypt 
 and bury me in their burying place." " There they 
 buried Abraham and Sarah his wife ; there they 
 buried Isaac and Rebecca his wife ; and there I 
 buried Leah." 
 
 A good providence permitted him to return in his 
 usual health, to his old home, which he enjoyed 
 several years, and I need not tell you, Dear F. that 
 his body rests in the place he selected. It is a com 
 fort to dwell upon his cheerful views of death, and 
 I cannot give you a better idea of it, than in his own 
 illustration of his feelings in a letter to me, relative 
 to the death of my sister, the eldest in the family, 
 by the second marriage. This death occurred while 
 he was away from home, at St. Louis, the time I 
 have just spoken of. He wrote : December 21st, 
 1854, " It really seems like a dream, that Susan 
 is dead, and I can say nothing so appropriate as to 
 quote the words of Dr. Franklin, on a somewhat 
 similar occasion. ' I condole with you, we have 
 lost a most dear and valuable relation for which 
 nothing earthly can make any amends, but it is the 
 will of Heaven that these bodies should be laid 
 aside; when we enter into real life we are spirits. 
 That bodies should be lent us, while they can con 
 tribute to our happiness, and assist us in doing good 
 to our fellow creatures, is a kind and benevolent act 
 4*
 
 42 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 of God, and when they become unfit for these pur 
 poses, it is equally kind, that a way is provided, by 
 which we may get rid of them. Death is that way 
 a man is not truly born until he be dead and 
 why should you and I grieve that a new child is 
 born among the immortals ; we are all invited home 
 to a grand party of pleasure, which is to last for 
 ever ; her chair was ready first, and she has 
 gone before us, but we shall soon follow and know 
 where to find her.' ' 
 
 I will not close this brief and hurried sketch, with 
 out mentioning some of the eccentricities of the 
 subject of it. He was particularly fond of joking 
 and mirth at times, and his own children were as 
 apt to be the victims as any body else. His fund 
 of humorous anecdotes and tales from real life ? 
 seemed almost inexhaustible, and his gift of lan 
 guage was such that his communications never 
 lacked interest to the hearers. As a specimen 
 of his manner of jesting, I will quote from a letter 
 written in 1849, when we lived in Erie County : 
 
 * * * " There is a very malignant disease 
 raging in this part of the country, and a consider 
 able number in "VYatertown village have fallen 
 victims to it ; the papers don't state whether they 
 died or not. The disease is called the ' California 
 gold fever,' and its attacks have hitherto been upon 
 such as the inhabitants are willing to spare. When
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 43 
 
 or where it will cease is not known, but it is hoped 
 it will not continue lone:." 
 
 6* 
 
 On one occasion in my peregrinations, selling 
 books, with a horse and cutter, he went with me to 
 the south part of Rodman the distance of ten 
 miles from his home to visit an old friend, and 
 expected to return when I did. I left him at the 
 residence of his friend, and went on my business 
 with the intention of returning in a day or two to 
 take him back. But before I had half accomplished 
 the object of my journey, the weather changed 
 rapidly, and the snow melted so fast, fanned by the 
 warm breezes from the South, that I was compelled 
 to leave by the shortest route for my own home, dis 
 tant nearly one hundred miles, which I reached in 
 safety in a little over two days. In about two weeks 
 I received the following from him, written on a very 
 small piece of paper, in one of his characteristic 
 humorous veins : 
 
 " Watertown, January 30^, 1859. 
 
 ' I never expected to live to see ' you carry me off 
 to John Richardson's, and leave me there, but my 
 kind heart must render good for evil, so I have col 
 lected all your debts in that vicinity, and herewith I 
 enclose the whole amount ; but at your own risk for 
 the trick you served me. You see I will not waste 
 much paper in writing to you, but you may bore me 
 with as long a letter as you please, if you will write 
 some time in February, if not by that time, I don't
 
 44 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 know that I shall take it out of the post office. I 
 have just room to tell you that we are all well, and 
 that snow is as scarce as white crows. I enjoyed 
 my visit well, and John would not bring me home 
 until I had staid ten days. He took the book you 
 left here, at one dollar is that right? if not, tell 
 me in your next, and when you come again bring 
 me another. 
 
 Yours, affectionately, 
 
 J. E. MILES. 
 
 The above was written one year before his death, 
 at the age of seventy-seven years. The letter 
 which follows was written in r(^)ly to one with re 
 gard to pecuniary losses, which he thought would 
 not prove in the end as bad as I imagined. 
 
 July 23<Z, 1856. 
 
 DEAR DAUGHTER : I have been thinking for a 
 long time that I would write to you, but have kept 
 neglecting it until now ; and perhaps should have 
 put it off, still longer, had I not something special to 
 communicate. Our home is burned, cellar and all, 
 with their contents, and no insurance. Hold ! I 
 mistake, there was an ample insurance ; and I mis 
 take again, for the cellar was not burnt ; and again 
 I mistake, for the house stands just as it was when 
 you saw it last. You must not put a wrong con 
 struction upon my fable, for I acknowledge you are 
 put to some temporary inconvenience ; and my 
 advice is : not to think of keeping all your land, but 
 to divide your two lots, so as to have a portion of it 
 improved, and woodland, and water on each, and 
 reserve thirty or forty acres and build upon it ; or,
 
 " 
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 45 
 
 if that is not practicable, sell the whole and buy a 
 small place ; and in either case, if we can arrange 
 the matter as we have always talked, I will give you 
 one hundred and fifty or two hundred dollars, if it 
 is in St. Lawrence County ; and if the writings can 
 be made out satisfactorily this fall, or winter, I can 
 pay it then as well as ever ; my expenses at Albany, 
 for L's. two years at the Normal school have been 
 about four hundred dollars ; this, with my little 
 Rail Road investment, my telescope, and travelling 
 expenses for three years past, have prevented me 
 from laying up much for myself, and I am holden 
 for over one thousand dollars for F. & J. ; conse 
 quently, I am not in independent circumstances, and 
 you may as well fix your mind on the lowest sum 
 mentioned above. I will leave the news for R. 
 
 Yours, etc. 
 
 As your home is in the West, dear F., I will make 
 a few extracts from letters my father sent me rela 
 tive to his travels in that direction : 
 
 St. Louis, Dec., 1854. 
 
 DEAR DAUGHTER : As I am in this far off 
 country, it will be doubly interesting to me to have 
 frequent letters from my children, and you must not 
 neglect to write to me forthwith. I presume 
 you are apprised of my being in this country. I 
 left Watertown in the cars, on the morning 
 of the 10th of October, and in about forty hours 
 I found myself at a place in Michigan where 
 they Paw twice, (Paw Paw). Having travelled 
 night and day, I was quite fatigued; and, after 
 taking a nap, I hired a conveyance to F.'s, and they 
 pretended to be very glad to see me. I turned F.
 
 46 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 and his wife out of bed and made them sleep on 
 the floor for three weeks ; (for you must know that 
 the y have not all of the conveniences of a Water- 
 town home, in this new country), and I occupied 
 a good bed near the stove. 
 
 From there I went to Aurora, 111., and staid three 
 weeks. I left Aurora the last day of November, 
 for St. Louis. The cars left me at Alton, and the 
 remainder of the way I went by steamer on the 
 majestic Mississippi. B. met me at Franklin Sta 
 tion, about five miles from his house, whither he con 
 veyed me ; I found him in as good circumstances as 
 any one could wish. 
 
 In travelling about thirteen hundred miles, I 
 saw very different countries in their general aspect. 
 Michigan consists of sandy oak openings, and other 
 parts of very dense forests of heavy timber, the 
 whole of a light, warm soil well adapted to the cul 
 tivation of wheat and fruit. Illinois consists of a 
 very fertile soil, but a great destitution of wood, 
 water and stone. In passing through the State, you 
 see thousands on thousands of acres, and not a 
 shrub or stone, or drop of water, but a soil that is 
 fertile to the highest degree. I think, all things 
 taken into consideration, that the difference in coun 
 tries is mostly imaginary, making it evident to me 
 that " whatever is, is right." This part of Missouri 
 is covered with a light growth of timber, mostly 
 oak and hickory ; in other parts of the State there 
 are large prairies. The Pacific Railroad, as it is 
 called, progresses rather slowly ; there is a great 
 lack of Yankee " go-ahead-ativeness," here ; but 
 the cars are expected to run past here by the first of 
 January. The road is partially worked to Jefferson 
 city, ninety miles west of here. A depot is in 
 building on B.'s land, eighty yards from his house ;
 
 AND KECOLLECTIONS. 47 
 
 and then he expects to get rid of the bog-trotters, 
 who are stealing everything they c^n lay hands on ; 
 they have stolen at least eight or ten hogs. 
 
 " May 13A, 1855. 1 
 
 Did you knuow the old cripple had got home 
 again ? Such is the fact. I left Missouri on the 
 12th of March, and arrived at Aurora, 111., in two 
 days, and staid with Mary until the 20th. Staid 
 awhile in Michigan and on arriving at Detroit, 
 learned that no steamers were there from Buffalo, 
 that harbor, then being closed by ice. Opposite 
 Detroit I took the cars on the Grand Trunk Rail 
 way, and proceeded fifty miles to Chatham, where I 
 made a digression of thirty miles by stage, and vis 
 ited John and William Sheldon, and their sister 
 Maria Keyes. I then took the cars again, and 
 while proceeding towards the Falls, I anticipated 
 taking short breaths in crossing the Niagara liiver 
 in a kind of mammoth bird-cage, two hundred and 
 thirty feet above the boiling river ; but those panics 
 were all in advance. Trains cross, many times 
 every day with perfect safety ; the track across the 
 bridge is the truest and smoothest of any track this 
 side of sundown, but the cars proceed at the rapid 
 speed of an old woman on foot, and run as smooth 
 as oil, and were your eyes shut, you would think 
 you were stationary." 
 
 June 22d, 1855. 
 
 " I have just received your letter of the 17th 
 inst., and I assure you I appreciate your kind invi 
 tation to visit you, and I shall probably do so, but 
 not at present. I am laboring under four incurable 
 disorders, two of them are hip-ail and old age ; all
 
 48 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 these things make travelling rather fatiguing, ex 
 cept in the cars. The weather here is tolerable 
 warm, for the first time this season. We have seen 
 accounts of the cold weather all over our country, 
 but nothing from " swate Ireland," except what you 
 write." 
 
 These few extracts, will suffice, and I have intro 
 duced them that you may see with what an unusual 
 degree of bodily and mental activity he was blessed 
 after he passed the common age allotted to man. 
 
 I close this sketch, which I regret not having 
 done better justice to, with an obituary notice, writ 
 ten by the clergyman who officiated at his funeral. 
 
 DIED. In Watertown, N. Y., Feb. 1st., 1860, 
 Jonathan E. Miles, aged nearly 78 years. He was 
 a man of a superior order of mind and of charac 
 ter, one of the earliest settlers of the town, and one 
 of its most veuerated citizens. Although most of 
 his life was devoted to severe manual labor, he found 
 time to improve his mind by an extensive range of 
 reading, and became especially interested in astro 
 nomical science. Becoming familiar with the writ 
 ings of the late Dr. Dick, of Scotland, he was de 
 sirous of ascertaining the religious opinions of that 
 philosopher ; and it was in reply to a letter of in 
 quiry from him, that Dr. Dick acknowledged his 
 sympathy with the doctrine of Universalism. This 
 correspondence was published in the Ambassador 
 about the time of Dr. Dick's death. Having been 
 himself probably through the whole period of his 
 thoughtful life a believer in Universalism, Mr.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 49 
 
 Miles desired that some testimony to the worth of 
 his faith might be borne at his funeral. He had se 
 lected the words of Paul found in Rom. xiv. 7, 8 
 and 9th as a basis of a discourse on the occasion, 
 which was preached accordingly in the Union 
 Church at Burville, on the 3d of Feb. 
 5
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 My mother The Sheldon family Rev. Henry Olcott Sheldon Si 
 las Wright Life pn the farm. 
 
 MY DEAR Er 
 in one respect my mother was just what you will 
 hear every body else say of their mother ; that is, 
 that she was one of the best women in the \vorld. 
 "Whose mother is not a good woman to them ? and 
 they cannot see her from any other stand-point. 
 Who that has felt the beatings of a mother's heart 
 of love for her children, cannot see why this is ? 
 There is a sympathy there, which is lacking in ev 
 ery other relation of life. Hence, the love of God 
 in Scripture, is compared to that of a mother, for 
 this is the nearest type of the heavenly ever at 
 tained on earth. " A mother may forget a child, 
 yet will I not forget thee." As I draw the picture 
 before me of my mother, she appears the very 
 angel of goodness, and the deity of the household 
 over which she presided. HM- economy was pro-
 
 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 51 
 
 verbial, and she had a large share of what Harriet 
 Beecher Stpwe would denominate " faculty " in 
 housekeeping. That is, the art of making a little 
 appear to the best advantage, always conforming to 
 the circumstances in which she was called to act. 
 Her devotion to her family was paramount to ev 
 ery other earthly duty ; and her disposition was 
 cheerful and happy nearly always. Her children 
 all outlived her ; some of them, however, left home 
 to wander in foreign lands, and never returned dur 
 ing her life. The thought of this was her greatest 
 sorrow, and the unerring conviction that with sev 
 eral of her family she had enjoyed her last inter 
 view on earth, was a bitter grief. Her endless 
 round of household duties contained nearly all the 
 variety she experienced in life. She occasionally 
 visited friends ; but they were " like angel visits, 
 few and far between." She was born in Connecti 
 cut in 1791, and removed to Watertown with her 
 father's family, early in the present century. The 
 Sheldon family is very numerous and scattered all 
 over New England and New York. Many of them 
 are in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties. Like 
 all other families of numerous progeny, there is a 
 variety of tastes, intellect, and pursuit. Some of 
 them have distinguished themselves intellectully, 
 and have gained a brilliant education, which they 
 have turned to good practical account, thus earning
 
 52 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 for themselves a well-deserved popularity. "While 
 others, belonging to the same circle of- family rela 
 tives, I am sorry to say, have not common sense ; 
 and what they do know, they use to poor advan 
 tage. Rev. Henry Olcott Sheldon, corresponding 
 member of the New England Historic Genealogical 
 Society, has been engaged for several years, picking 
 up and classifying the names of the Sheldon race, 
 and the branches of ^t, who have married into other 
 families. The number has already swelled to four 
 teen thousand. No wonder that there are all sorts, 
 among so many. Silas Wright belonged to the 
 family, and by a reference to Rev. Mr. Sheldon's 
 Genealogical list, I have learned that he was the 
 seventh cousin of our family. Surely here is a blood 
 alliance worthy being proud of and so near, too ! ! 
 Since becoming more acquainted with the various 
 phases of life, I have thanked God, and my parents 
 for the homely country life in which I was bred. 
 Our daily food was of the plainest kind, and par 
 taken of at regular intervals. To this, together 
 with abundant exercise in the open air, we are 
 probably indebted in a great degree for our health. 
 Comparatively few families were blessed, in that 
 respect, as ours was. It is somewhat remarkable 
 that so large a family all arrived at mature age ; 
 and, without an exception, with a vigorous physical 
 constitution, capable of enduring an astonishing
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 53 
 
 amount of labor. On the farm, the boys applied 
 their strength to good advantage, while the girls 
 were " brought up " to assist their mother in the 
 arduous duties of the household, and taking care of 
 the younger children ; for you must be aware, dear 
 F., that in those days it was no stain on a lady's 
 gentility to be well versed in the culinary art. Be 
 sides the example of our parents, they labored hard 
 to instil into our youthful minds the importance of 
 industrious habits ; and they thought farming the * 
 most ennobling of all occupations, besides the most 
 sure of success. Had it been consistent with their 
 own feelings, they would have been glad to make 
 farmers of all their boys ; but fate ordered every 
 one of them into a different sphere, thus verifying 
 the truth of Shakspeare's well worn sentiment : 
 " Rough hew them as we will, there is a destiny 
 that shapes our ends." Though they have all 
 chosen a different way of obtaining a livelihood, 
 their farmer life and education have not been lost. 
 5*
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 Chilhood and youth Remembrance of Associates Schools and 
 school books Miss Henderson Ignorannce of teachers of phy 
 sical labor Reform in these respects Organic laws. 
 
 MY DEAR F: 
 
 I have now given you a somewhat disconnected 
 outline of my family lineage. I will L invite you to 
 go with me in imagination through the fleeting 
 years, of what is considered by most people the 
 happiest peried of my life childhood and youth. 
 Not that my young experience had anything start 
 ling or thrilling in it, or that any useful or impor 
 tant lesson can be drawn from it, any more than 
 from any other common-place, obscure individual ; 
 but on the principle, that there are incidents in ev 
 erybody's history, which may be turned to profita 
 ble account, if for no other reason than that their 
 mistakes and follies mey be avoided. 
 
 " AM Happy he, who wise before too late, 
 Can dra,w a lesson from another's fate." 
 
 These very incidents were great to me, in the
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 55 
 
 narrow compass of my little world in which I lived 
 and moved. I carry with me to the present day, a 
 distinct remembrance of all the action of the play 
 in this great drama, and probably shall to the close 
 . of my life. Up to the age of seven or eight years, 
 this tragic comedy, in all its variations, was enacted 
 with the boys and girls who went to the same 
 school, and the " school ma'am," who taught me to 
 read. One of my teachers at this tender age, 
 whose name was Marcia Henderson, appeared to 
 me an angel of gentleness and patience. Although 
 over thirty years have elapsed, and I have not seen 
 her since, her form, size and features, are as vividly 
 present in my memory, as they were, when, with 
 untiring patience, she gave me my first lessons in 
 marking on canvas with various colored silk. My 
 " sampler " was the most splendid thing I had ever 
 seen, and the long rows of letters and figures, and 
 flowers, wrought in beautiful colors, to me had a 
 charming interest ; and when the last line was com 
 pleted, which read as follows : " Wrought by Eloise 
 Miles, aged eight years," with what a conscious 
 ness of pride and self-importance I made an exhibi 
 tion of my handiwork to every stranger who en 
 tered the house. Of course they all praised it, and 
 my happiness was complete. I have often wished 
 that such trifles had the power to make older people 
 happy ; then we should not be the uneasy, discon-
 
 56 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 tented, and never-satisfied race that we are. True, 
 our whole lives, from the cradle to the grave, are 
 
 7 O > 
 
 made up of the merest trifles, and sometimes it 
 seems that the most simple act of our own, or 
 another's, will change the whole current of our fu 
 ture fortunes. Verily, " it is not in man that walk- 
 eth to direct his steps." 
 
 My lessons in these days were easily got along 
 with, for Cobb's Spelling Book, and Juvenile Read 
 er No 2, by the same author, were my only school 
 books, and one column of words of two syllables, 
 and one reading lesson, made up the list of my 
 studies for half a day. I am sorry to say, that 
 these were not very faithfully studied. The quiet 
 and oft-repeated command of the gentle Miss Hen 
 derson to "sit still," lost its meaning with me. In 
 deed it was impossible for me to obey, and since I 
 have arrived at mature age I look back with aston 
 ishment and regret at the ignorance of the teachers 
 of those days of Physiology and all physical laws ; 
 for what but ignorance could have found in their 
 hearts a necessity to imprison little folks, in a small 
 close room, sitting in one position on a hard narrow 
 board called a seat, for six long hours each day, and 
 that for weeks and months together. No wonder 
 that half the children born, die before reaching the 
 age of ten years ; and half of the other half, are 
 cut down with consumption or spinal complaint, be-
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 57 
 
 fore they arrive at middle age. Even at the pres 
 ent enlightened .day and age of the world, when 
 there is far less excuse for ignorance, than when our 
 first teacher, yours and mine, dear F., were try 
 ing to do their duty by us, there is a lamentable 
 and criminal ignorance of the laws of health and 
 life. We have some very efficient teachers of math 
 ematics, history, and the languages ; they can solve 
 the most difficult problems in Euclid, and demon 
 strate with clearness and ability Algebra and the 
 higher mathematics ; but the more useful problem 
 of "How to live," they are as ignorant of as they are 
 of the cause of the Aurora Borealis, or of the mag 
 netic needle always pointing north. They have a 
 perfect knowledge of geography ; of the location of 
 all the cities and smaller.towns, and which is the cap 
 ital of each state ; but of the location of the internal 
 organs of their own bodies, the heart, liver and lungs, 
 and all that contributes to make up the complicated 
 machinery that moves and acts in obedience to the 
 will, they have never thought fit to inform them 
 selves. Of the ebb and flow, of the tide in Boston 
 harbor, they are well posted, and know precisely 
 how many hours and minutes it takes to advance 
 and recede ; but that crimson tide the life's blood, 
 which is constantly flowing through their veins 
 some of them, I fear, do not even know it circulates 
 at all. I once heard an anecdote of a young lady
 
 58 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 who, on reading an advertisement of a lecture on 
 the circulation of the blood, said she " must go and 
 hear it, for sometimes she really believed she was 
 troubled with that disease herself/' 
 
 Let us be thankful that a reform has commenced, 
 with both parents and teachers, in these important 
 matters ; and that the time has come, when a know 
 ledge of the Organic Laws has become an imper 
 ative duty ; and that no parent or teacher can be 
 said, in truth, to be qualified for their responsible 
 positions who are ignorant of them. Albeit the 
 most wise and learned of them have but just entered 
 the vestibule of the great temple of knowledge on 
 these subjects, it is truly gratifying to the lovers of 
 truth and human progress, that they have at last 
 come to know, that every individual of every dis 
 tinct species of animated nature, have their birth, 
 advancement and death, in strict obedience to laws 
 which have been immutably stamped upon them, 
 by the unerring hand of the Great Infinite. This 
 is the ground work of all physiological facts, and 
 when the different branches of it shall have been 
 faithfully studied in our families and schools, we 
 shall no longer labor under the mistaken idea that 
 pain, sickness and death, come to us by chance, or 
 that they are sent arbitrarily, by an offended God 
 as a punishment for our moral transgressions ; but 
 that they are a natural penalty, which is indissolu- 
 bly wedded to a violation of natural laws.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 59 
 
 Excuse my many digressions, dear F., for I pre 
 fer any other subject than writing about myself. 
 Like the testimony of some witnesses we read of in 
 courts of justice, there may be much here that is 
 wholly irrelevant, but that is my way, and you 
 have promised to accept it as such.
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 Schools and school days Tyranny of school masters A description 
 of one My writing book Natural happy life of children Play 
 ing by the way The general current of my life The death of an 
 infant funeral. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 In this letter, I will make the attempt once more 
 to tell you of my schools, and school days, and 
 teachers. The latter were not all like the amiable 
 Miss H., especially those who ministered to our ed 
 ucational wants in the winter season. They were 
 most of them men of stern and unrelenting disposi 
 tions, who seemed to think that a free use of the 
 ferule and blue-beech, was the most essential quali 
 fication a teacher could possess ; and from that day 
 till the present, the very word " school-master" sug 
 gests to my mind a tall, coarse, vinegar-visaged, 
 masculine tyrant, holding in his hand what he 
 called a " ruler " from the fact of its having a 
 
 O 
 
 straight edge ; but it was in reality a ruler, in 
 another and broader signification of the term ; for 
 with it, and the piercing look of his eye, he literally
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 61 
 
 ruled, as with a rod of iron, an army of boys and 
 girls numbering nearly fifty, some of them as tall 
 and large as himself. One of these gentlemen I 
 have been describing, was my school-master, (they 
 were never called teachers,) for three successive 
 winters, and he still lives in the vicinity of my na 
 tive place. For the last few years I have frequent 
 ly met him in the streets of Watertown, a stranger 
 to him now, for I probably passed from his memory 
 more than twenty-five years ago ; but, on the con 
 trary, he will never be obliterated from mine. 
 Many is the time that he has fastened his giant 
 hand around my arm, and walked me out to the 
 middle of the floor, for the most trivial offence. 
 Once it was for the heinous crime, of not imitating 
 his copy in my writing-book. For this, he hauled 
 me over the top of my writing desk ; then to finish 
 up the punishment, he took my writing-book away 
 from me, and hid it for two weeks. At the top of a 
 large sheet of foolscap, he had written a row of 
 straight marks, as regular and perpendicular as an 
 army of soldiers, marching to battle. These I tried 
 to imitate, until the large page was half filled, then 
 little-girl-like, I got tired of them and commenced 
 making U's. This was only one, out of scores of 
 times, he was excited to wrath by my childish short 
 comings and over-acting. Yet, he was called one 
 of the best of teachers for those times, for you are 
 6
 
 62 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 aware, that in that by-gone day and age, the school 
 and family, who had their children under the most 
 constant discipline, and constraint, were considered 
 the best governed. What a sad mistake, that the 
 natural joyous -and happy freedom that characterize 
 the life of children, almost invariably should be re 
 garded by those who, in a measure hold their future 
 destinies in their hands, as foibles and failings, and 
 evidences of a depraved nature. Water will no 
 more surely run down hill, than children well-treat 
 ed will incline to do right. I know that this is a 
 very unpopular doctrine at present, but no less true. 
 We were absolutely commanded not to " play by 
 the way " going from, or coming to school. It was 
 nearly a mile from my father's to the school house, 
 and about a quarter of that distance off from what 
 was called the " creek road." Being on a slight el 
 evation, our residence overlooked a fine view of the 
 surrounding country, and nearly every house in the 
 district was plain in sight of ours. We knew about 
 when to start from home, to meet our companions at 
 the corner ; but if we were a little out of time, any 
 of us, it was no task to wait for good company. 
 You need not ask, dear F., whether we were strict 
 ly obedient to all of our teacher's commands ; tell a 
 rose not to waste its perfumery on the morning air, 
 or the lily to change its color, or the leopard his 
 spots, at the same time you tell children and lambs
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 63 
 
 " not to play," and the result will be the same in 
 every case. 
 
 The general current of life with me then ran 
 smoothly ; it left in my memory but one impression, 
 as I look back upon it now ; it seems but one golden 
 river of enjoyment, flowing amid green banks 
 strewed with perennial flowers. True, a shade of 
 disappointment and sorrow was occasionally thrown 
 in my way, but the natural buoyancy of my youth 
 ful spirits, soon rose above it. The death of an 
 infant, a beautiful little girl in the neighborhood, 
 was a great grief to all the scholars ; school was dis 
 missed and the funeral solemnized in the school- 
 house. The pale form of little Hetty, clothed in 
 white, as she lay in her tiny coffin, which was an 
 exact fit for her frail body, wrung the bitter tears 
 from many older eyes than mine. The solemn face 
 of the minister, I can never forget. He was an 
 Englishman. He took for his text. "Is it well 
 with thee ? is it well with thy husband ? is it well 
 with the child ? " And she answered, " It is well." 
 The child spoken of in the text, was the child of a 
 Shunamitish woman, whom Elisha, the prophet had 
 restored to life. The inquiry, therefore, had no 
 reference whatever to the future life. However, 
 that was the way he applied it, and well do I re 
 member the drift of his argument. It can be sum 
 med up in a few words ; the whole human family
 
 64 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 are by nature totally depraved, and had not Christ 
 suffered and died in place of us poor reprobates, 
 and thereby opened a way for our salvation, all 
 would have been forever lost, and this as a penalty 
 for Adam's sin. This lovely child had passed the 
 dark valley in an innocent state, and would undoubt 
 edly be saved. This is the first sermon I remember 
 of hearing that I could understand the meaning of 
 at all, and the most of that was as dark as Hebrew 
 to my young mind. And what is perhaps more 
 singular still, I have never been able to comprehend 
 the whole meaning of that particular theology.
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 % 
 
 A great event Marriage of my eldest sister Her present place of 
 residence Accident The, charms of nature New teachers for 
 three summers, an advanced maiden lady Four o'clock school 
 Her prayer "Not accowling to St. Paul's directions. 
 
 MY DEAK F : 
 
 About the time I was ten years of age, a great 
 event to me, happened in my father's family. It 
 was the marriage of my eldest sister. I had never 
 seen so many people together in our house before. 
 The pastor of the Universalist church at Watertown, 
 Rev. Pitt Morse, was the clergyman who officiated 
 at the wedding. The ceremony was awfully solemn 
 and impressive, more so, if possible, than at the 
 funeral mentioned in my last letter. The prayer 
 was lengthy and in words fitly chosen, and nothing 
 could be more appropriate and feeling than the 
 address to the young and happy bride. The time 
 seems so short to look back, that it is hard to realize 
 that she is now fifty-one years of age, and has chil 
 dren and grand-children " arising to call her bless 
 ed." She now resides in the far West on an Illinois 
 6*
 
 66 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 prairie, near the beautiful village of Aurora, enjoy 
 ing with her husband, a competence of this world's 
 goods. Her life has been one of marked vicissitude, 
 her fortune, her home, and religious views have all 
 changed. 
 
 A few days previous to the wedding, an accident 
 deprived me of the use of"Eiy left foot for several 
 weeks ; it was crushed bf^a stick of timber, to 
 
 which a swing "was attached V?To be so suddenly 
 bereft of liberty in this delightfijiL season of the year, 
 June, when the ripe berries were scattered in rich 
 profusion over the fields ; to one who was so fond of 
 a frolic and race, was a serious drawback on my 
 enjoyment, and the imprisonment was, if possible 
 more vexatious than the pain. Both together 
 caused me many tears ; but " it is a long road that 
 has no turn in it," and the weary days of my confine 
 ment to the house, at length drew to a close ; and 
 my first walk in the orchard, which was with falter 
 ing step, it seems to me was the happiest day of my 
 life. Every tree, bird, and flower, were more 
 beautiful than ever before, and Nature, always 
 charming to my imagination, had put on a new and 
 livelier dress. I will not attempt to tell you how 
 happy I was when I found the free use of my feet 
 again, and bounded as on the air, to the old school- 
 
 O 7 ' 
 
 house once more. Even this dark cloud in my 
 young days, had its " silver lining," for I had plenty
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 67 
 
 of books, and, in addition to the old ones which 
 were read with a new relish, my little library was 
 occasionally replenished with a new one. Besides, 
 my good mother invented many ways to keep my 
 spirits in a happy flow. Thus it is with human life 
 all through ; alternate shadow and sunshine, and 
 this is true of every being on earth, whether steeped 
 in poverty, or over-burdened with wealth. 
 
 Two or three summers following the time of 
 which I write, a maiden lady far advanced in years, 
 was employed for our teacher. She was one of the 
 most eccentric persons that ever took the responsi 
 bility of teaching youth. Her education was ex 
 cellent for a person of her age ; she must have been 
 fifty years old, or over, but this was one of the 
 mysteries we juveniles could never draw her out on. 
 At any rate, her wig had not a grey hair in it, and 
 her false teeth were as white as alabaster. Besides 
 the six hours a day which she devoted, as the law 
 required, to the regular sohool which was compos 
 ed of some twenty-five very small urchins she vol 
 unteered her services three more hours each day 
 from four o'clock until seven, P. M. for the benefit 
 of the larger girls and boys in the district, whom 
 she taught arithmetic, grammar and geography. 
 This was called the four o'clock school ; and it prov 
 ed a great benefit to the scholars who were kept at 
 home during the day to work, but the teachers who
 
 68 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 are willing to endure the confinement and fatigue of 
 a second school the same day are scarce, and ought 
 to be felessed with an iron constitution to endure it. 
 Every day was a gala- day with the scholars, 
 especially the girls, and it was a wonder how the 
 old lady managed to keep as straight a rein over us 
 as she did. She read the Scriptures and prayed 
 every day in school ; which was something new for 
 that place, as she was the first teacher who had ever 
 practised it. Her prayer was always the same ; and 
 was soon committed to memory by the scholars, and 
 I copied it at the time. As it may interest you, I 
 here transcribe it : 
 
 " O ! God, we are frail mortals of the dust, not 
 worthy of Thy notice. Wilt Thou look down in 
 mercy upon this little handful of unworthy beings 
 that are assembled under Thy name, and bless them. 
 Bless Zion of every sect and denomination, both saint 
 and sinner, both hypocrite and unbeliever. Bless 
 the world at large, and this neighborhood in particu 
 lar. O ! God, forgive our sins, and put them on the 
 horns of the scape-goat, that he may carry them 
 far away into the wilderness of forgetfulness, that 
 they may not rise up in condemnation against us, 
 for we have sinned ever since we were capable of 
 recollection. Give us every temporal blessing, that 
 will be for our good and for thy glory, and enable 
 us to possess every Christian virtue ; and may we 
 succeed in our endeavors to gain an accomplished 
 and finished education. More especially, may we 
 become acquainted with thy will ; call all thy wan-
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 69 
 
 dering children together, that each one of their 
 names may be written in the Lamb's ' book of life, 
 and lastly crown our whole lives with glory, -that we 
 may go no more out forever, world without end. 
 Amen." 
 
 If all whom this kind lady's heart reached out 
 her desires and prayers foi*, are finally encircled in 
 the arms of almighty love, none will be wholly 
 abandoned and cast of. But her prayer was not 
 exactly according to St. Paul's directions, a prayer 
 of " faith, lifting up holy hands without wrath or 
 doubting," for she was a worthy member of the 
 close communion Baptist church, and a conscientious 
 believer in the endless perpetuity of sin and suffering.
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Fouthful Follies A Foolish Exhibition Rebuke Fable of the lost 
 axe. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 Had I not promised in the outset, to give you a 
 faithful record of passing events, notwithstanding 
 my mistakes and follies, one little circumstance I am 
 about to relate, I should pass over, not that I imag 
 ine you will think the part I took in it was evidence 
 of a malicious or unkind disposition, but it merely 
 shows a total disregard of better examples, and the 
 good old Puritan way in which my parents desired 
 me to walk. I have sometimes ventured a thought, 
 though perhaps without reason, that the path I was 
 required to walk in was a little too straight and nar 
 row, and that " I sowed more wild oats " in conse 
 quence of it than I otherwise should. But to my 
 story. 
 
 While attending this last school I have mentioned, 
 two neighboring girls " over the creek," sisters, my 
 sister, two years my junior, and myself, got up a
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 71 
 
 plan of mischief, to surprise the old lady, our teach 
 er, and the other scholars, which came near being 
 taken a little too serious for our comfort. We each 
 prepared a dress, from bonnet to shoes, so odd and 
 fantastical that, to appear in the same now, in the 
 streets of Ogdensburgh some fourth of July morn 
 ing, would put a whole army of modern "terribles" 
 to flight. They would imagine that some monster 
 had fallen from another planet, or the ghosts of a 
 hundred years ago, had reappeared on the earth. 
 Our bonnets were cast-a-ways of our mothers and 
 grandmothers, long years before we had an exis 
 tence, and one would judge from the length of the 
 crowns and fronts, that, if they were constructed 
 since the flood, it must have been a very short time 
 since, and the milliners had mingled in one, both 
 umbrella and bonnet. To increase the size we had 
 them trimmed around the edge with broad strips of 
 heavy cloth plaited, and for trimming we made long 
 bows of gay colored quality, and tinselled tassels 
 from an old military coat. Burdock leaves and 
 sun-flowers made into a bouquet, adorned one side of 
 each. Our other regalia, I will not take time and 
 space to describe. Suffice it to say, that all of our 
 garments were the most antiquated we could find in 
 an old closet in the chamber, which had been the 
 receptacle of " old clothes " of all descriptions from 
 time immemorial. All that was wanted from this
 
 72 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 variety of wearing apparel was selected and put in 
 requisition, for the occasion. It consumed more 
 than a week's time, of all we could sly away out of 
 sight of our mothers and others who had " no part 
 or lot in the matter," to make preparation for the 
 day of our appearance in school. Our labors were 
 all performed in our rooms above, with closed doors, 
 and when every thing was ready for a march on the 
 day of exhibition, the numerous articles of apparel 
 were carefully dropped out of the chamber window, 
 and borne away from the house with mischievous 
 hands. The place had even been selected before 
 hand, in which to make our toilet, for we were 
 obliged to leave home dressed in our usual gar 
 ments, or the object for which we had so incessant 
 ly labored, would have been suddenly defeated by a 
 " vigilance committee," composed of parents, older 
 sisters and maiden aunts. The place of our retreat 
 was a lovely spot on the bank of the creek, beneath 
 the overhanging boughs of a venerable elm. The 
 shadow of this was completely enclosed with a 
 thicket of red-willow, and around these a wild 
 grape vine had clung its tendrils, and found its way 
 by them to the very top of the old tree. Here, we 
 were as effectually hidden as we would have been in 
 a cave. A few minutes time was sufficient for our 
 toilet to be completed, and we sallied forth across 
 meadows and fields to school. We laughed im-
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 73 
 
 moderately at our own ridiculous appearance, all 
 the way, but by previous agreement, we left our 
 hilarity at the door of the school-room, and entered 
 with lengthened visages as though nothing had hap 
 pened. Our forms were so disfigured that neither 
 teacher or schoolmates recognized us at first, but 
 the scene that succeeded is beyond description. 
 Order and quiet gave way for the most uproarious 
 noise and confusion, and it was with difficulty that 
 peace was restored, and our lessons recited. In my 
 last letter, I have said that the teacher's prayer was 
 always the same, but this evening was an exception ; 
 it was spiced with variations ; it was more particu 
 larly in behalf of " erring and sinful young ladies, 
 who despite the better counsels of parents and 
 friends would persist in travelling the broad road to 
 destruction." After school our cases were reported 
 in due form to head quarters, and the merited re 
 buke of our parents kept us from any more pranks 
 of that kind, during our term of school for that 
 summer. As was usual, in cases where it took sev 
 eral busy bodies to get up one piece of mischief, the 
 burden of the responsibility, and therefore of the 
 blame, rested on my poor head. Like the man in 
 the fable of the Lost Axe, the other three " little 
 innocents " said " you have been rather unfortu 
 nate."
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 Character of the inhabitants in my native town The school dis 
 trict The school house Sandy Creek Scenery in its vicinity 
 Captain Richardson's orchard Mr. Mantle's tan-yard Sliding 
 and hand-sleds Peculiar charms of winter Play-grounds Our 
 little seminary of learning destroyed by fire Number of families 
 and teachers, in that time-honored district Temperance princi 
 ples Gambling Amusements Dancing School Exhibitions 
 Industrious Habits Music Change of the world in that respect. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 I fear that your patience is already quite exhaust 
 ed with these dull reminiscences of school days, but, 
 though I have got through with the details, I would 
 like to give you an idea of the general character of 
 the inhabitants in that part of the town of my na 
 tivity, and especially those who made up the school 
 district in that quiet little valley. And the school 
 house, and surroundings I have never told you 
 about, and I take it for granted, that will interest 
 you as much as any part of my plain narrative. It 
 was built of stone, on a beautiful rise of ground, as 
 near as could be the centre of the district, for the 
 accommodation of all the inhabitants ; for these
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 75 
 
 economical days it was an expensive building, 
 though entirely inferior to many that have been 
 built since in that vicinity. It was without yard or 
 fence in front, and no shade tree or ornamental 
 shrubs adorned its grounds. However, just across 
 the road, and down at the foot of the commanding 
 eminence, on which our little seminary of learning 
 stood, Sandy Creek flowed musically along, with its 
 crystal waters and pebbly bottom. On its banks, 
 nature had planted in rich profusion, a great variety 
 of trees, vines, and flowering shrubs, and what was 
 more attractive still, wild fruit and nuts flourished 
 there in abundance ; all of these attractions, togeth 
 er with the fish and clams, that this stream was fa 
 mous for, made a favorite place of resort, for both 
 boys and girls. On a hill in rear of the school 
 house, was Captain Richardson's orchard, but this 
 was forbidden ground. Anywhere else within rea 
 sonable distance, except Mr. Mantle's tan-yard, the 
 scholars had free range. The creek was haunted no 
 less in summer than winter, on account of the ice. 
 Hand-sleds were a stock in trade that went at 
 "par ; " and sliding down hill was a luxury engaged 
 in at a fearful cost of torn garments, and bruised 
 heads. Our dinners were devoured with a speed, 
 altogether in advance of Mr. Graham's recommend 
 ations in his " Science of Living," and then the 
 odious school bell rang quite too soon. Occasion-
 
 76 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 ally we had a teacher, who so far stooped from the 
 stiffness and dignity of the " craft " in general, as to 
 engage in our sports, of snow-balling and sliding. 
 Such an one was a general favorite ; nor do I be 
 lieve his familiarity, detracted one iota from his in 
 fluence and usefulness in the school-room. 
 
 Every season of the year has its peculiar charms 
 and winter is not the least so, to the young and 
 buoyant spirit of childhood. Who has not felt how 
 hard it is to sit roasting in the bad air of an unven- 
 tilated school-room, when the beautiful snow, with 
 its glittering diamonds of light, is carpeting the 
 earth, and the merry jingle of sleigh-bells as they 
 whirl past, break the monotonous silence ? Who 
 wonders that a dull book has less charm than a pair 
 of skates, when the streams are covered with a coat 
 of glazed ice tempting boys to play the truant ? 
 
 In our places of resort in the vicinity of the 
 creek and hill, we found a good substitute for play 
 grounds which every school district ought to own ; 
 but it is as much as the pioneer inhabitants of any 
 country can do to provide themselves with actual 
 necessaries, without thinking of luxury or ornament. 
 This old edifice, which had been the scene of so 
 many struggles in ascending the " hill of science," 
 was long since destroyed by fire, and a more tasty 
 and modern one erected in its stead in another local 
 ity. Without boasting, I think it would be difficult
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 77 
 
 to find a common district school, from which gradu 
 ated more boys and girls, who afterwards went out 
 to the world as teachers, than this one. Thirteen 
 families made up the district. Taking out ens of these 
 who had but one child, the remaining twelve fami 
 lies averaged just seven children each, who all arriv 
 ed at mature years. Over forty of these were 
 school-teachers, ten of them from my father's family.* 
 There seemed to be a sort of commendable emulation 
 existing among the inhabitants, both old and young 
 a striving for knowledge of books, which would 
 be an assurance in after-life of the means of an 
 honest livelihood. Of the nearly ninety boys and 
 girls who received the rudiments of their education 
 in this time honored building, with scarcely an ex 
 ception they have turned their education to good 
 practical account andliettled honorably in life ; some 
 have even attained an eminence in literature. Not 
 one has disgraced himself with the wine-cup, for the 
 simple^ reason, probably, that they all had temperate, 
 sober parents, who labored assiduously for the good 
 of those entrusted to their care, with example as well 
 as precept. The former is far the most eloquent and 
 
 * By a reference to the New York State Gazeteer, it will be seen 
 that, in 1855 there were but 210 teachers in the whole of Jefferson 
 County, making an average of less than ten to a town. I will ven 
 ture, the assertion that, any time within ten years from 1835, more 
 than ten could have been employed from that one district alone. 
 
 7*
 
 78 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 effective teacher. Of what avail would words and 
 advice have been had those parents kept a rum-jug 
 in the closet, and daily quaffed its contents ? Suppose 
 they had delivered three temperance lectures a day, 
 and as often washed away the effects of it with the 
 contents of the bottle. Their words would have 
 fallen like the seed of the sower in the parable of 
 old, ',' by the wayside," upon " stony places," and 
 " among thorns." If such words had produced any 
 fruit, it would have been the fruit of bitter tears 
 and sighs over the wreck of ruined hopes. Steady 
 employment, the great rectifier of almost all human 
 wrongs and outrages, was always at hand. Besides 
 being good thrifty farmers, some had mechanical 
 trades, which employed many leisure hours,, but none 
 found time for tavern-hunting, though there was one 
 kept in the neighborhood for the accommodation of 
 travellers, for a great many years. For a lot of 
 neighbors to assemble of an evening, to tell " yarns," 
 in the bar-room, was an unheard of thing. Of the 
 hundreds of legalised rum-shops in this county, not 
 a tenth part of them would ever have occasion to 
 apply for a license the second time, if neighborhood 
 loungers would spend their evenings at home. By 
 far the largest share of these earthly pandemoniums 
 are kept alive by the stray dimes of those who live in 
 the immediate vicinity of them, and idly spend their 
 time there. The boys brought up in this vicinity had,
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 79 
 
 probably, all heard of gambling at a great distance, 
 and among the lowest classes of community, and 
 that was all, for not even card-playing for amuse 
 ment was tolerated there, for the reason, we were 
 told, that there were plenty of other amusements, 
 more profitable and less bewitching in their ten 
 dency. You will naturally enquire, dear F., what 
 amusements were considered proper, and whether 
 our parents thought it necessary for us to have any. 
 Parties were frequently get up in the winter season, 
 and dancing was approved of generally ; and, occa 
 sionally, a large ball at an hotel in a distant part of 
 the town. These required more time for preparation, 
 and no little expense, but as they did not occur but 
 two or three times a year, there was a general turn 
 out. Almost every school in town got up exhi 
 bitions, in which comical pieces and others were 
 spoken and read by large boys and girls. Teachers 
 and scholars from other districts were invited, mak 
 ing quite a gala-day which often lasted till mid-night. 
 Time did not hang as heavily with young people in 
 those industrious days as now. The music of the 
 spinning-wheel occupied the leisure hours instead of 
 the piano ; and in place of embroidery, the young 
 ladies made shirts and knit stockings for their 
 brothers. Yery few had learned the accomplish 
 ment of music and they were daughters of the 
 rich, living in the large villages and cities. How
 
 80 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 the world has changed in this respect, as well as 
 many others! even in the "back part of this back 
 county " of St. Lawrence, as Judge James calls it, 
 almost every house is adorned with musical instru 
 ments, or skilful hands to perform on them, or both. 
 In this remote farming district, from my chamber 
 window I can see seven houses, where there aye two 
 pianos, two dulcimers, two violins, and a melodeon ; 
 they are used daily, and almost as common as house 
 hold words. Now, while I write on this beautiful 
 moonlight evening, the notes of music, from a neigh 
 boring house, are wafted to my ears through the open 
 window of my room. Verily the world moves. 

 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 Sent away from home to an Academy Studies multiply beyond my 
 capacity Compositions My first one A description of Burville 
 Labor of getting lessons Inefficiency of teacher Anecdote of 
 a clergyman. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 The sunny dream of childhood passed with me 
 quite too soon, and was succeeded by wholly differ 
 ent scenes in the drama. At the age of fourteen 
 years, I was sent away from home to school, for the 
 first time. This waa a female academy where my 
 third sister was assistant teacher, of which I was a 
 pupil ; and no less a subject of stern discipline, than 
 in the district school and at home. In addition to 
 my former studies, which I thought quite enough 
 for one of my age, I was crowded into Parker's Ex 
 ercises in Composition, Smellie's Philosophy, and 
 Day's Algebra ; besides practising drawing, at least 
 one hour every day, and writing a composition ev 
 ery week. I had the liberty of a choice between 
 the description of a village or person, or a letter to 
 a real or imaginary friend, or an essay on a given
 
 82 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 subject, or a correct diary, but it must be of a cer 
 tain length, not shorter than a page of foolscap pa 
 per, and worst of all, it must be read in public be 
 fore the assembled school of both departments. 
 Wednesday of each week, was the dread day in 
 which these exercises took place, and visitors were 
 frequently present. Every other duty that was re 
 quired of me, I cheerfully performed but reading 
 my own composition ; this, I invented every excuse, 
 to get rid of, for timidity in the presence of so many 
 my superior in age, ability, and experience, nearly 
 deprived me of speech. My first attempt was a 
 perfect failure, and I retired from the school-room 
 in tears. My sister finished reading the paper, and 
 to inspire me with more confidence in future, she 
 and the Principal both pronounced it the best com 
 position there was read that day. The subject of it 
 was " A Description of Burville ; " that being the 
 only village which I was sufficiently acquainted 
 with, to warrant an attempt at describing. As you 
 may be somewhat curious dear F., to know the mer 
 its of my first trial in writing, for your especial 
 gratification, I copy it verbatim : " The small vil 
 lage, the name of which stands at the head of this 
 article, is situated in the town of Watertown, near 
 the eastern line, where it joins Rutland. It is on a 
 branch of a beautiful stream of water called Sandy 
 Creek. A range of hills bounds the village on the
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 83 
 
 t 
 
 east, which extend quite through several towns join 
 ing Watertown. Among these hills, a few miles 
 above Burville, this small branch of the creek 
 rises. An abrupt ledge of rocks, but a few rods 
 above the village, where the water falls naturally, 
 with a deafening noise, is worthy the name of 
 cataract. When compared with descriptions we 
 have read of Niagara and Trenton, it dwindles into 
 utter insignificance, but to one who has never seen 
 any larger, there is something really beautiful and 
 sublime in this precipitous leap of a clear sheet 
 of water, from the height of thirty or forty 
 feet. On the high banks of this waterfall the wild 
 columbine and rose, grow from the very seams of the 
 rocks ; thus is the prophecy of old literally fulfilled, 
 " The desert and the solitary place shall rejoice, and 
 blossom as the rose." After this play of the water 
 over a frightful ledge, from which a large share of 
 it falls in separate drops, then flies back in spray, 
 floating on the atmosphere, an honest miller has 
 combined its force, for the purpose of making it 
 work its passage through a deep channel cut for 
 that purpose, and turn the machinery which grinds 
 out grain for neighboring farmers. No sooner does 
 he give it liberty than the owner of a saw-mill 
 makes it his servant in manufacturing boards from 
 large logs. After all this excitement and labor it 
 winds tranquilly and quietly along, through meadows
 
 84 PEESONAL SKETCHES 
 
 % 
 
 and pleasant fields, seeking its way to the ocean 
 bed. The largest and most sightly building in the 
 village is the Union church, situated on a plat of 
 green near the centre. Here three denominations 
 of Christians worship God according to their own 
 system of belief. The Presbyterian, who believes 
 that God " worketh all things after the counsel of 
 his own will ;" the Methodist, who believes that He 
 " wills that all should turn from the error of their 
 ways and be saved," and the Universalist, who 
 believes both the will and purpose of the Almighty 
 shall be accomplished. Notwithstanding their 
 diversity of opinion, they have labored together 
 and accomplished the work of erecting a neat and 
 commodious house of worship, which is an ornament 
 to the place, and does honor to their taste and fideli 
 ty in a worthy cause. A school house, a dry goods 
 store, a hotel, where whiskey is sold, a blacksmith 
 shop, and about a dozen dwelling houses, complete 
 the list of all the buildings that go to make up the 
 village. It might not be out of place to add, that 
 the surrounding country is a thrifty farming district, 
 composed, mostly, of large families, a sober, tem 
 perate and industrious people, who, after the labors 
 of the week, every Sabbath, old and young put on 
 their best apparel and " go to Burville to meeting." 
 You may laugh as much as you please, dear F., 
 at this effort, for my anxiety about its appearance is
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 85 
 
 a long way in the past, but this same document cost 
 me a great many hours hard labor. The getting of 
 my lessons during this whole term of six months, 
 subjected me to severe labor, from the fact that some 
 of them were wholly beyond my capacity to under 
 stand. From that day till the present I have had a 
 perfect horror of Algebra, and if the truth must be 
 told, my heart never was very deeply engaged in 
 the study of mathematics ; and, comparatively, a 
 small amount of knowledge of that science found a 
 place in my heart. This is not true of a large ma 
 jority of my father's family, for many of them ex 
 celled in that branch of education. I will here say 
 to you, dear F., and run the risk of her eye scan 
 ning these pages, that our Principal in the academy, 
 was as much in advance of her appropriate sphere 
 as some of her pupils ; and as it is impossible for any 
 one to impart to others, what he does not possess, 
 she failed to enlighten us on many subjects which 
 we might have comprehended, had the information 
 been communicated in an easy and familiar manner. 
 The faculty to impart to others what one knows of 
 books, is the great secret of success with teachers, 
 more than their extensive knowledge ; but a lack in 
 that direction, and the ability to instruct, too, ought 
 to be sufficient reasons to keep a person from occu 
 pying that responsible station. I once heard an
 
 86 
 
 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 elderly clergyman say of a young man who had 
 tried several times to preach without success, that 
 there were two reasons why he would never succeed 
 as a preacher. First, he had a poor delivery, and 
 second, nothing to deliver.
 
 LETTEE XII. 
 
 Hugh Miller His schools and school-masters My last school-teach 
 er The last term Certificates of recommendation School-mates 
 separate, never to meet again on earth Brookside Cemetery. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 The great Hugh Miller, wrote a whole large book 
 about his schools and school-masters ; but I suppose 
 the school-room he got most of his knowledge in, 
 was the broad world, and his school-masters, the 
 rocks and hills, commencing with those in the vicini 
 ty of his native place. His deep researches into the 
 intricacies of geological science, deprived him of his 
 reason in the morning of life, and in the midst of a 
 useful career he fell into the grave of a suicide. I 
 acknowledge there is a (slight) disparity in the im 
 portance of the subjects which he brought before 
 the world and what I have been attempting to tell 
 you about, " my schools and school-masters ; " 
 but, again there Is one particular at least, in which 
 my book will resemble the one in question, the large 
 space I have occupied with that one subject ; and 
 yet, strange as it may seem to you, I have not quite
 
 88 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 finished it. Until I was eighteen years of age, I 
 was kept constantly in school, winters ; and from 
 the time I have told you of, I did not have any 
 change of teachers, except, perhaps, a few months 
 instruction from my oldest brother, who taught 
 school ten years in one place in Watertown village. 
 My last teacher, whose pupil I was three or four 
 terms in the old district school house, was so differ 
 ent from any I have described to you, and in many 
 respects so superior, that I cannot close this part of 
 my subject without giving you a sketch of him as a 
 teacher. His looks bore as striking a contrast to 
 one I have spoken to you of in a former letter, as 
 his manner of teaching. He was the very quintes 
 sence of mildness and amiability ; and his full black 
 eyes never beamed on his pupils but in kindness. 
 His explanations, in all the branches which he 
 taught, were plainly given, and with that patience 
 and fidelity which endeared him to both patrons, 
 and his charge. From that unnecessary talk which 
 many teachers employ their time with, he was 
 wholly free ; he never spoke in school but for some 
 purpose, and that with a great deal of dignity and 
 precision ; the interest he took in the advancement 
 of those entrusted to his care, aroused in them a 
 corresponding interest for themselves, and the largest 
 share of them had arrived at that age, to realize the 
 importance of close application. Besides, with
 
 AXD RECOLLECTIONS. 89 
 
 many of them, this was their last opportunity of 
 attending school, and their services were either re 
 quired at home, or they immediately entered upon 
 the duties of teachers themselves, for which many 
 of them became famous in after years. To several 
 young ladies he gave certificates of recommendation, 
 not that he had any legal authority, but because he 
 thought it might be of use to them in their efforts 
 
 o O 
 
 to get employment as teachers. The closing day of 
 the last term of this school, with many, was their 
 finishing stroke of school instruction, and they separ 
 ated with heavy hearts, never all to meet again on 
 earth. Our good teacher left us in his usual quiet, 
 still way, with many good wishes on both sides, and 
 those he had labored so faithfully to instruct, scat 
 tered in various directions, and to pursue a diversity 
 of employments. All whom death has spared have 
 since settled in homes of their own, some in that 
 immediate neighborhood, and many in the wilds of 
 the far West. Of nearly one hundred who were 
 school-mates in that district, eighteen have passed 
 the river of death, after arriving at mature years, 
 and nearly half of them left families of their own. 
 Of this number, all but three have found resting 
 places with their parents, in the sacred shade of the 
 elms and willows which ornament the beautiful 
 grounds of Brookside Cemetery, in Watertown. 
 One, a young lady, lies by the side of strangers on
 
 90 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 an Illinois prairie ; and two brothers of another 
 family, went to seek their fortunes in what has been 
 truly called " the land of gold and of graves, " have 
 found their last quiet sleep, in the glittering valley 
 of the far-famed El-Dorado. Those who are living, 
 are scattered all over the United States, and one in 
 Europe. Not a single family but has been bereft 
 of one or more of its members by death, and some 
 of them of nearly all. O ! dear F., what melan 
 choly thoughts, a rehearsal of these vicissitudes in 
 the lives of those to whom I am united in the ties of 
 a life-long friendship, and still more endearing rela 
 tion of consanguinity, suggest! Their graves are 
 hallowed by sacred memories of other years, and 
 every year adds to the number of those whom I have 
 grasped by the hand of undying affection for the 
 last time. Every time I visit that dear home of my 
 childhood, and the silent tombs of the loved and 
 lost of earth, affection's hand has been busy plant 
 ing flowers upon some new made grave. What but 
 an abiding faith in a reunion with those who have 
 gone before us, could sustain our spirits in the hour 
 of affliction? 
 
 " Where are the blossoms that bloomed by our side, 
 That opened their petals, to sunlihgt so fair ? 
 They came to our homes as angels disguised, 
 Oh! how we are longing to be where they are."
 
 LETTER Xin. 
 
 Teaching school Boarding around Examinations by the school 
 committee Home once in two weeks My mother's cooking Con 
 necticut habits Saturday night A series of meetings Ignorant 
 ministers Dangerous heresy Persecution Mr. French His 
 style of preaching. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 About the time I was eighteen years of age, I 
 commenced the employment of teaching. With the 
 exception of one winter, which was the one immedi 
 ately following my first term of four and a half 
 months in the summer season, I followed the employ 
 ment steadily for three and a half years. The long 
 est vacation I had at any one time in this over forty 
 months service, was four weeks. If my father's 
 means had been ample, it would have been far more 
 agreeable for me to spend my time studying, but 
 the period had arrived when it was necessary for me 
 to earn my own livelihood. My first school was 
 engaged for me in the town of Rutland, at one dol 
 lar per week, and " board around." For those eco 
 nomical times, that was considered a liberal compen 
 sation for a " miss in her teens." After I had toiled
 
 92 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 day after day, for four and a half months, through 
 rain and shine, sometimes boarding over a mile from 
 the school-house, I had earned eighteen dollars, all 
 my own, not enough to buy a country miss of 1860, 
 a good bonnet and shawl. However, that was the 
 most money I had ever had, of my own, and the only 
 cent I had ever earned ; so it looked very large to 
 me. The worst ordeal that I passed through in my 
 new vocation was the examination by the school 
 committee. One of the trustees accompanied me to 
 the presence of the three functionaries, who were 
 to decide on the merits of my qualifications. They 
 questioned me six hours without intermission, and 
 then pronounced me " competent in all respects to 
 teach a common school in that town one year from 
 date. Signed, F. N. Benedict, C. D. Huntington, 
 J. P. Dunlap, May 4th, 1839." This was a precious 
 document, and the hardest earned of any certificate 
 I ever got, and I afterwards obtained a county 
 license, which was perpetual. My school was com 
 pleted with tolerable success, for one so young. 
 My sister, two years younger, taught in another 
 town, and we frequently met at home to talk over our 
 successes and failures. This our good mother lis 
 tened to, with an interest not appreciated by any but 
 mothers. Generally, the times of our meeting was 
 every alternate Saturday, when our schools were 
 out according to custom. Our parents greeted us
 
 AND EECOLLECTIONS. 93 
 
 with a warm welcome, and as much preparation was 
 made as though other company was expected when 
 " the girls " were coming home. " My mother's 
 cooking " is the best, always, with everybody, and 
 with us, it was partaken of with a double relish 
 after an absence of two weeks. Saturday is a differ 
 ent day from any other with Connecticut house 
 keepers. The old " blue laws " had an influence on 
 them through life. With my mother, it was so ; 
 the old brick oven had to be crowded to its utmost 
 capacity, so that nothing but what was absolutely 
 imperative, would have to be done on the Sabbath, 
 which commenced at sunset on Saturday evening, 
 when all labor was brought to a solemn pause, ac 
 cording to the custom of her Puritan ancestors. Her 
 knitting needles flew with as much activity on Sun 
 day evening as any one of the week. Monday 
 mornings, after spending two days at home, I cheer 
 fully returned to my labor, though there was but 
 one consideration that made my situation among a 
 somewhat uncongenial pe ople, endurable ; the fact 
 of doing something for myself, after all that my pa 
 rents had expended trying to educate me. A series 
 of meetings was held in the school house, which 
 lasted Sabbaths and evenings for several weeks. 
 The minister who conducted them was as ignorant 
 of the English language as he was of Scripture ; 
 he murdered both, without the fear of God or man.
 
 94 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 It was but seldom that I went to meeting, which I 
 afterwards learned was a source of some dissatisfac 
 tion to my patrons, though they never expressed it 
 to me. I had good books with me, which I preferred 
 reading on the Sabbath, to listening to a theology, 
 which outraged reason and common sense. The 
 " dangerous heresy," in which I had been educated 
 at home, was well understood by my patrons ; and 
 though I never voluntarily expressed an opinion on 
 these grave subjects, and plainly intimated to them 
 that I had not come to their homes as a teacher of 
 religious doctrines, when the views which had been 
 taught me from infancy, and seemed to me right, 
 were attacked, I acted according to St. Peter's direc 
 tions, " Be ready always to give an answer to every 
 man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in 
 you, with meekness and fear." I had heard scores 
 of controversies at home, between my father and 
 orthodox ministers, and others, who took occasion 
 from time to time, to visit him for that express pur 
 pose ; and the arguments of my revered parent, I 
 was perfectly familiar with; but this was the first 
 time I had every felt compelled to use them. In 
 this enlightened day and age of religious toleration, 
 when, to the credit of humanity be it said, people 
 are regarded more in the light of their acts than 
 opinions, it is hard to realize with what a blind zeal 
 the minds of some Christians were deluded, in their
 
 AND KECOLLECTIONS. 95 
 
 persecutions of those they deemed in error, no more 
 than a quarter of a century ago. 
 
 During my engagement in this school, once in four 
 weeks, on the Sabbath, I walked the distance of two 
 miles to hear a man by the name of John French, 
 preach. This was another stumbling Block in the 
 way of my usefulness. He was a man well advanced 
 in years, and the manner of his delivery peculiar ; 
 his style of communicating his explanations of Scrip 
 ture, was more like familiar conversations with a 
 friend, than the usual mode of preaching ; and yet 
 what he said was delivered with an earnestness that 
 carried conviction to the mind's of his hearers, that 
 his teachings had, at least, one merit, that of sin 
 cerity. With a full realization of the fact, that his 
 doctrines were in direct opposition to the traditional 
 ones of the times, he chose subjects, as boundless 
 and unlimited as God's own nature, and made them 
 appear plain in his conversational and easy style, 
 even to children. By the majority of community, 
 he was considered a teacher of strange and objec 
 tionable doctrines, and in that remote part of the 
 heritage they could not bear that Mr. French should 
 come out and declare that, God, in mercy, had pro 
 vided a "sovereign remedy" for fallen man, and 
 that he would eventually be restored from sin to the 
 dignity of the divine nature and image in which he 
 was created. This was beyond the common faith of
 
 96 
 
 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 a professed Christian people, and I have since 
 thought it was no wonder they refused this remedy, 
 and did all they could to obstruct the wheels of this 
 reformation in doctrine, for their minds were not 
 ready to receive it without opposition.
 
 LETTEE XIV. 
 
 A Winter spent in Watertown Cotillon Parties Black-Band 
 Frivolous Amusements More Enjoyment at Church Sewing So 
 ciety A Day Spent Soliciting Funds to start with Conversation 
 with my Companions on our return Correspondence Embracing 
 a period of Twenty Years. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 After the close of this term of teaching, which 
 was with small regrets on my part, and probably 
 with less on that of my patrons, I spent a few months 
 with my sister, Mrs. Waggoner, in the village of 
 Watertown. Here I mingled much in the company 
 of my young associates, and almost every evening 
 brought a collection together, either in some private 
 family, or at the American hotel, in a dance. The 
 famous " Black Band " was engaged to play for one 
 evening in each week, and cotillon parties were 
 attended regularly. These I enjoyed well, not for 
 any particular partiality I had for dancing, for that 
 was always rather shallow amusement for me, but 
 for the society of my young companions. Besides, 
 
 the staid and dignified Mr. M. , my former 
 
 9
 
 98 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 teacher, was my escort. His language on all occa 
 sions was just as precise and formal, and every 
 syllable of every word pronounced with a measured 
 accuracy which corresponded with the most rigid 
 grammatical rules, as when he was " teaching the 
 young idea how to shoot." In the festive hall, in 
 church, in the school-room and street, the same 
 quiet unassuming dignity characterized him. Al 
 though too much time was spent in frivolous amuse 
 ments during this winter, I trust it was not wholly 
 without profit. I attended church regularly, and in 
 the exercises of religious worship, the Bible-class 
 and Sabbath school I found a more enduring enjoy 
 ment and heartfelt satisfaction, than in all the gay 
 and fashionable circles with which I met. During 
 over two years residence in this village, my seat at 
 church was never vacant for one half day. One 
 who has no enjoyment in the exercises of religious 
 worship, and merely attends church from a sense of 
 duty, I sincerely pity. Cold, indeed, must be that 
 heart, to which the duties of the sanctuary are but 
 a useless form, and from whose secret depths the 
 petition has not gone up to the Father of mercies, 
 for the sanctifying influence of His good spirit. If 
 such an one can be imagined to exist, how barren of 
 all true enjoyment! 
 
 There had never been a sewing society connected 
 with our church, and many doubts and misgivings
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 99 
 
 were expressed, on the part of the older members, 
 with regard to the feasibility of starting one. True, 
 the more cautious ones remarked that, other 
 churches in the village were prospering, and adding 
 much to their permanent fund, by the little weekly 
 income of the sewing society ; " but then," they 
 would always add, " they are more wealthy and 
 popular, and have an older organization than we 
 have." In the face of all these discouraging cir 
 cumstances I resolved to " try " what could be done, 
 by way of raising funds to start with. A young 
 lady of the choir, one with whom I had enjoyed an 
 intimate and pleasant acquaintance, offered to spend 
 one day with me, calling on various individuals, 
 soliciting aid to further our laudable enterprise. It 
 was one of those lovely sunny winter days, of which 
 there are but few in the year, the last day of 1839. 
 From early morn till dusky eve we labored assidu 
 ously with almost every family in the then small 
 parish. Our humble efforts were crowned with a 
 success far beyond our most flattering expectations. 
 With what a satisfaction we wended our way home, 
 with quick steps and light hearts, but heavy purses, 
 to report the trial of our experiment to anxious and 
 doubting friends. Thirteen dollars, all in silver, 
 was the amount of our precious treasure. As we 
 neared our homes, walking arm in arm up Factory 
 street, the last one we canvassed, talking over the
 
 100 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 wonderful adventures of the day, and our reception 
 by different individuals to whom we made known 
 our errand ; we both spoke of our happy lot in com 
 parison with some we had seen that day, as regards 
 health, friends and home, and all the nameless etcet 
 eras that go to make up the sum of human existence. 
 Humble and unpretending as our sphere in life was, 
 we concluded that but a few of our age, had enjoyed 
 a larger share of happiness than we had. "But 
 does the thought ever intrude itself, dear Jane," I 
 queried, " that the future may be dark and dreary, 
 and the friends who smile lovingly on us now, may 
 forsake and forget us ? " " Yes," said she, " the 
 future none can foretell. Ten years will, undoubt 
 edly bring to us many changes. If we live let us 
 write each other the last day of 1849." This pro 
 position I readily assented to, and as readily fulfilled 
 when the time arrived ; so did my friend. In her 
 letter she proposed that we both write again in ten 
 more years, the last day of 1859. That we also 
 did. For your espcial gratification, dear F., and the 
 want of more interesting matter, I enclose the 
 whole four letters. Mine will give you a hurried 
 outline of my future fortune, which I will fill up 
 more in detail, in subsequent epistles. The flattery 
 to myself, in my friend's letters you may skip.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 101 
 
 Watertown, Monday, Dec. 31 st, 1849. 
 
 MY DEAR JANE : Ten years have rolled away 
 since two young and inexperienced girls, who were 
 no less personages than you and I, were walking 
 the streets of Watertown, calling on friends, old and 
 young, soliciting funds to commence a " sewing 
 society." We raised far more than the most san 
 guine of our friends had reason to expect. The 
 sequel has shown to us, that in our feeble efforts on 
 that memorable day, our time was well spent, for 
 that same society, then in its infancy, has, with the 
 well-plied needle alone, achieved wonders. They 
 have sent joy and gladness- t6 many a sad heart, in 
 their errands of mercy and benevolence, to the poor 
 and unfortunate, literally obeying the command of 
 their divine Teacher, in clothing the naked, feeding 
 the hungry, and visiting the sick. With the clear 
 eye of a beautiful Christian faith, they have searched 
 out the wretched and desolate, and, good Samaritan- 
 like, sent them on their way rejoicing. They have 
 also supplied their church with many necessary ap 
 pendages, paid off old debts, and, withal, contributed 
 very liberally to literary and benevolent institutions 
 abroad. Industry and perseverance has been their 
 motto from the commencement, and their reward 
 has been ten-fold, securing to themselves the well- 
 deserved appellation of " sisters of charity." 
 
 You, doubtless, remember, the promise we mutu 
 ally made on that day, to write each other in ten 
 years, and as the time, rapidly passing, has expired, 
 I seat myself to fulfil the engagement. In our 
 journey through life, we are constantly reminded of 
 fleetness of time, and in the alternate sunshine and 
 shadow that flit across our path, we may draw a les 
 son that is but a page in the history of the whole 
 human race. In this general historv what an end- 
 9*
 
 102 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 less variety of subjects! Poetry, tragedy, hopes, 
 fears, aspirations never realized, joys and tears, 
 riches and poverty, one vast medley,, which a few 
 more years will sweep into the ocean of the buried 
 past. As might be expected we have both met with 
 a great change, of circumstances in this short time 
 especially myself. Then, in the inexperience of 
 girlhood, we were strangers to care or want, but 
 various circumstances have combined to change the 
 scene. I have now the care of a family, which I 
 believe you are free from. I suppose you are one of 
 the many, who believe that the pleasures of domes 
 tic life can never compensate its attendant cares, 
 and who chooses to remain single. This, in many 
 instances, is really true, but in far the most, it is 
 otherwise. The past, neither of us can review with 
 out mingled feelings of joy and sorrow. With me, 
 however, the scenes around which " memory de 
 lights to linger," are much the most numerous, and 
 I trust this is also true of yourself. We have both 
 followed to the grave, the remains of a much loved 
 parent, who, we believe, has exchanged this life of 
 pain and trouble, for another, which has restored to 
 them infinitely more than they have lost. Were it 
 not for this faith in a blessed immortality, the loss 
 of friends would be truly insupportable ; but for one 
 who confidently believes in a risen Saviour, death 
 loses all its terrors and becomes a messenger of 
 peace. We, too, must soon be ready to obey his 
 call, for, at the longest time allotted to man on earth, 
 we shall see but three or four more tens of years 
 before we shall be with our parents who have gone 
 before us. Many others with whom we have person 
 ally mingled in the social circle, have gone the way 
 of all the earth, since we last met ; and still more 
 have absented themselves by marriage, and removals, 

 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 103 
 
 from our old places of resort and evening " gather 
 ings." Another set, however, have taken our places, 
 and so the world has ever moved, and ever will. 
 
 I believe I have heard you were living with your 
 sisters at C - . I suppose you enjoy life there 
 as well as formerly, and, perhaps, better. I expect 
 to receive a letter from you in a few days, according 
 to agreement, informing me of your whereabouts, 
 and many other things relative to yourself, which 
 will not fail of being interesting to me, for it is a 
 long time since we had the pleasure of meeting each 
 other. You have, probably, been informed of my 
 new location, but lest you may not have heard of 
 our removal, I will say, that we live on the old 
 homestead in W - . My husband's health is 
 so poor that he has been obliged to abandon the min 
 istry for the present, and try farming. My health 
 is excellent as it always has been. To-morrow we 
 have a little family party, it being the seventh anni 
 versary of our marriage, and the first of our little 
 daughter's birth. " Our child," of course, we 
 think, is the smartest and best one in the world. 
 Do not laugh at our folly, for all parents are just 
 like us in that respect. I will close by inviting you 
 to visit us in our new home at your earliest con 
 venience. 
 
 Yours, in much love. 
 
 E. M. A. 
 
 Carthage, Jan. 13A, 1850. 
 
 MY DEAR ELOISE : Think not, because I failed 
 to write you on the day appointed, that I had for 
 gotten you, or the promise we made to each other 
 long years ago, let us be where we would, or under 
 what circumstances we should hear from each other 
 in some way yes, I remembered it distinctly, and
 
 104 
 
 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 should have kept my faith, had I known where 
 you were, so I am sure of your forgiveness for my 
 negligence, and a hearty " better late than never," 
 when you see from whom this comes, even if it docs 
 not arrive the first day of January, 1850. Well 
 can I bring to mind those two girls wending their 
 way from house to house, soliciting aid to raise 
 funds for a sewing society ; I am sure you will 
 agree with me in saying 'twas a very happy day to 
 both of us, for were we not young, gay and light- 
 hearted, free from care, and last, not least, we knew 
 we were doing our duty, and that always brings 
 happiness. How many changes these passing years 
 have brought to those two girls ; you are a wife and 
 a happy mother, and have a husband who loves you, 
 and likely appreciates your goodness of heart ; 
 although I have but a slight acquaintance with him, 
 please present my regards to him, and tell him I 
 trust it will not be long, ere he will regain his former 
 health, and once more be able " to do his Master's 
 will." It has in truth been many years since last 
 we met, and often, very often, have I thought of 
 Eloise and girlhood days. How little we then knew 
 of trouble, only in name ! and the joyous circle that 
 each evening brought together, we can never forget, 
 and can only remember them, as days fled never to 
 return. All who used to meet so cheerfully then, 
 in walks and visits, are filling different spheres, as 
 happy, I hope, as we mortals can well be, some to 
 preside over homes of their own, happy I dare say, 
 among loved ones. 
 
 Many of those, too, who once wended .their way to 
 the old church, have sought homes far from these 
 old haunts. I scarcely know twenty faces who now 
 worship there, for time's changes have passed over
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 105 
 
 all things there, as well as with us, and seats that 
 once held dear friends, are now occupied by stran 
 gers. I could not, if I tried, express the feelings I 
 experience when I enter our church. I never feel 
 at home, now, for I do not sing or join in any of the 
 exercises that used to afford me so much pleasure ; 
 they sing all new tunes there now, and those who 
 used to be our Sunday school scholars are the first 
 in the choir. I never go to church without shed 
 ding tears, for the loved faces are gone I used to 
 welcome, and the past seems like a sad dream. 
 
 I do live with my sister atC , and since S. was 
 
 married, almost five years. 'Tis a pleasant place and 
 a good home. Mother is here, too, but this Spring, 
 S. goes to keeping house, and then she will live with 
 her. I think she will like the change, for Water- 
 town to her, as well as myself, will always be home. 
 I am not married, and presume never shall be, not 
 for the want of chances, but other reasons ; I will 
 neither say I never loved, for that would be an un 
 truth. I have, E., " worshipped an idol and found 
 it clay," but to explain and tell you all the changes 
 with me, in the past ten years, would fill more than 
 this sheet of paper six times. I would much like to 
 visit you, and who knows but fate may yet bring us 
 once more together, to enjoy a right old-fashioned 
 visit. ***** A n d now good bye. May 
 angels guard you and yours. Ever thine until the 
 last day of 1859, when we shall hear from each 
 other again. J. "W. 
 
 Hopkinton, St. Law. Cy., N. Y. 
 December, 31s. 
 
 MY DEAR JANE : Yours of January 18th, 
 1850, was received in good time, and has been pre 
 served in remembrance of one who still holds a
 
 106 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 prominent place in my deeply-rooted friendships of 
 former days. The last sentence in your letter of ten 
 years ago, which is now before me, reads thus : 
 "Ever thine, until the last day of 1859, when we 
 shall hear from each other again." In accordance 
 with your suggestion, I now write you again. The 
 time has rapidly fled, and yet to me has come such 
 a multiplicity of changes, disappointments, labor 
 and care, I scarcely know how to choose words suffi 
 ciently brief to convey to you an idea of the varied 
 experience, through which I have passed during the 
 ten years that have gone the way of all past time, 
 since I last wrote you. I shall not attempt, in dhe 
 short letter, to enter into the details of my life, but 
 only give you an outline of some passing events. 
 It is hard to realize with what rapidity time flies, 
 and yet I know that ten springs have come upon the 
 wings of ten thousand warblers, and brought with 
 them the mild atmosphere, and buds, and tender 
 herbage, and that ten Summers have burst the buds 
 into blossoms, and freighted the air with their per 
 fumery, and that ten Autumns have matured their 
 fruits and grain, and delivered them into the hands 
 of the God of the harvest, and as many winters have 
 made their stormy way from Northland, and with 
 their killing frosts, have seared the green leaf, and 
 left the beautiful flowers all withered on the cold 
 ground. How fitly have the seasons been compared 
 to the different stages of human life. In that time 
 who has not wept over the grave of some buried 
 treasure, notwithstanding the beautiful and comfort 
 ing faith that we shall see them again, to perish no 
 more forever, where the affections bud and blossom 
 in the green pastures, and by the still waters of life 
 eternal. One dear and amiable sister has gone 
 from our large family circle, since I wrote you last, 

 
 AND EECOLLECTIONS. 107 
 
 Mrs. Lawson. She died, October 27th, 1854. Her 
 disease was cancer, and her illness lengthy and 
 painful. She died happy in her cherished faith, as 
 she had lived in the spirit of kindness to all, which 
 it teaches. I know we are apt to think our friends 
 are the best people in the world, especially those 
 called home by death. They are so to us, dear 
 Jane. We are no longer the unbroken band of 
 brothers and sisters. Blessed as she was in the 
 love of friends, we feel that she is infinitely more so 
 now. 
 
 My own family has all been spared, thus far, and 
 numbers only one more than it did ten years ago. 
 We have a son, nine years of age, who, with his 
 sister, sits at the table with me, eating raisins and 
 candy, that Santa Glaus left in their stockings last 
 night. The good old St. Nicholas visits our fireside 
 Christmas and New Year's. He will live long years 
 yet in the affections of Children, and his existence 
 is no more fabled than many other deities in Chris 
 tendom. To-morrow evening, they have a party in 
 honor of Marion's eleventh birth-day ; she was the 
 baby of a year old when I wrote you ten years 
 ago. We keep them both in school nearly all flie 
 time, and if they do not get an education it will 
 be their own fault. 
 
 We remained on the old home farm but two years, 
 and one year at Pillar Point near the shore of Black 
 River Bay. My lot has always been cast in pleasant 
 places, and this last one I have mentioned, was par 
 ticularly so ; a level surface of ground in sight of 
 Lake Ontario, where all water craft from an Indian 
 canoe up to the magnificent Steamer "Niagara," 
 play like things of life, upon the bosom of the deep. 
 
 Seven years ago we left this beautiful place, and 
 came to Hopkinton, much against my inclination,
 
 108 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 but with a better prospect, seemingly, of a home of 
 our own, so I reluctantly gave up all old associations, 
 and tried to make everything appear for the best, 
 and settled once more in a land of strangers. *' By 
 the rivers of Babylon we sat down, and wept when 
 we remembered Zion ! " I have lived here long 
 enough to learn that all the good people in the world 
 do not live in Watertown. Still, " my harp hangs 
 upon the willows," and I sigh for the companions of 
 my early youth. 
 
 After many losses and wrongs, struggles with 
 poverty and ill-health, with a little help from friends, 
 we have got a very comfortable home of our own, 
 and we have as many of the comforts of life as we 
 deserve, perhaps more ; though we feel as though it 
 had been hard earned. 
 
 Three years ago we were houseless and homeless, 
 except a lot of forty acres, without buildings or 
 water ; from that time till the present, I have 
 travelled and sold books. My success has been 
 much better than I expected, and I have begun to 
 reap the reward of my labors, awaiting the changes 
 of t the future. Write on the reception of this, if 
 you have not before, and give me a history of your 
 doings and changes in life. 
 
 Ever yours in love and good wishes, 
 
 E. M. A. 
 
 Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 13^, 1860. 
 
 MY DEAR ELOISE : Your letter of Dec. 31st 
 I received last evening, forwarded from Carthage, 
 and I never was more pleased to hear from any one 
 I ever knew ; for can it be possible, ten years have 
 past since last we wrote each other ? and what is 
 more singular still, your letter came, so that I can 
 date mine the very day of the month I did ten years
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 109 
 
 ago ; I need not tell you how much your letter 
 interested me, for though I have always known by 
 the papers where your husband was located, still of 
 your fortune in worldly matters I knew nothing ; 
 and here let me say, none but you, Eloise, could 
 have done, and passed through the furnace hope 
 fully and cheerfully, and gamed what you have ; 
 but you possess the same indomitable perseverance 
 that belong to the whole family of Miles's. Now 
 I think the rest of your days you can enjoy, under 
 your "own vine and fig tree." 
 
 Until 1855, I lived at Carthage, as I had for 
 years before, going and coming when I pleased, and 
 where ; two winters I spent in New York with 
 Bell. Abbey Bucklin, you know her ; she is the 
 daughter of Dorus Abbey, who lost his life in the 
 patriot war in Canada, and your predecessor as 
 governess in the Woodruff family. And then Miss 
 B. of New York would spend a summer with me, 
 and so went time. S.'s husband, the Doctor, be 
 came a confirmed dyspeptic, and obliged to give up 
 his business, took it into his head, if he could only 
 
 go back to his native place, W ville, he should 
 
 soon be well again. After shedding bottles of tears, 
 S. consented to part with her beautiful home in 
 Watertown, and go among strangers ; had she 
 thought 'twould be of any benefit to the Doctor, 
 she would have gone without a murmur. He 
 
 bought a pleasant place in "W ville and we all 
 
 moved there the 5th of May, '55. Ma had a shock 
 of paralysis and I went to take care of her, which 
 I was glad to do. I like to think back to those 
 days, for I never took so much comfort with my 
 mother before, for you know she was always such a 
 worker. She lived till the 25th of August, 1857, 
 and then went home, and was so glad to go. She 
 10
 
 110 PERSONAL SKETCHES- 
 
 had been worse, seemingly, a thousand times, than 
 at her last sickness ; she died of consumption. 
 Until the day before her death, I never dreamed she 
 was going to die then. S. and her husband were 
 on an excursion to the White Mountains, and did 
 not return until the day before her death. She 
 wished always to be taken back to Watertown and 
 placed by the side of father, and we did so. * * 
 Dr. "W. is dead ; going back to his old home did 
 not prolong his life. You recollect W. F. S., don't 
 you ? I was married to him in October, 1858, and 
 live in Milwaukee. The west does not agree with me. 
 I have the ague and fever, and am as thin as a 
 shad. I'll get used to the climate after a while. 
 This is a beautiful day, just snow enough and not 
 cold in this lovely city. M. sent the envelope to 
 your letter, so I could see my old name ; there, I 
 believe I have told you all of my whereabouts up 
 to 1860. So good-by, dear Eloise, till ten more years 
 of changes come. Shall we live till then ? If we 
 do we shall be old women, but not in heart. 
 
 Yours ever, JENNIE S.
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 How our Sewing Society prospered, and what it has accomplished 
 Church burned and a new one erected on its site Family School 
 at Mr. Woodruff's Extract from a letter from my brother 
 The Woodruff Family The Woodruff House Riches and 
 Poverty Happy Families Reminescence of a poor widow 
 Faith in the promises of God, the most enduring riches. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 The weekly meetings of our sewing society 
 brought large circles of happy friends together, 
 both old and young, and our first investment of 
 cash, which was for cloth to make into shirts, bed- 
 quilts, &c., was soon, by our handiwork, converted 
 into garments. A little stocking yarn was pur 
 chased, for " knitting work " for old ladies, and 
 everything went off charmingly. Two or three of 
 the more " knowing ones " were appointed a com 
 mittee by the society, to frame a constitution and 
 by-laws, which were stricfly adhered to ; and the 
 proceedings of each meeting were put on record by 
 the Secretary, also the receipt and expenditures, 
 and a report made of the whole to every meeting. 
 The first sales of garments, together with the week-
 
 112 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 ly tax of members, and voluntary contributions from 
 various quarters more than doubled the stock, be 
 sides leaving a number of quilts made of old cloth, 
 that were given to poor families in the village, out 
 side the parish. Our efforts to succeed were untir 
 ing, and we were especially anxious on the subject, 
 as many were faltering and doubtful in the outset. 
 With constant accessions to our numbers, came an 
 increase of business. Young men employed us to 
 do their sewing, and before winter was gone, one 
 wholesale clothing establishment furnished us with 
 all we could do. Thus they advanced from one step 
 to another, until the avails of their labor purchased 
 carpets, curtains and lamps, and all necessary church 
 furniture ; but to give you a correct idea of all 
 their doings, would take more time and space than 
 I have, and exhaust your patience to read it. Suf 
 fice it to say, that after a lapse of more than twenty 
 years, the sewing society is still in successful opera 
 tion, and they have had many fairs and festivals, 
 and I believe it no exaggeration to state that the 
 avails of their labor have amounted to several 
 thousand dollars. During this time, their church 
 edifice has been destroyed by fire, in a conflagration 
 that swept away more than half the business part 
 of the village ; and on the site, a new church has 
 been erected at a cost of more than twelve thousand 
 dollars, of which, three hundred was contributed 
 from their treasury.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 113 
 
 For two years from this time, I was in a family 
 school in Watertown Village, with the exception of 
 one term of absence, teaching in Champion Village ; 
 during the second summer, I was about to accept a 
 proposal to teach a district school in a neighboring 
 county, which, in a pecuniary point of view, would 
 have been decidedly to my advantage ; but the fol 
 lowing extract from a letter from my brother, who 
 was keeping a book-store in the village, received 
 while on a visit to my parents, will show you what 
 inducements I had to change my plans. " You have 
 doubtless been informed ere this, that Mrs. N. M. 
 Woodruff wishes to engage you in her house as a 
 governess for her five youngest children, and offers 
 you one dollar per week for teaching her five 
 youngest children for four hours a day only. Now, 
 all that I am afraid of is, that you have engaged to 
 go to Pinkney. You will not, will you, let the 
 larger wages offered there induce you to go, with 
 out your engagement is absolutely positive with 
 them ? The bearer of this has gone up on purpose 
 to induce you to accept Mrs. "VV's offer. You will, 
 of course, act your own pleasure, but I hope you 
 will come. You will have all the advantages of the 
 superior society here, and certainly have an easy 
 task. Besides, think of the many leisure hours, 
 in which you can read and study, and almost every 
 week a scientific lecture, and church every Sab- 
 10*
 
 114 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 bath." In a few days, I found myself located in 
 my new home under as advantageous circum 
 stances as had been represented to me, and as 
 pleasant a situation as heart could wish. Their 
 residence was on Arsenal Street, a few doors from 
 the American Hotel. Here, I did not have an idle 
 hour, for I knew how to do almost any kind of 
 fancy work, as well as useful sewing. As steady as 
 my labor was, but so frequently spiced with re 
 creation, and opportunities of acquiring useful 
 knowledge, and such an endless variety of exciting 
 subjects were crowded in my way, that time flew 
 with an astonishing rapidity. The family of which 
 I was a member, was a pleasant and good one, and 
 all seemed to enjoy life well, generally, with the 
 exception of the head of it. He had too much 
 wealth, and the care of it brought innumerable per 
 plexities and almost unutterable trouble of mind. 
 He seldom spent an hour a day in the society of his 
 wife and children, only when at meals. These were 
 generally partaken of in pensive silence, then away 
 again to attend to the wants of those in his employ, 
 whose " name was legion," or his tenants, and they 
 made up another small army. Besides the care of 
 all these, he built and owned the " Woodruff 
 House," the largest hotel in northern New York, 
 and superintended the financial affairs of its large 
 income. He did not hoard his wealth ; for the
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 115 
 
 heart of many a poor man has been made glad with 
 his benefactions. In his case, riches and benevolence 
 were linked together, hand in hand, however much 
 they are strangers in some other persons. The 
 pressure of the cares of business was too much for 
 his brain, and apoplexy and insanity were the 
 melancholy result. He was a wretched inmate of 
 an insane asylum for a series of months, from which 
 he was kindly released by death. 
 
 It is generally supposed that wealth brings happi 
 ness to its possessor, especially by those whom 
 Providence has allotted a low step in Fortune's 
 ladder. Ah ! mistaken idea ! there are often shock 
 ing contrasts in the exterior and interior of life ; 
 many a millionare has borne testimony to the falsity 
 of it. How few would accept the dollars and cents 
 for which they sigh, did they know a tithe of the 
 anxieties and brain labor that would come along 
 with them. The sweet brown loaf of the cottage 
 
 O 
 
 peasant, partaken of in sweeter peace, is an enviable 
 lot compared with such an one. The humble homes 
 from which the intricacies of a complicated and dif 
 ficult business, the wealthy are nearly always sub 
 jected to, are banished, are those where contentment 
 sits smiling upon the countenances of their inmates. 
 How blessed is such a home, if it hold the central 
 magnet of love, around which thronging hearts of 
 congenial friends and kindred revolve with an at-
 
 116 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 traction that never fails. There is a wealth by the side 
 of which the glittering coffers filled with Golconda's 
 precious metals, are but filthy rags. I hare made 
 intimate acquaintance with families whom poverty 
 rose up with in the morning, sat with at table, and 
 retired with them late at night to a hard couch, and 
 yet they were prodigally rich in a variety and ful 
 ness of blessings. Rich in faith, in the promises of 
 God, in the sympathy and encouragement of kind 
 friends, in health and activity, and all the nameless, 
 glorious anticipations of the future life, where all 
 the heart-yearnings, anxieties, hopes and fears of 
 the rich and poor together will have passed away. 
 Of this class, one poor widow, well advanced in 
 years, holds a prominent place in my recollections 
 of these days. In her struggles with poverty, the 
 lamp of hopeful assurance, for a " better time " 
 kept burning brightly to lighten her pathway. Her 
 seat at church was never vacant, and none dwelt 
 with more satisfaction on the comforting words of 
 the young pastor than she did. Her calm and serene 
 countenance was an index to the tranquility that 
 rested in her soul. In recounting her trials through 
 life she would remark, that God's promises which, 
 if all earthly comfort fail, would be her " rod and 
 staff through the dark valley and shadow of death." 
 " I will never leave nor forsake thee." This she 
 clung to as her chief good, through all the changes
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 117 
 
 which she had passed. She even dwelt with satis 
 faction on her past successes and joys, chilled as 
 they were in the intervals, with trouble and sorrow ; 
 they were a light to her sunken spirit. Like the 
 neglected grave mound of him who had been her 
 stay and support in better days, they awakened a 
 train of pleasing, yet painful memories. What a 
 blessed faith is that which assures us that an 
 Omniscient eye is over all the works of His hands, 
 in care for the least, as well as the greatest, and 
 that He will eventually send His good angels to 
 lead by the hand all the morally " halt, lame and 
 blind," into paths of righteousness and peace * 
 " For there is more joy in heaven over one sinner 
 that repenteth, than over ninety and nine just 
 persons that have no need of repentance." A faith 
 like this, and a life corresponding with it, are the 
 real riches of this world ; by the side of it, honor, 
 wealth, pride and ambition, are narrow and worthless, 
 if those who possess them are forgetful of the true 
 bread of life, and make the mind subservient to a 
 body pampered with " oil and wine."
 
 LETTER XVI. 
 
 Extracts from "my Diary Reflections on the New Tear Woman's 
 Rights The Fable of the Monkey Theological Seminary at An- 
 dover Men engaged in the Woman's Rights Movement Henry 
 Ward Beecher and others, &c. 
 
 MY DEAE F : 
 
 A few extracts from my diary will inform you of 
 some of the ways I spent my time, and of my gen 
 eral employment out of the school-room. 
 
 January ls. Spent the day in^ school and re 
 ceived a call in the evening from my brother ; he 
 made me a New Year's present three books. Miss 
 Sedgwick's Letters from Abroad, in two volumes, 
 and Friendship's Offering, a beautiful annual with 
 steel engravings. This will make reading for many 
 leisure hours in the future. Time has brought us 
 to the close of another year. It has been justly 
 remarked that " time is the only thing of which it 
 is a virtue to be parsimonious ; " and yet we are the 
 most prodigal of it. How few of us can look back 
 upon the past year, and say that it has been well 
 spent. Will the next year be an improvement in 

 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 119 
 
 this respect? and where shall we be? Perhaps 
 with the dead. Let us not forget the blessings 
 which are daily showered upon all ; the " evil and 
 unthankful," as well as the good. The sun continues 
 his course in the heavens, dispensing light and heat 
 to all, regardless of circumstances, and how illy is 
 his value appreciated. " The works of the Lord 
 are manifold, and in wisdom He has made them all." 
 It was unquestionably the design of Deity, that we 
 should be placed in different spheres of action as we 
 are, and each have a share of good and evil, which 
 is allotted by an unerring Providence. While we 
 enjoy the cheerful fireside let us not forget the many 
 who pine in want and solitude, " sore pierced by the 
 wintry winds." 
 
 January 2>rd. This evening, attended the Ly 
 ceum at the Young Men's Association room. The 
 question debated, was in relation to the political 
 rights of women. My own opinion is, that it is 
 perfectly preposterous that women should have a 
 right to vote, or any voice in the matter, and I am 
 thinking they would be as much out of their sphere 
 as the monkey in the fable. " What a low and tire 
 some life is that which I lead in the forests with 
 stupid animals ! I, who am the image of man ! " 
 exclaimed a monkey, disgusted with living in the 
 woods. " I must go and live in the cities with people 
 who resemble me, and who are civilized." He
 
 120 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 thither went ; but he, himself, soon repented of it ; 
 he was taken, chained, mocked and insulted. Moral 
 Frequent your like, and not get out of your 
 sphere."* I am willing to allow the "lords of cre 
 ation " to superintend the_affairs of government, and, 
 as one man at the Lyceum remarked, " The women 
 are fit only to darn stockings and raise children." 
 The weight of argument, however, was on the other 
 side, and the chairman was obliged to decide in 
 favor of the political enfranchisement of women. 
 Bear in mind, my dear F., that the above was written 
 nearly twenty years ago, and that I do not wish to be 
 considered in any way responsible for the sentiment 
 of it now. The professors in the Theolgical Seminary 
 at Andover, are installed with the usual ceremonies 
 and solemnities, for a term of five years, in which 
 they pledge themselves to teach the peculiar theol 
 ogy in all its essential points, of the sect, by whose 
 patronage the institution lives. Perhaps their salary 
 has some bearing on their duty and belief, five years 
 in the future ; but, if from any cause a man is 
 obliged to believe and teach five years to come, what 
 he does to day, I can see no reason why a woman 
 should hold to the same faith twenty years, on a sub 
 ject which has agitated the public mind to such a 
 degree, that a complete revolution is likely to be the 
 
 *Bolmar's French Tables.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 121 
 
 result. Not only intelligent and cultivated women 
 are laboring with well-directed energies to effect a 
 reform in their condition and position in society, but 
 a large body of enterprising men are earnestly and 
 zealously acting with them, in the same cause. Not 
 the least among these, was the late Rev. Theodore 
 Parker, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and Hon. Gerritt 
 Smith, and scores of others, now living, swell the 
 number to legions. If the sentiments advanced at the 
 Lyceum, above spoken of, were ever true, the time has 
 gone by, that women are regarded in any such light. 
 True, most of women are skilful in these employ 
 ments, but just as much so in other vocations, at 
 suitable times and places, as those who have been 
 pleased to style themselves the " stronger sex." As 
 you have expressed an opinion on this subject and 
 asked for mine, I may as well introduce it here, as 
 hereafter, with my reasons for a change of opinion. 
 I would not now underrate the employment of taking 
 care of children, or detract a particle from the respon 
 sibility and magnitude of a mother's calling as such 
 for I know that it underlies all other aims human 
 ity aspires to, in the far off future. If all others 
 are ignorant of the fact, the mothers of this liberty- 
 loving land knows that, dearer interests than houses 
 or land, or the distracting cares of public life, are 
 invested in their little heart-treasures at home. The 
 great issues for good or ill, are in a measure in her 
 11
 
 122 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 hands, and to neglect their culture, for any minor 
 consideration, (and everything else ought to be 
 second to that duty with the mother), would be a 
 criminal perversion of the noblest instinct God has 
 placed in the human mind. All the great and good 
 of earth, Franklin, Howard, and Florence Nightin 
 gale, were caressed in a mother's lap, and no doubt 
 owe a large share of their world-renowned useful 
 ness, and sacrifices in humanity's cause, to their 
 vigilance and example. 
 
 But there is another view of this subject, which 
 opposers of the doctrine of the equality of the sexes 
 do not seem to appreciate. In the light of their 
 slim philosophy, the simple rights of citizenship, is 
 to them an absurd yearning in the heart of woman, 
 and they can see no middle ground, between mothers 
 leaving the cradle at home unrocked, and their hus 
 bands' stockings undarned, and rushing out into the 
 unfeeling world, for a battle between life and death, 
 (I wish this were wholly a fancy picture), and the 
 whole feminine race remaining in a blessed state of 
 ignorance of governmental affairs, of their husband's 
 financial affairs, of all the mechanical trades, and of 
 everything else in the way of lucrative employment. 
 There might be a little more plausibility in their 
 arguments, if all the adult females in the world 
 were mothers, or had fathers or husbands who had 
 the ability and disposition to support them. The
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 123 
 
 time has been, within my remembrance, that it was 
 a generally received doctrine with both sexes, that, 
 nature had not endowed women with a capacity of 
 acquiring the means of support equal to that of 
 men. Perhaps that doctrine would have been as 
 popular now, as it was thirty years ago, had not the 
 experiment been tried in hundreds of cases, and not 
 proved a failure. Driven by the force of circum 
 stances over which she had no control, into the world, 
 penniless, in too many instances she has demon 
 strated to the satisfaction of the most superficial 
 observer, that she has a natural business talent, fully 
 equal to that of the other sex. And that, too, in 
 the face of the most discouraging casualities ; in a 
 state of society like the present, when her education, 
 the voice of the multitude, the custom of the times, 
 and too many other things to name, have operated 
 to put out of her reach almost every available means 
 to gain such an end. But a very few employments 
 are opened to her which are considered " proper " 
 for women to engage in, and these are compensated 
 with a mere pittance. ' Even with the same amount 
 of labor, her remuneration has always been less, and 
 that often grudgingly paid. Cotton factories, sew 
 ing and knitting machines have finished the work of 
 taking from the hands of the masses everything 
 by which they could turn their energies to good 
 practical account, if they had anything to do. The
 
 124 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 consequence is, that a large share of the females in 
 the United States are as ignorant of the practical 
 duties of life as a boarding school Miss in Boston, is 
 of pioneer life in the wilds of Nebraska. Their 
 knowledge does not go beyond the crotchet-needle, 
 or the last novel. Between these is a butterfly 
 chase after airy nothings, or a new dress for the next 
 ball. Another class, and these include nearly all of 
 the remainder, are wearing out their lives and ener 
 gies in a treadmill of the most menial services, and 
 their earnings are no more under their control, than 
 are a southern slave's. Northern Christians have 
 a great deal to say about the evils of southern 
 slavery, and enough eloquence of the pulpit and 
 energy of the press have been exhausted in the 
 State of New York alone, it would seem on that one 
 subject, to convert the world from the darkest night 
 of atheism to the noon-day sun of Christianity, 
 whose beams shall penetrate a territory broad enough 
 to illumine every dark corner of the globe. Through 
 their instrumentality, millions of dollars have been 
 expended, sending the Bible with their interpretation 
 of it to the Feejee Islands, to India and Africa, 
 when, perhaps, at the same time under their own 
 roofs there existed a heathenish darkness, more 
 appalling than African servitude, and of that the 
 half of its evils have never been told. How many 
 mothers in this State have any knowledge of the
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 125 
 
 sciences or natural laws. Not half of them spend 
 an hour in a week, reading, because their endless 
 round of duties leaves them no time, and their 
 " lack of knowledge disqualifies them for a taste for 
 literature." If they are deficient in knowledge of 
 books, they are much more so with regard to busi 
 ness or financial affairs. Not one in ten knows any 
 thing about the amount of her husband's income or 
 outgo, and if she is left widowed, with the care of 
 a family, pretended creditors, may, and often do, 
 rob her of the last cent. 
 
 The handful of women who have dared to open 
 their mouths in public, in defense of the rights of 
 their sex, or, in fact, on any other subject, have been 
 branded as coarse, unlady-like and masculine, and 
 the venom of a legion of tongues and pens, has 
 been showered upon them from the pulpit and press ; 
 and they have been tauntingly referred to what St. 
 Paul says of women being " keepers at home," (I 
 might digress here, dear F., enough to preach you 
 a sermon on some of the customs of St. Paul's times, 
 and pass an opinion that some of his sentiments 
 were particularly adapted to that age, and just 
 mildly hint that, his being an old bachelor, might 
 have some bearing on his restrictions with regard to 
 women ; but if I did I should be immediately set 
 down as an infidel, by the same ones, perhaps, who 
 do not feel themselves bound to accept all of St.
 
 126 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Paul's advice, for he advises the " unmarried and 
 widows to remain unmarried, even as I.") " Keep 
 the hearth-stone bright," they say, " and leave every 
 thing else to us." What if they have no hearth 
 stones ? There is not a town in the United States, 
 probably, that has not women who have been driven 
 from their homes, (if the hovels they stay in are 
 deserving that sacred name), by drunken husbands, 
 and left to take a choice between starvation for them 
 selves and little ones, and the pauper's protection in 
 the almshouse. In case of final separation, no mat 
 ter for what cause, the laws of the State, up to last 
 winter, by a new act of Legislature, gave the hus 
 band all the property and children. Now, the 
 mother is the legal guardian of her children, as she 
 always has been the natural one, in case of death, 
 drunkeness, or wilful desertion. This was opposed 
 as strenuously as though the cause had been a just 
 and humane one, but the majority ruled. It is not 
 more than three years since a man in Pennsylvania, 
 about to die, willed his three children to his brother, 
 because his wife, their mother, was a Catholic. 
 After his death she appealed to the Supreme Court 
 for protection in her God-given right, and they de 
 cided against her ; the unfeeling uncle took them to 
 his own home. " Tell it not in Gath ! " In the light 
 of all these facts there are thousands of women in 
 Christian New York, who say they have all the
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 127 
 
 
 
 rights they want. Voluntary slavery is more de 
 grading than any other, for it shows a lower degree 
 of aspiration and desire for advancement than that 
 which is compulsory. 
 
 The sister of the noble Kossuth, who kept a board 
 ing house in New York city, had all her furniture 
 and hard earnings seized to pay the debts of a worth 
 less husband. She remonstrated with him on his 
 extravagance ; and he pointed her to our revised 
 statutes, with the remark : " Remember, you are 
 not in Hungary, now." She remarked to a friend, 
 in speaking of her troubles, that the the laws of 
 New York State, with regard to married women, 
 were worse than those of poor oppressed Hungary. 
 There was one woman who wanted and needed 
 more rights than she had. Justice and law on which 
 it is founded should have protected her in her own 
 house, but she was sent forth a beggar in a strange 
 land, by the European tyrant who was her legal 
 husband's creditor. The law, as it is now, does no 
 harm or wrong to any man or woman living, for 
 sober, temperate, and industrious husbands, it does 
 not effect, and it will, and has done much good. 
 What would it not have been worth, to the toil-worn 
 woman in question ? 
 
 The laws in Germany, with regard to married 
 women's property, have been just what they should 
 be, for more than twenty years. Miss Catherine
 
 128 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Sedgwick, w ho is conceded to be a woman of cor- 
 
 O 
 
 rect judgment, and one whom nature has endowed 
 with a gift of clear insight, which would be an en 
 viable possession for any man or woman, in her 
 travels abroad in 1840, she writes from Germany : 
 " There is one of the rights of women secured to 
 them here which I have been assured has an impor 
 tant effect on general prosperity and individual hap- 
 -piness. The German wife has an inextinguishable 
 right to half the joint property of herself and her 
 husband. He cannot deprive her of it by will, nor 
 can it be applied.to debts of his contracting. " This 
 it is," said a gentleman to me, "that makes our wives 
 so intelligent in the management of their concerns, 
 so industrious and economical." I don't know how 
 this may be, but it seems to me to be but common 
 justice that a wife should be an equal partner in a 
 concern of which she bears so heavy a part of the 
 burden. Would not the introduction of such a law 
 have a beneficient effect on the laboring classes in the 
 United States ? How many women would be stimu 
 lated to ingenuity and productive labor, if the re 
 sults of their industry were secured to them ? How 
 many women are first wronged and then disheart 
 ened by having an inheritance consumed by a hus 
 band's vices or dispersed by. his wild speculations ? 
 How many well-qualified for respectable branches of 
 business, are deterred from attempting them by the
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 129 
 
 impossibility of securing to themselves and their 
 children, the proceeds ? How many poor women 
 among the lowest class of laborers, have you and I 
 both known, whose daily earnings have been law 
 fully taken from them by their brutal husbands ? 
 This is a pretty serious evil, as in that class, at least, 
 (you will allow me to say), the destructive vices 
 are pretty much monopolized by your sex. It is 
 one of our distinctions, thank God, in the New 
 World, that we do not quietly rest in any error ; 
 so I have faith that in good time this matter will be 
 set right." 
 
 The United Colonies of this free and happy Re 
 public, waged a seven years' war with Great Britain 
 in 1776, upon the principle of a declaration made in 
 the House of Representatives of Massachusetts in 
 1764, to the effect, " that the imposition of duties and 
 taxes by the Parliament of Great Britain, upon a 
 people not represented in the House of Commons, is 
 absolutely irreconcilable with their rights." " If 
 we are not represented, we are slaves." One of Eng 
 land^ noblest jurists, Justice Pratt, has acknowledg 
 ed the truth of this doctrine in the following words : 
 " My position is this. Taxation and representation 
 are inseparable. The position is founded in the law 
 of nature. It is more ; it is itself an eternal law of 
 nature." And yet when they had wrested from the 
 grasp of Great Britain the colonies, because she
 
 130 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 would not govern them upon this principle, and 
 undertook to organize them, most of the colonies 
 cut off one half of the people, that is, tlie women, 
 from any representation in the government, but they 
 still claimed the right to tax them for its support, 
 and the right to punish them for disobedience. They 
 were as inconsistent as the Puritan fathers, who fled 
 from the mother country on account of religious 
 persecution, and then became themselves the perse 
 cutors of the Baptists and Quakers, because they 
 did not agree with them in opinion. 
 
 I can see no justice in people who have masters 
 to represent them in everything else, being made to 
 suffer the penalty of crime. Less than two years 
 ago, in a town joining this one, a married woman 
 was convicted of the crime of theft, and her hus 
 band had the offer of settling the offence by paying 
 the sum of three hundred dollars. A great deal of 
 sympathy was excited in the minds of the public, 
 that the husband should be required to pay .the 
 penalty of his wife's misconduct. But the woman 
 had no property of her own. To be sure, they had 
 acquired a large sum together, and he had the legal 
 control of the whole ; for, though a husband and 
 wife are one, according to law, that one is the hus 
 band, with regard to their joint earnings, and at 
 that time this was true of any personal property. 
 This case proved to -be one of insanity. Improve-
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 131 
 
 ments in respect to the position of women in society, 
 are constantly in progress, for which let us be thank 
 ful. Every free State in the American Union, ex 
 cept, perhaps, two or three, and one of them is New 
 Jersey, have legislated is some way with regard to 
 married women's separate control of property, and 
 a few of them have given them their own earnings 
 after marriage. Among these are Massachusetts 
 and New York. Kentucky is a little in advance of 
 all of them in one respect. She has actually extend 
 ed the right of suffrage to women in some educa 
 tional matters. The constitutional convention of 
 Kansas, too, voted within six, of extending it with 
 out reserve, and expunging the word male from the 
 Constitution. Surely this is a little in advance of 
 the law that reads as follows, this, I think, is, or 
 has been a statute law of the State of Ohio : " The 
 personal property of the wife, such as money, goods, 
 cattle, and other chattels, which she had in 
 possession at the time of her marriage, in her own 
 right and not in the right of another, vest imme 
 diately in the husband, and he can dispose of them 
 as he pleases. On his death they go to his re 
 presentatives like the residue of his property. So 
 if any such goods or chattels come to her possession 
 in her own right after the marriage, they in like 
 manner immediately vest in the husband." The re 
 form from such heathenish laws as these mentioned,
 
 132 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 to those in a very few States alone which give to 
 the mother the guardianship of her children, after 
 the death of her husband, and the right to the 
 avails of her own toil while he is living, with some 
 other privileges, which God and nature intended 
 she should have from the beginning, have all taken 
 place within the last ten years. Surely the 
 millennium must be at hand. What may we not 
 expect for ten years to come ? It is but a few years 
 since the State of Vermont confiscated one half the 
 property of every childless widow. After death 
 had bereft her of her husband, the State robbed 
 her of her property. Why not apply this law to 
 spinsters who have succeeded, many of them, in ac 
 cumulating a competence, and it would be equally 
 just for them to give one half their earnings for the 
 support of State expenses. Women ought to be 
 very grateful for such provident care of the " sterner 
 sex " over their interests. Being thankful for small 
 favors is a good maxim, for if that were not observed, 
 some classes would have to cease to be thankful at 
 all. Only think of a State legislature assembling 
 every winter, many of them composed of men of 
 the vilest character, living luxuriously on roast beef, 
 plum-pudding and champagne at the first class 
 hotels, drawing enormous pay and expending it 
 with a reckless extravagance, which would put to 
 blush the veriest spend-thrift in our streets, and that 
 at the expense of poor childless widows. Perhaps
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 133 
 
 a large share of it was earned with their own hands 
 with the smallest remuneration. Henry Ward 
 Beecher says that some folks think when things go 
 awry, if there is a God he must be in heaven and not 
 on earth. It would seem so sometimes. It is to be 
 hoped our New York State legislature did not have 
 any widow's funds to expend, when they went off on a 
 jollification to Blackwell's Island and got drunk. 
 It was well for them they occupied honorable posi 
 tions in society, or perhaps they would have been 
 sent to Blackwell's Island for a term of months. 
 Our own country is blessed in these respects above 
 many others ; I mean in reforms in behalf of those 
 women who depend on their labor for a living. Miss 
 Catherine Beecher has written a book entitled, " The 
 true remedy for the wrongs of woman." On the 
 thirty-fifth page she quotes from an author not 
 designated in her work ; and at the close of her ex 
 tract, which is quite lengthly, she says, " These 
 statements were made by a writer who was aiming 
 to show that the establishment of manufactories 
 was to be the remedy for these evils." 
 
 " The distressed needle-women of London have 
 been made the object of a commission of inquiry ; 
 and thirty-three thousand women permanently at 
 the starvation point, and working at wages of a few 
 pence a day, are ascertained to be lingering out a 
 wretched existence in that city." 
 12
 
 134 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 " Another of the results may be learned from the 
 report of the parliamentary commission on the 
 collieries. It is there stated that thousands of fe 
 males of every age, from childhood to premature old 
 age, were toiling deep in the English mines, often in 
 nudity and promiscuously with boys and men !" 
 
 " The dens of infamy in English cities, and the 
 transport ships filled with female convicts, many of 
 whom committed crime to secure food even in 
 prison, are other results of that English system of 
 civilization." 
 
 Well could Sidney Smith say, " We are a 
 spectacle to gods and men. Savages grow up in 
 our midst, wilder, more forlorn, more forgotten, and 
 more neglected, than the earth-eaters of New 
 Holland ! " 
 
 " New England, as it seems to us, is fast follow 
 ing the example of England. Manufactures and 
 commerce have taken the precedence of agriculture. 
 There are few inducements for young men to re 
 main, and the young women cannot get away. The 
 excess of the latter over the former is increasing 
 every year, and we fear that the standard of labor 
 is every day becoming less and less elevated. Fe 
 males are driven out of Ireland, and bid lowest for 
 places in the New England factory. They can work 
 at low wages, because they are content with the 
 bare necessaries of life."
 
 AXD RECOLLECTIONS. 135 
 
 My letter on the " rights " and " wrongs " of 
 woman has been lengthened beyond my expectations 
 when I commenced, and I fear your patience will 
 be quite exhausted reading it. By this time I pre 
 sume you have discovered my reasons for a change 
 of opinion. My remedy for her wrongs, with re 
 gard to laws respecting the disposal of her property, 
 would be in the ballot-box, and a reform would not 
 be very speedily accomplished without her own in 
 fluence there ; and in this you will discover my 
 reason for thinking that she ought to have the right 
 to vote. Employments of any and every description 
 ought to be open to women and men indiscriminate 
 ly. Some men would make good milliners, and some 
 women good farmers and mechanics. I will close 
 by quoting what a writer in a literary magazine 
 says of Miss Weber, and from which Miss Beecher 
 extracts. Her sentiments I cannot see any fault in. 
 " Miss Helena Maria Weber, a young Belgian lady, 
 stands preeminent among the advocates of Woman's 
 Rights of the present day. A noted French critic, 
 who is by no means friendly to the cause in which 
 Miss Weber is engaged, confesses that, " she pos 
 sesses the highest order of intellect, and a thorough 
 knowledge of social and political economy. Miss 
 Weber's style is sententious, vigorous and graceful, 
 with a dash of quiet humor sufficient to relax the 
 gravity of the surliest old bachelor in the world.
 
 136 
 
 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Her essays appear to cover the whole ground in 
 dispute. She claims the right of women to enjoy 
 the elective franchise, to fill every description of 
 civil and ecclesiastical offices, to hold their own 
 property independent of their husbands, to have a 
 full moiety of domestic authority, to dress without 
 restriction as to form of garments, and to be the 
 compeers, instead of the ' legal slaves ' of their hus 
 bands."
 
 LETTEE XVII. 
 
 A few more " last words" on Woman's Rights, Dr. Franklin's Dis 
 cussion First Advocate of Woman's Rights Women's Educa 
 tion The fable of the Cat and the Bat Extracts from my 
 Diary Pedagogues Extracts from Johnson Anecdote of Dr. 
 Johnson, &c. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 A few more " last words " on this subject ; I see, 
 in looking over my last letter, I have left out some 
 things which ought to have been written, notwith 
 standing the length of it. The education of females 
 has been neglected ; until a few years ago, it was 
 not thought necessary for girls to be taught beyond 
 the bare acquisition of reading and writing. This 
 was honestly considered enough, for all the practical 
 purposes of life they would have occasion to put in 
 requisition. No longer ago than Dr. Franklin's 
 time, his memoirs written by himself, give an ac 
 count of a public discussion he held in Philadelphia 
 with a young man by the name of Collins, on the 
 subject of female education. Young Collins took 
 the ground that females did not need an education 
 at alL Both sides undoubtedly had its advocates, 
 11*
 
 138 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 besides the two young disputants, but the probabili 
 ties are, that Dr. Franklin was as much in advance 
 of his age, on that subject, as he was on many 
 others. He was undoubtedly the first advocate of 
 " Woman's Rights" in the United States, and to this 
 very thing (education) we owe our advancement in 
 the direction of corrected public sentiment on this 
 subject ; this, after all, is the great elevator of the 
 human race. 
 
 After a lapse of a hundred years, but very few 
 remain who can in truth be said to belong 
 to Collins's school, but there are still a for 
 midable army of those who have been convinced 
 that women have a right to be educated ; but deny 
 her right to put her education to any practical use. 
 After being driven from one corner, they have found 
 another. Excuse me, dear F., for introducing 
 another one of Bolmar's Fables here, and you may 
 make your own application of it, as well as what 
 else has been written on this tangled subject. I 
 have always had a passion for fables, and they often 
 illustrate clearly what we fail of doing in any other 
 way, "The Cat and Bat." 
 
 A cat having been taken in a net, promised to a 
 rat, which had delivered him from it, to eat no more 
 either rats or mice. It happened one day, that he 
 caught a bat in a barn. The cat was at first em 
 barrassed ; but a moment after, he said : I dare not
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 139 
 
 eat thee as a mouse, but I will eat thee as a bird. 
 With this conscientious distinction, he made of it a 
 good repast. 
 
 Moral. Persons of bad faith are never at a loss 
 for pretexts or reasons to justify their injustice. 
 
 My notes, dear F., are somewhat lengthy, but I 
 crave your patience while I proceed with my diary 
 commenced with my last letter. 
 
 Thursday, Jan. 6th. Before school this morning, 
 read an hour in Johnson's Economy of Health, 
 where I found the following : " He who cultivates 
 the brains of pupils, whether male or female, has 
 often a most ungrateful task to perform. To expect 
 a good crop of science or literature from some intel 
 lects, is about as hopeless as to expect olives to 
 thrive on the craggy summits of Ben Nevis, or the 
 pine apple to expand amid the glaciers of Grindel- 
 wald. Yet from these sterile regions of mind, the 
 hapless pedagogue is expected by parents, to turn 
 out Miltons, Lockes and Newtons, with as much fa 
 cility as a gardener raises cauliflowers from rich al 
 luvial grounds." 
 
 Here is a sympathy for us poor pedagogues, that 
 is really refreshing ; and by me it is thankfully ap 
 preciated. This is the same Dr. Johnson of whom 
 I heard an anecdote some years since. Just before 
 his marriage, he remarked to his intended bride that 
 there was one thing relative to his family connexions,
 
 140 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 which he had never told her, that she ought to know 
 before they were married ; that was that he had an 
 uncle once who was hung. With perfect indiffer 
 ence she replied that she had not any relation hung, 
 but that she had fifty who ought to be. 
 
 Jan. 1th. This evening attended a ball at Mas- 
 sey's Hotel, on Factory street, in honor of Jackson's 
 victory at the famous battle of New Orleans, which 
 occurred Jan. 8, 1815. How different the scene, in 
 the gay, happy, and thoughtless crowd of the assem 
 bly rV)om, from that enacted on the bloody plains of 
 Chalmette, twenty-seven years before. The one is 
 illuminated with a splendor of brilliant astrals, and 
 light feet trip at the sound of sprightly music, with 
 a buoyant, elastic step, while busy hands in the 
 basement, are preparing a feast of delicate viands, to 
 tempt pampered appetites. The young and happy 
 are here. Fair forms exquisitely moulded and dec 
 orated with " purple and fine linen," flit through the 
 room like phantoms. Fickle fortune has not yet set 
 tled upon their brows her sombre shadows. The 
 whole scene is characterized with wit, love and joy- 
 ousness, undimmed with the faintest conception of 
 the scene of misery and death, at the " splendid vic 
 tory " they celebrate. There the cold ground was 
 strewed with the bodies of the dead and dying sol 
 diery. The fierce rage of angry battle mingled with 
 the groans of the wounded, are the only sounds that
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 141 
 
 greet the ear. Coarse, stalwart arms deal death 
 blows to the enemy, and among all these disgusting 
 scenes of human wretchedness in its last extremity, 
 no one moves with love and pity, and softened voice, 
 to speak words of comfort, or wipe the death-sweat 
 from agonized brows. No sound of prayer is waft 
 ed from this great death-bed, in behalf of erring and 
 sinful humanity, save from the lips of the suffering 
 themselves. Many a heroic spirit passed away, and 
 history has put on record, in letters of blood, what 
 the world calls their gallant deeds. There, at the 
 point of the sword, they found the grave of all earth 
 ly hopes and aspirations. In the resurrection state 
 they shall neither hunger or thirst, weep or die any 
 more. 
 
 " Our bugles sang truce, for the night-cloud had lowered, 
 
 And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, 
 
 And thousands had sunk on the ground overpowered, 
 
 The weary to sleep and the wounded to die." 
 
 Feb. 14tfA. Valentine's Day. The old saint has 
 been pretty busy here, depositing his missions of 
 love and hate in the Post Office, for silly boys and 
 girls, and here I may as well throw away my pen, 
 for if I knew all the emotions of the " tender pas 
 sion," and of anger he has aroused, I could not make 
 a record of them, for they are unspeakable, and will 
 always have to remain unwritten. The English lan 
 guage has long ago been exhausted in the attempt.
 
 -- PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Commence school again to-day, after having a 
 vacation of a whole month, spent travelling and vis 
 iting friends in Ogdensburgh, Canton, Potsdam and 
 Champion. A most delightful trip. Had a sleigh- 
 ride almost every day, and spent nearly every even 
 ing in the social circle, and attended church every 
 Sabbath. Enjoyed company more especially at 
 Canton ; here I found the young people intelligent, 
 well-informed and courteous ; and in literary attain 
 ments quite in advance of their size I have ever be 
 come acquainted. Dancing and dress are not the 
 height of their aspirations. 
 
 Feb. 2.4th. This evening attended a party at 
 Mrs. Leig's ; the entertainment was thoroughly 
 German, and the appearance of everything was so 
 anti-American, furniture, dress, eccentricities of 
 manners, and table, that it very forcibly reminded 
 me of Washington Irving's description of a Dutch 
 tea-party, though their bill of fare included almost 
 every variety of dish embraced in the skill of the 
 culinary art, from the solids, like ham and fish, to 
 the most delicate pastry. Of the one he attended 
 he says : " The tea table was crowned with a huge 
 earthen dish, well stored with slices of fat pork, fried 
 brown, cut up into morsels and swimming in gravy. 
 The company being seated round the genial board, 
 and each furnished with a fork, evinced their dex 
 terity in launching at the fattest pieces in this 
 mighty dish, in much the same manner as sailors
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 143 
 
 harpoon porpoises at sea, or our Indians spear 
 salmon in the lakes." 
 
 Sunday, Qth March. After church read in John 
 son's " Economy of Health," his ideas of courtship. 
 Whether true or not they have the merit of being 
 original. " My own opinion is, that, were the 
 whole of the adult population registered as they v 
 come of age, and each person, male or female, drew 
 a name out of the urn, and thus rendered matrimo 
 ny a complete lottery, the sum total of happiness, 
 misery, or content, would be nearly, if not exactly 
 the same as upon the present principle of selection. 
 This, at first sight will appear a most startling prop 
 osition, but the closer we examine it the less extrava 
 gant it will be found. Courtship is a state of war 
 fare, the art and 'principles of which are diligently 
 studied, and vigilantly exercised, during the whole 
 of that interesting period of life. Each party care 
 fully conceals the weak points, and prominently por 
 trays the strong, the amiable, and the beautiful. 
 Add to this system of intentional deception, the fact 
 that Love is blind, and therefore cannot see defects ! 
 What is matrimony, then, but a lottery in which 
 many draw blanks, or worse, when they expect 
 great prizes." 
 
 Feb. 16tfA. Spent the forenoon in school, and af 
 ternoon attended the sewing society at Mrs. Slier- 
 man's ; in the evening a lecture on the social desti 
 ny of man, by Mr. Watson. His theory is a good
 
 144 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 one, but mankind will have to be nearer perfect than 
 they are now, before it can be carried into practice. 
 Fourierism will do to talk about, and set people's 
 ideas to work planning for the "good time coming," 
 but before the principle of it can be acted upon, self 
 ishness will have to be stricken from the human or 
 ganism. That will make a superior race of beings 
 of us, and we shall have to be transferred to anoth 
 er planet. 
 
 March Zbth. At eight o'clock P. M., attended a 
 lecture on Elocution, at the Baptist church, by Prof. 
 Whitney. His specimens of oratory were soul-stir 
 ring. His speech in the character of Moloch at the 
 gates of heaven, as described by Milton, also, the 
 dream of Richard Third, were admirably performed. 
 
 March 29tfA. Twenty-one years old to-day. In 
 honor of the event Mrs. W. made me a large party 
 in the evening. A}1 seemed to enjoy it well. This 
 is what the boys call their freedom-day. Yes, it is 
 " freedom-day," for me. I have the freedom of the 
 slave of the school-room. But then, there is worse 
 slavery than that. 
 
 Monday, April \\th. Commenced a five months' 
 school this morning, in Pamelia village. Had twen 
 ty-eight scholars, all strange faces. One little girl 
 about two and a half years of age, read the alphabet 
 after me very much as the author of the book called 
 " The District School as it Was," described one of 
 his pupils about the same age, reading it, " A-er,
 
 AND EECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 145 
 
 B-er, C-er." Her older sister helped " Tot " down 
 off from the seat, and then she fell down. I wish 
 the parents of babies of that age, would send a bottle 
 of milk and a crib ; that would furnish me better fa 
 cilities for acting in the double capacity of nurse 
 and teacher. Here I have a large, nice school- 
 house built of stone, and in a lovely place, but every 
 thing seems strange ; so different from the quiet 
 chamber at Mrs. Woodruffs, with five pupils only. 
 13 

 
 LETTER 
 
 Village School My Patrons Boarding around Conflicting Ad 
 vice General Remarks with regard to Teaching Nature of 
 Children not naturally Depraved One case of Perverseness 
 
 .. Speech to Scholars Perplexities of the Business of Teaching. 
 
 MY DEAR F : 
 
 The school I mentioned commencing in my last, 
 increased in numbers until I had over sixty scholars, 
 and they were of as varied ages and acquirements 
 as any one would expect to find in half a dozen 
 schools, under the present improved system of grad 
 ing, as they do in most public schools in villages. 
 
 My patrons consisted of thirty different families, 
 whose circumstances and literary attainments would 
 admit of as many different grades as their children. 
 In all these families I was expected to board, for in 
 those unpretending and economical times, no other 
 way had ever been thought of but for poor school 
 teachers to " board around." The burden of board 
 ing, must be divided up among the whole district ; 
 no matter how much inconvenience the teacher suf-
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 147 
 
 fered by moving quarters every few days. I fear 
 that some families boarded me more than their share, 
 for I distinctly remember of staying a great while in 
 some places. This village is the same as a part of 
 Watertown, for they are only separated by Black 
 River. Although my labors had changed and be 
 come more arduous, my associates were the same 
 and but a little longer walk to church on the Sab 
 bath. To recount all the ups and downs of my ex 
 perience in this large and difficult school to govern, 
 would be only a needless repetition of what has oc 
 curred in thousands of instances, both before and 
 since, with other teachers. If good advice is valua 
 ble to a teacher, I must have been richly benefitted, 
 for as many and contradictory suggestions were of 
 fered me gratis, as the number of those who interest 
 ed themselves in my welfare. All of them I endeav 
 ored to listen to with becoming interest, but as it 
 was impossible for me to heed all of their counsel, 
 which was bestowed with the best intention, the only 
 remaining course was to act in a way that seemed 
 to me right ; indeed, that was in accordance with 
 the instructions of the trustees who employed me. 
 
 As far as my limited observation will allow me to 
 express an opinion, I have found that the judgment 
 of people who have never engaged in teaching " the 
 young idea how to shoot," appears far more discrim 
 inating when exercised on other subjects, than when
 
 148 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 brought to bear on the subtleties of the varied 
 phases of human nature of the " young America " 
 of the school-room. 
 
 And yet the opinions of such are thrust in the 
 face of the perplexed pedagogue, with less reserve 
 than they would be, had actual experience given 
 them more knowledge. There is not halfthe deprav 
 ity in the nature of children as some would have us 
 believe, and the old New England catechism taught- 
 With the thirteen terms of school I have taught, in 
 which I have probably instructed five hundred dif 
 ferent pupils, I never had but one case of wilful dis 
 obedience. This was in a lad about twelve years of 
 age, in the very school in question. He had become 
 somewhat notorious for his bad conduct generally, 
 and every teacher who had preceded me, had 
 trouble with him. Of this I was forewarned by 
 several individuals, and among them was his own 
 mother. She fully realized the extent of his per- 
 verseness and the necessity of severe discipline. The 
 first week of school, I studied his nature as close as 
 I was capable,, and tried to make a good application 
 of all the rules of government laid down in Jacob 
 Abbott's practical work on teaching. There must 
 be some way thought I, of getting on the right side 
 of this wilful boy. At last I hit upon a plan, which 
 I ventured to experiment on, though with some 
 fears that it would result in more evil than good.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 149 
 
 The first Saturday evening before I dismissed 
 school, I took occasion to make some remarks, with 
 regard to future arrangements, in essentially the 
 following language : 
 
 " Children, I cannot let you go home without tell 
 ing you how well I have been pleased with your be 
 havior 'this week. Among so many of you I should 
 hardly have reason to expect that all were good boys 
 and girls. In fact, I was told that this would be a 
 hard school to govern, and one was pointed out to 
 me as a very bad boy. I did not believe a word of 
 it, for I never had a bad boy go to school to me, 
 and now I know it isn't true, for he has been to 
 school every day and behaved like a gentleman ; 
 even better than some who have the reputation of 
 being always in the right place. The reason I did 
 not believe the report of this boy's character, was 
 because he looked like an honest lad, who always 
 tries to do as he would be done by. There is not a 
 scholar before me, at least not one who is old enough 
 to be here, who does not know the difference be 
 tween a good and a mean action. So I shall not 
 trouble you with a long list of rules hard to remem 
 ber, and harder to practice, but I simply ask you to 
 do right, and I will do the best I can to help you. 
 When scholars get into difficulty with their teacher 
 or one another, it is never done by good behavior. 
 You never heard of such a thing. Neither have 
 you ever heard people older than yourselves say 
 they were sorry for having studied too much while 
 they were young ; but I'll venture to say, you have 
 all heard grown up men and women say they re 
 gretted having spent their time so foolishly while 
 young, and not learned more. Please think over 
 
 13*
 
 150 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 what I have said and see if it is not the right way 
 to act, and let me know what you think about it 
 next week." 
 
 There was not a child in the school-room, not ex 
 cepting himself, who did not know who the bad boy 
 was. My nattering words had a charming effect on 
 him, and completely disarmed him for a while ; his 
 deportment was every way correct, until school was 
 about half done ; the force of long-continued habits 
 of disobedience got the mastery of him, and in an 
 evil hour he put at defiance my authority. I 
 punished him severely, but I now believe it did him 
 more harm than good. His parents took him from 
 me and sent him to a man's school, where the 
 disciplinary agent was fear. He was the first and 
 last scholar I ever punished severely ; but I will not 
 pretend that every day of my long and monotonous 
 labor of school-teaching passed off smoothly ; for I 
 felt sometimes so worn down with exhausting cares, 
 and petty annoyances, that they have almost driven 
 me from the field in despair ; and many is the time 
 I have resolved never to go into another school if I 
 could get out of this one alive ; but I never left a 
 school without completing the time I commenced 
 for ; and often staid longer than I was engaged. If 
 this letter is interesting, or in any way beneficial to 
 teachers, its object will have been accomplished, for 
 to others I have no expectations of its having any 
 interest. 

 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 School in Champion Copy of my call to go there Extracts 
 from my Diary City of the dead Deer River Falls, Copen 
 hagen, Lewis Co. Rev. Mr. Dutton's family of Silk-worms 
 Habits of this insect Study of the French language Marriage 
 of Mr. M. Poor Preaching, &c. 
 
 MY DEAK F : 
 
 In a previous letter, I have spoken of teaching in 
 Champion Village, this was my vacation term from 
 the two years family school. To give you an idea 
 of how much was expected of me, and for your 
 amusement, I send you the copy verbatim of my 
 call to go there, by one of the trustees who was a 
 clergyman. 
 
 Champion, April 26^, 1841. 
 
 Miss MILES : The trustees of this school dis 
 trict have finally agreed that it is best to have a 
 school this summer, and in accordance with your 
 previous talk with Col. Goldsmid, would say to you, 
 that it is our wish to have you engage in it. 
 
 We wish to have the school commence on Mon 
 day next, and if we are suited, shall want it to con 
 tinue five months. We expect to pay you $1.50 
 per week.
 
 152 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 I am not particularly acquainted with your 
 literary qualification, but from Avhat I do know, I 
 am satisfied that they are all that is necessary for 
 our school. Our school will probably number from 
 thirty-five to forty, and if we have a remarkably 
 good school, perhaps fifty. We want the best 
 school in the county, and shall expect you, if you 
 engage in it, to devote yourself wholly to the w^rk 
 of instructing the children, and improving the 
 school. You must, if you would please the district, 
 (which I hope you will succeed in doing) pay a 
 good deal of attention to the children ; you must 
 notice them when you meet them in the street, and 
 endeavor by every means in your power to make 
 them love you, and then your school will prosper. 
 
 I have heard one individual express a fear, that 
 you had lived in Watertown so long, that you had 
 perhaps become too much of a village lady to notice 
 country children. I mention this, that you may 
 know the importance of doing the fair thing by the 
 " little folks." You will find us a peculiar set of 
 people, but if you teach us a good school, we shall 
 treat you as well as we know how. I write as I do, 
 because of my acquaintance with you, and also be 
 cause I had much experience myself in the business 
 of teaching ; and by way of caution, I would say, 
 by all means avoid the character of a " flirt," 
 " belle," or " coquette," though I believe these 
 names do not apply to your character, unless you 
 have changed wonderfully since I was acquainted 
 with you. 
 
 And I will add further, that if you come to reside 
 among us, you must calculate upon being watched, 
 and all your conduct and every action closely scruti 
 nized ; such is the lot of every teacher, as I, my 
 self, know full well by a long experience.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 153 
 
 We expect you will " board round," and we hope 
 that you will give to each and all, the honor and 
 respect that is their just clue ; that all may be well 
 satisfied with our selection of an instructor. 
 
 We shall expect an answer per return of mail, 
 and you will please signify in your reply, whether 
 in the present state of the roads you would prefer a 
 private conveyance to the stage. If so, I will see 
 that you are accommodated on Friday or Saturday 
 of this week. 
 
 In extreme haste, I am, yours, &c., 
 
 H . 
 
 This letter almost frightened me out of the hope 
 of pleasing them, but with " fear and trembling," 
 I went aboard " Uncle Sam's " four-horse express, 
 which left me at the door of the only hotel in the 
 quiet little village. The good clergyman was soon 
 on hand, and led the way to his residence, where I 
 tried to feel at home. This " peculiar set of peo 
 ple " were not long getting acquainted with their 
 new school ma'am, and I have good reason to 
 believe their fears were only in imagination with re 
 gard to the " village lady's haughtiness." I had a 
 right also to infer that they were " suited " with 
 the school, for at the expiration of the five months, 
 they engaged my services another month ; and in 
 stead of the fifty scholars they were to have, in case 
 of a " remarkably good school," there were sixty* 
 twenty of them in the alphabet, and from that, all 
 ages up to older than myself.
 
 154 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 A few more hurried extracts from my diary of 
 these times and I close this subject : 
 
 Sunday, April 25th. After church, took a stroll 
 in burying-ground. " How still and peaceful is the 
 grave." What a medley of sensations crowd into 
 the mind while wandering through the paths of the 
 silent " city of the dead." To the regions of the 
 unreturning past, fancy wanders back, and these 
 little infants, smiling buds of promise, sit in rosy 
 health upon the mother's knee. Away back in the 
 dim memory of years gone by, resting under the 
 way side tree, sits a poor beggar with shrivelled 
 cheeks, countenance pale and wan, and the little 
 dirty bundle by his side contains his all. He has 
 found rest* here, too, by the side of the millionare, 
 who, perhaps, had driven him from his door. These 
 scenes do not suggest wholly melancholy thoughts ; 
 it is a joy to know that every evil of the present 
 life is excluded from the future. It gives me no 
 pain to tread on the green roof of that narrow 
 mansion I must soon inhabit. As much of joy and 
 beauty as there is in this world, there is more in 
 heaven. In this faith let us live and endure the 
 brief trials of earth. 
 
 Saturday, August 7th. Out of school for one 
 day. Feel like an uncaged bird. Rode up to 
 Copenhagen, Lewis County, with Mr. C. and his 
 eiste. 1 to see Deer River Falls. There seems to be
 
 AND EECOLLECTIONS. 155 
 
 plenty of water in the river, but it is shrunk up so 
 narrow between two ledges of rocks that it is almost 
 lost, and one can easily step across it above the falls. 
 The water falls to a great depth nearly two hun 
 dred feet, and the scenery in the vicinity of this 
 singular river is at once wild and beautiful. 
 
 Monday, August $th. After school, was invited 
 by Rev. Mr. Button to see his silk-worms. It is a 
 great curiosity to witness the different degrees of 
 development of this wonderful little insect. Some 
 were winding their balls; these were beautiful 
 straw color. The moth is not allowed to be formed 
 in the cocoons designed for use, for in bursting its 
 prison-house, the threads of the silky texture would 
 be broken. They are exposed to the heat of a fur 
 nace, and the poor little insect is burned to death in 
 the little silky edifice, its ingenuity has constructed. 
 One good sized cocoon yields a thousand feet of silk 
 fibre. This information ^,vas obtained from their 
 clerical owner, who seemed very happy in relating 
 the process of completion of their labors. Their 
 eating was accompanied with a clicking sound, which 
 is perpetual, day and night, until they get to maturi 
 ty ; except at short intervals, during the periods of 
 changing its skin, which occurs four or five times in 
 the two months of its maturing. It is then three 
 inches in length. 
 
 August 25th. It seems to me that the round of
 
 156 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 school-room duties is endless. This evening com 
 menced the study of the French language. My 
 books are Bolmar's Fables, Levizacs Grammar, and 
 Meadow's Dictionary. Teacher, Mr. Dorwin, 
 Principal of the Academy of the village of Cham 
 pion. 
 
 August 8QtL To-day, Col. Goldsmid offered to 
 assist me in studying French. With two such com 
 petent instructors it will be my own fault if I do not 
 succeed. This evening found the following written on 
 the fly-leaf of my grammar, " Parlez vous Francais, 
 Mademoiselle Miles, si vous ne puis pas, donner a moi 
 votre livre." I could not translate it without refer 
 ence to the dictionary, after having taken five lessons. 
 Afraid I shall never be very apt in the languages. 
 Before my teacher found my book again, I had writ 
 ten, with the help of the dictionary, " Point du 
 tout, Monsieur Dorwin." 
 
 September 18th. Acted as bride's maid to day for 
 Miss T., who has just joined the matrimonial band 
 with the unassuming, quiet Mr. M., my best old 
 school-teacher. He was characteristically dignified 
 on the occasion. On their wedding tour they 
 visited me in my noisy village school. 
 
 September 19th. This morning attended church 
 and heard Rev. Mr. B. preach, if such nonsense 
 deserves the name of preaching. Spent the after 
 noon reading ; almost any book is better than some
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 157 
 
 preaching ; in fact, I never took up a book or news 
 paper, without finding some good ideas, however 
 much chaff had to be waded through to get at them ; 
 and never heard but few sermons without getting 
 some good. After tea, walked in the garden ; here, 
 in nature's temple, there is a book always open, 
 from which we can draw instruction, uncontaminated 
 by false representations of erring man, and which 
 has the love of God indelibly stamped upon every 
 page. 
 
 October 6th. Dismissed school this forenoon to 
 attend the dedication of the Presbyterian church ; 
 interesting and solemn service. Read the remain 
 der of the day, in " Guide through Mt. Auburn." 
 The description of this beautiful cemetery, makes 
 one almost wish to be buried there. Especially 
 would it be the living desire of those whose friends 
 repose in the quiet, beautiful, broad grounds of this 
 burial place, a great " city of the dead," which hu 
 man ingenuity has embellished with shrubbery, orna 
 mental trees, walks, and flowers. Here roses bloom 
 from early May to lingering autumn, planted by the 
 hand of undying affection ; and ever-varying flowers, 
 of an endless variety, send forth their fragrance to 
 make cheerful and bright the pathway to the silent 
 grave. It is a comfort to reflect that when the hour of 
 separation comes, the mortal from the immortal, that 
 
 these earthly remains will still retain the tender regard 
 14
 
 158 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 of those whom we leave on earth ; that the spot is 
 made sacred in their affections, where the broken cas 
 ket lies,- which once contained all that now lives and 
 acts in a glorious future. These are but the common 
 feelings and associations of all ages and generations 
 of men, from the time the patriarch Jacob said, 
 " Bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt, but I will lie 
 with my fathers ; there they buried Abraham and 
 Sarah his wife ; there they buried Isaac and Re 
 becca his wife ; and there I buried Leah." Such 
 now are the natural desires that often fall from the 
 lips of the dying. One half the thoughts which 
 haunt the imagination, and chill the heart with the 
 terror of death, are banished in contemplation of 
 these bright and beautiful gardens, stored with love 
 liest images of reflection, and pictures of sweet 
 sequestered scenes, more worthy of Christianity than 
 the usual dreary, desolate, and neglected repositories 
 of the dead. Who has not been chilled to the heart 
 in witnessing the pictures of old burial places, where, 
 in the foreground and most prominent of all, 
 " death's head and cross-bones," stare you in the 
 face, symbolic of all earthly woe in the past, and 
 prophetic of future evil ; a reminder of traditionary 
 legends, when " ghosts wandered to and fro," a 
 foreboding shadow of affliction to the terror-stricken 
 passer by, and awakening in the stoutest heart a 
 thrill of fear !
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 159 
 
 But, rather let our burying-places be like those of 
 the patriarchs, described by the poet Montgomery : 
 
 "Where no dark cypress cast a doleful gloom, 
 No blighting yew shed poison o'er the tomb, 
 But white and red, with intermingling flowers, 
 The graves looked beautiful in sun and showers. 
 
 Green myrtles fenced them, and beyond that bound 
 Ran the clear rill, with ever murmuring sound, 
 'T was not a scene for grief to nourish care, 
 It breathed of hope, it moved the heart to prayer." 
 
 From page 108 of the " Guide," we quote : 
 " Resuming now our walk up Central Avenue, and 
 passing a monument which bears the name of " Still- 
 man Lothrop," we come to a handsome white marble 
 column on the left, inscribed thus. " To Hannah 
 Adams, Historian of the Jews, and Reviewer of the 
 Christian sects, this is erected by her female friends. 
 First tenant of Mount Auburn ; she died, December 
 loth, 1831, aged 76." 
 
 November ~L2th. This evening, seated myself by 
 the window, to view the clouds in the west, and the 
 setting sun. I never beheld so magnificent and 
 beautiful a scene. Would that I were an artist skil 
 ful enough to sketch those splendid clouds, burnished 
 with golden light upon canvas. They outvie the 
 brilliancy of the rainbow, in every shade and tint, 
 from silvery white to berylline blue ; and from them 
 the surrounding hills and forests have borrowed a
 
 160 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 mantle of tinselled gauze, interspersed with alternate 
 hues of brightest sunshine, and the deepest shadow 
 thrown upon the landscapes varied front. With 
 slow and measured step, twilight, loveliest hour of 
 the day, approaches, and in her " sober livery " 
 w^raps the ideal vision. 
 
 " Who can paint 
 
 Like nature ? Can imagination boast 
 Amid its gay creation hues like hers, 
 Or can it mix them with that matchless skill 
 And lose them in each other. ' ' 
 
 Thursday, Dec. 12th. Thanksgiving day. At 
 tended church in the morning, heard Mr. B. preach 
 from the 107th Psalm, 43d verse ; " Whoso is wise 
 and will observe these things, even they shall under 
 stand the loving kindness of the Lord." Good ser 
 mon, good prayers, and singing. One half of the 
 rich folks in the village are making feasts of oysters, 
 turkies, brandies and w r ines, to which the other half 
 are invited this evening. The streets are full of 
 " the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind." 
 These are not invited according to Christ's directions, 
 for they cannot " bid them again." On my way 
 home from church, I met people hurrying from their 
 several places of worship, ladies and gentlemen 
 attired in costly furs and velvet ; some of them per 
 haps, thinking of the practical application of the 
 old Epicurian's motto : '* Let us eat and drink ; for
 
 AND KECOLLECTIONS. 161 
 
 to-morrow we die." From this picture of wealth 
 and plenty I turn my eyes down a " back street," 
 leading to the river's bank, and there are some dirty 
 and barefooted children, playing on the pavement. 
 No smoking viands await their return to cheerless 
 and desolate hearthstones. Perhaps their parents, 
 if they have any, have brought wretchedness upon 
 themselves by intemperance and crime ; yet they are 
 to be pitied, for, " the way of the transgressor is 
 hard." Hope Mrs. Woodruff will make me the 
 bearer of a basket full of fragments to them, after 
 supper. I want to see their faces look smiling and 
 happy. 
 
 December 21st. Spent a quiet evening in my 
 room, sewing. Was awakened in the night, by the 
 cry of fire. O, horrid ! to be aroused from mid 
 night slumbers, to witness a scene so clreadful ! The 
 creaking of engines and shouts of the energetic fire 
 men, and ringing of church-bells, rend the air with 
 fearful discordant sounds. Two factories consumed 
 and one poor operative perished in the flames. 
 
 Sunday, Feb. 28th. No meeting at our church. 
 In the morning attended the Roman Catholic, and 
 in the afternoon the Baptist church. Liked the 
 sermon inthe morning the best. Good singing, and 
 much of the service in the Latin language, recited 
 by those who knew not its meaning. A part of the 
 service is really interesting, especially the prayers. 
 14*
 
 162 PEESONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Mass was celebrated, and while the kneeling wor 
 shippers were partaking of wafers and wine, the 
 priest assured them they were die real body and 
 blood of Christ. They received this assertion with 
 a blind, implicit faith, and, probably, regarded it as 
 one of the mysteries incomprehensible to human 
 reason ; but not a whit more absurd than many of 
 the doctrines of Protestant churches. 
 
 April 7th. To-day, heard of the death of Wil 
 liam Henry Harrison, President of the United States. 
 John Tyler takes his place. Democrats call it a 
 special interposition of Providence. Nonsense ! 
 
 April \?>ih. Took tea with a company of young 
 ladies in Pamelia village. Returned at sunset, and 
 all called at the jail. Saw much there to amuse and 
 interest us. Among the prisoners was a Mr. II., a 
 practical phrenologist, who had canvassed the county, 
 lecturing and giving charts. He was very sociable 
 through the " seven by nine " aperture in his iron 
 door. He was a splendid singer ; favored us with 
 some songs, by the request of the sheriff's wife. 
 Some of his songs were applicable to his sad con 
 dition ; and the walls of his gloomy apartment 
 echoed the sound of his heavy voice, with a melan 
 choly reverberation. One who shared his pallet of 
 straw at night, was a beautiful Indian lad, sixteen 
 years of age, who plead innocence of the crime for 
 which lie was imprisoned ; it was burglary, while in
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 163 
 
 a state of intoxication. It would move the heart of 
 a stone to pity, to hear his pleadings for intercession 
 in his behalf, in broken English. Rum had been his 
 foe, and of the " pale face " he had learned to drink 
 it. O ! thou curse of the world ! What wretch 
 edness has not been brought upon frail huTnanity 
 through thy instrumentality ? 
 
 Before we left, some one asked them what they 
 wanted more than anything else for their comfort. 
 R. wanted books, and the poor Indian, cigars. The 
 next day, Maria W. and I made them another visit, 
 and I carried a large volume of the Life and Poems 
 of Robert Burns, and M., a roll of the best Ha- 
 vanas. 
 
 These dark prison walls have been the scene of 
 untold anguish and remorse ; here shut out from the 
 light of the sun, resolutions of amendment have 
 been made, many of them to be broken in an evil 
 hour. What a libel on the book of Revelation and 
 human nature is the doctrine that " there is pleasure 
 in sin ! " 
 
 May 3d. Attended a temperance meeting this 
 evening in my school-house. Lecture by John 
 Haddock, and a paper read by Mr. Pendegast, 
 anecdotes relative to the subject, and all went off 
 lively. One young man, a stranger, arose and told 
 his own experience. Much of it was pathetic, and 
 some parts quite laughable. On one occasion, being
 
 164 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 a little tipsy, he met a young lady of his acquaint 
 ance in the street, and attempted to make so low a 
 bow, that he could not recover his balance, and fell 
 on his face in the walk. His extreme mortification 
 prompted the resolution never to drink any more, 
 and he had faithfully kept his pledge. Pity a like 
 accident could not happen to every moderate drinker 
 in this village ; yes, and every drunkard, too ; but 
 not all at once, for then there would not be room on 
 the walks for the ladies to pass. O. S. Fowler's 
 motto is a good one for young ladies ; " Total absti 
 nence, or no husbands." 
 
 June ~LQth. A crushing sorrow has overtaken me 
 to day ; one of my scholars has been drowned in 
 Black River, a girl twelve years of age, daughter of 
 a widow, and her mother was absent. Mary was 
 gathering wild-flowers and evergreens, on the bank, 
 for a bouquet, and ventured too near a frightful ledge, 
 and fell from it into the rapid current below. A 
 little French girl ran to me quick as thought, and 
 pale with terror, brought, in broken English, the 
 unwelcome tidings. The news reached every part 
 of the village, in less time than I have taken to re 
 late it, and, within an hour, more than a hundred 
 people had assembled. They searched the river for 
 miles below, but in vain, the body could not be 
 found. About sunset the mother returned ; her 
 
 frightful moans were distracting to witness. All 
 r
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 165 
 
 night she wept, and with beseeching looks gazed 
 heavenward, and prayed to the Helper above for 
 reconciliation. The dark and cruel wave had closed 
 over her darling and only child. 
 
 June, 2Qth. Mary's body found to day on a small 
 island near Dexter, seven miles below here. There 
 it was buried without ceremony. Several other 
 graves on the same island, of people who had met a 
 similar fate. " And the sea shall give up the dead 
 that are in it." 
 
 July 4ith. The booming of cannon, this morning, 
 awoke us at an early hour ; a " grand celebration " 
 goes off to-day ; the village all excitement, and a 
 medley of preparation is being made for the event. 
 Hark ! the music of the band announces the arrival 
 of Driesbach's caravan. Here they come, led by 
 two large elephants. If there is anybody to be 
 found who has never " seen the elephant," now is an 
 opportunity ; now the keepers conduct them to the 
 river, and they bathe their heated sides in the 
 "crystal flood." Half the crazy boys and girls in 
 the village follow them over the covered bridge, to 
 see the monsters swim. The end of the trunk, only, 
 is above the water ; now they reach Cedar island, 
 and scramble for a taste of the verdant shrubbery. 
 What a screaming of the boys on shore. 
 
 At ten o'clock all the Sabbath schools in the vil 
 lage marched to the first Presbyterian church. Rev.
 
 166 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Mr. Brayton, the pastor, made a prayer, and John 
 Clark, Esq., delivered an oration ; then assembled in 
 procession again, and marched to Massey's grove, 
 where long tables were filled with a variety of eat 
 ables, which were partaken of with a keen relish, 
 then followed speeches, prayers, and addresses to 
 little folks, while they sat uneasy to hear the last 
 word, that they might have a run, and frolic, and 
 swing. The day was finished with grand fire-works, 
 and the uproar lasted till midnight. Twenty-four 
 hours at a time without sleep, is plenty long enough 
 to keep one's patriotism in activity. Retired, think 
 ing the whole world nothing but a bundle of " vanity 
 and vexation of spirit." 
 
 July 1.8th. Heard Dr. Henderson, of the United 
 States army, lecture on Temperance this evening, 
 two and a half hours in length. One of his appeals 
 to the drunkard was in the following language, 
 " You who despise a draft of cold water now, may 
 be of the number who will beg and plead in vain, 
 through countless ages of eternity for a single drop 
 to cool your parched tongues with." Quite an 
 outpouring of eloquence ! 
 
 Finish this week boarding at one of the best 
 places in the world. A few days more and I must 
 leave Esquire S.'s, and go to a new place, all 
 strangers. To-day at the dinner-table had a conver 
 sation with Miss Stella, and Mrs. II., her sister,
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 167 
 
 
 
 about Southern slavery ; they have both resided 
 South several years, though they are northern 
 people. They give the evils of the " peculiar in 
 stitution " a very different coloring from the aboli 
 tionist representation of it. The slaves, they say, as 
 a general thing, are treated with the utmost kindness 
 and consideration, and allowed to work at their own 
 leisure, and appear to enjoy life well. In many 
 instances, they say, the masters and mistresses are 
 the real slaves ; slaves to wealth, to fashion, public 
 opinion, dress, and intemperate habits, and a thou 
 sand and one other things which never trouble " pus- 
 sons ob color." 
 
 This passage in my diary of years ago, dear F., 
 reminds me of an incident related of Brainard, the 
 poet, who was then editor of a weekly paper called 
 " The Minor," by Peter Parley in his autobiography. 
 Saturday was the day of publication for his paper, 
 and Friday night had arrived without his having 
 written a line. " Brainard, as was his wont, especi 
 ally when he was in trouble, falls in a curious train 
 of reflections, half comic and half serious." " Would 
 to heaven," he says, " I were a slave ; I think a slave 
 with a good master has a good time of it. The re 
 sponsibility of taking care of himself, the most ter 
 rible burden of life, is put on his master's shoulders. 
 Madame Roland, with a slight alteration, would 
 have uttered a profound truth. She should have
 
 168 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 said, " Oh, .Liberty, Liberty, thou art a humbug ! " 
 After all, liberty is the greatest possible slavery, for 
 it puts upon a man the responsibility of taking care 
 of himself ; if he goes wrong, why, he's damned ! 
 If a slave sins, he's only flogged, and gets over it, 
 and there's an end of it. Now, if I could only be 
 flogged, and settle the matter that way, I should be 
 perfectly happy ; but here comes my tormenter." 
 The door is now open, and a boy with a touseled 
 head and inky countenance, enters, saying curtly, 
 " Copy, Mr. Brainard ! " " Come, in fifteen min 
 utes ! " says the editor, with a droll mixture of fun 
 and despair.* 
 
 August 13^A. To-day visited my sister's school 
 on Point Salubrious, in the town of Lyme. Here 
 is a great democratic celebration ; one of their flags 
 bore the motto, " Lyme never turns to clay." This 
 point of land jutting out into Chaumont Bay, is one 
 of the most lovely spots in New York. A Mr. 
 White, who had travelled a great deal for pleasure, 
 gave it as his opinion, that he had not found a place 
 in all his rambles as fascinating. The road follow; 
 the shore around, and the water's edge is fringed 
 with a profusion of trees and vines. After school 
 took a boat ride for the first time in my life. Land 
 ed at Cherry Island, a farm of about one hundred 
 acres, with one family only upon it. I thought of 
 
 *"Recollectionsof a Life-time," by S. G. Goodrich, p. 146, 2d vol.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 169 
 
 Juan Fernandez being " monarch of all he could 
 survey." This lone island is blessed with a soil of 
 unsurpassed fertility, and the corn and wheat fields 
 are heavy with their burden of grain. A delightful 
 breeze wafts us back to the shore ; feeling much re 
 freshed. 
 
 Sept. 12th. School is over, and my sister and 
 myself both go home to our father's, to spend a few 
 weeks. -Found the family all well and forming a 
 semi-circle around the hearth-stone. Ma in one 
 corner, in the " old arm-chair," which is the most 
 ancient piece of furniture the house affords, and its 
 very appearance is indicative of a long life of use 
 fulness. Pa sits by the stand, reading " Paradise 
 Lost," aloud. Mr. Pomeroy is with us, and we all 
 have a discussion about the phrase, " God tempera 
 the wind to the shorn lamb ! " One says it is Scrip 
 ture, and another, Shakespeare. Both wrong ; an 
 other poet is the author of that. 
 
 The few weeks I spent at home, after this school, 
 were my last, as a home under the paternal roof. 
 And these were in preparation for a new journey in 
 life ; I knew not whither. 
 15
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 Marriage Description of Dexter School-teaching again, and 
 boarders Dexter and Sackett's Harbor. 
 
 MY DEAR F. : 
 
 The three years following my marriage, which 
 occurred January 1st, 1843, we lived in Dexter, 
 Jefferson County, N. Y. My husband, Rev. G. 
 S. Abbott, was pastor of the Universalist church 
 in that place. Dexter is a manufacturing village 
 at the mouth of Black River, in the town of Browns 
 ville. The largest woollen factory there is in 
 the State, had been for a number of years, and 
 still is, in successful operation. The population of 
 this village is about five hundred ; nearly one hun 
 dred of them, probably, are engaged in the factory, 
 either as operatives, or superintending different 
 departments ; and a large share of the inhabitants 
 in the village are depending, either directly or indi 
 rectly, on this manufacturing establishment for a 
 support. The three churches that have been built 
 there, and constantly support preaching, has been
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 171 
 
 done through the medium of this limited income, 
 with the little help they have received from neigh 
 boring farmers. Their success cannot be accounted 
 for, in but one way ; it is the result of unparalleled 
 energy and zeal. They are not a " dead and alive " 
 set of people, who sit and fold their arms, waiting 
 for something to turn up before they can act. " I 
 can't," is a phrase they have blotted out from their 
 vocabulary ; there is no such thing with them. In 
 every reform of the day, they have acted in the 
 right direction, and that with a hearty good will. 
 
 In the light of these facts you will readily perceive 
 that minister's salaries in a small place like this, 
 cannot be very large, and in order to meet current 
 expenses, the most rigid economy must be observed. 
 Our residence was in the extreme upper part of the 
 village ; in a small new house, with but two rooms 
 above and the same number below. There is no 
 situation in life so humble, but one can draw comfort 
 from the reflection that, it might be worse. We 
 had been boarding with a lady for two months, pre 
 vious to commencing house-keeping ; therefore, there 
 was a consciousness of independence in our home 
 which we could not feel, boarding. But our expen 
 ses were more, in the outset, than our small means 
 would cover ; so that a way must be opened for an 
 increase of income, or a contentment with less want?. 
 The latter was a lesson always hard for me to learn.
 
 172 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 I am aware that contentment has been ranked among 
 the prominent virtues, but it seems to me that there 
 is a contentment which sets so easy that, with some, it 
 degenerates into a fault. When we have got all the 
 comforts of life, which will accrue from a reasonable 
 exertion, we ought to learn to " therewith be con 
 tent ; " but any honorable employment that a person 
 is capable of engaging in, whether man or woman, is 
 a commendable means of securing such an end. 
 
 The young man who owned the premises on 
 which we resided, wished to get a boarding place, so 
 we took him into our family, and the avails of his 
 board more than paid the rent. Still there was 
 time to do something more, and I had an oppor 
 tunity of earning a little by taking a small number of 
 boys and girls to teach, who lived in the parish, and 
 one of our chambers was an admirable school-room, 
 and with a little fitting up was ready for operation. 
 Instead of the few who were to come in from the 
 families with whom I had conversed on the subject, 
 I had application to receive pupils from various other 
 towns, so that my labor was more than I wished for. 
 Three young ladies from different towns we received 
 as boarders, and others boarded in the village, and 
 my small beginning soon arose to the dignity of a 
 young ladies' boarding school. This I continued 
 three terms, in addition to performing the duties of 
 the household, with from one to four boarders. The
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 173 
 
 avails of these three terms of select school, amount 
 ed to between one and two hundred dollars, besides 
 what we received for boarders. You need not ask, 
 dear F., whether this labor was too large a draft 
 upon my strength, for anybody at your age, or mine 
 now, would know better than to think so much labor 
 could be performed with impunity. It takes a whole 
 life-time to learn " how to live," and then we die but 
 a little wiser than when we commenced life. 
 
 The remaining two years of our residence here, 
 were spent a little more leisurely, now that we had 
 got a start in house-keeping. The people whom we 
 depended on for a support, were ready always to 
 assist us, even beyond their means, and I look back 
 upon those days with gratitude and pleasure. It 
 would be a happiness to me to know that such a 
 people cherished my memory, or, rather, that I 
 merited their grateful remembrance, as they have 
 mine. 
 
 Dexter is mostly built upon the rising ground on 
 each side of the valley, formed by the river and bay ; 
 and is the head of navigation. Small steamers have 
 touched at its harbor, though the lake navigation, 
 mostly stops at Sacketts' Harbor, four miles below, 
 on the bay, just where it widens into Lake Ontario. 
 This is a village of some importance of a little over 
 a thousand inhabitants, and somewhat noted as being 
 the principal military and naval station on the north- 
 15*
 
 174 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 ern frontier during the last war with Great Britain. 
 Immense sums of money have been expended here 
 in building war vessels and barracks. One duel was 
 fought here in 1818, and twelve military executions 
 took place during the war ; and, in the time of Col . 
 Brady's command, the remains of twelve officers 
 were collected and buried in one grave, and a painted 
 board monument was erected to their memory, 
 which has long since rotted down. The battle 
 ground is a beautiful plat of green on a commanding 
 rise, which overlooks the lake. No traces remain of 
 the bloody enactments of 1812, but the unfinished 
 frigate New Orleans, sheltered with a house built 
 over it, and Madison Barracks, from which the sta 
 tioned troops have been withdrawn for service in the 
 Indian wars of the northwest and Florida. When 
 nations can settle their difficulties by arbitration, 
 they ought to be considered civilized, and not before.
 
 LETTER XXI. 
 
 Western New York Wyoming County Portageville Falls Buffalo 
 Tonewanda and Cayuga Creeks Fruit and Grazing Cowles- 
 ville Rev. J. S. Flagler Dr. Stoddard Rev. N. Stacy Rev. C. 
 G. Persons Correspondence. 
 
 MY DEAR F. : 
 
 The three years following our residence in 
 Dexter, we resided in Western New York, in Erie, 
 Genessee, and Wyoming Counties. Here, every 
 thing wore quite a different aspect, except the kind 
 ness of the inhabitants, and they were as consider 
 ate of our wants as people well can be of their 
 pastor. 
 
 The first place of our residence was Cowlesville, 
 in the town of Bennington, Wyoming County, about 
 twenty miles southeast of Buffalo, and but two from 
 the line of Erie County, and about the same distance 
 from Genesee County, on the north ; so in an hour's 
 ride we could visit two different counties besides the 
 one of our residence. The surface of this county 
 is more hilly and uneven than any of the western 
 counties, except the very southern portions of the
 
 176 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 three counties, Cattaraugus, Chatauque, and Alle- 
 ghany ; these portions are a continuation of the 
 mountainous regions of Pennsylvania. 
 
 The ridges and ravines, of which the entire county 
 is formed, present to the eye of the traveller, scenes 
 of the wildest beauty and loveliness. This county 
 is bounded on the east by the Genesee river, 
 which falls in the distance of a little over two miles, 
 over three hundred feet in the vicinity of Portage- 
 ville. At the foot of the lower fall, the perpendicu 
 lar banks of solid rock are fpur hundred feet high. 
 It seems as if nature here, had got in one of her 
 wildest pranks, and left her work unfinished ; per 
 haps, took a fright on viewing the workmanship of 
 her own hands for, under the west bank of the river, 
 near the foot of the Middle falls, is a tremendous 
 cave, called the " Devil's Oven." " For about two 
 miles below the Middle Falls, the river pursues a 
 winding and rapid course between high perpendicu 
 lar walls ; then descends in a succession of steps 
 almost as regular as a staircase, dives under a shelv 
 ing rock, shoots out in a narrow pass, not more than 
 fifteen feet wide, rushes down a nearly perpendicu 
 lar descent of twenty feet, strikes against the base of 
 high rocks standing almost directly in its course, 
 whirls back, and turning at nearly right-angles, falls 
 into a deep pool overhung with shelving rocks. An 
 isolated mass of rocks, fifteen feet in diameter, and
 
 
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 177 
 
 one hundred feet high, known as ' Sugar Loaf,' 
 rises from the river bed at the bend of the stream, 
 and receives nearly the whole force of the rushing 
 water. It is bordered on one side by the present 
 bed of the stream, and on the other by a deep chasm, 
 which separates it from the east bank of the river. 
 Within the memory of people now living, the river 
 flowed over the precipice on the level of the rock 
 which now forms its west bank, and Sugar Loaf was 
 an island. These falls are accessible only from the 
 west."* 
 
 There are numerous smaller streams flowing 
 through this county, among them are Buffalo, Cayu- 
 ga, and Tonewanda Creeks. The valleys through 
 which these creeks flow are unsurpassed in the fer 
 tility of soil, and fruits and grains are the natural 
 products. I should like to have the children of St. 
 Lawrence County see one peach tree, such as I have 
 seen in those beautiful valleys, bending beneath their 
 rich burdens. In the whole catalogue of fruits 
 there is not one so delicious. 
 
 Even these wild hills yield rich income to the far 
 mer, in the flocks and herds that graze along their 
 summits, and some of them are a thousand feet 
 above the bottom lands, in the ravines. The high 
 state of cultivation, here, only shows us how the 
 
 * New York State Gazeteer.
 
 178 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 roughest materials of nature can be polished by the 
 hands of human industry. 
 
 Cowlesville is snuggled in among hills so close, 
 that not a house can be seen until right among them, 
 not even the spires of the churches. Here, and in 
 Genesee County, we lived a little over two years, 
 attending the same churches in both places. In 
 Darien we boarded in the family of Rev. J. S. Flag- 
 ler, and in Pembroke, with Dr. Stoddard's family. 
 In both these families I received a great deal of 
 instruction on various subjects, from the fact that 
 there was a communicative intelligence existing with 
 them, which a person associating with them, must 
 be beyond measure stupid not to appreciate and turn 
 to profitable account. I will here introduce an 
 extract from a letter written by me to Rev. N. Stacy, 
 after a very satisfactory perusal of his autobiography, 
 in which he speaks of Rev. Mr. Flagler, in a light 
 to show that his disposition was somewhat unyield 
 ing : 
 
 Hopkinton, March 11, 1852. 
 
 DEAR BR. STACY, I have just arisen from a 
 perusal of your very interesting memoirs, and, 
 though a stranger to you, I have an irresistable de 
 sire to express my gratitude to you that the wor 
 has been published, and for the pleasure it has give 
 me to peruse it. Biography is my favorite reading, 
 consequently I have read many ; but I can truly say 
 that, 1 never was more interested in any than your 
 own. Many of the scenes you have described, were
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 179 
 
 enacted In places perfectly familiar with myself, and 
 with persons with whom I have enjoyed a familiar 
 acquaintance. I was born in Watertown, and have 
 been many times with my parents to hear Mr. Morse 
 preach, and have, also, become acquainted, with him 
 since he left Watertown. We have been living for 
 a year past on Pillar Point, just across the Bay from 
 Sackett's Harbor ; it is now a neat and pretty vil 
 lage, though I can easily believe all you have said 
 of it, for I have often heard my father speak of the 
 filthiness of the place in time of the war ; he was 
 captain of a regiment, there, and was present during 
 an engagement. My mother was at home, and 
 though distant ten miles, could distinctly hear the 
 " clash of resounding arms." History speaks of 
 the revolution, as " times that tried men's souls," 
 but I think that women must have borne a good 
 share of the burden of anxiety and fear, as well as 
 a participation in their labors. 
 
 You speak of Bro. C. G. Persons ; I have several 
 times visited at his house, in Ellisburgh, and had 
 become much attached to him and his aged compan 
 ion. In fact, I always had a great reverence for old 
 age, and I remember many times, in my youthful 
 days, leaving the society of my companions to spend 
 awhile conversing with the aged. We once board 
 ed in Bro. J. S. Flagler's family, and to them we 
 also became warmly attached ; I have not a doubt, 
 however, of the truth of what you say of him, for I 
 am well acquainted with his firmness, and am aware 
 that it often amounts to stubbornness, for I have 
 heard him express an opinion on the subject which 
 you treat of in connection with him. And, yet, he 
 has as generous and noble a heart as ever beat in 
 'anybody's bosom. His mind is in the constant 
 exercise of gratitude to God for his daily blessings,
 
 180 PERSONAL SKET'CHES. 
 
 though he is very much opposed to ceremonies as 
 such, or any innovation upon the old way in which 
 he was educated. I have often seen him set back 
 from the table, after eating, and say ; " Well, we 
 have had- another good meal of victuals ; let us be 
 thankful." This grateful feeling for all his blessings, 
 was a prominent trait, though he did not see the ne 
 cessity of making any lengthy ceremonies at table, or 
 any other time. Soon after the death of his wife, and 
 the birth of our first child, he wrote to us ; from which 
 allow me to give you a brief extract : " O ! dear 
 brother and sister, my feelings will not allow my pen 
 to describe them, nor your want of experience to even 
 anticipate them ; we know nothing about them, until 
 we are called in Providence to endure the trial. I 
 am almost broken down with trouble by this affliction ; 
 and am, also, broken up by other difficulties, which I 
 will explain to you if ever I shall be favored with 
 an opportunity. * * * * I most heartily con 
 gratulate you on the addition to your family, and 
 should be extremely happy to visit you, and see 
 with my eyes, and feel with my hands, what, of all 
 things I love the most, young children." I know 
 not why I have given you this extract for, I pre 
 sume you are not blind to Bro. F.'s good qualities.
 
 LETTER XXII. 
 
 History of a Family Modern Spiritualism Correspondence Gen 
 eral Reflections on Spiritualism Extract from Edmund H. Sears' 
 " Foregleams of Immortality. " 
 
 MY DEAR F: 
 
 In my last letter, I spoke of Dr. Stoddard's family, 
 in connection with our residence in Genesee County, 
 and I want to relate to you some particulars, with 
 regard to their history, which are somewhat remark 
 able and yet so melancholy, that it gives me pain to 
 recur to them. Mrs. S. was a person of the most 
 brilliant accomplishments and intellect, and one 
 whose delicacy of physical organism, prevented her 
 engaging in the active duties of life, though her 
 labor was constant and more exhausting than though 
 a portion of it had been performed with her hands. 
 Her brain was her active agent, and with it she 
 solved some very curious problems. She had one 
 place always for her mental reveries, an arm-chair, 
 cushioned all over,, drawn up to one corner of the 
 fire-place, in their large and well-furnished family- 
 16
 
 182 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 sitting-room ; her feet resting upon a brass semi 
 circle, one of the fixtures of the fireplace to keep 
 the shovel and tongs stationary. The melancholy 
 result of her studying was not the singular feature 
 in her case, for that is an oft repeated tale in the his 
 tory of Modern 'Spiritualism, but it was her seeming 
 gift of prophesy. The period of our residence at 
 the doctor's was three months, from the middle of 
 August to the middle of November, 1847. Now, 
 you will remember, that the disturbance called the 
 " Rochester knockings," originated in a little hamlet 
 in Wayne County, town of Arcadia, called Hydes- 
 ville, in the Fox family, in January, 1848. They 
 afterwards removed to Rochester, where was the 
 scene of all their future wonderful experience. A 
 detailed and minute account of the whole you will 
 find by a reference to Robert Dale Owen's " Foot 
 falls on the boundary of another world," from page 
 284 to 289 inclusive. 
 
 I have conversed with Mrs. S. by the hour, on 
 her favorite themes, and she would make one state 
 ment at almost every sitting like this, I have heard 
 her say it scores of times : " There is about to be a 
 revolution of sentiment in the whole religious world, 
 and something wonderful will transpire near here, 
 and that within a very few months. It will be th 
 wonder of wonders, e very body t will talk about it, 
 and almost everybody will oppose it at first ; it is
 
 AXD RECOLLECTIONS. 183 
 
 something that I cannot call by any name yet, but 
 in it there will be unmistakable evidence of super 
 natural origin, and it will undermine the very foun 
 dations of church creeds ; Martin Luther's Reforma 
 tion was a baby by the side of it. My life will not 
 be spared but a few more years, though I shall live 
 to witness that." 
 
 To show you, dear F., the workings of this lady's 
 mind. I will give you a copy, entire, of a letter I 
 received from her, dated July, 1849. It was in 
 reply to one I had addressed to her, enquiring her 
 opinion of the " rappings " at Rochester. In this 
 you will see how impossible it was for her to think 
 of anything else, but the one all-absorbing topic : 
 
 Pembroke, July, 1849. 
 
 DEAR LADY : The reason I have delayed writ 
 ing to you is, that I have been a journey to Canada, 
 and returned sick, as usual ; hardly able to hold my 
 pen ; but you know I cannot write or spell, nor do 
 anything but think, and thought too wild and wan 
 dering. Our family are all feeble this summer. 
 Mary Jane's health is very poor ; she had an attack 
 of bleeding at the lungs this spring, and the doctor 
 is as usual. You wished me to give you my mind 
 on the Rochester sounds. If I had strength to write 
 or compose, it would be highly gratifying to me to 
 give you a protracted history of events since I last 
 saw you, but as it is I must be brief and say, I 
 believe it is spiritual ; last May the sounds were 
 heard in my house nine times ; in June I went to 
 Rochester and asked the invisible agents if the
 
 184 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 sounds were ever made in my house, and if so, how 
 many times, and they answered correctly ; but I 
 spent but very few moments at Rochester ; I was 
 in brother Hammond's house ; I have had some 
 demonstrations, of which I cannot here speak this 
 time ; I am living to see some of my prophecies 
 fulfilled. I have lived to say that I know my depart 
 ed friends exist in the spirit world. I have found 
 nothing contradictory to my views for the last six 
 years. 
 
 You asked of brother Flagler's family ; the old 
 gentleman was at our house this summer ; he laughs 
 loud at the idea of our holding converse with spirits ; 
 well, laugh on ; when this proves to be a humbug, a 
 delusion, farewell Bible, farewell everything that has 
 any connection with it ; so say I, but at present I 
 firmly believe in both. I think of nothing that 
 would be particularly interesting to you among your 
 old acquaintances. Jane D. seems very happy with 
 her husband, Eev. Mr. W. ; they are yet at her 
 father's ; he often visits me to talk about the sounds ; 
 he writes much against it, which, perhaps, you see ; 
 still, he says he knows those who hear the sounds 
 have no agency whatever in getting them up. The 
 most of the people in this vicinity say it is witch 
 craft, and rest satisfied ; that would never do for me, 
 first principles are my study ; I can much better 
 comprehend spirit than witchcraft. But stop, I can 
 not write, I am so sick. I would be very glad to 
 converse with you and Mr. A. on this subject. I do 
 not expect either of you believe it ; not a word of 
 it, says A ; never mind, I think all will have suffi 
 cient evidence some day, either moral, physical, or 
 logical ; then AVC must believe. The reasoner cannot 
 believe without evidence, on a subject like this, and 
 that, too, of the most positive kind. I was sorry
 
 AXD RECOLLECTIONS. 185 
 
 you did not give me your opinion as well as ask 
 mine ; perhaps, if you had a little idea it was spirits, 
 pride would prompt you to be silent ; I find that the 
 case with some in this place. 
 
 I have two or three times made an attempt to tell 
 you of old friends, but I run dn to the subject of 
 the sounds, and stop, and as I do not think of any 
 thing interesting, I will not again make the attempt. 
 Esquire C. and wife visited here a short time since ; 
 they said Mrs. L. was "hard on the bit," on this 
 subject. 
 
 You say when you read this, " I declare, I did 
 think that Mrs. Stoddard could write a better letter 
 than this ; " so I could once. 
 
 Brother D. lives on our farm, yet ; they have a 
 little curly-headed girl, smart as steel ; O ! I cannot 
 murder this paper any more. 
 
 Write and give me your mind if you please on 
 the sounds. FIDELIA STODDARD. 
 
 As I had a number of other correspondents, with 
 but a little time to write, and not seeing any neces 
 sity for an immediate reply, for I had no settled 
 opinion on this strange and incomprehensible subject. 
 Time passed away, and first I knew, three years 
 had elapsed since the reception of this letter, and I 
 had not replied to it. After so long delay I feared 
 that a reply would be hardly acceptable, but 
 thought I would write, and did, from which I make 
 an extract : 
 
 " The subject in question has agitated the minds 
 of all classes, and attained a world-wide notoriety, 
 
 16*
 
 186 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 and, is one, I acknowledge, of serious importance, 
 and that should interest us with the subject it in 
 volves, more than any other, after a reasonable 
 amount of time and energy have been exhausted in 
 earthly improvement and happiness. " Progress " 
 is the watch-word of the age, and as that is a dis 
 tinctive doctrine of spiritualism, we cannot, in truth, 
 condemn it " in toto," nor would it be inconsistent 
 to cry " humbug," without first knowing what are 
 the aims of this large, and not the least respectable 
 class of community. Psychology, Pneumatology, 
 Mesmerism, and Sonambulism, have all been brought 
 in requisition to throw some light on these researches, 
 and yet we shall have to die in ignorance of the 
 main-springs of action in this wonderful class of 
 phenomena. 
 
 The mere doctrine of departed spirits coming back 
 to earth to watch over us for good, is at once pleas 
 ing, and not wholly at variance with reason and 
 scripture. If it could be a universally received doc 
 trine, there is no doubt but the world would be 
 benefitted ; their faith in the future, strengthened ; 
 and motives increased to well-ordered lives. Then 
 why should we put forth our efforts to deprive a liv 
 ing soul of its enjoyment ? I have been acquainted, 
 more or less, with people of that faith from the com 
 mencement of its career to the present, and they 
 are as intelligent, as good, and honest, as those of 
 other professions. And yet, I confess my disgust of 
 this senseless twaddle that goes the rounds of the 
 Spiritualist papers, under a pretence of being com 
 munications from this, that, and the other, great 
 genius who has lived upon the earth. It seems to 
 me to be right in the face and eyes of the ennobling 
 doctrine of future progress which the advocates of 
 this theory profess to believe ; for a large share of it 
 
 I
 
 AND RECOLLECTJONS. 187 
 
 is utterly beneath their capacity, while in the flesh. 
 There may be a way with them, to solve these diffi 
 culties, but, I have yet to learn how it can be done, 
 before my mind can receive any benefit from reading 
 their literature ; and some of their writing is so 
 much above the earth that a person must be versed 
 in more languages than the English, to get their 
 ideas. Some of their writers seem to have a vocabu 
 lary of their own, and pile words enough, coined 
 from a wholly original mint into one sentence, to 
 turn the brain of a philoshpher or a Philadelphia 
 lawyer, to try to decipher them. Of this class is 
 Andrew Jackson Davis. So you discover that I am 
 wholly in the fog about this matter, but I mean to 
 read more, and meantime try to be guided by an 
 unprejudiced investigation. When I get any new 
 ideas I will try to be more prompt in reporting pro 
 gress." 
 
 Judge of my feelings, dear F., when I received 
 the following, which was in a few days, after writing 
 the above. 
 
 Pembroke, Sept. 21st, 1852. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIENDS : I received this day a let 
 ter from sister Abbott to my poor wife, which showed 
 me that you were ignorant of the overwhelming 
 sorrows that have come upon our family since Mrs. 
 Stoddard wrote you. One year ago, last March, 
 Stoddard and Freeman, of Rochester, failed for a 
 large amount, bringing utter ruin upon me, as I had 
 endorsed for them more than I am worth. I think 
 their failure and circumstances connected therewith, 
 (which I will not now mention) seriously affected 
 the mind of my wife, and from that time she ap-
 
 188 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 plied her mind assiduously to the subject of " spir 
 itual philosophy," BO called, and in October, last, 
 became a monomaniac on that subject, and continued 
 so for three weeks, when she became a raving 
 maniac, requiring two men to take care of her. 
 The first of January, last, I took her to the Asylum 
 at Utica, where she is now. She has become more 
 quiet, but the superintendent gives me no encourage 
 ment of her recovery. Jane was married in May, 
 1851, to James Bouo-hton, who was in the mercantile 
 
 i 
 
 business at the corners ; her husband died in Decem 
 ber last, at his father's, Col. Boughton's. Jane 
 came home to live with me after Mrs. Stoddard 
 went to Utica, and died on the 27th of May, about 
 one year after her marriage. She and her husband 
 both died of consumption. Jane's death left me 
 entirely alone ; my health was poor, and I felt that 
 I could not live here, where there were so many 
 dreadful associations ; I, therefore, closed my house, 
 and started for Vermont ; from thence I went to 
 New York, Philadelphia, and .many other places; 
 was gone two months, calling at Utica on my way 
 down and back ; did not see my wife for fear it 
 would make her worse. Since my return from the 
 east, I have been to Canada. I have now a Mr. 
 Stevens and his wife in my house, with whom I 
 board ; I shall have to leave my farm in the Spring ; 
 where I shall go, if I live, I know not ; I think I 
 shall hire my board in this neighborhood, and try to 
 support myself by my profession. * I feel 
 
 that this letter will be read by you with absorbing 
 interest, and great astonishment, and, that. the first 
 question in your minds will be, " How does the doc 
 tor bear it ? " My only consolation is, in the belief 
 of the distinctive doctrines of Universalism, that all 
 the afflictions of this life shall work for good to
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 189 
 
 those that are afflicted, and, that the final result of 
 the government of God will be glorious, and termi 
 nate in the purity, holiness, and happiness of every 
 individual of the human race ; believing this, I think 
 I can say from my heart, " Not my will, but thine, 
 O God, be done." 
 
 It would be very gratifying to me to receive a 
 letter from both or either of you ; do write soon, 
 and any inquiries you may make I will answer, if I 
 can. With sentiments of love, I am, 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 A. W. STODDARD. 
 
 After reading this, Dear F., I think you will 
 agree with me that, this family has passed through a 
 furnace of affliction. How little we know of the 
 future ! Jane, whose death he speaks of, was a 
 niece of Mrs. S.'s, a most brilliant young lady, one 
 whom they had brought up from infancy, and doted 
 on with the tender care of parents. Since this letter 
 we have received no tidings ; probably death has 
 closed the scene, for both. The doctor was an old 
 man in 184T. The farm that was taken from them 
 by the creditors of the doctor's son, was a perfect 
 garden ; a beautiful residence, literally embowered 
 with trees and vines. A trumpet honeysuckle, 
 more luxuriant in growth than any I have ever seen 
 east of there, had climbed to the roof, and was * 
 one mass of scarlet blossoms from July till the late 
 frosts of Autumn. A lovelier home was not to be 
 found in all Western New York. I have introduced
 
 190 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 this correspondence for the purpose of showing the 
 effects of any excitement like that occasioning the 
 ruin of this family upon a weak and nervous system ; 
 hoping it will be a warning to those in a like state of 
 health ; and prevent them from allowing any one 
 subject to get the mastery of their minds. I do not 
 say that Spiritualism is the only agency which 
 could effect the same result, for I do not think so. 
 Now, after a lapse of eight more years, 'as much 
 of absurdity and nonsense as has been published to 
 the world under its name, no person of common 
 observation can fail of discovering that some good 
 has been accomplished through its agency. The 
 general tendency of the age had been to infidelity ; 
 and the world was filled with mourners, who had no 
 hope of a future reunion with the loved and lost of 
 earth ; no voice could speak to them of hope and 
 comfort from beyond the door of the sepulchre ; no 
 angel, with noiseless tread, could " roll the rock 
 away." The veil of unbelief between them and the 
 immortal world, had been woven with so firm a tex 
 ture, that the dim eye of faith could not penetrate it. 
 Suppose it is no benefit to some who have already a 
 faith in the Gospel promise ? How uncharitable the 
 interrogatory we daily hear ! " Where's the good ? " 
 A Id to this, the fact that, with all its error, there is 
 truth and beauty in the system, which is interwoven 
 with our former faith and trust, and is identical
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 191 
 
 with our highest and best conceptions of God and 
 heaven. Then I answer, the good in it, is inasmuch 
 as the difference between a cold, unfeeling dread of 
 annihilation, heart-yearnings unsatisfied for a con 
 tinuation of existence beyond this transitory state of 
 trial and affliction, a mourning without hope for the 
 loss of friends, an unhappy solicitude and regret for 
 a misspent life, with no hope of a boundless field for 
 future amendment, no inventive for aspirations of a 
 higher life, a despair which prompts the dismal 
 words of the poet, 
 
 " Like bubbles, on a sea of matter borne, 
 We rise and break, and to that sea return.' ' 
 
 And a cheering, glorious anticipation, which finds 
 vent in these hopeful and blessed sentiments : 
 
 " We start in life an unbroken company ; brothers 
 and sisters, friends and lovers, neighbors and com 
 rades, are with us ; there is circle within circle, and 
 each one of us is at the charmed centre, where the 
 heart's affections are aglow, and whence they radiate 
 on society. Youth is exuberant with joy and hope ; 
 the earth looks fair, for it sparkles with May-dewS 
 wet, and no shadows hath fallen upon it. We are 
 all here, and we could live here forever. The home- 
 centre is on the hither side of the river ; and why 
 should we strain our eyes to look beyond ? But this 
 state of things does not continue long. Our circle
 
 192 
 
 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 grows less and less. It is broken and broken, and 
 then closed up again ; but every break and close 
 makes it narrower and smaller. Perhaps before the 
 sun is at its meridian, the majority are on the other 
 side ; the circle there is as large as the one here ; 
 and we are are drawn contrawise and vibrate between 
 the two. A little longer, and almost all have crossed 
 over ; the balance settles down on the spiritual side, 
 and the home-centre is removed to the upper sphere. 
 At length you see nothing but an aged pilgrim, 
 standing alone on the river's bank, and looking earn 
 estly towards the country on the other side."* 
 
 * "Fore-gleams of Immortality," by Edmund H. Sears, page 136,
 
 LETTER XXIH. 
 
 Genesee County Its fruit Orange County Butter General appear 
 ance of this State from Rouse's Point to Dunkirk Every-body's 
 own Country the Best Skaneateles Cooperstown Rochester 
 Mount Hope Cemetery Mount Hope Nursery. 
 
 MY DEAE F.: 
 
 In my last letter I intended to tell you something 
 about the scenery and natural advantages of Gene- 
 see County, but the large space occupied with per 
 sonal sketches and recollections, and my say about 
 Modern Spiritualism, crowded out other things 
 which would, perhaps, have been more interesting. 
 The particular production of fruit has made this 
 county too well noted in any part of this State, or 
 New England, to need any reference to it here, and 
 there is as much " Genesee fruit " sold in the eastern 
 market, as there is " Orange County Butter," and 
 there is more of both sold in a single year, bearing 
 these names, than either county ever produced of 
 these farm articles. There's everything in a name. 
 Ever so stale an article of butter that has the phrase 
 17
 
 194 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 " Orange County " breathed over it, has a charm in 
 it to raise its value, and warrants a quick sale. It is 
 just so with " Genesee fruit." I have sometimes 
 thought that a bag of Crab-apples might be made 
 so rich as to " melt in your mouth," if these magic 
 words could be whispered in it. What was called 
 the " Genesee country," once embraced the whole 
 of Western New York ; perhaps that accounts for 
 so much " Genesee fruit." All that portion of the 
 State, except the mountainous districts in the ex 
 treme south, presents to the eye of the traveller 
 one complete series of gardens and orchards, spotted 
 with lakes and rivers. I have travelled in every 
 northern, central and western county of this State, 
 from Rouse's Point to Dunkirk. Clinton is the 
 north-east corner county, and Chautauque the south 
 western line. It seems impossible that such con 
 trasts could exist as there is in the general appear 
 ance of these two counties, in one State, though it is 
 as large as the Island of New Holland. I have 
 been over this route by the river St. Lawrence, and 
 the Lakes, by railroad, and by private conveyance, 
 and traversed different sections of nearly every 
 county, and resided in five of them, and become 
 familiarly acquainted with the inhabitants of these 
 various sections, and, what is to me a little singular, 
 by far the largest majority of those I have heard 
 express an opinion of the merits of their locality, in
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 195 
 
 comparison with others, think they have got if not 
 the very identical garden of Eden from which Adam 
 and Eve were driven the counterpart of it. One 
 town in Erie County is named " Eden ;" for conveni 
 ence, all the rest had to be named something else ; 
 but that would have been the most appropriate 
 appellation, according to the estimates of the resi 
 dents. This satisfied spirit, with the places in which 
 our lot has been cast, is certainly a great blessing, 
 for which we ought to be thankful ; for, we, who 
 live in these hyperborean regions, cannot all find 
 places in the orange-groves of the torrid zone, and I 
 doubt whether our happiness would be enhanced by 
 the change. In all this region of country I have 
 spoken of, to me, the paradise of all, for country 
 places, and those are the most pleasant of any, is 
 in Skaneateles, Onondaga County. Including the 
 little villages and hamlets in this town, the lake by 
 the same name, and the gently rolling slopes in the 
 vicinity of the main river, Skaneateles outlet, I 
 never saw so much perfect beauty in one town. It 
 seems that the inhabitants must be immeasurably 
 happy there. One reason for the beautiful appear 
 ance of the country here, is the fact of the high 
 lands overlooking such an extent of territory, in 
 cluding so large a variety of scenery. Fairies must 
 have had a hand in forming and polishing these 
 beautifully rounded hills, and human industry has
 
 196 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 completed a picture of unsurpassed loveliness, a land 
 scape of continuous and highly cultivated farms. 
 
 The village that struck us as the prettiest in this 
 garden of New York, is Cooperstown, in the town 
 of Otsego, Otsego County, at the foot of Otsego 
 Lake. The main street in the village rises, gently, 
 from the lake back to its termination, and has some 
 elegant residences ; among them is one, honored by 
 being that of James Fenimore Cooper, the novelist ; 
 a beautiful mansion with ornamental grounds, near 
 the centre of the village. The Cooperstown Semi 
 nary and Female Collegiate Institute has extensive 
 and beautiful buildings, which, with the adjacent 
 grounds, is an ornament to the place. From almost 
 any part of the village, the lake is the most promi 
 nent, natural feature. Its surface is a clear, smooth 
 sheet, spread out like a mirror, fit home for the 
 fabled nymph. The town of Otsego is a high ridge 
 of land, -lying between the two lakes, Otsego and 
 Schuyler, with the advantages of a rich soil, and 
 under a high state of cultivation. 
 
 The city of Eochester has the most attractions of 
 any of the western and central cities of the State 
 and they are too numerous to mention. Among the 
 most prominent, is Mount Hope Cemetery. It is on 
 the highest ground in the vicinity of the city, em 
 bracing a territory of seventy acres, and from it is 
 a magnificent view of the surrounding country.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 197 
 
 Genesee Falls is one of the prominent natural attrac 
 tions, besides being the scene of " Sam Patch's " 
 fatal leap. Men like him and M. Blondin, who can 
 find no better employment than calling thousands 
 together to be wrought to the highest pitch of ex 
 citement, just for the sport of witnessing their dar 
 ing feats, are a small loss to the world. 
 
 Time and space would fail in the attempt to merely 
 mention the objects of deep interest in this lovely 
 city, and I will only cite you to one in addition to 
 those already referred to ; but the descriptions have 
 been often given by abler pens than mine. Ellwan- 
 ger and Barry's Mount Hope Nursery. Here are 
 five hundred acres, in which the skill, taste, and 
 labor of the experience of years are combined, to 
 propagate and cultivate fruit and ornamental trees, 
 shrubs and flowers, on the most extensive scale of 
 any in the United States, if not in the world. What 
 more delightful, profitable, and elevating employ 
 ment, than the cultivation and care of fruits and 
 tender plants ! Here, just outside the great " wick 
 ed city," where are disgusting scenes of drunken 
 ness and human degradation at its lowest point, is a 
 temple of nature, filled with beauty, and the balmy 
 air is freighted with a thousand odors, a realization 
 of the most romantic dreams. 
 17*
 
 LETTEE XXIV. 
 
 Boston, Erie County Our Children A Land " Flowing with Milk 
 and Honey " Yankee Anecdote of Dairying Western New York 
 as it is As it was, in an extract from Turner's Pioneer History 
 The Inhabitants of 1860 contrasted with those of 1800 Ignor 
 ance of the Poorer Class in the Cities with regard to the Superior 
 Advantages of the Country Extracts from Miss Sedgwick's Let 
 ters. 
 
 MY DEAR F.: 
 
 From the Summer of 1848 to the Spring of 1849, 
 our residence was in the beautiful valley of Eighteen 
 Mile Creek, in the town of Boston, Erie County. 
 This is the birth-place of our daughter. Her 
 brother was born in Watertown, in 1850 ; these are 
 our only children. The town of Boston is wholly 
 made up of two hills passing through the town from 
 northeast to southwest, and the valley spoken of, 
 which is nearly or quite one mile wide. There are 
 three little villages on this creek, from two to three 
 miles apart, containing seven or eight churches, all 
 pleasantly located ; the inhabitants are an enter 
 prising and industrious people, as well as in the farm 
 ing districts on the hills. The road from the top of
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 199 
 
 either hill to the valley belew, is full a mile long, 
 and the descent, the most of the way, is frightfully 
 rapid for timid pedestrians. In one short year, I 
 could not get accustomed to such a getting up and 
 down of steep declivities, and always rode with fear, 
 over them. Almost every farmer here keeps a dairy, 
 and is a cheese-maker, and the dairies are the largest 
 of any I have ever seen in other places ; sometimes 
 numbering a hundred cows, or over.* One other 
 feature of their domestic economy, struck me as 
 somewhat remarkable ; that is, nearly every man 
 that had a house, whether a farmer or mechanic, 
 kept bees ; this makes it similar to the promised land 
 of old, literally " flowing with milk and honey." 
 We never lived in a place I regretted leaving any 
 more tlian this one. The inhabitants were kind and 
 generous, and they still occupy a prominent place in 
 my most grateful remembrances. Sweet dreams 
 still come to me of that happy valley, and of the 
 little cherub whom I first folded in my arms, there. 
 Heaven be blessed for the awakening of these tender 
 ties, and the influence of the little gentle spirits on 
 the heart- of a mother! 
 
 * Speaking of the large dairies of the Bostonians, reminds me of 
 an anecdote I once heard of a couple of Yankees, travelling south. 
 While in the cars, one of them told the astonished Southerners how 
 many hundred cows his neighbor kept. Seeing the crowd rather 
 incredulous, as proof of his assertion, he referred to his travelling 
 companion, who said, *' about the number he did not precisely know, 
 but one thing he did know, he kept twelve saw-mills all going with 
 buttermilk.
 
 200 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 What has been written, dear F., will give you but 
 a little idea of the natural and cultivated advantages 
 of what is acknowledged to be the favored portion 
 of these northern States, Western New York. 
 What little idea you have been able to get from ray 
 disconnected descriptions, is with regard to this 
 beautiful country as it is now ; and that you may 
 better imagine how large a share of it has been 
 accomplished with labor, patience, and ingenuity, 
 I will try to give you some idea of what the country 
 was near the commencement of the present century, 
 by a short extract from Turner's Pioneer History, 
 from the pen of the widow of John Young, one of 
 the first settlers in the town of Elba, Genesee 
 County : 
 
 " My husband having the year before, been out 
 and purchased his land upon the Holland Purchase, 
 in the fall of 1804, we started from our home in 
 Virginia, on horse-back, for our new location. We 
 came through Maryland, crossing the Susquehannah 
 at Milton, thence via Tioga Point and the then usual 
 route. In crossing the Alleghany Mountains, night 
 came upon us : the horses became frightened by 
 wild beasts and refused to proceed. We wrapped 
 ourselves in our cloaks and horse-blankets, and 
 attempted to get some rest, but had a disturbed 
 night of it. , Panthers came near us, often giving 
 terrific screams. The frightened horses snorted and 
 stamped upon the rocks. Taking an early start in 
 the morning, we soon came to a settler's house, and 
 were informed that we had stopped in a common 

 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 201 
 
 resort of the panther. My husband built a shanty, 
 which was about ten feet square, flat-roofed, covered 
 with split ash shingles ; the floor was made of the 
 halves of split basswood ; no chimney. A blanket an 
 swered the purpose of a door for a while, until my 
 husband got time to make a door of split plank. We 
 needed no window ; the light came in where the 
 smoke went out. For chairs we had benches, made 
 by splitting logs, and setting the sections upon legs. 
 A bedstead was made by boring holes in the side of 
 the shanty, inserting pieces of timber which rested 
 upon two upright posts in front, a side piece complet 
 ing the structure, peeled basswood bark answering 
 the place of a cord. We, of course, had brought 
 no bed with us on horse-back, so one had to be pro 
 cured. We bought a cotton bag of Mr. Brisbane, 
 and, stuffing it with cat-tail, it was far better than 
 no bed. The second year we were in, I had an 
 attack of the fever and ague, which confined me for 
 nearly a year. That year my husband cleared four 
 acres, besides taking care of me and doing the 
 cooking. Mr. Young died in 1836. 
 
 Since reading the above, I have thought much 
 about the present condition of the inhabitants in 
 that very locality ; and in connection with it, the 
 ignorance of the young ladies of all this favored 
 land, of the perils and toils of their fore-mothers. 
 Reared in the lap of luxury and abundance, reposing, 
 many of them, after an idle and listless day, upon 
 beds of down, from which they are called by servants 
 in the late morning, to their cups of coffee and toast, 
 then pass a long day to them, making calls or read-
 
 202 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 ing " The Ledger ; " mayhap their white taper fin 
 gers have labored months on the embroidery of 
 one pocket-handkerchief. What kind of wives 
 would they make for the pioneers of your own 
 State, for instance ? Have you any such in Milwau- 
 kie ? How would they like a horse-back ride over 
 the AUeghany Mountains, and then spend a night 
 with the panthers, on the rocks ? My opinion that 
 the bears and wolves would hold peaceable posses 
 sion some time in the future, in the primitive forests, 
 if they did not " clear the track," before some of 
 our ladies of 1860, shared the toils of the brave 
 pioneer. 
 
 There are yet millions of acres belonging to this 
 Republic, untrodden by the foot of the white man, 
 and a " host that no man can number," both men 
 and women scattered all over the world, dragging 
 out a miserable existence, for want of employment, 
 ignorant of the existence of any country outside of 
 the dirty city where they were born. Think of the 
 needle-women in London, thirty-thousand of them 
 in that one city, working for a few pence a day, and 
 what is still worse, other thousands, dragging out a 
 miserable life in the coal mines. Compared with 
 their lot, the rudest hut in our back settlements is a 
 palace. Why don't some benevolent or missionary 
 society, contrive to open a way to our immense tracts 
 of uncultivated lands for these armies of wretched
 
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 2Q3 
 
 beings, many of them in our own cities, who would 
 at once be made happy by it, and the places they 
 leave, as well as those to which they would remove, 
 be the gainers ? Such a society, would, if they ac 
 complished such a glorious object, become the bene 
 factors of their race, and the world would owe them 
 an everlasting debt of gratitude. The change to 
 the poor victims who have the iron heel of oppres 
 sion upon their necks, from the dirty lanes of the 
 crowded city, to the open air of heaven as God 
 made it, would play upon their worn spirits, as the 
 gentle breeze upon the -ZEolian harp. 
 
 Miss Sedgwick, in her letters from Europe, speaks 
 of people who never heard of America ! " K., 
 asked a boy in Italy, twelve years old, who wore a 
 cotton jacket and trousers, (December 9th, two 
 thousand four hundred and seventy feet above the 
 Mediterranean), and manifestly no under clothes, 
 if he knew where America was ? ' No, nor Eng 
 land, nor Rome, nor Florence ! ' Another, still 
 older, had heard of Rome, but he had been four 
 years to school ! ' His mother was dead and there 
 was no one to pay for him, and give him bread any 
 longer ; ' and, he concluded, ' there is no work.' 
 1 Ah, signorina, molto miserable ! ' 
 
 In Switzerland she fell into conversation with a 
 peasant : "In the course of which, he found out that 
 I came from New York, at which he made a vehem-
 
 204 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 ent exclamation, and added that he had a brother in 
 my country. ' In what part of it ? ' I asked, ' for it 
 is somewhat bigger than Switzerland. ' 'In Buenos 
 Ayres ! and if madam would have the goodness to 
 take a letter to him ! ' ? With all my heart,' I said, 
 * but that New York was much farther from Buenos 
 Ayres, than St. Martin's from Paris.' ' Ah! but it 
 is on the same side of the great sea ! ' : 
 
 Nor are the boys and peasants all, who are igno 
 rant of the condition of the American people. If 
 they have heard of America, that is about all, with 
 some in higher walks of life. In Germany, the seat 
 of literature in Europe, as much ignorance was be 
 trayed with regard to America and her people, as in 
 Italy and Switzerland. On page 170, volume 2, of 
 her letters, she says : " We are sometimes amused 
 at the questions that are asked us, such as, 
 4 Whether English is spoken in America ? ' ; A 
 gentleman asked me, " Whether we came from 
 New Orleans or New York ? " as if they were our 
 only cities ; and another said, in good faith, ' Of 
 course there is no society except in New York ! ' 
 Oh, genii locorum of our little inland villages, 
 forgive them ! " 
 
 " We are, too, often reminded how far our country 
 is from this. Yesterday, a Russian gentleman said 
 to K., ' Who is the sovereign of your country, 
 miss ?' * Mr. Van Buren is the President of the
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 205 
 
 United States.' ' Ah, yes, but I have heard the 
 name of Jackson. He sprang from the lower class, 
 did he not ? ' ' Pray what is the title of the chiefs 
 of the lesser departments ? ' : 
 
 Such ignorance, Dear F., would be unpardonable 
 in a school-boy ten years of age, in the United 
 States. 
 
 18
 
 LETTER XXV. 
 
 Parting with Friends Farm Life in Watertown Good Farming- 
 Castles in the Air Bookselling Parents Obligation to Children. 
 
 MY DEAR F. : 
 
 Associations ever so pleasantly formed, have to be 
 broken up sooner or later, by separation. It was 
 with a pang of regret that I took the parting hand 
 of loved friends in Boston, and it would have been 
 hard to be reconciled to this removal, had it not 
 been to my own native place, and to the very home of 
 my childhood. The death of my mother had left a 
 vacancy in the old home, which nothing earthly 
 could fill, and my father had no heart to engage in 
 his farming business alone, nor was there any neces 
 sity for it, at his time of life. By his solicitation, 
 we removed there in March 1859, and commenced a 
 farmer life ; had our object been to lesson labor, we 
 should have failed accomplishing it, for with an in 
 crease of business came an increase of labor and 
 care. Farming is the most healthful and indepen 
 dent way of living, in the world, and then the bread 
 and butter of one's own raising, tastes sweeter than
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 207 
 
 any other ; besides, good farming is profitable and 
 sure business. Horace Greeley, in one of his agri 
 cultural addresses, said he never heard a man com 
 plain of farming being poor business, but that was 
 a poor farmer. This is, perhaps, true of every 
 other business. The light of science has given a 
 new impetus to agriculture, and made it a more 
 attractive calling for young men who have, hitherto, 
 sought their fortunes in the unhealthy atmosphere of 
 the city, contaminating to both mental and physical 
 health. If parents wish to kill their sons outright, 
 as sure a way as it can be accomplished is, to shut 
 them up in a shop or counting-room of the city, 
 away from the invigorating air of the country. 
 
 Of the three years farmer life we spent in Jeffer 
 son County, you have some account in another cor 
 respondence, and of my reluctance to leave old, 
 familiar associations, and come among a strange 
 people. This was done, as you have seen by a peru 
 sal of that correspondence, with a view of bettering 
 our circumstances in a possession of a home of our 
 own. When age begins to creep upon us, the re 
 flection is not as pleasant as it might be, that we 
 have no shelter for our heads when night approaches. 
 It is an easy matter to sit and devise plans for the 
 future, and listen to suggestions upon which to build 
 castles in the air. All of this is accomplished often 
 in less time than I have taken to write it. But there
 
 208 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 is a little more stern reality in the fact of laboring 
 early and late, out of doors and in, for a succession 
 of years to accomplish this object with a hope of the 
 realization of your day-dreams, and a deprivation of 
 everything but the bare necessities of life, and at a 
 point when you expected to rest under a vine of 
 your own planting, to have the whole dashed from 
 you with a few pen-strokes, and transferred to the 
 hands of another, by one who laid the foundation 
 for this air-castle. That these trials in life, all have 
 their uses in the allotments of Providence, there is 
 no doubt, though we fail of discovering them at the 
 time, and their crushing weight sometimes drives 
 hope from us, and we know not which way to turn ; 
 either way we see nought but darkness. 
 
 I have been drawing no fancy sketch, dear F., 
 but one in which all the characters are real. 
 
 Being well aware that the ordinary wages that 
 women can command, in these times, would not be 
 sufficient to accumulate a sum in ten years, that 
 would build a shelter for our heads, to say nothing 
 about expenses of food and clothing. The winter pre 
 vious to this I had taught a district school, two and a 
 half miles from our residence, and drove a horse there 
 and back, every day ; not staying from home a 
 single night in the time. More snow fell during that 
 winter than any previous one since our residence 
 here, and more than any one since that time ; more
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 209 
 
 than half the distance to the school-house, was a 
 north and south road, and piled full up to the tops 
 of the fences a part of the way. Sometimes the 
 horse would be nearly buried in the drifts. At this 
 juncture of affairs, my husband's health was very 
 poor as it had been for years, and our two children, 
 but six and seven years of age. I tried to think of 
 all the employments women ever engaged in, and 
 
 none seemed so feasible as selling: books. This was 
 
 
 
 entirely new and strange business, but I' resolved to 
 try it, knowing full well that, I never should succeed 
 in anything, without trying first. Leaving my chil 
 dren in somebody's else care, was the most objection 
 able part of my plan, and, as some of my friends 
 have expressed a wonder that I could do it, I will 
 here say that, I never should have undertaken the 
 task of travelling and selling books, had I not others 
 depending in a measure on my exertions for a sup 
 port. I could have got along, myself, some way, 
 without that extra exertion, but the idea of children 
 at that tender age, being without a home, nerved 
 me up to efforts which no other earthly inducement 
 could have prompted. I look upon it as one of the 
 greatest evils of society, and one involving more 
 crime than any in the long catalogue of evils, for 
 parents to be the means of bringing children into 
 existence whom they are unable to provide for, in a 
 
 comfortable manner, until they have the capacity to 
 
 18*
 
 210 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 provide for themselves, and next to it is, the foolish 
 indulgence of some parents in the other direction, 
 that is, not impressing upon childrens' minds the 
 necessity of industrious habits, and thus acqiiiring, 
 gradually, a knowledge of the means of helping 
 themselves to an honorable living, either by their 
 education or the labor of their hands. It is a fine 
 thing in these days of fickle fortunes, to have an 
 education, and know how to labor in addition to it. , 
 There is but little danger of children, or anybody 
 else having too much practical knowledge, neither 
 boys nor girls.
 
 LETTEK XXVI. 
 
 Commenced Travelling and Selling Books First Field in Parishville 
 Incidents in the Trade Jefferson County Parishville and 
 Watertown Printing Offices turned into Cigar Factories. 
 
 MY DEAK F. : 
 
 Having once made a resolve to become a travelling 
 bookseller, I commenced at first on a very small 
 scale by way of experiment. I started with a horse 
 and carriage about the 20th of August, 1856. I 
 had never, then, nor have I, yet, heard of but one 
 female book-pedlar in Northern New York, besides 
 myself; that was Miss Mendell, of Ellisburgh, who 
 is now dead ; she died in Philadelphia before I com 
 menced the trade. We had always kept our de 
 nominational books, and a few others, for the accom 
 modation of such as we happened to meet at home 
 and away, so my first stock was already on hand. 
 Parishville was the first place that I ventured to go, 
 and this was but six miles from our residence. On 
 the way I called at some houses where I was well 
 acquainted, with a beating heart, but with better 
 success than I had anticipated. I took another
 
 212 PEKSQNAL SKETCHES 
 
 route home through the corner of Stockholm, and 
 when the night had come I was again at home, hav 
 ing travelled twelve < miles, and sold five dollars 
 worth of books. The next day I took a larger 
 variety with me, and sold ten dollar's worth ; at this 
 rate my little stock was soon going to be exhausted, 
 so I wrote to Boston and ordered another large lot, 
 among them a variety of children's books, all Colored 
 and full of plates. For the benefit of beginners in the 
 business, I will give it as my opinion that juvenile 
 books of the right stamp, ought to be a large share of 
 the outfit of those who engage in the business, for two 
 reasons ; they are the more profitable, and they do 
 so much good to those families who never go to a 
 book store, and, consequently, were it not that ped 
 lars carry them to the door, they would never get 
 them. It has been a great satisfaction to me, in my 
 peregrinations in out-of-the-way places, to see little 
 bright eyes glisten when they gathered around my 
 basket of beautiful toy books, and very often when 
 I have taken my departure, and thanked the parents 
 for their liberal patronage, they have assured me 
 that they considered themselves the party under 
 obligation. Here, then, was a mutual blessing, they, 
 rejoicing in the opportunity of purchasing the need 
 ed article in their own houses, and I, that I made 
 them and myself the better off for the call. One 
 man in the extreme south of Jefferson County, who
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 213 
 
 never leaves the immediate neighborhood of his 
 residence, more than once a year ; but who, with his 
 family have a love for books, and no opportunity to 
 purchase them within fifteen miles of home, bought 
 bountifully of me every time I called at his house, 
 and has frequently expressed his thankfulness that I 
 had been sent to him ; for, by that means, he said, 
 he had been permitted to read books which he never 
 should have known had been published, " Why," 
 he would say, in his eccentric manner, " you are 
 doing more good than any preacher in the country." 
 In the four or five times that I stopped at his house, 
 he purchased from twelve to fifteen dollars worth of 
 books, and, instead of its making him poorer, he was 
 the richer. This world's goods are not the best 
 riches after a man has got enough for his comfort, 
 and, what is better, there are hundreds of people 
 that are well aware of it, and for their own good 
 there ought to be more. 
 
 One man, in the town of Parishville, has bought 
 of me, in the three years of my travelling, nearly 
 one hundred dollars' worth of books. After the 
 amount had reached nearly seventy dollars, I asked 
 him if he would take what they had cost him, now 
 he had read them, and have them taken out of his 
 house, and never see them again ; " No," he said, 
 " not as long as I have enough to eat and wear with 
 out it." But there are striking contrasts to this
 
 214 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 value of reading matter, in the estimation of some 
 people, I am sorry to say, as an incident which I 
 will relate will show you ; and before relating it, I 
 will caution you not to think it must have occurred 
 away up here in the " south woods ; " no, not here, 
 for I am happy to state that I have never happened 
 to " light on " such a man as that in St. Lawrence 
 County ; and, for fear you will be charging it upon 
 some of the innocent people up on " John Brown's 
 Tract," in Lewis County, or the barren hills of 
 Clinton County, or in some back woods in Canada, 
 for you know I have been in all these places, I am 
 just going to tell you where it was. "Well, it was 
 right in "WatertoAvn, not more than three miles from 
 the village ; but " don't tell of it," for that is the 
 very town, you know, I have told you so many 
 good things about, in my former letters, because I 
 was born and " brought up " there. Now for the 
 incident. It was on a lovely street, that I had not 
 been for years, though I was somewhat acquainted 
 with the inhabitants. The house was one of the 
 most beautiful in all that locality. As I neared it, 
 the first object that attracted my attention, was the 
 large quantity of green lattice-work surrounding it. 
 This was loaded with flowering vines, and the season 
 was that in which nature puts on her liveliest dress. 
 The building itself was snowy white, with green 
 blinds, and the profusion of lattice-work spoken of. 

 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 215 
 
 Ah, thought I, as I stepped from the carriage, here 
 is a very tasty man's dwelling ; he must have studied 
 all the books and papers on rural architecture, and 
 here, in this beautiful home, he has put his knowl 
 edge to good practical account. I stepped on to the 
 piazza and rapped on the front door, for there was 
 no bell, and a gruff voice inside, said " Come in." 
 As I opened the door, a cloud of pent up tobacco 
 smoke met me in the face, so thick that you could 
 cut it with a knife. A strong breeze which was 
 blowing from the lake, soon cleared the way for an 
 entrance, and as I said "good evening," I made the 
 discovery that the man was one whom I had known 
 in former years. He and his young wife sat near 
 together, both smoking long pipes, and the lady was 
 nursing a baby. After I had taken a seat and the 
 usual complimentary salutations had passed, I said ; 
 Well, J., you see I have turned book-pedlar. Let 
 me sell you some books." " Books ! " he exclaimed, 
 " what do I want of them ? " " Why, to read, of 
 course." " I never read a book in my life, and I 
 would rather have one pipe full of good tobacco, 
 than all the books you could bring me." This, I 
 had no reason to doubt, and, for the want of any 
 thing more appropriate, I said, "I presume your 
 reading is all from newspapers ; how many do you 
 take?" "I have kept house twenty years, and 
 never took a newspaper in my life." The best part
 
 216 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 of this anecdote is, that before I left the house he 
 bought a book. A new era in his life had com 
 menced ; but I never had any means of knowing 
 what use he made of his book, for I never have seen 
 him since ; perhaps he used a leaf at a time to light 
 his pipe with. That night I spent at one of his 
 near neighbors, also an acquaintance ; and his wife 
 said that she could testify to the truth of his never 
 taking a newspaper, for if the woman wanted to cut 
 a pattern, she always asked her for a paper. I ad 
 vised my friend to take one paper, at least, so that 
 he could know how to vote, understandingly. And 
 for a little fun, I told him if he didn't I would have 
 him sent to Barnum's Museum as a natural curiosity. 
 I have never found in my travels, besides himself, 
 but one man, who did not take a newspaper for his 
 family, who could read, and this one did not make it 
 a rule never to take one. Imagine, dear F., the 
 consequences of every family in the United States 
 following the example of this one ; the printing- 
 offices would all have to be converted into cigar or 
 tobacco factories, and the host of printers and book 
 makers go South, and take up their hoes in culti 
 vation of the weed. A picture would be presented 
 to the world, that even the puffers and chewers 
 would turn from in disgust. But I will leave this 
 filthy subject for a separate place. 

 
 LETTER XXVII. 
 
 Progress in my Business Too much Labor for Strength All mY 
 Labor in a small Compass Absurdity of the Idea of the Book 
 Trade ever being Exhausted Importance of Parents Keeping 
 Suitable Books on hand for Children. 
 
 MY DEAK F. : 
 
 Until the Spring of 1857, which was the time we 
 were obliged to move, I constantly worked at book 
 selling, and left my children at home with a hired 
 woman, never staying away from home over a week 
 or ten days at a time. This was a sufficient length 
 of time to test the expediency of any further trial in 
 my new business, and then a change must be made in 
 our household arrangements. We had got a house 
 put up but not finished, and our new farm was let 
 out upon shares. I had forgotten to mention that 
 we were in debt for another piece of land oppo 
 site our dry forty acre lot, for the purpose of getting 
 water, for I suppose you are farmer enough to know 
 that a farm without water is like a gun without a 
 lock useless. Our whole farm was then large 
 19
 
 218 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 enough for all purposes of our use, nearly ninety 
 acres. Every cent of my book profits up to the 
 time of breaking up house-keeping, was paid out 
 for building, and other improvements ; and my hus 
 band had got an appointment in the business of col 
 lecting subscriptions for the St. Lawrence University 
 so we were both earning money faster than ever we 
 had been able to do before. About this time I made 
 arrangements with my sister to keep my children 
 one year, and send them to school with her own 
 and trust to Providence for a recompense. I told 
 her if I succeeded in my business, I would pay her 
 one hundred dollars for her care of my children, 
 and their board. Accordingly, once in three months 
 I paid her twenty-five dollars. This, with the school- 
 books and clothing, amounted to about one hundred 
 and twenty dollars for the year, which I paid, faith 
 fully, per agreement, and every cent of it from my 
 own profits. This was but a small share of my earn 
 ings that year, but the balance was all used for paying 
 up old debts, and in improvements on the farm, after 
 my own expenses were paid, including one hundred 
 and fifty dollars my father gave me. In that year I 
 sold fifteen hundred dollars' worth of books. Do 
 not imagine that I spent many idle hours, for I labor 
 ed incessantly in all sorts of weather, often exposing 
 my health in a manner I would not advise any one 
 else to do, neither shall I again ; but I felt a necessity
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 219 
 
 for It, then. My ambition mingled with hopes of " a 
 good time coming," ran away with my strength. I 
 have now a settled rheumatism in my left shoulder, 
 no doubt induced by taxing its strength beyond 
 endurance, in carrying books, and a constant expo 
 sure to the cold. I did not foresee this result at the 
 time, or I could have prevented it, in a measure, by 
 making my burden lighter. This is only another 
 proof that a fearful penalty awaits the transgressor 
 of physical, as well as moral laws ; and no matter 
 how worthy the cause engaged in, the feat is inexor 
 able. A pirate vessel well directed, and sound in 
 all its parts, will go safely across the ocean, at the 
 same time that a missionary vessel, with a hole in 
 the bottom, would sink. My peregrinations were 
 not all by private conveyance, but they were in a 
 very limited circle : they extended no farther east, 
 than Lake Champlain, nor west, beyond Rochester, 
 and Prince Edward's County, in Canada. Nine 
 tenths of the books I have sold, have been sold in 
 the three counties, Franklin, St. Lawrence, and Jef 
 ferson. At the first glance of this small territory, 
 one would naturally conclude that, but a very small 
 ampunt of business of this kind could be done ; but, 
 if I were to continue the business ten more years, I 
 should not want any more territory than this, and then 
 the great failure would be, in the lack of time to visit 
 a third part of the towns. Not half of the towns in
 
 220 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 these three counties have I ever been in, nor a tenth 
 part of the streets in the towns where I have been ; 
 nor have I seen one fourth of the families, on the 
 streets I have been. Very often the people have 
 made the remark to me, that they " should think I 
 would get the community supplied with books after a 
 while." This is a very absurd remark. When 
 Mrs. Partington gets the Atlantic ocean wiped up 
 with her mop, then St. Lawrence County will be 
 supplied with books, and not before. The old lady 
 was pretty good at small slops, but the ocean was 
 " quite an undertaking." You* might as well talk 
 about getting the county supplied with beef and 
 
 + potatoes ; after a person has partaken of a good din 
 ner one day, his appetite is just as good for the next 
 day's repast. The more books there are sold in any 
 
 g| place, the larger the demand, as I know full well by 
 experience. The very places where I have sold the 
 most books, are the best fields of labor for the book- 
 . seller. Sometimes it takes a good deal of drilling 
 to convince a family that money expended for books 
 is a good investment, but, after persuading them to 
 buy one, the next sale comes easier. Many a family 
 accumulates a library in this way, which the money 
 it cost would be a small temptation to part with. I 
 have, in my mind, severaj such, who have purchased 
 almost every book they own, a few at a time, of me. 
 I have often heard parents complain, that their chil-
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 221 
 
 dren had no taste for reading'; and such, I have 
 always observed had no books, or at most, a last 
 year's almanac and a bible. I have seen and become 
 acquainted with a great many children, but I never 
 saw one that could not be attracted with the right 
 kind of a book for its capacity, if commenced with 
 at a right age. This fact I have tried to impress 
 upon parents, in my teaching-school days, before I 
 had any special interest in the sale of books. The 
 time has been when parents honestly thought their 
 duty was done in that direction, when they had 
 bought a spelling book and reader for their children, 
 and that, not till after they had commenced going to 
 school. There are more books torn to pieces by 
 children who never see one more than once a year, 
 than by such as have them to handle ; so they become 
 familiar with their value at a very early age. As 
 soon as a child is old enough to hold a book open, 
 and turn the leaves over, it is old enough to own a 
 picture book. 
 
 19*
 
 LETTER XXVIII. 
 
 Gratitude for Favors Kind Treatment and Liberal Patronage 
 Forbearance of Creditors Means of success in selling Valuable 
 Books American Portrait Gallery Livingston's Travels Re 
 collections of a Life Time, by S. G. Goodrich Horace Greeley's 
 opinion of Biographies. 
 
 MY DEAR F. : 
 
 I have dwelt somewhat in particulars, in my last 
 two or three epistles, as it seemed necessary to give , 
 you an idea of the causes which operated to drive 
 one into an unusual field of labor for women. Of 
 course there have been a few Mrs. Prims and Miss 
 Chatty s, who thought it was " very improper," but 
 these have never treated me any other way than 
 well, in my presence, and have laid no particular 
 obstruction in my path. I could not reasonably 
 expect any thing further of them. On the other 
 hand, words would fail were I to attempt to express 
 my thanks to those who have assisted me with their 
 liberal patronage, recommendations, and hospitality ; 
 they have all been poured out with an unsparing 
 hand, to make bright my pathway, and I feel now 
 that it is impossible for me to repay them, so great
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 223 
 
 is my obligation. It is somewhat remarkable that, 
 as far as my business is concerned, I have never met 
 with any but the kindest treatment, and I have 
 dealt with thousands of people. I have read and 
 heard of those engaged in similar business, and have 
 seen some ladies in the cars, merely travelling short 
 routes, who have complained of ill-treatment from 
 baggage-masters and conductors ; but my observa 
 tion and experience have all been on the " angel 
 side " of human nature. My habit has always been 
 to speak respectfully and treat with civility all whose 
 business it was to wait upon me in public places, 
 and, without an exception that has been the kind of 
 treatment I have received in return, for the three 
 years I was constantly travelling. Rail-road con 
 ductors, baggage-masters, steamboat captains, stage 
 drivers, and hotel keepers, have all been perfect gen 
 tlemen, and generally patronized me liberally. 
 
 I have sold and bought books on credit to large 
 amounts, and have never, out of hundreds of cases, 
 and many of them entire strangers on the start, 
 found more than four or five who did not meet their 
 obligations as they agreed ; and these, the majority 
 of them, lacked ability as well as disposition to pay. 
 I have but one, now in my mind, who showed a dis 
 position to be dishonest, and this one was a girl, a 
 fresh importation from Erin's Isle : she failed in the 
 attempt.
 
 224 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 It seems to be quite a satisfaction to some talkers 
 and writers, to villify human nature by putting their 
 morals and practices to the lowest ebb ; but the facts 
 undoubtedly are, that a very large majority of man 
 kind, are naturally honest, and do more good, ten 
 fold, than bad actions. 
 
 When I look back upon it now, it seems unac 
 countable to me how large amounts different firms 
 in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, have sent 
 me on credit, with no means of knowing whether I 
 had either ability or inclination to pay. They all 
 took my word, that I would remit at some future 
 time, which I always did. But one firm ever re 
 quired me to pay in advance, and that was Fowler 
 & Wells, New York, that being their invariable 
 rule. 
 
 In one of my orders to New York, to a strange 
 and new firm, I mentioned that I had bought books 
 of-G. Collins, Philadelphia. They filled my order 
 immediately, but in about a week I received the fol 
 lowing from Collins. " A few days since I received 
 a note from a New York bookseller, asking who you 
 were ! So I suppose you are getting into an exten 
 sive business. I am glad to hear it. I stated, in 
 reply to the note, that I would fill your order to any 
 amount." 
 
 I bought and sold a great many Philadelphia pub 
 lications, but all of them through the agency of this
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 225 
 
 one publisher, in that place. The firms in Boston 
 who have so kindly waited my convenient pay-day* 
 are, Abel Tompkins, J. M. Usher, and Bela Marsh. 
 New York Miller, Orton & Mulligan, C. M. Sax- 
 ton & Co., and J. M. Emerson & Co. Ogdens- 
 burgh, H. F. Lawrence has filled my orders to any 
 amount desired, and, laterly, I have purchased 
 indiscriminately of him, publications from almost 
 every house in the eastern cities, and for his kind 
 ness, affability, and prompt attention to orders, he 
 has my most grateful remembrance. The same is 
 true of J. H. Sedley, of Potsdam, and Hall & Rogers, 
 of Watertown. I have good reason to believe that 
 I have still the entire confidence of all the above 
 named gentlemen, though I have never seen one of 
 them, except the last named. I have two motives in 
 mentioning these facts ; first,~for the benefit of those 
 who may have read Miss Mendell's book, the young 
 lady who was the pioneer female bookseller here, in 
 northern New York. She speaks disparagingly of 
 some New Yew York book dealers, and this is to 
 certify that they have dealt honorably with me with 
 out an exception. Second, for the benefit of young 
 men, and women, too, if any should wish to engage 
 in this pleasant and profitable business. Most cheer 
 fully do I point to them as worthy of reliance and 
 patronage. I had not a farthing to commence with, 
 except the avails of my sales, and perhaps others in
 
 226 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 like circumstances, would be inspired with confi 
 dence to commence on this no-capital scale, by hav 
 ing a way marked out. The only way for me to 
 succeed in selling any book, is to become familiar 
 with its contents, and give the customer a little out 
 line of its plan and subject. I know, in this way, 
 that I have sold more than double the books that I 
 could, to be ignorant of what they treated. In 
 every place I have visited, I have secured a regular 
 set of customers ; and, after becoming acquainted 
 with me, if I told them that I knew nothing about 
 the merits of a book, they took it as evidence, that 
 it wasn't worth knowing anything about. Here I 
 must call your attention to some few publications 
 that I have read and sold with great satisfaction, 
 because I consider them very valuable for the gen 
 eral reader, especially those whose means restrict 
 them to a small library ; some of these works are a 
 whole library in themselves. The American Por 
 trait Gallery, published by J. M. Emerson & Co., 
 New York. It contains three hundred and fifty 
 portraits of eminent Americans, and a sketch of the 
 life of each, commencing with Christopher Columbus, 
 and coming down to the present time. These 
 sketches occupy nearly eight hundred pages, and 
 include almost every event in American history. I 
 have sold one hundred and eighty copies of this ; 
 price $3.50. Livingston's Travel's in Africa, is an
 
 AND KECOLLECTIONS. 227 
 
 extremely valuable book, and contains a host of in 
 formation not found in any other. There are four 
 different editions and prices of this work. I have 
 sold large quantities of each variety. The largest 
 one is sold for $3.00. 
 
 I intended, dear F., to speak of many other books, 
 and give you a little idea of their contents. I dis 
 tributed eighty copies of S. Gr. Goodrich's (Peter 
 Parley) Eecollections of a Life Time, which, I 
 believe, gave great satisfaction to the readers, gener 
 ally. It contains two large octavo volumes of about 
 twelve hundred pages, price $ 3.00. This book has 
 been largely criticized by the press, perhaps more 
 on account of the political opinions of the author, 
 than for any other reason. A cousin of mine, an 
 eccentric genius, John Sheldon, Esq., of Watertown, 
 being asked his opinion of the merits of this work, 
 said ; " O, he deals -too much in minutiae ; Peter 
 recollected too many things." He does not, it seems, 
 have much affinity for Horace Greeley's opinion of 
 biographies. Parton, the author of Greeley's bio 
 graphy, said that he called on him while this work 
 was in preparation, but Horace was entirely ignorant 
 of the existence of his own history that was being 
 prepared, and Parton asked him what he thought of 
 such and such biographies, pointing to several dif 
 ferent ones ; " O," said he, " I don't like any of 
 them ; there is not a perfect biography hi the country.
 
 228 
 
 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 They don't write particulars enough. For my part 
 I want to know what a man ate for his breakfast, 
 and what kind of stockings he wore." " On this 
 occasion, says Parton, " Horace's were white, with 
 a hole in each heel !"
 
 LETTER XXIX. 
 
 Journey to Malone, Hopkinton, Nicholsville and Bangor Franklin 
 County Fair Sketch of the Life of Sam Houston. 
 
 Malone, Franklin Co., Sept. 15, 1860. 
 MY DEAR F. : 
 
 Having a little business in this beautiful village, 
 the county seat of Franklin, by way of collecting a 
 few stray shillings, and knowing that I should see 
 " everybody," because it is the time of the meeting 
 of the Agricultural Society and Fair, and Horace 
 Greeley was advertised to address them, and, having 
 a desire to see, and hear speak, a man of whom I 
 had heard and read so much, I thought this might 
 be my only opportunity while I lived ; so I rode out 
 here yesterday from home, a distance of twenty-six 
 .miles. Being the whole load myself, passenger, 
 driver and all, I had as much room as I wanted, 
 and none to interrupt my observations or reflections 
 over this beautiful road. A panorama of pleasant 
 fields, meadows, and orchards, slowly opened to my 
 view, spotted with dwellings of varied hues, size and 
 20
 
 230 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 architecture, and now and then a neat little village 
 arose before me. The first one of these was Hopkin- 
 ton, with its broad plat of green in the centre with 
 its few tasty white cottages hovering around it, 
 almost hidden in foliage, and back of it, its one 
 church, with spire pointing towards heaven ; and in 
 the distance at the left, the beautiful burial-place, 
 where the high and the low have found their rest 
 together. 
 
 Next in the panorama is Nicholsville, the main 
 part of it in the town of Lawrence, standing on two 
 hills divided by a deep ravine cut by the St. Regis 
 river. This is a busy, bustling little place, more 
 alive than dead, or they never could raise energy 
 enough to climb these steep hills. " Better wear 
 out than rust out," is a good motto, and here they 
 are practising on it. 
 
 Then, West Bangor and South Bangor, both 
 pretty places, and in the midst of a rich farming 
 section, now all still and quiet, because they are 
 gone to the Fair, to a man, woman, and child. Mr. 
 Greeley's address was plain, practical, and laden 
 with rather a scarce article, " common sense." He 
 did not deliver a lingo of hard chemical words and 
 phrases, wholly unintelligible to farmers, or any 
 body else but philosophers. He talked about the 
 different modes of cultivation, and of the implements, 
 giving his own experience and opinion with regard
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 231 
 
 to various experiments. The Fair-ground here, is 
 the most beautiful one that can be imagined ; a level 
 surface containing the requisite number of acres and 
 completely surrounded with hills, except on the side 
 of the entrance, fronting the broad street. After 
 the address, almost anything you could think of was 
 on exhibition, from a baby eight months old, weigh 
 ing one hundred pounds, down to a cage full of that 
 " subtle beast " that beguiled Eve. The baby was 
 a native of Green Bay, in the north of Michigan. 
 I beg of you, dear F., not to send any more " Michi- 
 ganders " down this way, if they are all as large as 
 that one, in proportion to their age. 
 
 There are not many prettier or more enterprising 
 villages in northern New York, than Malone. Its 
 situation is beautiful ; on hills between which Salmon 
 River flows, and which overlook a large and fertile 
 territory. One needs only to pass through a place 
 to see whether the inhabitants have any enterprise. 
 Here, thrift and industry are visible at every turn. 
 The hum of busy machinery, and the hurrying to 
 and fro of laborers, clerks, and sewing-girls, to their 
 meals, at the sound of the gong, is evidence that 
 they do not eat the bread of idleness. 
 
 September IQth. Last night there was a great 
 political demonstration here. Two distinguished 
 speakers, Hon. L. E. Chittenden, of Burlington, 
 Vermont, and Hon. H. B. Stanton, of Seneca
 
 232 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 County, in this State, besides a great crowd of 
 " Wide-awakea." I listened until a late hour to 
 their arguments, and then retired, thoroughly ex 
 hausted. 
 
 This morning at seven o'clock, when the breakfast 
 bell rung, and found me still wandering in the land 
 of dreams, I felt as though I should make a good 
 captain to a company of fast-asleeps, if such a one 
 could be formed ; and, at the table, Mr. Hardy, my 
 good host, thought he could furnish me with a lieu 
 tenant, looking up at his wife. There are, at least, 
 four candidates for the Presidency, in this campaign, 
 and not the least in the estimation of the people, is 
 Major General Samuel Houston. He is a man of 
 very eccentric character, and no diminutive calibre 
 intellectually, and, would, perhaps, honor the office 
 as much as some who have already filled it. This is 
 saying but very little in his praise. From the first 
 dawn of his public career, which commenced as 
 early as 1820, he has been the subject of a large 
 amount of newspaper vituperation and bickering. 
 Some of the public prints make him a native of 
 Kentucky, and say that, he was early in life elected 
 Governor of that State. Probably neither is cor 
 rect. He was born in Virginia, and removed to 
 Tennessee when he was but a young lad, and became 
 Governor of that State in 1827, after having been 
 member of the House of Representatives, for severa*
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 233 
 
 successive terms. Soon after his term of office of 
 Governor, expired, he divided his property with his 
 wife, and they separated, for reasons best known to 
 themselves. He has been a very successful military 
 man, serving under the immediate eye of General 
 Jackson, and, in after-life, enjoyed the honors of 
 high offices in various military companies. When 
 he separated from his wife, from some wholly unac 
 countable motive, he left the society of civilized life, 
 and took up his abode, for several years, with 
 savages. A writer of a Vermont paper says, he 
 travelled with him on a steamboat down the Ohio 
 river, on his way as Indian agent, to visit a tribe in 
 the far West, the chief of whom had adopted him 
 as a son. He is described as having on a suit of 
 Indian clothing, unsocial and stiff in his manners. 
 He visited Washington after returning to civilization, 
 in his usual garb, and was supposed to be an alien 
 from savage life, until he practiced a little of it in 
 cowhiding Stanbridge, M. C., for slandering General 
 Jackson. After this we find him in Texas, acting as 
 commander-in-chief of the Texian forces against 
 Mexico, where he is described by Kendall in his 
 Santa Fee expedition, or some other writer, perhaps 
 Jones, in his American Biographies, as being at the 
 head of a varied multitude, embracing all classes, 
 from the most moral to the utterly abandoned ; but 
 his military tact and natural disposition to govern, 
 20*
 
 234 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 kept them in subjection, and then followed one of 
 the most remarkable and bloody struggles on record, 
 which resulted in a complete Texian victory, though 
 their army numbered less th,an one-fourth that of 
 the celebrated Santa Anna. In May, 1836, a 
 treaty of peace was signed, acknowledging the inde 
 pendence of Texas, who unanimously elected their 
 brave General, their first President. In this remark 
 able war, Houston's loss was- only seven killed and 
 thirty wounded. One of his officers gives an anecdote 
 of a spy he had taken. He said he was bivouaced, 
 (on guard or watch), on the eve of the battle of 
 San-J acinto. The General says, " Bob, it is in my 
 power to redeem you, and I will do so, if you will 
 redeem yourself." "I give you," says Bob, the 
 full assurance that I will." " Then," says Sam, 
 will you obey my orders?" "Yes, inviolably." 
 " Then inform me, before the rising of the sun, the 
 situation of Santa Anna and his army." He pro 
 mised, and Sam ordered the officers to let him go. 
 "We were on the march," says the officer; " ( and 
 were informed by our leader that we were within 
 twenty miles of Santa Anna's camp. AJ1 this hap 
 pened in the night, and we were soon informed that 
 the distance to the camp was very short. As we 
 scaled the breast-works made of logs, my attcntk 
 was arrested by a man fighting desperately, armec 
 with knives, .striking right and left, but soon fel
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 235 
 
 wounded, and requested to see General Houston. I 
 soon discovered that it was the prisoner whom the 
 General had rescued on that night from a worse 
 fate, and I made his request known to the com 
 mander-chief, who sought him out. No sooner than 
 he recognized him, he stretched forth his hand, and 
 said, " Have I not kept my word ? " In answer, the 
 General replied ; " Yes, Bob, you have." A few 
 words more passed between them, and after a brief 
 " farewell," uttered with feeling, he expired. 
 
 After General Houston had been President of 
 Texas, he took to the intoxicating bowl, and on one 
 occasion was himself whipped by a citizen of Austin, 
 for slanderous words, spoken while in a state of in 
 toxication. Afterwards he thanked him, and said 
 he would heed the chastisement as a temperance lec 
 ture, however severe. 
 
 These sketches are all from memory of newspaper 
 paragraphs, and, perhaps, not wholly correct. The 
 Original language of the narrators would have been 
 preferable had it been accessible, but my intention 
 was not to write the life of Mr. Houston, only to 
 give you some of the leading traits in his character. 
 If good fighting is a good recommendation for a 
 President, Sam would be a charming one, for that 
 seems to be his leading propensity.
 
 LETTER XXX. 
 
 Journey to Westville The place and its inhabitants Death of Mrs. 
 Oberia Mann. 
 
 MY DEAR F. : 
 
 Just as the golden sun was sinking behind those 
 exquisitely moulded hills at the west of Malone, I 
 started with Mrs. Powell, your neice, for a visit to 
 Westville. The road was nice, and having good 
 company, not the least entertaining being Mrs. P.'s 
 crowing baby ; it seemed short, though the distance 
 is ten or twelve miles. In this town, the scenery 
 and inhabitants, all, are so familiar to yourself, that 
 I cannot mention any of them without your antici 
 pation of what I would say. The best recommenda 
 tion I can give the inhabitants of your old place of 
 residence is, what I heard a gentleman of Burke say 
 of them who formerly lived there. He said they 
 were the most united and happy community he ever 
 knew, and to use his own phraseology, "There is 
 no backbiting there, they all know enough to mind
 
 AND KECOLLECTIONS. 237 
 
 their own business." Happy place, surely ! and a 
 good model for imitation. Nature has done her 
 share to make the place attractive, and now the in 
 habitants do not deprive themselves of the enjoy 
 ments of their privileges, by neighborhood quarrels. 
 The same beautiful river passes through it, that 
 carries all the machinery of Malone. 
 
 There are some changes here since your lasj visit, 
 and the most sad one is in the family of your "own 
 sister, Mrs. Mann. Her grief seems as poignant as 
 at the first shock. The dear gentle Oberia is missed 
 at every turn of the house, and a gloom is cast upon 
 all her familiar places of resort. The departure of 
 such a sweet spirit from the household, leaves an 
 aching void that nothing earthly can fill. One so 
 lively and happy, and at an age when the world is 
 bright and beautiful to them, the severing of ties 
 seems a double affliction to those who are left. A 
 faded bouquet of wild flowers, her own hands gath 
 ered, are among the preserved mementoes, and affec 
 tion's hands still place fresh flowers she loved so well 
 upon her grave. The golden chain that bound her 
 heart to parents and sisters, is not severed, though 
 the river of death flows between them. When I 
 think of the mourning mother, of this promising 
 young lady, and the scalding tears of grief I have 
 seen bedew her care-worn cheek, I unconsciously 
 find myself repeating Mrs. Mayo's beautiful lines 
 for her :
 
 238 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 " Why should I Tainly weep 
 
 Where the green mosses creep 
 Above the ruins of a beauteous shrine ? 
 The sweet divinity I dared call mine 
 Does not beneath them sleep. 
 
 Why do I haunt this spot, 
 
 Where, by the world forgot, 
 Ashes are sleeping, whence the fire and light 
 Long since have fled, and left but dust and blight 
 
 Beneath the flowery plat ? 
 
 Why on this fresh, bright sod, 
 
 Where foot hath never trod, 
 Save it be angel foot-steps, tending flowers, 
 Have I so humbly knelt, through long sad hours, 
 
 And wildly called on God ? 
 
 0, Father, lift mine eyes 
 
 To thy bright, glorious skies, 
 Where nothing fades nor passes to decay : 
 Woo me by smiles of love, gently away 
 
 To thy pure Paradise. "
 
 LETTER XXXI. 
 
 Franklin County Rivers, Roads, and Farming Lack of Fruit- 
 Villages Moira The northern part Westville Fort Coving_ 
 ton and Bombay Indian reservation Hogansburgh St. Regis 
 Village Allen Lincoln Salmon River Bangor An Incident 
 Clinton County, &c. 
 
 MY DEAR F. : 
 
 What I have said of the general aspect of Malone 
 and Westville, in beauty of scenery, is true of 
 nearly all the cultivated portions of Franklin County. 
 The noble St. Lawrence River bounds it, or a portion 
 of it, on the north, and numerous smaller streams rise 
 in the mountainous regions of the southern part of the 
 county and empty into it. Within my remembrance, 
 almost the entire northeastern part of this State was 
 called " Chatauque woods." The beautifully laid 
 out roads, hard and smooth as a pavement, with the 
 cultivated fields and orchards on each side, make 
 the appearance of the landscape almost vie with 
 that of the western part of the State, and it lacks 
 nothing but fruit to make it as desirable a locality. 
 Perhaps want of attention in the cultivation of it,
 
 240 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 has more to do with its scarcity than natural advan 
 tages. It is hard to bring one's mind to the fact, in 
 passing through this well-cultivated part of the 
 county, of its having been so recently covered with 
 the primitive forests, especially in view of the 
 numerous little villages which are laid out in unsur 
 passed loveliness and taste. Among the prettiest 
 of these is Moira, on the eastern border ; the dwell 
 ings are neat and attractive, and the churches have 
 the appearance of thrift and comfort. From here, 
 through to the line of Clinton County, about three 
 or four miles east of Chatauque, the surface of the 
 ground is level, and almost without an exception, 
 well and neatly cultivated, with buildings which do 
 honor to the taste and industry of their owners. 
 The northern part of the county of Franklin, has, 
 perhaps, more natural advantages than the interior, 
 but being on the border of Canada, and so freely 
 mixing with inhabitants of entirely different pursuits 
 that, to say the least, the premises of farmers have 
 a somewhat less tidy appearance, though there are 
 very many exceptions to this, especially in the towns 
 of Fort Covington and "Westville. In the northern 
 part of Bombay, is a small portion of an Indian 
 reservation, which extends mostly into Canada. 
 Here, the St. Regis river is navigable for steamers, 
 as far as Hogansburgh, a small, unthrifty hamlet, in 
 the extreme north of the town of Bombay. A por-
 
 AND EECOLLECTIONS. 241 
 
 tion of the tribe of St. Regis Indians occupy a vil 
 lage of that name in sight of here, and a part of 
 their lands are leased to a slovenly and filthy set of 
 whites, and all together make a sorry job of trying 
 farming for a living. The blight of indolence and 
 intemperance is visible at every turn, here. Either 
 one will destroy the prosperity of a neighborhood, 
 and they generally march hand in hand. This being 
 the direct route from Massena to Fort Covington, 
 I have often passed through the place, but never to 
 tarry an hour ; for, of all places that I have ever 
 been in, it has the least inducements for a bookseller. 
 Literature, rum, and tobacco, are ingredients which 
 no chemical process can make a compound of, and a 
 transformation from habits of sensuality, to those 
 of storing the mind with useful knowledge, is too 
 gradual for any benefit to a poor colporteur, whose 
 creditors are anxiously awaiting a remittance. Fort 
 Covington, no more than ten miles distant from the 
 above-named place, is entirely a different field for a 
 bookseller. There are but two or three places of 
 the hundreds I have visited for the purpose of sell 
 ing books, that have patronized me more liberally 
 than Fort Covington, and no place of the size that I 
 have become acquainted with, that has more men of 
 talent, and accomplished literary attainments, and 
 reading, intelligent women. Some of the most solid 
 and scientific works I have sold, have been in this 
 
 21
 
 242 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 
 
 place, which, I have good reason to believe, has 
 resulted in a mutual blessing. 
 
 In many sojourns of a few days in this active, 
 business village, I have found a genial and welcome 
 home at the house of Allen Lincoln, Esq. Unlike 
 many men of his wealth, his hospitable board is 
 not grudginly shared with his numerous friends, but 
 his " latch-string is always outside." May this aged 
 gentleman live yet long in the enjoyment of his 
 abundance, the fruit of his labor of younger days, 
 and the blessing of God rest upon him. 
 
 Salmon river. is a beautiful stream of water on 
 which this village is situated, and is navigable as 
 far up as the Fort. 
 
 From here, dear F., go with me, in imagination, 
 to another county, joining Franklin. On my way 
 there " once upon a time," (as the fables commence), 
 I entered a house in the town of Bangor, where an 
 old lady sat by a spinning-wheel, " kairding " wool, 
 as she called it. When I made known my business, 
 and asked her to buy a book, she looked at me with 
 an astonishment that seemed to say that she could 
 hardly believe the evidence of her own senses, that 
 a women could engage in such business. At last 
 she put the question to me, " Can you spin ? " I 
 told her " yes, I was raised on a farm, and was once 
 a good spinner," and added, " if I had time, I would 
 give her a practical demonstration of my knowledge
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 243 
 
 of that useful branch of female education. " Then," 
 she said, " she did not see why I had to sell books," 
 An explanation of the necessity of my unlady-like 
 calling, would have consumed too much time, so I 
 left her busy at her " kairding," to find a more 
 profitable customer. 
 
 In this town I found many ready sales, and, at 
 sonie houses, quite large amounts were disposed of. 
 As soon as the border of Clinton County appears, 
 quite another landscape opens to our view. Almost 
 the entire distance to Lake Champlain, through the 
 central part of the county, is a wilderness, with here 
 and there a settlement, and all of it looks like a 
 newly settled country. The rough and uncultivated 
 state of the lands, gives the impression to the 
 traveller, of poverty, and unthrift ; and, perhaps 
 this is true in that locality, as far as tillage is con 
 cerned, but, probably, there is no county in the 
 State, richer in minerals, lumber and furs, than Clin 
 ton. All the dull and unattractive scenery one 
 meets, in the ragged, steep, and inaccessible cliffs of 
 rocks, in the western and central parts, is more than 
 compensated on the shore of Lake Champlain, in 
 the eastern part, by one view of the grand old 
 mountains in Vermont, lifting their heads high above 
 every surrounding object, and resting, in appearance, 
 against the sky beyond. At their base, the lake's 
 surface is spread out like a mirror, spotted with
 
 244 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 1 
 
 islands and vessels of varied size and form. Two of 
 these islands belonging to the town of Plattsburgh, 
 Valcour and Crabbe, are somewhat noted as being 
 near the scene of two naval battles, one during the 
 Revolution, the American forces being commanded 
 by Benedict Arnofd, and the other in the war of 
 1812. Near the former, the schooner " Koyal Sav 
 age " was sunk, and a part of it can still be seen, 
 and on the latter, the sailors and marines of both 
 fleets were buried in one common grave. History 
 informs us that this was one of the most brilliant 
 American victories ever achieved, resulting in the 
 almost entire British fleet falling into their hands, 
 and a retreat with a loss of one-fifth their whole 
 number, and large quantities of provisions, tents, 
 and amunition, with other equipages, and their sick 
 and wounded soldiery. The horrors of war can 
 never be delineated, any more than those of intem 
 perance. The latter has, probably, hurried to the 
 grave the most victims, and their deaths have been 
 as much more awful as the process has been more 
 lingering and torturous. That this bright and beau 
 tiful earth should be desolated with either, seems an 
 unnecessary evil, that poor, frail humanity voluntarily 
 endures. When our own country is threatened with a 
 civil war, and a dissolution of the Union, which was 
 secured with the blood of the heroes of '76, the hor 
 rors of war in its worst form, comes home to us
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 245 
 
 with an awful reality. What more revolting sight 
 could be imagined than to see a country who boasts 
 freedom, and the best form of government under the 
 sun, one half of it taking up arms against the other 
 half, and deluge a soil with fraternal blood, already 
 cursed with a system of wrongs and outrages, which 
 the veriest despot would blush to perpetrate on his 
 subjects. 
 
 Before my digression, I was trying to give you 
 an idea of the beauties of the scenery in the vicin 
 ity of Lake Champlain. A body of water, whether 
 large or small, when contrasted with the dark 
 
 O * 
 
 outlines of the surrounding land, especially of 
 highlands where the variegated surface is laid 
 out to the eye, several miles in extent each way? 
 is a beautiful sight, to an admirer of nature, for 
 such an one can find beauty in almost every 
 manifestation of the handiwork of the Creator. 
 Here, the most dull student can discover a loveliness , 
 mingled with the majestic and sublime, impressing 
 the mind with the Infinite which withholds from no 
 part of his creation a portion of the facilities neces 
 sary to the advancement of the human race. 
 
 With all of its coarse and wild exterior, this part 
 of the Empire State, has many natural curiosities. 
 Xot the least of them is a remarkable gulf in the 
 extreme northern part, on the Canada line, in the 
 town of Moores, It is cut into the solid sandstone, 
 21*
 
 246 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 a width of over two hundred feet, and perpendicu 
 lar to the distance of three hundred feet, down to 
 the bottom, or rather to the top of a pond of water, 
 which is said to be one hundred and fifty feet deep. 
 Unlike most other chasms of this description, there 
 is no running water or other visible agency that 
 could have produced it. 
 
 In the south, Saranac Falls, with their surround 
 ings, are objects of interest entirely above many 
 others which have been delineated in glowing colors 
 by descriptive pens, until a notoriety has been forced 
 upon them. " At the Saranac Falls, the river flows 
 through a narrow, torturous channel, bounded by 
 nearly perpendicular rocks for the space of a mile. 
 In its course its descent is very rapid, and at several 
 places it is precipitated down precipices of twenty 
 or thirty feet, and at last it plunges into a basin in a 
 perpendicular fall of sixty feet. The ragged rocks 
 ^ upon the bottom and sides, and the abrupt angles in 
 the channel, cause the water to boil and seethe, and 
 struggle in the wildest commotion. In high water, 
 thousands of saw-logs float down the river, and in 
 their pasiage down the falls, they are pitched am 
 tossed upon the surges, or thrown into the air like 
 playthings." * 
 
 * New York State Gazeteer.
 
 LETTER XXXII. 
 
 Correspondence of the Miles Family Letter First, Mrs. Kichardson 
 Second, Mrs. Lamon Third, Mrs. Waggoner Fourth, B. Miles 
 Fifth, J. Miles Sixth, P. Miles Seventh, Mrs. Blount Eighth, 
 B . S. Miles Ninth, Wm . Pitt Miles Tenth, 0. E. Miles Eleventh 
 Mrs. Lord. 
 
 MY DEAR F. : 
 
 For the closing letter of this unsystematic series, 
 I have been addressing you, I am going to take the 
 liberty, without permission, of extracting from some 
 correspondence of the Miles family, for the purpose 
 of answering your inquiries with regard to their 
 varied pursuits, localities, and characteristics. As 
 much of this information as you would expect to 
 get in one letter, will appear in their own language, 
 in the following extracts, of which it is but due to 
 the writers to say, that they were intended for my 
 eyes alone. I am not wholly sure of their forgive 
 ness for this trespass on their trust, but must de 
 pend on you to share with me their rebukes, if any 
 are given. Some writer has said, that in the letters 
 of any person can be traced their leading character-
 
 248 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 istics. This may be so ; at all events, they are plain 
 to be seen by one previously acquainted with the 
 writers. If they should not be interesting to any 
 but relatives, our very large circle is sufficient 
 apology, if any is needed, for inserting them. 
 
 Fox River Precinct, Aurora, P. O. III., \ 
 December 26*A, 18 ] 
 
 DEAR E. Your letter was received in due time, 
 and read with no small degree of interest. I de 
 signed to have written yesterday, (Christmas), but 
 household labors prevented. I thought of old times 
 all day, and fancied that I could see you, with the 
 rest of our family, as in times past, going in and 
 out of the different apartments of our " old home." 
 Mother in the kitchen, warming her mince and apple 
 pies, and taking the turkey out of the oven ; Susan's 
 children and mine, with an apple in their hands ; 
 the pitcher of cider on the hearth, "just to take the 
 chill off ; Pitt and Oren exhibiting their periodicals ; 
 father, with his plain wardrobe, and silver-bowed 
 glasses on, with a book in his hand. No doubt we 
 have all met around the social fireside for the last 
 time ; we have already become the residents of 
 several different States. Here I am on one of the 
 extensive natural meadows in Illinois, which Mr. 
 Willet describes in his Geography, and I used to 
 study about in school. This morning was very clear 
 and cold ; in the west, south-west, and south points 
 of compass, I could see thirty or forty miles ; 1 have 
 never seen the atmosphere in such a state before. 
 Some places were broad prairies, with small lines of 
 timber, others, large pieces of woodland, interspersed 
 with spots of prairie. There being snow on the
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 249 
 
 ground, the distinction was very visible. After 
 breakfast, Russell and I took some lengthy views ; 
 the timbers in some places resembled flocks of wild 
 geese. There is very little variety here in the face 
 of the country, but as you go farther west, it is said 
 to be more rolling ; Shabona's Grove is about 
 twenty-five miles west of here. You can have but 
 a small idea how great the emigration is to this part 
 of the country ; and it is said that two-thirds of the 
 passengers stop at Milwaukie. This place is called 
 an old part of the country ; it has been settled about 
 eleven years ; you can tell the oldest farms by the 
 size of the shade and fruit trees. 
 
 S. sits by my side reading the President's message 
 that brother Pliny sent us a few days since, from 
 Georgetown, D. C. I do not much expect to ever 
 see him again, but I feel a great interest in- his wel 
 fare. The first time he visited me, after our arrival 
 in this new country, he had just returned from the 
 Falls of St. Anthony, where he had purchased an 
 Indian pipe for one dollar, and gave it to S. It was 
 made of the red pipe-stone, the stem as large and 
 long as an umbrella staff. The Indians of that place 
 smoke willow-bark, or " Kinekinink." .... 
 
 In my opinion the children that are now coming 
 on to the stage, will become, many of them, the 
 residents of Oregon, and will carry the glad tidings 
 of the gospel to that infant State, and by that time 
 the news of salvation will have have been preached 
 to every ether portion of the earth. According to 
 Revelation, 20th chapter, the resurrection of the 
 saints will take place at the end of time, as it now is, 
 and then, after that, appears the season of the thou 
 sand years, and still later, the resurrection of the 
 wicked ; for, previous to this is said, " Blessed and 
 holy is he, who hath part in the first resurrection ;
 
 250 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 on such, the second death hath no power." But 
 stop, this does not correspond with the sentiments of 
 Universalists. Read your Bible carefully, and pray 
 erfully, and I think you will see that all mankind 
 will not die the death of the righteous. No doubt 
 all mean to be saved, but recollect some will try to 
 " climb up some other way." Holiness of heart is 
 what is demanded, and living without the love of 
 sin at all, " crucifying the old man," &c. Now, 
 sister, this is a very important subject ; let us not be 
 attached to any " isms," but preach the gospel in its 
 purity ; it is said, " woe to him who preaches any 
 other gospel than this." A person may be a Pres 
 byterian or Methodist, and not have one spark of 
 vital piety. I do not think they are all perfect who 
 belong to my church. 
 
 It is of but little use to hold protracted corres 
 pondence on the subject of religion, our views are 
 so different ; but one thing I think you are behind 
 the times about, and that is, the Presbyterian creed ; 
 the one you speak of, is of quite an ancient date. 
 There is, once in a while, one of the old school ; on 
 some points, if I am not mistaken, the one you speak 
 of is not subscribed to, of late. If a person is a 
 Christian, it is sufficient ; though it appears that we 
 are warned of " a sandy foundation," and as long 
 as I say anything all all, I must warn all alike to 
 " stand on the rock." 
 
 Affectionately, &c. 
 
 MARY EICHARDSON. 
 
 Pinckney, Lewis Co., N. Y., \ 
 
 May 16th 184 ) 
 
 DEAR SISTER E. I have been writing some letters 
 
 to-day, to others, and thought I would address a 
 
 short one to you, inasmuch as we have both changed
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 251 
 
 localities. You will be surprised to hear that we 
 have left Watertown, for awhile, to test the realities 
 of a rural home, in this retired place ; but you will 
 see when you come here, that it is not so bad a place 
 after all. I have enjoyed life well, here, better than 
 ever before, since Francis retired from business. 
 Here, on the farm is plenty of good wholesome air, 
 and employment enough to keep us all out of mis 
 chief, which is far better than listless indolence, and 
 you know " variety is the spice of life." Here, my 
 little boys can have a freedom they never enjoyed 
 before, and I am not continually in anxiety, fearing 
 they have fallen into Black River, should they for a 
 moment be from my sight. A spacious yard and 
 play-grounds free from dust, and the noisy rattle of 
 wheels, and the shouting of cartmen, is a delightful 
 change for little folks. We do not think of staying 
 here more than a year or two. F. has bought a 
 small farm of Dr. Goodale, on the State road, oppo 
 site Mr. Andrew's ; and intends building there for 
 a permanent home ; but it is all uncertain, one year 
 can bring about great changes, and it may never be 
 accomplished. Life is so uncertain that it seems 
 but folly to lay plans for the far-off future. The 
 present is all that we are sure of, and the future but 
 a dream, very often never realized. I have learned 
 to make the best of life as it is, and await time's 
 changes for the revealment of that which is to be. 
 
 The ill health, and rapid decline of our mother, is 
 now my greatest trouble. She has become too weak 
 to raise herself from her chair, without assistance, 
 and I think we should be prepared for the greatest 
 trial we have ever endured, for I am fully satisfied 
 that her time here is very short. She has the kind 
 est of care and attention, though her sufferings are 
 great, from the nature of her disease. How truly
 
 252 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 thankful we ought to feel that she is blessed with 
 everything that can contribute to her comfort in her 
 last days ; for if ever children had the watchful care 
 of guardian angels, such a guardian has our mother 
 been to all of us. 
 
 Watertown, November 28^, 1852. 
 
 " This is to inform you of our safe arrival home, 
 from our journey east. The day we left you at 
 Brasher Station we arrived at Ogden^burgh about 
 noon where the new and elegant steamer " New 
 York," was in readiness to convey passengers up 
 the river. We left that place about two o'clock and 
 arrived at Cape Vincent at seven P. M. Here we 
 were obliged to stay over night, for the cars had 
 been gone an hour. A short ride of an hour and a 
 half, the next morning at half past four o'clock, took 
 us home to breakfast. All were well and glad 
 enough to see ma. Our father enjoyed the trip very 
 much ; he said it was worth a thousand dollars to 
 him. We passed through Vermont, Massachusetts, 
 Connecticut and New Hampshire, and visited many 
 places in this State, entirely new to us. I found 
 the beauty of the scenery among the " Thousand 
 Islands," on the St. Lawrence, had not been exag 
 gerated by you, nor the various writers who have 
 attempted to describe it. Their variety of size and 
 shape, with the thick mantle of evergreen foliage, 
 and their great number, give them the interesting 
 appearance we have read so much about. 
 
 Two items of news and I will close. Brother 
 Pliny has written home that he intended to sail for 
 America the first of this month ; I think he must 
 be in New York now. Are you not rejoiced ? 
 
 The old school house where you and 1 graduated, 
 was burned last week ; " peace to its ashes."
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 253 
 
 May 3cZ, 1854. 
 
 I will not detail to you every affliction I have suf 
 fered the last six months in the form of sickness, 
 it is not only unpleasant to me, but it would do you 
 no good ; besides you have heard from me quite often 
 by way of R., and our other friends in this place. 
 I will simply say, that I am some better than I was 
 a month ago ; am about my house, but not able to 
 do much. I have suffered intensely, this Spring, 
 with that weak feeling through my chest and lungs, 
 the same as when you were here six years ago, only 
 much worse. It is impossible for any person, enjoy 
 ing the good health that you do, to have any correct 
 idea of the sufferings of a weak, nervous person ; 
 indeed, it can't be, told. You will be surprised 
 when I tell you that I have submitted to the medical 
 treatment of your old friend, Dr. S. He has been 
 through with a course of studies at a medical insti 
 tute in Cincinnati, and says he feels competent to 
 treat diseases of all forms ; he is also an operative 
 surgeon. Mr. H. knowing that I was very feeble, 
 came here with him about two weeks ago, and was 
 very anxious that we should employ him ; being 
 quite sure that the old school physicians were not 
 
 S)ing to help me ; we concluded to let him try. Mr. 
 . thinks very much of his skill and intellect, if he 
 should cure me, of course I should, too. 
 
 I hope it will be convenient for you to visit us 
 this Spring or Summer, for I hardly know how to 
 wait till your rail-road is done, before I see you, and 
 you would not expect me to visit you in my state of 
 health. I went down to New York last Fall ; met 
 E. and P. there, had a good visit with them, and 
 should have enjoyed the journey extremely, if my 
 health had been a little better. 
 
 How is M., and that little namesake, of ours ? I 
 almost imagine that I can see those blue eyes of his 
 22
 
 254 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 / 
 
 looking over your shoulder ; don't know but we 
 shall conclude to give him the Pinckney farm instead 
 of the homestead, for his name, you know pa gave 
 us our choice." 
 
 June ls, 1854. 
 
 " You know there has been some effort made to 
 
 f3t our scattered family all together, here, next 
 all. Father wishes me to say to you that Mary 
 cannot come, consequently there will be no further 
 exertion made, at present, to bring about that very 
 desirable object ; for, he says he does not wish to 
 make the trial and have one fail of coming, for the 
 chain will then be broken, and the interest of the 
 occasion marred. If you can come this month, we 
 all hope you will do so, at this delightful time of 
 year, without any reference to what has been written 
 you before, of waiting until September. 
 
 Dr. S. has just been here and thinks he is certain 
 ly curing me, and I have a little hope that he is, for 
 I am much better than when he commenced pre 
 scribing for me. 
 
 August 15th, 1854. 
 
 My health is no better than when you were here, 
 and not much prospect of improvement. My arm and 
 hand, on the side of the cancerous humor, are 
 swollen, and, on the whole, I am very feeble. I have 
 been out to-day, attended church this afternoon. 
 Have not seen Dr. S. in four weeks, but when he 
 left, he said he should return in a week or ten days. 
 I rather think he has exhausted all of his skill in 
 my case, or else he thinks I am not worth saving ; 
 it matters not with me, which." 
 
 As ever, your affectionate sister, 
 
 SUSAN LAMON.* 
 
 * Died, October 22d, 1854.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 255 
 
 Middletown, Conn., July 30, 1854. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER : As I have not written you 
 since our removal to this State, I thought I would 
 take this opportunity, knowing you would be pleased 
 to hear how we like our new location. We are in 
 good health and much pleased with Middletown ! It 
 is a very delightful place, and is called the " Forest 
 city " of New England. It is generally healthy, 
 but there have been a few cases of the Cholera here 
 this season. As I have not yet been over the city, 
 I cannot give you any interesting descriptions of the 
 numerous attractions of the place. 
 
 You say we have not met in five years. That is 
 very true, but I made the last visit, and thought if 
 I waited long enough, I should see you at my own 
 home. For a long time I have desired to visit Jef 
 ferson and St. Lawrence Co.'s, but a variety of cir 
 cumstances have occurred to interrupt my arrange 
 ments. P. and I undertook to get together our long 
 scattered family, and for awhile there seemed a pros 
 pect of success, and it was not till about the middle 
 of June, that I received letters from different mem 
 bers of the family at the West, saying they could 
 not meet us this year, but were in hopes they could 
 next. About this time, my husband concluded to 
 go to Philadelphia in September to attend the Uni 
 ted States Convention of Universalists, and wished 
 me to go with him, so I concluded to defer the visit 
 and go to the Convention. In view of the rapid de 
 cline of our sister Susan, I now very much doubt 
 our ever all meeting again in this world. I never 
 expect to see her again, though circumstances may 
 change the gloomy prospect.
 
 256 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 North Adams, 3fass., Dec. 5iA, 1858. 
 
 Enclosed you will find my likeness, which is as 
 good as I could get at three sittings. Hope it will 
 be satisfactory, and you will succeed in getting up 
 the family picture, and I should like to see it after 
 it is completed . . . We have now resided here 
 nearly three years without having received a visit 
 from one of our friends abroad in all that time. 
 
 My last visit home, was such an event in my life, 
 that it does not seem as if it could happen again 
 very soon, though I hope it will, without so long an 
 interval next time. . . . Imogene has just re 
 ceived an invitation to go to Thomastown, Georgia, 
 to teach school, at a salary of $450 a year, with two 
 months vacation. We are quite undecided, whether 
 to have her go or not. She would like to go if it 
 were not for the voyage. . . Our Society is pre 
 paring for a Sabbath School exhibition, which is to 
 take place on Christmas eve. Mr. W. and the chil 
 dren are all gone to a rehearsal this evening, so that 
 I am quite alone. 
 
 Many things I wished to hear about, you did not 
 mention in your letter, for instance, after riding 
 away from your home ninety miles in your carriage 
 with you, I expected you would say something about 
 your return alone, whether the journey was per 
 formed safely or not ? and how is the book busi 
 ness ? Has Marion's paper doll bride a presentable 
 appearance yet ? please answer all these questions 
 and many more unasked ones as you will. Yes, one 
 more, certain. How do you and Mrs. Sandford get 
 along with your little Sunday School ? 
 Your affectionate sister, 
 
 EMILY W. WAGGONER.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 257 
 
 Hartford, Van Buren Co., Mich., 
 April 12th, 1856. 
 
 DEAR SISTER : Your letter of March 29th, 
 was received last Thursday, probably not quite so 
 soon as it would have been, if it had been directed 
 to Lawrence. Letters directed to Hartford, gener 
 ally stop at Paw Paw, fourteen miles east of here, 
 but sometimes they go west before they stop into 
 Berier County. I have travelled to almost all parts 
 of the State since I have been here, in search of my 
 mail, and have done nearly all of my travelling on 
 foot. I have been to Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, 
 Marshall, St. Joseph's, Niles and Mishawaka, and a 
 hundred times or less to Paw Paw. Now for your 
 first question, " What kind of a place is that you 
 live in ? " We live in the north-east part of Town 
 3, south range, 16 West, (called Hartford) on the 
 north banks of the Paw Paw river, in a small open 
 ing of between four and five acres, in a triangular 
 form, with a good stake and rail fence on two sides, 
 and the river on the other ; the land here is quite 
 high and the river rapid. 
 
 Our shanty stands about twelve feet from the edge 
 of the bank, which descends nearly perpendicular a 
 distance of thirty feet to the water. The country 
 about here, say commencing five miles east and 
 about the same south and west, to the lake, and 
 thence north as far as you please, is a dense and al 
 most unbroken forest of heavy timber, consisting of 
 beech, maple, ash, oak, bass-wood, white-wood, 
 black-walnut, hickory, butter-nut, cherry, and occa 
 sionally large tracts of pine and hemlock, and some 
 tamarac, and all varieties of elm; and interspersed 
 all through the country, there is more or less pep- 
 perage, sassafras, hack-berry, box-wood, iron-wood, 
 sycamore, poplar, Paw Paw, and Wahoo, and Lo- 
 *22
 
 258 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 cust of different kinds, and also some Buckeye, &c., 
 &c. The soil is generally good, and the country is, 
 I think, generally more healthy than the northern 
 part of New York State. The country is here sub 
 ject to the ague and ever, and 'other bilious com 
 plaints, but the consumption is very rare. The bil 
 ious complaints which are common in the country, 
 do not attack every one who comes into the coun 
 try ; much depends upon the constitution of the per 
 son, their habits, location, &c. If a person is not 
 predisposed to bilious affections, and locates where 
 there is good water, and not near any dead marsh, 
 and stays generally at home in the warm season, 
 they will be likely to escape unharmed. Many who 
 came here about the same time we did, among them 
 all the little ones, and many. others that I could men 
 tion, have never had it. 
 
 As to the business of farming, I think I can say 
 safely that it is a good farming country. We have 
 every variety of land in this State. In coming 
 through the country from Detroit to this place, you 
 will see much poor land, and some first rate. The 
 light timbered, white oak barrens you would pro 
 bably not like. The soil of that variety of land is 
 generally a white sand, which appears to a stranger 
 perfectly barren, and is, in fact, much less productive 
 than the burr oak plains, the prairie, or heavy tim 
 bered land, but is easier cultivated than either. 
 
 Bethiah is now asleep, and the blue eyed baby is 
 playing with the kitten. When she awakes, she will 
 projbably finish writing this sheet. 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 FABIUS MILES.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 259 
 
 ^ April 12^,18- 
 
 DEAR E. We were exceedingly glad to receive 
 your letter, and it is with pleasure I reply ; it was so 
 exactly like yourself that it excited a smile all the 
 while I was reading it. I should have written long 
 ago, before receiving your's, but for the great press 
 of business which has occupied my time so exclu 
 sively ever since I left Watertown. With regard to 
 your question about our place, I would say, Fabius 
 has given you a more correct description of it, and 
 the country round about than I could as I have not 
 been four miles from the shanty since I arrived here 
 one year ago last September ; and I have a very 
 imperfect idea of the looks of the country when I 
 came in, as I was very much fatigued when I left 
 the railroad, at Marshall. As to our particular loca 
 tion, I think it is quite pleasant, aside from all the 
 inconveniences necessarily connected with it, which 
 I presume you have seen enumerated in some of 
 Fabius's letters to your folks, the one-half of which 
 you cannot realize until you are placed in a like 
 situation. Our nearest neighbors have been from a 
 mile to a mile and a half off, until within a fortnight ; 
 we have now got one within fifty rods, and I think 
 a pretty good one too. 
 
 We have not kept a cow since we lived here until 
 now, and we have had neither milk nor butter for 
 the last six months ; except occasionally a little milk 
 for the babe, this spring. We have had no eggs this 
 spring, and I have been entirely out of sugar for 
 six weeks. We should hardly thought we could live 
 as we do, when we were in Watertown ; but I\ is 
 bending all his efforts to build the mill, and until that 
 is completed, he will buy nothing that we can pos 
 sibly get along without. 
 
 You must not think these things are not be had.
 
 260 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Provisions are as plenty here, and cheaper generally, 
 I should think, than they are there, but it is not 
 quite as convenient to get them, as it is there where you 
 can go out and get any thing you may happen to 
 want, at a minute's notice. Now, I have told you 
 all. I hope you will come and see for yourself. I 
 have been to meeting but three times since I lived 
 here. F.'s zeal in the cause, is about the same as it 
 used to be. Good night. 
 
 BETHIAH MILES. 
 
 Lansing, Mich., Jan. 9th, 1859. 
 
 DEAREST SISTER E. I presume you will accept 
 an answer to your letter of some time ago, though 
 delayed till this time. I therefore shall attempt to 
 write you a few lines from the capital of the Wolve 
 rine State. I have had the misfortune to be elected 
 a member of the Legislature. Here I am, sitting in 
 an arm-chair, in the State House, with the assembled 
 wisdom of the State around me, prepared to modify 
 and amend our statutary code, with such additions 
 and improvements as past experience would seem to 
 dictate. I left home last Monday morning, and 
 arrived here Tuesday night, and our session com 
 menced Wednesday ; so far we have done little else 
 than elect a United States Senator. We completed 
 the election yesterday noon, which resulted in the 
 choice of Kinsley S. Bingham, our former Governor. 
 It has been a very exciting time here, on account of 
 this Senator question. There were four candidates, 
 all of whom pressed their claims very warmly. 
 
 The State have a very fine situation for a capitol, 
 but the building they now occupy is an old wood 
 building, constructed for the purpose, but only a 
 temporary thing. The governor, in his message, 
 recommends an appropriation to purchase materials
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 261 
 
 for the commencement of a new capitol building, 
 but we, legislators, are of the opinion that it is too 
 hard times to levy any extraordinary taxes for that, 
 or any other purpose. The spot on which the capi 
 tol will eventually be built is a square lot, of about 
 ten acres, with a gentle eminence in the centre, on 
 which the building is to be erected. The lot is 
 fenced with a good substantial fence, and walks are 
 laid out, and ornamental shrubbery is being planted, 
 and everything is planned, so that when the whole 
 is completed, it will be as fine a situation for a capi 
 tol as there is in the Union. Michigan, everything 
 considered, is really one of the finest, and must, 
 eventually, be one of the richest States in the 
 Union. 
 
 We have four children, all healthy, and ordinarily 
 intelligent. The oldest is a girl, fourteen years old, 
 more nearly resembling her aunt Eloise than any other 
 person living ; frank, open hearted, honest and unsus 
 pecting ; speaks out freely the impulses of an un- 
 contaminated nature. All she needs is the advan 
 tages that education under favorable circumstances 
 can give. Those advantages, we are, of course, 
 in some degree, destitute of, as all new countries 
 must necessarily be, but for a new State, we have a 
 very good system of schools which we are constant 
 ly improving. Mr. Mayhew, our old county super 
 intendent in Jefferson County, New York, has been 
 our State Superintendent here, nearly half the time 
 since I have been in the State, and he has, most cer 
 tainly done much for the improvement of our 
 
 schools 
 
 From your brother, 
 
 FABIUS MILES.
 
 262 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Watertown, April 2d, 1847. 
 
 SISTER E. I have got my spelling-book nearly 
 completed. I have worked at it most of the time 
 since November ; and now expect to publish it in 
 July or August, next. For the purpose of getting 
 some counsel on this subject, that I wish for, I shall 
 go to Geneva, to the New York State convention of 
 county superintendents, which commences its session 
 the last Tuesday in this month. If convenient and 
 agreeable to you, I would be glad to meet you there, 
 as it is no farther from your place of residence, than 
 from here. My time is so much occupied that I 
 know not when I can see you, unless it be then. 
 
 C , Jefferson Co., JV". T. June 4th, 1853. 
 
 I have been " schoolmaster " in this place for the 
 last five weeks, with an average of about thirty 
 pupils. There is great lack of ambition here about 
 attending school, and some of the patrons think the 
 expense is a great item ; so, on the whole, my school 
 is not as pleasant as many others I have taught. My 
 weekly average has constantly increased, however, 
 and I am prospering somewhat 
 
 The railroad running through this place, makes it 
 geem like more stirring times than formerly, but 
 there is less business of some kinds than before, for 
 instance, tavern keeping. Many small places are 
 injured the same way, though the mercantile, lum 
 ber, and fishing business are better than before. 
 Enclosed, I send you an embossed palm-tree of my 
 own manufacture. If it is not pretty, send it back, 
 and see if you can make a better one by trying twice. 
 Yours, 
 
 JOSIAH MILES.
 
 AND EECOLLECTIONS. 263 
 
 Leeds, JZngland, March 20th. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER : Your letter, and father's, 
 came to hand yesterday, and I need not say how 
 very glad I was to hear from home once more. The 
 number of births, marriages and deaths in our 
 neighborhood, shows the great change that is con 
 stantly going on in the world. In a few short years 
 the then busy world, will occasionally drop a word, 
 or at least some of our friends will, about ourselves, 
 and we shall be in the " house appointed for all liv 
 ing." "We have been, comparatively speaking, a 
 favored family. I was grieved to hear of the death 
 of sister Roxanna's second child. I have never 
 found time to write to her since, but intend to be 
 fore long. You will see by the perusal of my letter 
 to father, that there are good, weighty and sufficient 
 reasons, why I should not write many, nor long let 
 ters to my numerous relatives, and friends. Like a 
 thousand other " sins of omission," I can swamp that 
 in the one excuse, " hadn't time." Let it go. We'll 
 meet some day I hope, if not here, we undoubtedly 
 shall in that bright land beyond the skies, where 
 flowers never fade, and sorrow is never known. * * * 
 
 One day last week, I left Manchester, passed 
 through or over England, Wales, Ireland and Scot 
 land, all in about sixty hours. Passed through 
 North Wales, across from Holyhead, (Island of An- 
 glesea,) to Dublin, and from there to Belfast, by 
 railway and coach, and after tarrying there a day, 
 took steamer for Androssan in Scotland. I then 
 came south through Dumfries, and saw " Ellisland," 
 the farm that Burns cultivated, was in the house 
 where he died, the little tavern where he used to go 
 and drink, 
 
 " When chapmen billies leave the street 
 And droitly neebors, neebors meet- ' '
 
 264 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 I also went to his tomb, and gathered some leaves 
 there ; I send you one of the beautiful golden holly, 
 If you are fond of relics,' keep it. It came from the 
 tomb of Robert Burns ; I plucked it myself. I also 
 had half an hour's conversation with Robert Burns, 
 the oldest son of the poet. He is an old man, about 
 the age of our father, and looks considerably like 
 portraits of his father, the poet. I called on a man by 
 the name of Smith, who showed me a letter that 
 Burns wrote. It was a love letter of course, but writ 
 ten for another, who copied it and sent it. It was ter 
 ribly full of love. I saw three verses in the window 
 of the tavern spoken of above, which Burns had 
 written with a diamond. I copied one, here it is : 
 
 " 0, lovely Polly Stewart 
 
 0, charming Polly Stewart, 
 There's not a flower that blooms in May, 
 That's half so fair as thou art. " 
 
 The landlad} 7 - of the house, said she had been of 
 fered five pounds for one of these panes of glass, 
 and she would not take it. Mr. Smith had been of 
 fered fifty pounds (over $240) for the letter ; such 
 
 are imaginary values I enclose you a sprig of 
 
 the beautiful heather in bloom, that covers nearly all 
 the wild land in the mountainous parts of Scotland, 
 and considerable in England. Is it not pretty ? . . . 
 
 Albany, N. Y., March 13A, 1853. 
 L. has been writing to you on this sheet, and puts 
 the paper before me on the table, and says "write," 
 but I have written you so recently that I have noth 
 ing to write, only that I have been wandering around 
 considerably since ; have been to Washington, to 
 old Virginia, and various other places. Have not 
 lectured any since I was at Watertown, only I read 
 a paper on the History of Iceland, which was re-
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 265 
 
 ported in the New York Herald, as a lecture. I 
 
 have been to see E in Middletown, Conn., and 
 
 to Boston, one day only each ; you see my visits are 
 all short. L. is spending to-day with me at my 
 room, with one of her school-mates. I go to New 
 York on Tuesday, to read a paper before the Geo 
 graphical Society in the University ; where I go 
 from there is uncertain. Write, and direct simply 
 to New York. 
 
 Scarborough, England, Oct. Vlth, 1860. 
 
 MY. DEAR SISTER. I am lately in receipt of 
 your very welcome letter r of September 12th. The 
 successive shocks I have experienced in the two 
 afflicting deaths in the house where we were born, 
 have really gone far towards making me indifferent 
 to. any future visits to our old home. I deeply sym 
 pathize with poor A., and know he must feel deso 
 late. He must, and we all must bear up under it. 
 I think, with you, that I have endured a shock and 
 grief which I never can again. I am glad to hear 
 you bear testimony to the cheerful faith with which 
 father looked forward to another state of existence. 
 1^ have not seen a paper containing a notice of the 
 death of either him or sister Roxana. I should like 
 much to see the obituary you speak of. My Lon 
 don address is always as you addressed me, 43 
 Great Tower street. I came up here to Scar 
 borough, last Saturday, 13th, to stay a week, to get 
 the sea air, and have some recreation. My life is 
 spent in writing. The hard-working resident of a 
 great city, has one long battle to fight against the 
 fates in the shape of hard toil, bad air, care, anxiety, 
 &c., &c., and he gets a new lease of life every time 
 he goes out of town to breathe the country air. 
 
 23
 
 266 PERSONAL SKETCHED 
 
 " 
 
 Here is a most beautiful place, and capital bathing. 
 To-day, I have walked sixteen miles in a long, cir 
 cuitous route, through a beautiful country ; a feat 
 I have not performed before, for years. I accom 
 plished it easily. I was in Ireland two or three 
 weeks in August and September, and since that, 
 twice in France. My health is good the most of the 
 time, at least as good as a slave to toil can expect. 
 I return to London in three or four days. 
 Affectionately your brother, 
 
 PLINY MILES. 
 
 No. 139 Franklin St., Buffalo, \ 
 October, 27th, 18 j 
 
 DEAR SISTER IT. I have not yet been here quite 
 a month, and have had several letters to write, and 
 some running about to do, which is my reason for not 
 writing before. If you were to peep through the key 
 hole, you would find me snugly ensconced by the side 
 of the stove, which imparts its cheering warmth un 
 sparingly to the inmates of the room, (myself and my 
 canaries), defying the bleak breezes from off Lake 
 Erie to enter this quiet, comfortable apartment. In one 
 corner of the room may be seen a cherry table, mount 
 ed by a book-case containing sixty or seventy vol 
 umes, among which are the Poetical Works of Byron, 
 Shakspeare, Grey, Milton, Beattie, Collins, Joaimie 
 Bailie, &c. On the top of the book-case, is a vase 
 of wax flowers, the handiwork of our deceased 
 cousin . . . , I have attended church every Sun 
 day since my arrival here, Rev. Stephen R. Smith's, 
 except last Sunday. 
 
 Yesterday, I went down to the lower part of the 
 city, to see the ruins of the buildings after the gale, 
 Friday evening. You can have no idea of the de 
 struction without being an eye witness. A great
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 267 
 
 maiiy of the inhabitants were drowned, or crushed 
 by the falling of buildings ; ^nd those that escaped 
 were many of them strippeir of every thing they 
 owned, and are now travelling the streets, with 
 hardly clothing enough on to cover them. How 
 much misery there is in cities that people out know 
 nothing of. .... I have been to see Niagara Falls ; 
 and what do you think were my sensations? It 
 would not be easy to describe one's feelings on be 
 holding such a majestic scene. Travellers may de 
 scribe the width of the river; the height of the 
 banks ; the fury of the waters, and the brilliancy of 
 the rainbow ; but they can never describe the lofti 
 ness of the inspiration on viewing that magnificent 
 scene : here we look through Nature up to Nature's 
 God. The nearer I approached, I only admired the 
 more. I could not feel satisfied until I had stepped 
 within a few feet of the rushing waters ; and even 
 then, I felt an inclination to leap over the profound 
 abyss, and " enjoy it all." There I could gaze for 
 hours in speechless admiration. In that hallowed 
 spot I could not withhold a prayer of gratitude to 
 Him who has united such beauty and sublimity. 
 
 We are naturally religious beings Near the 
 
 Horse-shoe Fall, is a Museum filled with beasts, 
 birds, fishes, insects, and reptiles, without number ; 
 toys manufactured by the Indians, birch-bark bas 
 kets, embroidered with moose hair and the quills of 
 the porcupine, making splendid ornaments ; some as 
 high priced as ten dollars. When we went to the 
 Falls, we took the steamer "Emerald," and landed at 
 Chippewa, on the Canadian shore ; from there we 
 took the cars, drawn by horses three miles. We in 
 tended to cross the river, and visit Goat Island ; but it 
 was not deemed advisable, on account of the stair-case 
 being removed. We reached home about six o'clock
 
 268 PEESONAL SKETCHES 
 
 in the evening. When we entered the harbor, it 
 was so filled with vessels, that we were obliged to 
 go through a schooner, steamboat, and canal-boat, 
 before we could reach the wharf. The steamers on 
 Lake Ontario are nothing to be compared with those 
 on this lake, in beauty, size, and convenience. The 
 " Empire " has a cabin two hundred feet in length, 
 and furnished with princely splendor 
 
 Nov. 19. 
 
 Thrice welcome was your kind epistle, which 
 found us happy in our usual health and prosperity. 
 With what eagerness did I break the seal ; for there 
 is nothing that I enjoy better than a frequent and 
 punctual correspondence with loved friends ; and 
 could I be certain that my friends would take half 
 the pleasure in reading my communications, that I 
 do in writing them, or reading theirs, I should feel 
 abundantly rewarded. 
 
 I told aunt that you spoke of deferring your journey 
 until summer ; so that your visit to roaring Niagara 
 would be in a season that all of its beauty and love 
 liness would appear to the best advantage. Mr. S. 
 says that in winter it is even more beautiful than in 
 summer ; the contiguous trees and shrubbery are 
 covered with the purest crystal. In speaking of the 
 Falls, you say : 'Vln such a place, how sensibly a 
 person must feel his own nothingness." I have seen 
 that idea advanced before ; but it does not at all cor 
 respond with my feelings. I am not, as Addison says, 
 " afraid of being overlooked in the immensity of God's 
 works." Immortal man is the noblest of all God's 
 works ; and the beautiful and grand in nature are 
 created expressly for the use and gratification of his 
 intelligent beings.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 269 
 
 Jan. 3e?. 
 
 Another year has drawn to a close, another 
 dream of time passed away, even as those which 
 have gone before it ; and its events are recorded in 
 the great book of time, with the long list which fills 
 up the eternity of the past ; some few we would 
 wish blotted out, and others we would cherish in the 
 memory, as long as that principle survives. Many 
 fervent thanks to the Great Giver of all good, for 
 the health, happiness, and prosperity that have 
 attended me during the past year ; may I never be 
 unmindful of these invaluable blessings. 
 
 Your warm-hearted, welcome epistle came Christ 
 mas noon a rich holiday present, besides, Santa 
 Glaus called and left me a beautiful mahogany work- 
 box. I use it to keep my letters in ; it is almost full. 
 It is really a treat to sit down in my " sanctum sanc 
 torum," and read them over occasionally. They 
 exhibit a pleasing variety of genius and feeling ; 
 they are mostly effusions of hearts overflowing with 
 
 kindness I have been reading a work 
 
 which has interested me much, which I presume you 
 have read Paley's Theology. 
 
 Christmas eve we had our church trimmed splen 
 didly ; the ever-greens were arranged so as to 
 resemble cord and tassel trimming ; near the roof it 
 appeared like a dense forest. The chandelier, with 
 forty-eight sperm candles, was completely enveloped 
 in wreaths and festoons of evergreen. In the back 
 ground, rose the " Star of Bethlehem." The bril 
 liancy of the scene was heightened by one of Br. 
 Smith's best sermons, and soul- thrilling music from 
 the choir 
 
 Last week, I attended another one of Madame De 
 Bonne ville's lecture on Phreno-Magnetism, at the 
 Eagle Street Theatre, to a crowded room ; her man-
 
 270 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 ner was pleasing, and the matter instructive. After 
 the lecture, her husband magnetized a young man 
 by the name of Burnett. While in that state, he 
 performed the piece called the "Female Maniac" 
 If I ever had every sympathy of my nature aroused, 
 it was then. The whole audience turned pale with 
 terror ; my heart beat as if it would burst its con 
 finement. The mental anguish that he appeared to 
 feel, was indescribable ; he tore his hair with the 
 most poignant grief ; his limbs were convulsed, and 
 his features distorted. De Bonneville was obliged 
 to stop him at the beginning of the last verse, be 
 cause he had not power to control him. The whole 
 scene produced an immense excitement. . . . 
 
 Poplar Hill, Watertown, 
 April, 10th, 185-. 
 
 Although you said you had nothing to write, your 
 letter contained much that we read with interest. 
 You seem to think, now that we have met with the 
 loss and disappointment of having our school-house 
 burned, we shall have to do without. What made 
 you think we should not have a new one ? You 
 must think we are as energetic as Fanny Fern's 
 44 Mr. Smith," that a snail is an express train to us. 
 But, as strange as it may seem, the building com 
 mittee have about completed arrangements for a 
 nice building on a new site, nearer the lower part of 
 the district. So you discover that we are not such 
 drones as you took us to be. 
 
 You ask me to send you some flower-seeds. My 
 variety is very limited, comparatively, for at the 
 time they should have been gathered an unusual 
 press of business caused me to neglect it. However, 
 I have some that I can send you. I shall be obliged 
 to put them in helter skelter, to save room, and you
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 271 
 
 can assort them. The double yellow marigold blos 
 soms at the same time that dahlias do, and are 
 almost as beautiful. The large round brick-colored 
 seeds are lady's slipper, that came in a letter from 
 St. Louis. The brilliant black ones, wild honey 
 suckle, the small dull black seeds are dew-plant, 
 also from St. Louis. The large black seeds are a 
 new variety of cock's comb ; the small light brown 
 seeds are crocus. The tufted seeds are asters. The 
 melons, etc., came from the office of the " Rural 
 New Yorker," Rochester. The muskmelon seeds 
 are said to be extra fine. 
 
 If you have border-pinks, divide them, and they 
 will spread rapidly. I covered mine slightly last 
 fall, and they have not been winter-killed at all. 
 And my tulips are doing finely ; I like them much 
 better than dahlias. . . . 
 
 Dec. 9^, 1855. 
 
 The Friday following the United States Conven 
 tion, father and myself started for Connecticut : 
 Staid the first night at Albany. And at Springfield 
 met Mr. "W. on his way to Utica, and only saw him 
 a few minutes. Sunday, we heard Rev. Theophilus 
 Fiske preach in Middletown. Monday, brother P. 
 came, and we visited the curiosities of the place, 
 and they are quite numerous. We went all over 
 the Wesleyan University, and to the top of the 
 Observatory ; it is filled with curiosities. Middle- 
 town is a most beautiful city. Tuesday we visited 
 Portland, a village on the other side of the river, 
 where there is an extensive quarry of Connecticut 
 brown stone. At 4 o'clock, P. M., we all (father, 
 P., and myself) took passage on the steamer " Gran 
 ite State," for New York, where we arrived early 
 next morning, and took rooms at the International
 
 272 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Hotel. We spent that day as advantageously as 
 possible. Went to Brooklyn, Crystal Palace, Bar- 
 num's, etc., and started for home next morning, 
 on the Hudson River, by way of Albany. Again 
 got home at six o'clock, P. M. We had a very 
 pleasant journey and enjoyed it much. Brother 
 Pliny brought with him from Panama five girls' 
 hats, three for Emily's girls, and one each for 
 your's and mine. 
 
 Affectionately your sister, 
 
 ROXANA M. BLOUNT.* 
 
 Worcester, Mass., Aug. 15tfA, 185-. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER E - : Your letter of Aug. 
 3d, was the first that I received from you since I 
 left home, though not the first that I had heard from 
 you. I shall leave here about the first of Nov., 
 when I shall probably go West, perhaps by way of 
 your place. How different every thing is here 
 from things about Watertown ; the face of the coun 
 try, the inhabitants, the trees in the forest, the flow 
 ers, both wild and cultivated, especially the wild ; 
 the beasts, birds, fishes, and insects, are all some 
 what changed, and probably would be much more 
 BO by going South. 
 
 It appears to me that a person must be rather 
 dull, not to enjoy such a tramp as I have had. I 
 spent four or five hours at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, 
 rather agreeably ; when I see you I will tell you all 
 about it. It is worth a great deal to go into the 
 museums at Utica, Albany, New York, and Boston. 
 The Lowell factories to me are a great curiosity. 
 The prospect from the top of Bunker Hill Monu 
 ment is good, beyond my powers of description. 
 I think you have been to Trenton Falls. That is 
 the handsomest waterfall thatLl have ever seen, not 
 
 * Died, June 1, I860.
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 273 
 
 excepting Niagara. Be sure and visit the museum 
 at Niagara, when you go there. . . . As for 
 church, I have not been settled long enough to go, 
 as yet ; the last church I have been in was at Port 
 land, Me. I am getting quite heathenish, though 
 the people here are more piously inclined than in 
 York State ; all go to church every Sabbath, re 
 gardless of the weather. And I have staid at home 
 and have lately read the Orthodox creed, for the 
 first time ; and such a medley of stuff for any mortal 
 man to believe, I never saw. Further comment is 
 needless. 
 
 You ask if I have visited any Odd Fellow Lodges. 
 I have several ; and prefer spending an evening 
 that way, where I am acquainted, or even where I 
 am a stranger, to almost any other. There is always 
 a general turnout at the Lodges of the most enter 
 prising fellows in the place. I saw some splendid 
 Odd Fellows' Halls in* Boston. I have several 
 copies of constitutions and by-laws of Lodges in 
 this State. I will send brother Abbott one from here 
 in a few days. I see, by the Directory, that you have 
 a Lodge in your place. 
 
 " Yours truly, in F. L. and T." 
 
 Fort William, Franklin Co. ) 
 Missouri, February, 27 18 . \ 
 Good morning ! How do you do ? Really I can 
 not tell which of us wrote last, but I am quite sure 
 neither of us has written very lately. Your last 
 was received the day I left Worcester, and you have 
 undoubtedly heard from me many times since then, 
 by way of Watertown. I remember that I partly 
 promised to come here by way of your place, but I 
 thought, on the whole, it would be worth more to 
 me to come the way I did, via New Haven,
 
 274 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, 
 Cumberland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Louisville, 
 Memphis, Tenn.,Vicksburgh, Natchez, New Orleans, 
 and St. Louis. What think ye ? I do not believe 
 in a man's living his life out, without seeing a part 
 of the world outside the town where he was born. 
 I wish you could see the National museum at Wash 
 ington ; it is worth more than all the others in 
 the Union. I have always stopped long enough in 
 
 the cities that I have been through, to see all the 
 
 . . i . 
 
 most interesting things. 
 
 I saw brother Pliny in New Orleans and heard 
 him lecture several times. We had a very interest 
 ing time together. He was there two weeks, and 
 received $400 for lecturing. He is just such a kind 
 of fellow as he always was, i. e. up and doing all the 
 time. I am forty-seven miles from St. Louis, on 
 the road to Jefferson city, teaching the young Mis- 
 sourians the " sciences,'' in- a log school house, right 
 plump in the woods. Some of the scholars come 
 two and three miles ; a number of them come horse 
 back. There is a great deal more difference between 
 the manners and customs of the people here and in 
 
 the east, than I supposed there was 
 
 Truly yours, 
 
 BRADFORD S. MILES. 
 
 Aurora, III, Oct. 2d, 1853. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER E. I have been cruising about 
 the " earth and ocean " now some six or seven 
 years, and at last find myself in Aurora with our 
 sister Mary. I came here from Brazil in July last, 
 and visited in Connecticut, about a week, and then 
 returned to New York, and went from there to Buf 
 falo by Railroad, and have since been saving on the 
 lakes. I came here from Chicago to ifake a visit
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. 275 
 
 and shall remain several weeks, perhaps all winter ; 
 at any rate, I shall not sail any more this season. 
 Since I left Watertown I have travelled over land 
 and water, about fifty thousand miles, or distance 
 enough to circumnavigate the globe twice. I have 
 always been blessed with very good health, and 
 never was home-sick a day in my life, or wished 
 myself anywhere else but just where I was. The 
 day I was twenty-one years of age, I enlisted for 
 three years in the U. S. navy. It would be useless 
 for me to attempt to even mention half the scenes 
 through which I have passed, or anything of the 
 foreign lands I have seen, in one short letter, and I 
 will reserve it all for some future time, when we 
 may meet, for this dull pen is too slow to communi 
 cate anything I would like to say, if I could see 
 you. So good bye. 
 
 From your affectionate brother, 
 
 WM. PITT MILES. 
 
 Belleville, Jef. Co., Dec. 22J, 1849. 
 
 DEAR SISTER ABBOTT. I think it will not be 
 convenient for me to attend your family party on 
 New Year's Eve. Prof. (jr. S. Ramsay, principal of 
 Belleville Academy, when he left for California, Jan 
 uary 5th, 1849, appointed a lecture on the subject 
 of California, at the Academy, January 1st, 1850, 
 at 7 p. m., which appointment will undoubtedly be 
 fulfilled. He is now in Philadelphia, with some four 
 or five others who went from this vicinity. The 
 lecture will be more satisfaction to me than forty 
 feasts of the richest viands, though I regret not 
 being able to attend both, for no one enjoys the social 
 cheer more than I do. I will wish you, in advance. 
 a most happy new year. " The same to yourself," 
 I hear you say, " and a feast to the soul in Prof. 
 K.'s lecture. "
 
 276 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 Aurora, III,, August %lih, 1853. 
 
 DEAR E. Soon after receiving yours of May 1st, 
 I left here for Missouri, and my correspondents, one 
 and all have been neglected since that day, for divers 
 reasons. I enjoyed my journey and visit, well, Lut 
 should have enjoyed it much better, had I not been 
 out of health the greatest part of the time of my 
 absence. For six weeks I hardly left the house. 
 Had a physician once, but he did me more harm 
 than good. I then commenced the practice of Hy 
 dropathy, and gradually recovered ; I have, many 
 times since, reflected upon what I believe was the 
 fact, that the circumstances of my having accidently 
 picked up and read Dr. Shew on the water cure, 
 was the means of saving my life. Quite a number 
 died in the neighborhood, of the same complaint. 
 I tell you, E., the medical Faculty will never be 
 much richer for my coppers, as long as God con 
 tinues to " send rain upon the just and unjust." 
 
 B. came back with me to Chicago, and went east, 
 and I, back to Aurora ; have quite regained my 
 health and am at work again. Mayhap you would 
 like to know something of the opinion I have formed 
 of the men, women, and things of Missouri. I can 
 tell you at once that nothing would induce me to 
 live there. The main reason is slavery. To say 
 nothing of the situation of the negro, its very effect 
 upon the white population is baneful in the extreme. 
 B.'s wife is the personification of love and kindness ; 
 if you want to be killed with kindness, go there. 
 Affectionately as ever, 
 
 OREN E. MILES. 
 
 27 Jay St., Albany, N. Y., Nov. 15, 18. 
 DEAR SISTER E. I have been trying this long 
 time to get time to write to you, at least a short 
 letter, but my studies occupy all my time. I am
 
 AND RECOLLECTIONS. t 277 
 
 (as you are aware), a pupil of the normal school, 
 and shall, probably, remain here about two years. 
 My boarding place is very good, but you cannot 
 think how hard I have to study. I am in the first 
 division of the Junior Class. My studies are 
 Grammar, Reading, Arithmetic, Algebra, and His 
 tory. The twelve o'clock midnight bell, often finds 
 us studying. There are eight boarders, besides 
 myself, here, and I like them all very much. My 
 room is in the attic, four stories from the basement. 
 My room-mate is a lady from Tompkins County, 
 
 just exactly such a girl as our E s ; so still, that 
 
 you might as well be alone as in her company ; it is 
 very agreeable to have some one of this kind to 
 study with, but when we get a little time to play, 
 she does not add much to the music. 
 
 There is another one here from Long Island, who 
 can beat all the' rest in getting up fun. She is the 
 wildest person I ever saw ; an only child, and her 
 parents can do nothing with her at home, so they 
 sent her here. With the exception of these two 
 anomalies, we have a fine set of girls. Mrs. McE., 
 our hostess, is a Scotch widow lady. But I must 
 close and go to studying Algebra with the girls ; we 
 have very hard lessons, and we, (the three girls in 
 my class) have to put all of our heads together to 
 understand it. 
 
 December ~LQth. 
 
 I get along very well in my studies, by studying 
 night and day. We are kept very busy, and seldom 
 retire before eleven o'clock, and then, study two 
 hours in the morning before light. My health is 
 good and I am enjoying life well. I very frequently 
 get letters from pa, and all our folks, and they do 
 me so much good, and encourage me to do the best 
 I can for myself. I received a letter from brother 
 Bradford a few days since. I will quote some of ifc : 
 24
 
 278 PERSONAL SKETCHES 
 
 " I am very glad to hear that you are a student of 
 the State Normal School. I think you must be a 
 tolerable scholar now, and if you keep your health, 
 and attend that school regularly, two years, and 
 apply yourself with diligence, and keep other things 
 out of your mind, you certainly will have a very 
 good education. The value of an education, cannot 
 by me, be estimated ; by education, I do not mean 
 the amount of facts a person has in store, but rather 
 the right cultivation and training of all the faculties 
 of one's mind, so that a person can think rationally 
 upon ah 1 subjects, and express his ideas clearly, 
 fully, and forcibly. If I had such an education as 
 I might have had, I should value it higher than the 
 greatest wealth. Do the best you can while you 
 have so good an opportunity." 
 
 March I2>th, 1853. 
 
 I have now got into the sub-senior class, the one 
 next to graduating. This term commenced Feb. 
 ruary, 28th, and the next one will commence the 
 20th of September, and close next February, at 
 which time I expect to get through, though I 
 may not be able to get through all the sub-senior 
 studies, and in case I do not, (which I cannot do 
 without almost constant study), I shall be obliged to 
 go into the senior or graduating class, next Septem 
 ber, only in part, or else study all through vacation 
 of ten weeks, next summer. I hope that I can get 
 my diploma next February, but if I fail, I must 
 stay longer. I have spent the winter very pleasant 
 ly. My boarding-place is now 207 Hamilton street, 
 a more pleasant, healthy, and better locality. 
 
 July 3d, 1853. 
 
 I have nothing to do to-day but write. I was 
 one of a number who went out in the country yes 
 terday, and walked and ran so much that it was
 
 AXD RECOLLECTIONS. 279 
 
 quite too much for my strength, so I do not go^to 
 church to-day; I usually go two or three times 
 every Sabbath. Saturday is always a day of recre 
 ation with the Normals. Almost every Saturday 
 there is a pic-nic, rail-road ride, walk, visit, or some 
 thing of the kind. After we have studied hard, 
 five days, we feel much like having some kind of a 
 pleasant stroll the sixth day. Yesterday, we strolled 
 too far, for our comfort to-day. This third of our 
 term, our labor is harder than usual, because we are 
 reviewing and preparing for our examination, which 
 commences one week from to-morrow, and continues 
 three days. Thursday, the 14th, is the last day of 
 this session. In the afternoon, we have the closing 
 exercises, and in the evening* the biennial jubilee 
 " comes off. " All the old graduates are invited 
 to come back once in two years, and they have a 
 "great time," and the next day they scatter to all 
 parts of the State again. Friday and Saturday, all 
 the Normals go home ; more than half of them go 
 on the Western road, so I shall have plenty of com 
 pany as far as Rome. Mr. W. and E., expect me 
 to spend the vacation with them in Middletown, but 
 I must go home ; it will be just ten months from the 
 time I left home till I get back ; I think that is stay 
 ing away pretty well. Our vacation is' eleven 
 weeks ; perhaps I shall spend the last one in Con 
 necticut, and return from there to Albany. I have 
 said so much about hard study that I am going to 
 give you a little outline of what I have to do in one 
 week. One of our teachers thinks the course of 
 study too severe. The length of our lessons is " out 
 rageous," and then the writing that has to be done, 
 is not an easy matter. We have lectures of an hour 
 in length, twice a week, upon vocal music, of which 
 we have to take notes ; all of which must be neatly 
 copied in a blank book. And we have a lecture of
 
 280 PERSONAL SKETCHES. 
 
 the same length every day, upon civil government, 
 and they, (the notes), must all be copied ; besides 
 all that, we have a similar lecture upon perspective 
 drawing, once a week, and specimens of our draw 
 ing prepared ; a composition to write, once in two 
 weeks ; a long review of geometry lessons, every 
 day, and natural philosophy, and higher arithmetic ; 
 and we have book-keeping, and all our books to 
 keep posted. This, with all my sewing, letter-writ 
 ing, and taking care of my room, half the time, is 
 quite enough for me. The teachers want us to get 
 all of our lessons for Monday, on Friday afternoon 
 and Monday morning, and do no studying Saturday, 
 and go to church, Sabbath ; but this can't be done 
 always. We do, sonetimes, in spite of our best 
 efforts, get behind in our writing ; and then Satur 
 day morning, we post books or write abstracts. I 
 occasionally visit the Legislature Saturday morning. 
 I think it is very interesting. The Professor advises 
 us to go as often as we can, but how can he expect 
 us to do everything. I wish you were obliged to 
 study as hard, for just a little while, as I have been 
 for the last half of this session. If they see a 
 scholar is getting along very easy they put him, or 
 her, into a higher class, so it is impossible to have a 
 very easy time. But you have heard quite too 
 much of this lamenting about hard work, and if you 
 will turn over the leaf I will tell you about some 
 thing else ; new dresses, &c. 
 
 P. S. Our wild girl has just caught a lightning- 
 bug, and says she is going to keep it for fire-works, 
 to-morrow evening, the Fouith. G'reat idea, that. 
 To-morrow evening I go to Catskill, on a steamer, 
 for my celebration. Affectionately, 
 
 LUCINDA S. MILES.* 
 
 * Now Mrs. Wm. Lord, Jr., Brownville , N. Y.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 24*
 
 THE DEATH PENALTY.* 
 
 As this is a subject worthy of being agitated, I 
 shall make no apology for attempting to add some 
 remarks to what was written, several weeks since, 
 by " Iota " and " Alice. " As I think the former 
 has done ample justice to the humane side of the 
 question, I do not expect to strengthen his argu 
 ments with any of my own. Nor do I wish to 
 Detract any from those of " Alice," advanced on the 
 other side ; for their weakness must be apparent to 
 a large majority of your intelligent readers, though 
 they may believe with her, that the law requir- 
 ~ing " life for life " is a just one. It is certainly to 
 be regretted, the law of Moses, which was founded 
 on retaliation and revenge, and adapted to the con 
 dition and wants of a " stiff-necked, perverse and 
 rebellious race ''' of semi-barbarians, should be 
 nourished and perpetuated in a Christian community, 
 and be referred to as a guide and rule of our lives, 
 by a lady of the nineteenth century. She very 
 significantly inquires whether the gentleman ever 
 happened to open a book now universally recognized 
 
 *From The Christian Ambassador.
 
 284 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 as a standard work, and read this single sentence, in 
 as plain English as his own, "Whoso sheddeth 
 man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." We 
 trust he has opened the book and read it too, with 
 more profit than Alice seems to have done. This 
 sentence (which was a part of the covenant with 
 Noah, and identical with the institution of Moses,) 
 and many others of a similar import, as, an " eye 
 for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," are universally 
 acknowledged as a special dispensation to the chil 
 dren of Israel, and binding on no others. However, 
 for the sake of the argument, we will admit that the 
 law of Moses, and the patriarchal law from which 
 Alice quotes, are binding upon us. 
 
 It will be readily seen that if this single provision 
 of it is binding, all are equally so. Then they who 
 framed the laws of our State, should not have attached 
 the penalty of death to three crimes only, but they 
 were in duty bound to adopt it for all the twenty 
 crimes for which it was inflicted by Moses. For 
 gathering sticks on the Sabbath for fuel, or if a man 
 was found persuading another to worship idols, or 
 of cursing father and mother, or of. keeping an ox 
 known to be " wont to push with his horns " that 
 kills his neighbor. A man guilty of any of the 
 above mentioned offences, "must surely be put to 
 death," together with various others, such as " suf 
 fering a witch to live," &c., &c.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 285 
 
 We could easily imagine the consequences of put 
 ting these laws in force at the present day. We 
 would, as Christians, rather be guided by the law 
 which God, in whom there is neither variableness 
 nor shadow of turning, applied to Cain, and instead 
 of killing the murderer, like Him, set a mark upon 
 him, lest any finding him should kill him." Indeed, 
 had we never read the history of Cain, we could not 
 for a moment suppose, that God, the very essence of 
 whose nature is love, would ever act contrary to 
 that nature. We think there is nothing in the literal 
 construction or connection of Gen. ix. 6, to give it 
 the force of a command, but because of the spirit of 
 xevenge by which men are actuated, is is represented 
 as a natural consequence, as " Whoso breaketh a 
 hedge, a serpent shall bite him." 
 
 There is no person, probably, so verdant as to 
 suppose, that the above is a command to a serpent 
 to bite whoso has the indiscretion to break a hedge. 
 
 But to come down to times subsequent to Noah, 
 we find men believed to be acting under the divine 
 direction, also disregarding this supposed law. 
 Moses, the chosen servant of God, laid in wait for 
 the Egyptian, and slew him unawares. And yet 
 we read that he died peacefully upon Pisgah, a 
 hundred years atfer the crime, and the Egyptians 
 mourned for him thirty days. A more cold-blooded 
 and horrid tragedy is not on record, in any criminal
 
 286 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 calendar, than the murder of Uriah by the com 
 mand of David, and yet he gave up the ghost in 
 peace. 
 
 This argument may be objected to, on the ground 
 that God could at any time repeal his own enact 
 ments. Certainly, but not without variableness, 
 and rather more than the shadow of turning. It is 
 admitted by all that God acts by fixed and invaria 
 ble laws. We should therefore be extremely cau 
 tious in our zeal for the support of preconceived opin 
 ions, of so interpreting Scripture as to lead to the 
 notion that involves so utter a departure from the 
 ordinary course of His moral government. We 
 should no longer desire to be in bondage to this law 
 of revenge, which Jesus expressly declares was 
 given to the Jews for the hardness of their hearts. 
 Indeed, did he not essentially repeal this law in his 
 sermon on the mount ? He drew the contrast be 
 tween what " was said by them of old," and his 
 emphatic " But I say unto you," in language too 
 evident to leave a doubt upon the mind of the can 
 did inquirer. Let us then, beware of clothing our 
 selves with the old garments of vengeance^, and those 
 of us who have ears only for the thunders of Sinai, 
 in this enlightened and Christian age, should begin 
 ere long, to listen to the still small voice dictated 
 by the Gospel. Let us engage in the service of 
 the Prince of Peace, the law of whose kingdom is
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 287 
 
 to " do good unto them that despitefully use you." 
 And also bear in mind, that " of the increase of his 
 government and peace, there shall be no end." 
 
 We may indeed resist the law of love for a time, 
 and stand sullenly by the wayside, while our breth 
 ren of the opposite faith, with their smiling happy 
 faces, brightened with a consciousness of having 
 done their duty, are hurrying past us, in the good 
 road their Master has sent them, on errands of 
 mercy. But resist it as we may, there is a strong 
 under-current by which we shall eventually be borne 
 along. 
 
 It is often urged by the advocates of the death- 
 penalty, that the example serves as a restraint from 
 the commission of crime, but what are the facts ? 
 It has been ascertained by those who have interested 
 themselves on the subject, that nearly every person 
 executed in the United States, for a great number 
 of years, had themselves previously witnessed exe 
 cutions. It is a well-known fact that the punish 
 ment of death was never inflicted in Russia during 
 the reign of the Empress Elizabeth ; and we have 
 ample testimony in the writings of Howard, the 
 philanthropist, to prove, that so far from its having a 
 tendency to increase the number of crimes, that they 
 were very sensibly diminished. There was not a 
 single capital crime committed in the whole empire 
 for two years, and this was not true of any previous 
 three months.
 
 288 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 That the punishment of death has a demoralizing 
 influence on society, scarcely needs proof. This has 
 been so evident, with regard to public executions, 
 that the practice has been abandoned by nearly 
 every state in the Union, and the bloody deed has 
 been left to be done privately, by the sheriff and his 
 attendants, save, perhaps, the poor criminal, may be 
 allowed the benefit of a " spirkual adviser." It is 
 well known that in years past, when public execu 
 tions were allowed, the appointed day for the judicial 
 murder of a fellow being, was marked by riot, 
 drunkenness, and the fearful amount of crime gene 
 rated at such gatherings, it is impossible to estimate. 
 One instance was published in a religious journal in 
 Philadelphia : " On the evening of the day when 
 Lecher was hung at Lancaster, in 1822, twenty- 
 eight persons were committed to prison for various 
 offences ; one for murder and he was fettered with 
 the irons which, the newspapers of the day inform 
 us, had scarcely been laid off long enough by Lech 
 er to get cold." 
 
 The depravity and recklessness produced by the 
 blood-thirsty spirit which brings such crowds to 
 gether on such occasions, has anything but a saluta 
 ry effect upon the morals of the community, and es 
 pecially upon children. Imitation is generally well 
 developed in juvenile heads. The newspapers of our 
 own country have recorded two instances of chil-
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 289 
 
 dren losing their lives by "playing hanging." O, 
 how shocking to the finer feelings of our nature are 
 such exhibitions as these ! 
 
 In 1844, the writer of this witnessed a similar scene 
 in Dexter, Jefferson Co. A lad of fifteen years, was 
 found dead in a barn, suspended by a rope around 
 his neck, where it was supposed he had hung him 
 self experimenting. It has been truly said that 
 " there is a chord in every human heart that vi 
 brates at the touch of kindness." How often has 
 this been proved by the noble-hearted and benevo 
 lent Miss Dix, on her errands o mercy to the un 
 fortunate of our race, who have been confined with 
 in the walls of prisons for crime. On one occasion 
 she met with a man so lost in depravity, that the 
 keepers of the prison could not control him at all, 
 and' were constantly in fear of him. Indeed he was 
 an object of fear to all who visited the prison. He 
 tore his hair out with rage, and Miss Dix was ad 
 vised not to go near him. She, however, seated 
 herself in hearing distance of him, and commenced 
 reading portions of Scripture, in her accustomed 
 mildness of voice. She soon perceived that it had 
 an effect upon him, and she continued reading till 
 her enchanting voice and kindness of manner com 
 pletely riveted his attention and lulled him to quiet 
 ness. 
 
 When she ceased reading he said, " Read 
 25
 
 290 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 more, it does me good." And when she arose to 
 depart, he approached her with outstretched arms 
 and said, "Give me your hand ; you treat me right." 
 She took his hands while tears of penitence streamed 
 from his eyes. 
 
 "Human justice," Alice says, " is not the imper 
 fect thing your correspondent represents her to be." 
 And yet we know of several instances of the lives 
 of innocent persons being taken, and when it had 
 been so proved, they were gone beyond the reach 
 of any recompense in this world. There is this one 
 objection to the law inflicting death upon the mur 
 derer which is enough to condemn it, were there no 
 other i. e., the liability of punishing the innocent. 
 Whereas, if imprisonment for life were substituted 
 in its place, should any future revelation be made 
 by which the guilt of the criminal might be palliat 
 ed by circumstances, or his innocence proved, the 
 steps of the law could easily be retraced. Again, 
 the severity of this law is the means of many who 
 are actually guilty of murder escaping unpunished ; 
 for it has been sometimes almost impossible for a 
 sufficient number of men to be found to act as jury 
 men in such cases, and if a jury is obtained it is very 
 rare that a man is convicted. A verdict of " not 
 guilty " is almost invariably rendered, on some plea 
 of insanity, or any thing which throws a shade of 
 doubt over their minds. Then who can object to a
 
 ^ MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 291 
 
 law being substituted which will not only save 
 the innocent, but surely punish' the guilty ? This 
 would do more to prevent crime than an ocean of 
 blood. 
 
 SPIEITUAL EXPEKIENCES. 
 
 "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, 
 whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself- " 
 
 JOHN vii. 17. 
 
 That God has brought us to a knowledge of 
 Christianity, is a boon for which we can never suf 
 ficiently thank Him. It is a knowledge, which, if 
 employed aright, will yield us the greatest advan 
 tages with regard to wisdom, virtue and happiness. 
 But through our ingratitude and negligence of the 
 precious gift, we shut up our hearts against its 
 divine, efficacious influence, its all-gushing spirit, 
 depriving ourselves of that peace of mind and tran 
 quil enjoyment, which are the sure results of a stead 
 fast reliance on the truths of the Christian religion. 
 The doctrines of that religion have in them a natural 
 power to direct the conduct of those who embrace 
 them. They have a constant influence over our
 
 292 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 hearts, impelling us to act agreeably to tlie per 
 ception we have gained. Indeed, they stand in the 
 closest connection with our present and future hap 
 piness, and it is impossible for us to apply them 
 home, without feeling that they have an effect upon 
 our inclinations and conduct. How important then 
 is it that we use all the means in our power to 
 arrive at a knowledge of the truth ! "We may rest 
 assured that the Spirit of God will assist the sin 
 cere Christian in his researches after truth. The 
 Scriptures inform us that God frequently operates in 
 a remarkable manner on the hearts of mankind, 
 putting their minds in such a frame, that truth can 
 display itself to them in its full force. We cannot 
 always, however, understand the operations of our 
 own minds so as to properly explain them. We 
 should, therefore, be extremely cautious about taking 
 all the pleasing ejnotions that arise in us, on the 
 subject of religion, for special operations of the 
 Holy Spirit. God is, indeed, " all in all." To hie 
 influence all creatures are indebted for the continu 
 ance of their existence. May we not, then, conclude 
 that God's providence extends by his mighty will, to 
 the support of our intellectual faculties ? True, he 
 deals with us as rational beings, requiring us to use 
 the capacities he has given us. We may, by intem 
 perance, or by irregularity of conduct and habits, 
 bring upon ourselves a disordered state of health,
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 293 
 
 the consequences of which always weaken the sen 
 sibility to pleasure, or disturb and interrupt our 
 moral and intellectual enjoyments. In the place of 
 them, a variety of painful and disagreeable sensa 
 tions arise within us, obscuring the agreeable images 
 of the mind, and not unfrequently entirely obliter 
 ating them. Such circumstances cannot fail to con 
 fine the exertion of our abilities, and our activity in 
 goodness, to a very limited circle. We may also 
 become dissatisfied with the works of our own hands 
 which would have been happily completed had we 
 been in a right frame of mind. Our acts of benevo 
 lence, the relief and service we may have afforded 
 to others, will become utterly insignificant to us. 
 This ought to teach us the value of health, in regard 
 to the noblest and most exalted attributes of the 
 mind ; and if we who now enjoy that benefit, wish 
 to lead a contented, cheerful, and happy life in the 
 service of virtue, let us look upon the preservation 
 of our health as an imperative duty, and be assured 
 that we can make no sacrifice to moderation, which 
 will not afterwards be repaid a hundred fold. 
 
 The mind is so intimately connected with the 
 body, that no remarkable alteration can happen to 
 the one, without a corresponding change in the 
 other. When our bodies are in health, when we 
 feel neither pain nor infirmity, the mind is alert in 
 all its functions, and can operate free- and unmo- 
 25*
 
 294 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 lested. Reason, the most perfect attribute of the 
 mind, then prevails OTer all the inferior powers, and 
 we can contemplate the truth, not with passion, but 
 in a calm and unclouded light. Agreeable objects 
 then come in contact with our senses, whether we 
 mingle with society, where we can enjoy the delights 
 of friendship and the agreeable conversation of well- 
 cultivated minds, or retire to the silence of the shady 
 forest, where every living being is elate with joy, 
 and we listen to the voice of God in nature, with all 
 her magnificence. The heart is affected by t%e 
 sweet melody of harmonious sounds, our thoughts 
 flow rapidly and methodically, and if we reflect on 
 the sublime doctrines of religion, the joy and conso 
 lation we feel, must of necessity be unusually great, 
 yea, at times, truly .ecstatic. Let us reverse the 
 picture. If our physical system be diseased, the 
 blood creeps sluggishly and heavily through the 
 veins, the nerves become relaxed and feeble, the 
 mind will correspond with these contingencies. Our 
 thoughts will always have a sort of obscurity about 
 them, and it will be in vain that we endeavor to 
 form any lively and clear conceptions of the sublime 
 and important truths of the Gospel. The most ele 
 gant extracts and descriptions will then make but 
 little impression upon us, and we can hear or read 
 them with coldness and indifference. We can easily 
 resign ourselves to sullenness and melancholy, hold-
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 295 
 
 ing mirth in abhorrence, and looking with contempt 
 upon all those who engage in it. May we not then 
 be mistaken in representing these attentions which 
 so naturally arise and are explained on philosophical 
 principles, as supernatural dispensations and spiritual 
 experiences of a peculiar order, when the state of 
 our bodies, our outward condition and temperaments, 
 have so great an influence on the agency and opera 
 tion of the mind ? Therefore, when under such cir 
 cumstances, we receive any livelier sentiment, or 
 more joyous emotion, as celestial raptures or imme 
 diate visitations from on high, we deceive ourselves. 
 
 O ' 
 
 We also vex and torment ourselves in vain when we 
 consider the insensibility and listlessness, originating 
 in a disorder of the body, as a judgment of God, or 
 a token of his wrath and displeasure. If we would 
 have a rational and just experience of the efficacy 
 which the doctrines of religion possess, we cannot 
 consistently base our hopes on things beyond our 
 control, on outward circumstances, on the fluctuating 
 state of our bodies, or on accidents. If we walk 
 willingly and faithfully in all the commandments of 
 God, here we may safely rest, and avoid the follies 
 of fanaticism and the extravagances of superstition. 
 It is a common failing with numbers of Christians, 
 that they give themselves little or no concern about 
 cultivating and progressively perfecting the nobler 
 part of their being, their rational mind. They pre-
 
 296 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 fer to be employed in executing their sensitive feel 
 ings, and in obtaining what they often falsely term 
 spiritual experiences. Their passions must have, at 
 least, as large a share in their worship as their un 
 derstanding. They think their private acts of devo 
 tion connot be of the genuine sort without exciting 
 sensual and vehement emotions ; their sorrow for 
 sin must be accompanied with scalding tears ; their 
 joy in God, and aspirations after eternal felicity, 
 must be rapturous. They even scorn the sugges 
 tions of reason, and are extremely cautious of fol 
 lowing her precepts and her light. 
 
 We shall at least be on the " safe side " if we 
 follow the precepts, and expand our hearts to the 
 saving efficacy of the religion of Jesus. We can 
 only testify the integrity of our faith by an unre 
 mitting industry in all good works. Our experience 
 will show that it has the power to render its sincere 
 followers virtuous, holy, tranquil, and happy. Thus 
 we shall know, as onr Saviour declares, that his doc 
 trine is of God.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 297 
 
 ESSAY ON TEMPER ANCE* AND TOBACCO. 
 
 Temperance and intemperance have been written 
 and spoken upon, until it would seem that the whole 
 range of pertinent remarks on these subjects has 
 been exhausted, and nought remains but the oft- 
 repeated tales of woe which have fallen on our ears 
 from time immemorial ; and yet, at the first glance, 
 one would suppose that all the efforts that have been 
 put forth for the stay of this deadly ruin, have been 
 useless, or nearly so, by the frightful havoc that is 
 still being made upon the peace of community. In 
 temperance has well been likened to an ocean that 
 is constantly being fed by tributaries ; like that, it 
 has its little rills which merge in the broad rivers, 
 and at last, through the lakes and bays find their 
 way to the boundless ocean of untold misery, which 
 nothing but the revealing light of eternity can ever 
 fully disclose. It requires a brilliant genius to 
 sketch the images of the human form upon dull can 
 vas, and give them the appearance of speaking life ; 
 but the more requisite genius of an angel would 
 fail to portray upon paper, with a pen, the ravages 
 of this mortal curse upon the human organism. 
 
 The habits of men, indulging in their depraved
 
 298 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 and vitiated appetites, have got the better of their 
 reason, and they have become so blinded and besot 
 ted, that they have lost the power of throwing off 
 their galling chains ; hence the duty of those whom 
 sensualism has not bowed and crushed to the earth, 
 is imperative in strengthening the hands of the weak, 
 and, if possible, in scattering light and truth, where 
 now darkness and error hold absolute sway. 
 
 It is an awful sight to see man, fashioned in the 
 image of his Creator, reduced by the force of circum 
 stances frequently entailed on him by his parents ; 
 to a mere breathing, eating, and drinking machine, 
 and expending his energies for that which debases 
 him in everything that goes to make up the real 
 man in the sight of God. 
 
 The attempt to dry up this formidable ocean, will 
 be in vain, as long as the streams by which it is fed 
 are kept alive and nourished with more care than 
 the staff of life would be. When men's judgment 
 is so impaired by temperance and sensuality, as that 
 they will endure the privation of bread, of decent 
 clothing, and of a comfortable home, or beg their 
 sustenance, and expend their hard earnings for the 
 poisons which are the sole cause of all this degrada 
 tion aW misery, they are simply insane, and ought to 
 be treated as such ; and of all the diseases which 
 afflict poor human nature, those which affect the 
 mind are the most grievous to be borne. Who has
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 299 
 
 <t 
 
 not witnessed the writhings of the mind in cases of 
 delirium tremens, caused by the use of intoxicating 
 drinks, and in a somewhat less degree by tobacco ! 
 To suffer the amputation of the limbs, one by one, 
 and then have the body slowly cut in pieces, though 
 horribly excruciating, would bear no comparison to 
 this burden of sorrow, which is the fearful penalty 
 of transgression. Ordinary pain can be endured ; 
 but when reason, the noblest attribute of man, is 
 dethroned, and self-possession lost, imaginary de 
 mons will torment, and all the passions rise in tumul- 
 tous uproar, leaving him, who was created in the 
 likeness of his Maker, no longer himself, but an 
 object of commiseration over which angels might 
 weep. 
 
 The object of this essay is chiefly an attempt to 
 portray the evils of tobacco ; one of the dark, muddy, 
 and filthy rivers which constantly flows into this 
 
 Bacchanalian sea. Its evil influence on society, and 
 its unconscious victims, is second only to that of 
 
 old Alcohol himself; and yet there are hundreds who 
 are loud in their denunciations of intoxicating 
 drinks, and are dying by inches under the influence 
 of this poisonous narcotic ; supposing their whole 
 duty is done in the philanthropic cause of temper 
 ance. Not a hundred miles from the town of Ma 
 drid, in St. Lawrence County, nor a hundred years 
 ago, I remember of attending a temperance mass- 
 26 /
 
 300 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 meeting in a beautiful church, which boasted its 
 Turkey carpet, cushioned seats, and all the little 
 etceteras that contribute to the comfort and conveni 
 ence of the church-going portion of community, in 
 and about the tidy little village. We were not long 
 waiting in the aisle, before a seat was proffered by a 
 gentleman who seemed to be " at home." Unfor 
 tunately, however, for me, I was placed in too close 
 proximity to one who could not be called a gentle 
 man, or " temperance man." He had deposited his 
 card at his feet on the beautiful carpet, in the shape 
 of a puddle of tobacco spittle about the size of his 
 hat crown. Looking around for a more comfortable 
 locality, I observed the deformed and besmeared 
 lips of several more in the immediate vicinity, and 
 concluded to keep the seat near my disagreeable 
 neighbor, for fear of getting a worse one, putting 
 my dress skirt aside that it might not be made a 
 mop for this filthy pool. While reflecting on the 
 right some people take to poison the air for others 
 to breathe, the speakers were called to the stand, 
 and suggestions and resolutions were offered to ad 
 vance the glorious cause, which all went off admir 
 ably, and the speakers were of the " first order," 
 only it occurred to me that some of the temperance 
 men should have been labelled, so that strangers 
 would know they were so, otherwise their practices 
 prevented their being recognized as such, for about
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 301 
 
 two in three of them had to relieve themselves of 
 large quids of tobacco before delivering their tem 
 perance (?) messages. O, consistency, thou art 
 indeed a jewel. " Who can bring a clean thing out 
 
 of an unclean ? " Rev. Mr. , a clergyman from 
 
 a neighboring parish, was last called upon the 
 speakers' stand ; he, too, threw his quid into the 
 spittoon, in presence of the large congregation, with 
 a shamelessness that was appalling ; and in a speech 
 of about three quarters of an hour in length, he 
 gave old Alcohol a severe drubbing, such as he de 
 served ; prospectively tried, condemned, and execu 
 ted him, and in the language of Dr. Hume, " When 
 he is quite dead you may bury him, and if I attend 
 his funeral, I'll not shed a tear not a single tear. 
 Or, if I do weep, it will be because he did not die 
 sooner ; and, should I be the sexton, if it were pos 
 sible, I would dig his grave at the North Pole ; there 
 bury him a thousand fathoms deep ; wrap him in a 
 winding sheet of ice ; let the mighty organ of the 
 four winds gather his requiem from all nations, and, 
 in a blast of their wildest whirlings play it loud and 
 strong upon his grave, as long as time shall last. 
 Finally, when buried, you may erect his grave 
 stone, and write his epitaph. I propose that it read 
 as follows : " 
 
 " Beneath this sketch there lies a wretch, 
 
 Old Alcohol most bad ; 
 And when he died, creation cried, 
 
 We're glad ! we're glad ! ! we're glad ! ! ! 
 26
 
 302 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 He filled the earth with his foul breath 
 
 Of brandy, ein, and rum; 
 And when he died, the devil cried, 
 
 Come, friend, coine." 
 
 Can it be possible, thought I, that these gentle 
 men are ignorant of the physical effects of tobacco, 
 and of its affinity for rum, on which they have dealt 
 their wholesale anathemas ? If they have ever 
 read the testimony of Dr. Woodward, of the State 
 Hospital for the insane, at Worcester, Mass ; Drs. 
 Bell and Condie, editors of the Journal of Health, 
 Dr. J. C. Warren, of Boston ; Dr. Wm. A. Alcott, 
 a man of almost unparalleled experience and obser 
 vation, and scores of others, against the practice of 
 using tobacco in any form, as prejudicial to health, 
 morality and cleanliness, it has fallen unheeded on 
 their ears. Habit has got a powerful hold on them 
 and in that which will have the same effect on the 
 mind as upon the poor, degraded rum-drinker. It 
 has been known in numerous instances to produce 
 delirium tremens, dyspepsia, blindness, deafness, 
 cancer, scrofula, and all the long train of diseases 
 which are the result of impure blood. It will be 
 admitted by any person in his senses, that the evil 
 consequences already mentioned are enough to know 
 against it, and should deter any reasonable person 
 from its use ; and yet there is a worse effect than 
 any of these, justly chargeable upon tobacco : name 
 ly, insanity. The experience of some very renowned
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 303 
 
 physicians, bears ample testimony to the truth of 
 this statement, and among them was the late Dr. 
 Brigham, physician of the New York State Lunatic 
 Asylum, at Utica ; and later still is the testimony of 
 one whose name has passed from my memory, one 
 of great experience and influence, who was phy 
 sician to an insane hospital in London, for the 
 period of twenty-seven years. He has written, 
 quite recently, a work, in which he charges upon 
 tobacco as being the cause (and particularly of 
 smoking) of a large portion of the insanity of those 
 who were inmates of that institution for the long 
 term of his superintendence. The opinions of those 
 who have interested themselves, and have had an 
 experience of life-long observation on these subjects 
 establishes the fact of its destructive qualities, on 
 life, health, and morality beyond a peradventure ; 
 and those who reject such evidence would fail to be 
 convinced, " though one arose from the dead," and 
 confirmed it. Many who are already convinced that 
 the " half of the truth has not been told " against 
 this monster evil, by a fearful experience, have been 
 lulled to stupidity by its seductive influence, and the 
 chains of habit have been forged and riveted in the 
 face and eyes of reason, better judgment, and coun 
 sel of those who know its effects, until they have 
 lost the power, like Sinbad the sailor,' of shaking 
 off this " old man of sin," from their backs. What
 
 304 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 degradation they have brought upon themselves, and 
 that, too, voluntarily ! Alas, for the frailty of poor 
 human nature ! Ye sober and temperate, vigor 
 ous and healthy, thank God for your deliverance 
 from the clutches of this tyrant, Habit ; and if you 
 have a tear of pity, let it fall for these poor slaves. 
 " Were it possible," says Dr. Rush, for a being 
 who had resided on our globe, to visit the inhabitants 
 of a planet where reason governed, and to tell them 
 that a vile weed was in use among the inhabitants 
 of the globe he had left, which afforded no nourish 
 ment ; that this weed was cultivated with immense 
 c are ; that it was an important article of commerce ; 
 *hat the want of it produced much real misery ; that 
 its taste was extremely nauseous ; that it was un 
 friendly to health and morals, and that the use of it 
 was attended with a considerable loss of time and 
 property, the account would be thought incredible." 
 " In no one view," continues Dr. R., " is it possible 
 to contemplate the creature, man, in a more absurd 
 and ridiculous light, than in his attachment to 
 
 O 7 
 
 tobacco." 
 
 If Dr. Rush's imaginary message to another planet 
 would be thought incredible, in what light would 
 the humane and benevolent regard our government, 
 should it be represented as having imposed these 
 calamities on three-fourths of its young men, as a 
 penalty for some crime. After having expended 
 their labor, means, and time, in cultivating the
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. <505 
 
 poisonous plant, instead of building prisons and 
 houses of correction, supply every county in this 
 commonwealth with it, for the purpose of torture to 
 the criminal. 
 
 Imagine a court of justice convicting a young man 
 of the crime of murder, (though such crimes are 
 very seldom committed, except through the agency 
 of these exhilerating and intoxicating potions), and 
 the judge pronouncing sentence upon him, as fol 
 lows. (The prisoner has witnessed its effects upon 
 others, and he arises, pale and trembling, while the 
 dreadful sentence falls on his ear.) 
 
 " Young man, you have been convicted, in the 
 presence of this Court, of one of the most atrocious 
 crimes on record ; notwithstanding the able defence 
 of your counsel, and the sympathy of the entire com 
 munity in your behalf, and that of your innocent 
 friends ; and it now becomes my painful duty to 
 pass sentence upon you, according to law. The 
 laws of this State, which are inexorable, have at 
 tached the penalty of death to the crime of which 
 you are found guilty by this enlightened jury ; and 
 if it Avere possible, with my convictions of duty and 
 justice, in view of the very aggravated circumstances 
 in your case, I would cause your execution in a 
 decent and humane manner ; and not by the tortur 
 ous process which I am compelled to adopt in your 
 case. 
 
 26*
 
 306 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 "From this time, as long as you are permitted to 
 live on the earth, you will be required to pay three 
 cents a day, amounting to about eleven dollars a 
 year of your hard earnings, for the black, filthy, 
 and narcotic, vegetable tobacco, done up in masses of 
 solid plug one inch broad. This sum, expended 
 daily, if you should be permitted to live at a "poor 
 dying rate/' to the common age of man, would pur 
 chase several miles in length. Commencing at one 
 end of this formidable twist, with your teeth, eat off 
 the number of inches allotted for one day, which 
 you can ascertain by an application of mathematical 
 rules. Commence at first with a very small quan 
 tity, which will cause a wretched sickness, akin to 
 death. The quantity allotted for one day, if all taken 
 within an hour, at first trial would kill you outright. 
 Nature never willingly yields to such an outrage on 
 her rights ; hence her pleadings and struggles in 
 the right path ; and when she seems to have been 
 conquered, it is only a slackening of her rein for a 
 more fearful retribution in the future. Your teeth, 
 which she has formed regular, smooth as glass, and 
 with the whiteness of ivory, will turn black, and de 
 cay, falling one by one from your mouth. Hear Dr. 
 Alcott's testimony on this point : ' The opinion is 
 greatly prevalent, that, whatever may be the other 
 effects of tobacco, it certainly preserves the teeth, 
 especially when chewed. Common, however, and
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 807 
 
 plausible as the opinion is, it is not difficult to show 
 that it is very far from having its foundation in fact. 
 The soundness of the teeth will always bear an exact 
 proportion to the soundness and firmness of the 
 gums, and of the lining membrane of the mouth, and 
 of the whole alimentary canal. But, that tobacco 
 makes the gums loose and spongy, and injures the 
 lining membrane of the alimentary canal, especially 
 that part of it called the stomach, is as well attested 
 as any fact in physiology. The application of 
 tobacco, therefore, to the inside of the mouth, and to 
 the gums, instead of preserving the teeth, cannot 
 otherwise than hasten their decay.' 
 
 " Your breath will become foeted and foul, and 
 yourself an object of loathing and disgust in good 
 society ; for whenever you are in the parlor, in the 
 kitchen, in the church, and everywhere else, the 
 extra quantity of saliva drawn to the mouth by this 
 powerful stimulant, will cause a constant spitting ; 
 and settling in a dark line around your cherry lips, 
 and involuntarily, upon your part, run down upon 
 your chin. It will surely cause dyspepsia, if the 
 opinions of the most noted physicians in this country 
 and Europe are worth any thing. If Eobert Burns 
 had called dyspepsia ' the hell of all diseases,' in 
 stead of tooth-ache, he would have got it right. 
 
 Besides the diseases mentioned, to which you will 
 be made liable, there is scarcely one in the whole
 
 808 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 catalogue of ills human flesh is heir to, but tobacco 
 will induce ; and hereditary and chronic complaints 
 are greatly aggravated by it. The price of all these 
 must be paid with your money, and at the rates 
 heretofore named. If you should happen to live 
 under this vile treatment forty or fifty years, as 
 some have been known to, you will have spent, 
 along with your health and influence, and good ex 
 ample, time and a sufficient sum in dollars and cents, 
 reckoned at compound interest, and its amount, to 
 purchase the best homestead in this State. From 
 this sentence there is no reprieve ; for the most sin 
 gular effect this poison has upon the human system 
 remains yet to be told. After having experienced 
 its first sickening effects, an appetite is formed for 
 it with the poor victim, which is stronger than that 
 for intoxicating drinks ; and creates a thirst for 
 strong drinks. This is in accordance with the 
 opinions of Dr. Mussey, Dr. Rush, and Dr. Brown, 
 of AVest Randolph, Vt. The last named says : ' The 
 use of tobacco produces a dryness or huskiness of 
 the mouth, thus creating a thirst which in many 
 cases is not satiated with anything short of alcoholic 
 drinks.' The report of the New York Anti-Tobacco 
 Society for the year 1835, written, it is believed, by 
 Dr. Stephenson, is to the same effect: 'Chewing 
 and smoking tobacco,' the Report say, ' exhausts 
 the salivary glands of their secretions ; thus pro-
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 ducing dryness and thirst. Hence it is, that after 
 the use of the cigar, and the cud, brandy, whiskey, 
 or some other spirit is called for.'" 
 
 Would not a young man, under such a cruel sen 
 tence, exclaim, like Cain of old, " My punishment 
 is greater than I can bear ?" But few could be 
 found who would voluntarily take this burden 
 of wasted means and poor health upon themselves, 
 did they know the half of its evils from the com 
 mencement? Not half enough is written on this 
 subject ; and many who do know its effects from sad 
 experience, will not speak out for fear of giving 
 offence. The warning voice of such an one, would 
 
 O ' 
 
 be more heeded by the young, than the same 
 counsel from any other source. A very little obser 
 vation on the part of lookers-on, will establish the 
 truth of the testimony of those who have written and 
 spoken against the use of tobacco. Several cases of 
 bodily infirmity have come to my knowledge, which, 
 without doubt, were the penalty of an abused phys 
 ical law. Who do^s not know by experience the 
 pain that smoke will give to the eyes and lungs ? 
 and no person in his senses, and not blinded by 
 appetite, can fail of discovering an outrage on nature, 
 in any body being obliged to see and breathe through 
 the vitiated atmosphere of a room filled with tobacco 
 smoke. An inveterate smoker who stays indoors 
 has, with scarcely an exception, weak and inflamed
 
 310 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 eyes. Two of the most constant smokers I ever 
 knew, one in Genesee County, and the other in St. 
 Lawrence, were almost wholly blind. Another a 
 woman, who did not smoke but " once a day," and 
 that was from morning till night, was so deaf that 
 no ordinary sound reached her ears. 
 
 Another case that came under my observation 
 was that of a clergyman, who was an inveterate 
 smoker of cigars, and in the habit of sitting up late 
 at night to smoke. The penalty of his transgression 
 was one which I have never read or heard of beino- 
 
 O 
 
 charged to tobacco ; but in his case it was evident. 
 He had fits occasionally, and was most kindly ad 
 monished, by true friends, of his fault ; but all in 
 vain. In addition to this, he afterwards nearly lost 
 his eyesight. Surely " the way of the transgressor is 
 hard." Still another lamentable case has recently 
 come to my knowledge ; and, as the subject is inex- 
 haustable, I wiU only mention this one : In a 
 neighboring county, I was visiting, a few weeks 
 sinc,e, a family of my acquaintance. They were all, 
 probably, children included, smokers. A large pa 
 per of " fine cut " is constantly on the table ; and I 
 noticed a young lad, of about sixteen years of age, 
 help himself pretty freely, and put it in his mouth ; 
 and an elder brother both chewed and smoked. 
 The young people attended a party on the evening 
 of our last visit there, and came home some time in
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 311 
 
 the night. The next morning, as the family were 
 seated around the stove, with their company, an 
 unearthly noise was heard above in the boys' room, 
 of dancing and shouting. The father immediately 
 left his company and went up. The youngest lad 
 was dancing a hornpipe, and screaming in a fit of 
 delirium. He rushed down the stairs, and with 
 rapid strides, entered the room with company, in 
 dishabille, with countenance pale and haggard, and 
 wild with fright ; but not much more so than were 
 the family. It took them all to quiet him and get 
 him on the bed. He clasped the arm of his father 
 with an unnatural strength, and with a terrible oath 
 ordered him to stand at a distance, or he would get 
 hurt. The old gentleman's eyes filled with tears, as 
 he resigned him to the gentle entreaties of his moth 
 er, who soon tamed the uncaged lion. 
 
 After quiet and peace were restored, I approached 
 the subject of the physiological effects of tobacco, 
 as I had read various authors on this subject, and 
 mildly hinted that a boy getting his growth, and yet 
 in his teens, might be injured by a too free use of 
 the weed. The subject had probably never been 
 introduced to them before, and long practice had 
 blinded them to its ruinous eifects on their otherwise 
 bright and intelligent boy, and the bare mention of 
 it took them wholly by surprise. " O, no," said the 
 indulgent father, " that cannot be the cause, for W.
 
 312 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 has used tobacco ever since he was three years old. 
 " Ah," said I, " and has he never been before in the 
 condition we have seen him this morning ? " " Well," 
 
 O 
 
 said the old gentleman, thoughtfully, for a new idea 
 had evidently struck him, " he has accasioiially had 
 some strange freaks before, but nothing like as bad 
 as this, and they have grown worse every time." 
 Reader, the story is told : Here is a case, without a 
 shadow of doubt, of delirium tremens, induced by 
 the use of tobacco thirteen years, in a boy sixteen 
 years old ! " Tell it not in Gath ! " What a re 
 sponsibility rests upon parents in this matter ! Do 
 they realize it ? No ; or they would plead with 
 their children, with an eloquence that would touch 
 their hearts, and cease their awful examples before 
 them. Temperate, sober people, ought to have a 
 thousand tongues apiece, and keep them all going 
 against the influence of these monster evils on the 
 rising generation, and the influence of those who set 
 themselves up as teachers of morality, and phy 
 sicians of bodily maladies. For their base ingrati 
 tude to those in humble life, who are capable of 
 teaching them the alphabet of morality, and the 
 religion of Him in whose worthy name they profess 
 to walk, they ought to be forgiven, and looked upon 
 with compassion, the same as any other diseased 
 and enslaved sin-stricken mortals. All that has 
 been said of this class of teachers is through the
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 313 
 
 spirit of kindness, ajid with a deep and abiding sense 
 of duty, as well as compassion, to the degraded, for 
 they are already, in the language of Sidney Smith, 
 " a spectacld*to gods and men ; " and we ought to 
 be more tender of the good and right that remains 
 to them, than if they were blessed with more sense. 
 In view of the wretchedness this miserable weed has 
 caused, though it probably has its use for medicinal 
 purposes, I have often wished that I could obtain 
 the last seed of it. I, too, would be willing to make 
 a journey to the North Pole for the blessed privi 
 lege of burying it by the side of old Alcohol. 
 
 Dr. Hume's epitaph, with variations, would be a 
 good one for tobacco : 
 
 Here lies the seed of a vile weed, 
 
 Old rummy's twin brother; 
 When he died the loafers cried 
 
 Ah, me! where's another? 
 
 He filled the earth with his foul breath 
 
 Of juice, and smoke, and snuff, 
 And when he died, the devil cried, 
 
 Come, I've frienda enough! 
 
 27
 
 314 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 The human heart does not or can not experience 
 a more pleasurable sensation, than that which can 
 be found in the society of those, who, by their con 
 stancy and fidelity, deserve the name of friends. 
 And should we be deprived of this most precious 
 gift of Heaven, the cement of society, and the soul 
 of social intercourse, this world would have no at 
 traction, and life would indeed become a burden. 
 True, they who are worthy the dignified appellation 
 of friend, are " like angels' visits, few and far be 
 tween," but the tie that binds our hearts to these 
 few is tenfold stronger than it could be, were they 
 more numerous. *They cling to us in adversity, 
 sickness, and sorrow, and extend the hand of friend 
 ship with the same warmth, as when we are in 
 health and surrounded with prosperity and happi 
 ness. And when we stray from the path of virtue 
 to wander in the wilderness of vice and folly, bring 
 ing upon ourselves wretchedness and misery, with 
 gentle hand they kindly lead us back to peace, to 
 God, and heaven. With such friends in our posses 
 sion, we can reflect with much satisfaction on the 
 many hours of enjoyment we have passed in their
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 315 
 
 much loved society, and also look forward with hope 
 to the future. To them, we owe more than ever 
 can be repaid, except by a return of the same offices 
 of kindness, and affection. We toil day and night 
 for wealth, which fickle fortune may snatch from us 
 in an hour, but neglect a proper cultivation of our 
 social affections, implanted in the heart, by Him who 
 formed it. All the riches this world contains would 
 fail to secure us one moment of true enjoyment, 
 without this heaven-born principle to cheer our 
 pathway to the tomb, and yet we live, and act as 
 though we thought that to fill our coffers with gold 
 and to revel in luxury and extravagance were our 
 only end and aim. And we sacrifice ease, enjoy 
 ment, friends, and all, on the altar of avarice, that 
 arch enemy of the human race, who is never satis 
 fied, though all the wealth of India, and the glitter 
 ing diamonds of Golconda, lay scattered in rich pro 
 fusion at his feet, while the social feelings of friend 
 ship which alone can secure to us happiness, are 
 passed by, as unworthy of our regard. There is no 
 faculty of the mind but what might be made a 
 source of profitable pleasure to the possessor, were 
 it rightly cultivated, and this is especially true of 
 friendship. Then let us not by our neglect, deprive 
 ourselves of that real felicity which can be derived 
 from this richest of gifts, but continually add fuel to 
 the flame of sacred friendship, by more frequently
 
 316 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 entertaining our friends around the social fireside, 
 and freely interchanging our thoughts and feelings 
 with them. This would be but a foretaste of that 
 great social circle around which will be gathered 
 every " family^nation, and kindred of the earth," and 
 where love will reign triumphant in every breast, 
 and all feelings of hatred and revenge be forever 
 eradicated. There mankind will all worship around 
 the same common altar, where there will be but 
 " one fold and one shepherd," and every created in 
 telligence will perpetually enjoy the presence of 
 Him, who, when on earth, was even the sinner's 
 friend. 
 
 INGKATITUDE. 
 
 There is no sin more degrading to the human mind, 
 nor yet one more generally indulged in, than that of 
 ingratitude, We are not only ungrateful to God, 
 for the numerous blessings we daily receive from His 
 all-bountiful hand, but also to those with whom we 
 mingle in the common walks of life ; and instead of 
 feeling thankful and contented with what we have, 
 look with an envious, or jealous eye, on those we 
 suppose to be more highly favored than ourselves
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 317 
 
 thus making our existence miserable without a cause. 
 But should we reverse the picture, and contrast our 
 own lot with that of thousands around us who are in 
 a much worse condition, how different would be our 
 feelings ! Our complaints against Providence would 
 give way to the more lofty emotions of love and 
 gratitude to Him who has crowned our lives with 
 every blessing, and placed within our reach all the 
 means of happiness of which we stand in need, or 
 are capable of enjoying, and infinitely more than we 
 avail ourselves of; for we are the direct cause of 
 nearly all the misery we endure, both mental and 
 physical, and the remedy or rather the preventive 
 of these evils, is almost without an exception, within 
 our reach, l^fany of us enjoy months and years of 
 uninterrupted health and prosperity, without once 
 raising a prayer of gratitude to the Author of all 
 good, for the preservation of our lives ; and, if per 
 chance, we are prostrated on the bed of sickness and 
 pain for one day, we are apt to think that our lot is 
 indeed a hard one, and our complainings are loud 
 against the dealings of Providence. 
 
 We do not consider that our unhappy condition is 
 caused by our own neglect, or abuse of the laws of 
 our nature. True we are most of us ignorant of 
 those laws ; but it is a criminal ignorance ; for if 
 one-half the time were spent in informing our barren 
 minds, which is thrown away in some worse than 
 27*
 
 318 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 useless employment, or in perfect idleness, these 
 things would not be so ; but on the contrary, our 
 minds would be stored with that useful knowledge, 
 a practice of which would direct all of our actions in 
 a far different and more profitable channel. Hap 
 piness, the "great end and aim" of our existence, is 
 attainable by 'all ; and should we strive to forget the 
 dark side of our lives, and dwell more on the bright 
 spots of our existence ; grasping all the happiness 
 that lies within our reach, we should soon lose sight 
 of nearly all the trials and perplexities that render 
 us wretched. The efforts would not only have a 
 salutary effect upon our own conduct, but exert an 
 influence for good upon our friends, and those with 
 whom we associate ; but while this fault remains 
 with us, it will be in vain to attempt to bring about a 
 reformation in others. Then let us see to it, that 
 the good work is forthwith commenced in our own 
 hearts, and let cheerful contentment, the only sure 
 way to happiness, ever sit smiling upon our coun 
 tenances. May we be grateful to God for all the 
 blessings he is constantly surrounding us with, 
 learning wisdom from the follies of the past, and our 
 reward is sure.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 319 
 
 SOLITUDE. 
 
 Mankind are so constituted that one of the chief 
 enjoyments of life, is to be found in the society of 
 friends, and to be deprived for any considerable 
 time, of the privilege of interchanging our thoughts 
 and feelings with loved ones, would render us truly 
 wretched. Yet, retirement from the world, and 
 communion with ourselves alone, is equally essential 
 to our happiness, and cannot fail to have a salutary 
 effect upon our minds, for, to " know one's self" is 
 the most important of all knowledge, and can alone 
 be acquired in Solitude. That person who has a 
 mind incapable of enjoyment save in the multitude, 
 or who is unhappy except when in a constant state 
 of excitement by mingling with the world, in a vain 
 chase for some amusement, is surely in a most un 
 enviable situation. The pursuit of such happiness 
 proves, too often, but a deceitful dream, and its vic 
 tims are only slaves to sensual pleasure, and 
 strangers to that real felicity which can be found in 
 occasional retirement. It would even be better that 
 our whole lives be spent in seclusion, than have for 
 our only associates the low and vulgar ; for there 
 is no mind so noble and exalted, but will, sooner or
 
 320 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 later, unconsciously partake of the habits and man 
 ners of those with whom they constantly keep com 
 pany. On the contrary, in Solitude we can com 
 mune with the good and great of all ages through 
 the medium of books ; which, though silent, are 
 ever useful companions. All great and good men, 
 who have distinguished themselves as benefactors of 
 their race, or those who have made the world happy 
 with their useful inventions, have spent much of 
 their lives in Solitude. It is to this that we owe 
 the enjoyment derived from the great invention of 
 the immortal Fulton, in applying steam to the pro 
 pelling of boats on our beautiful lakes and rivers, 
 for, under what other circumstances could his giant 
 intellect have performed such wonders ? Thus, by 
 the use of his thoughts, free and undisturbed, he 
 has brought to light, and to the use of mankind, a 
 power which has been, and will be for ages to 
 come, one of the greatest of blessings to the human 
 race. 
 
 It is in the hour of Solitude, that our reflections 
 on the momentous subject of Religion, are most 
 profitable and lasting, and that the fact of the ex 
 istence of God is more permanently fixed in our 
 minds ; for it is only in this solemn, silent hour, 
 that we learn to observe the revelations of the Deity 
 in the great book of Nature, where every thing we 
 behold is sure proof that he is not far from us. To
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 321 
 
 behold Him, we have no need to soar to the heights 
 of heaven, nor repair to any particular locality, for 
 " God is every where " in the light of day, and 
 the obscurity of night, among the choirs of his in 
 telligences above, and in the midst of his humble 
 worshippers on earth, directing their every thought. 
 So we cannot retire from the presence of the Almigh 
 ty, if we would ; neither return from Solitude to the 
 social world, without carrying with us a serenity of 
 mind, a lively sense of the presence and proximity 
 of the Deity, and a firmer affection for the great 
 truths of Christianity, all of which will apply with 
 profit to the prompt and cheerful performance of 
 our worldly duties, and also prepare our minds for 
 a more exalted enjoyment, when in the society of 
 friends. 
 
 To a true lover of Nature, one hour alone, in the 
 silence of the shady forest, or beside the flowing 
 rivulet, with flowered banks, is productive of more 
 pure enjoyment than ever will be realized in the 
 vain and idle conversations of those whose greatest 
 happiness consists in the senseless chit-chat of the 
 gay and fashionable world. In these, nature's own 
 retreats, where all is peace and harmony, and 
 the notes of the feathered choir speak only love, 
 who could for a moment indulge in feelings of envy, 
 jealousy, or revenge, towards a brother
 
 322 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 If such have ever been our reflections, here they 
 are all forgotten ; and the mind partakes of that 
 tranquility which the quietness of the scene natu 
 rally inspires, thus raising us above the petty ani 
 mosities incident to human life. Had Solitude no 
 other advantage, this should be a sufficient induce 
 ment for us to withdraw occasionally from the tu 
 mults of the busy world, and examine our conduct, 
 to see if all is right within our own bosoms. Then 
 might 
 
 " Some power the giftie gie us, 
 To see ourselves as others see us." 
 
 CHAEITY TO THE POOR. 
 
 " But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the 
 lame, the blind." Luke xiv. 13. 
 
 If any one virtue shone more conspicuous than 
 others, in the pure and spotless character of Christ, 
 it was his charity to the poor. He was ever with 
 them, ministering to their necessities, and encourag 
 ing them with his sympathy. Regardless of his 
 own ease or comfort, he lived for the good of others, 
 and was only happy when those with whom he lived 
 were so. Selfishness was no part of his character : 
 and his life was spent in acts of benevolence and
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 323 
 
 love. Much of the folly and extravagance of this 
 world could be avoided, were we all to " go and do 
 likewise." But how different the conduct of his 
 professed followers at the present day ! When they 
 make a feast none are invited except rich neighbors, 
 who bid them again, that a recompense may be 
 made ! While perhaps, the more worthy, but un 
 fortunate poor man, is passed by unnoticed, and 
 uncared for, because of his poverty. Wealth is only 
 valuable to those who make a proper use of it ; and 
 surely that must be worse than wasted, which is 
 spent in making feasts for the rich, merely to cherish 
 a love for pride and vanity, for it has no better 
 effect. The time and money thus criminally ex 
 pended, would bring more happiness to the hearts 
 of the widow and the orphan than ever has been, or 
 ever will be, realized in the participation of such 
 vain and useless displays ; and the consciousness of 
 having been instrumental in relieving the unfortu 
 nate, would be a sufficient reward. Riches are only 
 lent us for a short time, and they will surely fail to 
 make him happy, who lives for himself alone. Death 
 enters alike the palace and the hovel ; and the rich 
 and the poor lie down in the grave together, where 
 there is no distinction, nor ever can be. Then all 
 the treasures we have laid up for ourselves on earth 
 will be of no avail. Should we succeed in amassing 
 wealth for ourselves, by a life of toil and vexation,
 
 324 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 or by any other means, we are not sure of the pos 
 session of it an hour ; for such is the uncertainty of 
 all earthly things, that he who is rich to-day, may 
 be in the very lowest depths of poverty to-morrow. 
 In short, there is nothing, of an earthly nature, on 
 which we can place our affections with any degree 
 of certainty. If death spare our friends, they may 
 prove as fickle and inconstant as the wind, and for 
 sake us in the time of our greatest need. There is 
 no being on whom we can place our affections, and 
 on whom we can rely with perfect confidence, but 
 God, "who is the same, yesterday, to-day, and for 
 ever." He is alike the friend of the rich and the 
 poor, and we ought also to " love one another," and 
 be especially mindful of those who are suffering for 
 food or raiment. Many of us indulge in the luxu 
 ries of life, at the expense of health and happiness, 
 while our less fortunate neighbors are in a suffering 
 condition, for the want of actual necessaries to sup 
 port a miserable existence. Nor should we wait for 
 the famishing and naked to call for assistance (for 
 delicacy plight prevent their ever asking aid of a 
 more wealthy neighbor), but go and impart to them 
 of our substance, unasked, and we cannot fail to 
 receive their blessing, and also the blessing of God. 
 To those who are not completely wrapped up in 
 selfishness, the happiest portion of their lives is spent 
 in making others happy ; for " it is more blessed to
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 325 
 
 give than to receive." We all of us fall very far 
 short of our duty In this respect ; for there are none 
 but what are capable of performing some act of 
 kindness to the poor and downcast, without doing 
 the least injury to themselves, even if it is nothing 
 more than a kind word, or look. And how many of 
 us withhold even these ! 
 
 Hoplcinton, Jan. 1, 1861. 
 To GEO. V. HOYLE, ESQ., 
 
 Supt. of Northern N. Y. Railroad. 
 MY DEAR SIR : You will undoubtedly recollect 
 a conversation which passed between yourself and 
 me a few months since, at the Malone Station, while 
 I was waiting for a train of cars. The subject of 
 religion was referred to, in connection with a letter 
 you addressed to my husband, in reply to one in 
 which he made application for a half-fare ticket ; and 
 you will also remember asking me why he never re 
 plied to your letter. Being very busy at the time, he 
 neglected it until it passed from his memory. You 
 then gave me an invitation to reply to it, as though 
 it had been addressed to me, which I meant to do ere 
 this, but the letter had been laid aside with an accu 
 mulated mass of other similar matter, and has been 
 28
 
 326 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 but recently brought to my notice, and that by mere 
 accident. ... I want to do some good every day of 
 the new year ; so I will commence by trying to in 
 form you on some points of faith held by Univeralists, 
 which you seem not to fully comprehend. 
 
 First, you ask : "Are you sure, my dear sir, that 
 you teach the doctrine of our blessed Saviour?" 
 
 In reply to this, I will quote the Saviour's own 
 language : " All that the Father giveth me shall 
 come to me ; and him that cometh to me I will in 
 no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, 
 not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent 
 me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent 
 me, that of all which he hath given me, I should 
 lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last 
 day." John vi. 37, 38, 39. "No man can come 
 to me, except the Father which has sent me draw 
 him." John vi. 44. "And I, if I be lifted up from 
 the earth will draw all men unto me." "All that the 
 Father hath are mine." 
 
 Is it not enough that God wills the salvation of all 
 men ? " for He doeth according to His will in the 
 army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the 
 earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto Him, 
 What doest thou ?" For proof that He wills the 
 salvation of all mankind, see 1 Tim. ii. 4 : " Who 
 will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the 
 knowledge of the truth."
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 327 
 
 Second, God purposes the salvation of all men, 
 Eph. i. 9, 10. " Having made known unto us the 
 mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure 
 which he had purposed in Himself; that in the dis 
 pensation of the fulness of times, He might gather 
 together in one, all things in Christ, both which are 
 in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him." 
 
 Third, God promises to save all men. Acts. iii. 25 : 
 " Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the 
 covenant which God made with our fathers, saying 
 unto Abraham : And in thy seed shall all the kin 
 dreds of the earth be blessed." 
 
 Fourth. God makes oath that He will save all 
 men. Isa. xlv. 23, 24 : "I have sworn by myself, the 
 word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, 
 and shall not return. That unto me every knee 
 shall bow, every tongue shall swear, surely shall 
 say : In the Lord have I righteousness and 
 strength." 
 
 Fifth. God sent His Son to save all men. John 
 iii, 17 : " For God sent not His Son into the world 
 to condemn the world ; but that the world, through 
 Him, might be saved." 
 
 Then, if God has willed, purposed, promised, 
 made oath to, and sent Hisonly begotten Son to ac 
 complish the salvation of the world, why should you 
 or I doubt it ? and what will it avail if we do ? The 
 Bible assures us that sin and death, hell and the
 
 328 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 devil shall all be destroyed. 1 Cor. xxv. 26: "For 
 He, (Christ), must reign until He has put all ene~ 
 mies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be 
 destroyed, is Death," / Rev. xxi. 4 : " And God 
 shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there 
 shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying ; 
 neither shall there be any more pain, for the former 
 things are passed away." Second, the devil is to be 
 destroyed. Heb. ii : 14, 15 : " Forasmuch then, as 
 the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He 
 also Himself likewise took part of the same ; that 
 through death, He might destroy him that had the 
 power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them 
 who through fear of death, were all their life-time 
 subject to bondage." 
 
 Third. The sin of the world shall be destroyed : for 
 proof see Hosea x. 8 : " The sin of Israel shall be 
 destroyed." John i. 29: "Behold the Lamb of 
 God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Heb. 
 ix. 26 : " But now once in the end of the world 
 hath he appeared to put away sin, by the sacrifice 
 of Himself." 
 
 Fourth. Hell shall be destroyed. Rev. xx. 14* 
 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire ; 
 this is the second death." 
 
 Your second question is : " Has He not said, * un 
 less a man be born again, he cannot see the king 
 dom of God or Heaven?" Most _emphatically,
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 329 
 
 sir, yes ; and no denomination of Christians attach 
 more importance to this fundamental doctrine of 
 Christianity than the Universalist. I will venture 
 the assertion, that you have never heard from the 
 lips of an intelligent Universalist, nor seen in all their 
 writings, the idea advanced, that any who have 
 reached the age of accountability are fitted for the 
 Heavenly Kingdom without the regenerating influ 
 ence of the Holy Spirit. No ; not even the saints so 
 called ; for the Bible expressly declares that " all 
 have sinned;" that none live and " doeth good and 
 sinneth not." John i. 8 : " If we say that we have 
 no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not 
 in us." 
 
 Your third question: "Do you teach regeneration 
 by the Spirit of God ?" The answer to the second 
 is also a reply in part to this ; and the Scripture is 
 very plain on this point. Notwithstanding the oft- 
 repeated assertion of the opposers of the " faith once 
 delivered to the saints," that they do not believe in 
 the new birth, and that all are " going to heaven in 
 their sins," is very wide from the truth. I will put 
 the most charitable construction possible upon their 
 misrepresentation, and simply say they are mistaken 
 though it does seem that common honesty, to say 
 nothing of Christian courtesy, would dictate that 
 they inform themselves, or make an effort at least, in 
 the spirit of candor, as you have done in your letter, 
 28*
 
 330 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 to ascertain what the offensive doctrine is, they labor 
 so hard to pull down. I can easily believe they will 
 receive forgiveness for their ignorance, even though 
 it be wilful ; for St. Paul says of himself, he was " a 
 blasphemer, and a persecutor and injurious ; but I 
 obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in un 
 belief." It was this very doctrine of " the restitution 
 of all things, spoken by the mouth of all God's holy 
 prophets since the world began," that Paul, thought 
 he was " doing God's service" in opposing before his 
 conversion. 
 
 The Universalist believes, as the Scriptures de 
 clare, that the good " Father of the spirits of all 
 flesh" will, in His own time, wipe away tears from 
 off all faces ; and the rebuke of His poeple shall be 
 taken away from off all the earth ; for the Lord hath 
 spoken it." In view of the stubbornness of some, 
 and their blindness and perversity, God has declared : 
 " And I will give them a heart to know me, that I 
 am the Lord, and they shall be my people, and I 
 shall be their God, for they shall return unto me with 
 their whole heart." ..." A new heart also will I 
 give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and 
 I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, 
 and I will give you a heart of flesh." 
 
 Both the Old and New Testaments abound in tes 
 timony, that all shall turn to God. 
 
 "All the ends of the earth shall remember and 
 turn unto the Lord ; and the kindreds of the nations
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 331 
 
 shall worship before Him." *' All nations whom 
 Thou hast made, shall come and worship before Thee, 
 O Lord, and shall glorify Thy name.''' " Behold 
 Thou shalt call a nation that Thou knewest not, and 
 nations that know not Thee shall run unto Thee." 
 "Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for 
 thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth 
 for thy possession." " Thou hast given him power 
 over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as 
 many as thou hast given him." 
 
 Scripture might be quoted to an indefiinite length, 
 that asserts unconditionally the triumph of holiness 
 over sin and error, but it seems unnecessary to quote 
 farther on this point. One more paragraph in your 
 letter, deserves notice, namely, " To my mind, it is 
 a dreadful thought the possibility of mistake here 
 that at the judgment day, you or I should find we 
 had mistaken the true meaning of God's blessed 
 word, and, that being destitute of a ' Saviour's 
 righteousness,' and nothing to shield us from the 
 penalty of God's holy law, we had so often violated, 
 we shall be ' cast off to the left ; ' ' having sown to 
 the wind, we must reap the whirlwind.' ' 
 
 The " mistake " you speak of, my dear sir, if it be 
 a mistake, is on the side of charity, and, as you 
 seem to look upon it, a sin that " hath no forgive 
 ness," the heinous one of attributing to the Father 
 of -mercies, more goodness, benevolence, and for-
 
 332 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 giveness, than he will exercise upon his own erring 
 offspring, and that, too, when he compares his love 
 for the sinner to the purest earthly love that of a 
 mother, and says, " She may forget her child, yet 
 will I not forget thee." " I will never leave nor 
 forsake thee ; " can you not believe it ? When he has 
 lovingly assured you that he is " able to do exceed 
 ing abundantly, above all that we ask or think ? " 
 How much can we ask ? and how much more, that, 
 in the fulness of our hearts, must forever remain un 
 spoken, can we think? O, the subject is without 
 bound or limit ; for, " who, by searching, can find 
 out God?" 
 
 This idea of " righteousness " being a shield from 
 the penalty of God's holy law, is as old as Pharisee- 
 ism itself, and as absurd. That, after all, is the great 
 " mistake " of the Christian world ; that they can be 
 shielded from the penalty of a violation of God's 
 holy law by a righteousness for which they expect 
 to be paid with compound interest, in another world. 
 There is no more prominent doctrine taught in 
 Scriptures, than that eternal life is the free and un 
 merited gift of God ; (" By grace are ye saved, not 
 of works ") unless it be the doctrine of the cer 
 tainty of punishment for every transgression, 
 whether moral or physical. " Though hand join 
 in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished." 
 Both are as sure as the testimony of Holy Writ can
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 333 
 
 make them, and the experience of every day life 
 confirms the truth of the latter. I appeal to your 
 candor, sir, to decide whether a doctrine which 
 teaches that He will by no means clear the guilty, " 
 and that the righteous are recompensed in the earth, 
 much more the wicked and the sinner," that for 
 every transgression we shall receive a just retribu 
 tion, has not a more restraining influence upon the 
 evil-minded, than one which assures him that there 
 is pleasure in sin, and accompany it with some home 
 made Scripture, which says that, he can now " roll 
 sin as, a sweet morsel, under his tongue," but that 
 an eternity of woe awaits him beyond the grave, 
 unless he repent in season to escape all consequences 
 of a " violation of God's holy law ? " Is it the 
 amount of punishment in the far-off future, with 
 some contingency between, whereby an escape can 
 be effected, or the certainty of it now, " in the day 
 of transgression," that deters the sinner ? Would 
 you, if you expected to insure obedience in your 
 child, say, " My son, the offence which I have com 
 manded you not to commit, is one in which there is 
 great pleasure, at the time ; indeed, its influence will 
 be perfectly bewitching, but in case of disobedience, 
 I will cut your right hand off, in ten years from now, 
 unless you repent before then ; " or would you tell 
 him that his disobedience would bring upon him 
 disgrace, and wretchedness and sorrow upon t yourself
 
 334 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 and family, and there was no possible way of escape 
 from a speedy and fearful retribution, and which 
 course would exert the most restraining influence 
 upon your son ? Now, here is a precise representa 
 tion of the two doctrines in question. The Scripture 
 you quote, with regard to " sowing to the wind, and 
 reaping the whirlwind," was applied to those who 
 worshipped idols previous to the Saviour's time. 
 Universalists do not accept it as applicable to them, 
 for they worship the one living and true God, who is 
 the Saviour of all men, especially of those that 
 believe." In your own language, " To my mind, it 
 is a dreadful thought" that, any one sect or denomi 
 nation, or individual, should, by any process of rea 
 soning, be led to believe themselves the peculiar 
 favorites of God, and that others who honestly differ 
 from them in opinion are to be " cast off at the left," 
 Christ has plainly told us what pure and undefiled 
 religion is, and, that our whole duty lies in " loving 
 God with all our heart, mind, might, and strength, 
 and our neighbors as ourselves ;" or, in other words : 
 *' Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto 
 you, do ye even so unto them." *' Inasmuch as ye 
 have done it unto the least one of these, ye have 
 done it to me." If these things are so, and Christ's 
 test of discipleship is as good as I can refer you to, 
 what one church is all in the right, or which is all 
 in the wrong ? and the religion which Christ enjoined
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 335 
 
 on his hearers, as above all price, is just as apt to be 
 found in those whom the self-styled " evangelical 
 churches " sneeringly denominate the " world's 
 people," as with themselves. This truth is most 
 happily illustrated by Jesus, himself, in the parable 
 of the two sons. The son who said, " I go, but went 
 not," was not the one " who did the will of his 
 Father ; " and Christ had the plainness to tell his 
 questioners that " publicans and harlots would go in 
 to the kingdom of God before you." 
 
 In an ancient history of Connecticut, is the follow 
 ing anecdote : " Soon after the settlement of the 
 town of New Haven, a number of persons went over 
 to what is now called the town of Milford, where, 
 finding the soil very good, they were desirous of 
 effecting a settlement ; but the premises were in 
 peaceable possession of the Indians, and some con 
 scientious scruples arose as to the propriety of depos 
 ing and expelling them. To test the case, a church 
 meeting was called, and the matter determined by 
 solemn vote of that sacred body. After several 
 speeches had been made in relation to the subject, 
 they proceeded to pass votes. The first was as fol 
 lows : voted, that the earth is the Lord's and the 
 fulness thereof. This passed in the affirmative with 
 great unanimity. Second voted, that the earth is 
 given to the saints. This was also determined like 
 the former, nem. con. Third, voted we are the
 
 336 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 saints ; which, passing without a dissenting voice, 
 the title was considered indisputable, and the In 
 dians were soon compelled to evacuate the place, 
 and relinquish the possession to the rightful own 
 ers." Those who have resolved themselves, the 
 saints of the present time, have not taken a small 
 tract of fertile land in the valley of the Connecticut, 
 and appropriated to their own use, but they have 
 laid claim to the whole heavenly city, and after 
 death, they expect to occupy every room of their 
 " Father's house of many mansions," to the exclu 
 sion of heretics and sinners, whom Christ had 
 especial directions to " seek and to save," for " the 
 whole need not a physician," notwithstanding they 
 have pretended to read the " last will and testament," 
 of their heavenly Father, in which he has promised 
 to all his children an eternal inheritance in that 
 goodly land, "incorruptible,* undefiled, and that 
 fadeth not away." " And in this mountain, shall the 
 Lord of hosts make unto all people, a feast of fat 
 things." St. John, in his wonderful vision, saw 
 every creature which is in heaven, and on the 
 earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the 
 sea, and all that are in them," and heard them 
 praising God, and the Lamb, forever and ever. I 
 have extended this letter much beyond the limits I 
 intended to occupy, but I trust you will pardon my 
 prolixity, and hoping, meantime, that you will
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 33T 
 
 receive this in the spirit of kindness as it has been 
 written. I will close with the closing quotation of 
 your own letter ; " Examine yourselves, and see if 
 you be in the faith." 
 
 Very truly and Respectfully yours, 
 
 ELOISE M. ABBOTT. 
 
 DR. THOMAS DICK?S LETTER. 
 
 HIS RELIGIOUS OPINIONS. 
 
 The death of Dr. Thomas Dick, the celebrated 
 author of " The Christian Philosopher," " The Phi 
 losophy of a Future State," and many other works, 
 to be found in nearly all public and private libraries, 
 departed this life, at his late residence, near Dundee, 
 Scotland, on the 29th of June, 1857. We publish 
 in this volume a letter written by Dr. Dick, to the 
 late J. E. Miles, Esq., of Watertown, Jefferson Co., 
 N. Y. It will be seen that he clearly avows his 
 belief in the final salvation of all men, although he 
 never advocated the sentiment in his public writings. 
 But such being his belief, it was nearly impossible 
 that it should not make itself manifest, more or less, 
 in the voluminous productions of his pen. That it 
 29
 
 338 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 did thus give so much coloring to some of his publi 
 cations as to excite suspicions of his Universal ten 
 dencies, is a fact learned from this letter. The case 
 of Dr. Dick is another evidence of the significant 
 
 O 
 
 fact, that whenever a clear, sound, logical" mind, 
 which is united with a humane heart, can rise suffi 
 ciently above the force and bias of early education 
 to weigh theological tenets with an impartial and 
 earnest desire to attain the truth, it almost invaria 
 bly casts off the doctrine of vindictive and never- 
 ceasing punishment, and embraces the faith of Uni 
 versal Salvation. The religious world is full of in 
 stances of this character, and they are constantly 
 coming to light. Dr. Dick, it will also be perceived, 
 repudiates the deleterious and barbarous law of 
 capital punishment. 
 
 On account of its peculiar value, we publish the 
 letter entire, as it was written by the author in the 
 frankness of private correspondence : 
 
 Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, 
 Feb. 22, 1849. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : I was favored with your kind 
 letter of April 3d, 1848, a considerable time ago, 
 but owing to frequent indisposition, and particu 
 larly to the numerous letters which of late I have 
 had to reply to my reply has been postponed till 
 now. Your letter evidently indicates a large share 
 of good sense, intellectual vigor, expansion of mind, 
 a goodly portion of acquired knowledge, and I am
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 339 
 
 happy to find that my writings have been appreciated 
 by such a mind, and have been the means of commu 
 nicating some useful instruction. 
 
 I find that your attention has been directed to the 
 subject of astronomy a science which has been too 
 much neglected by the great bulk of mankind, and 
 which has a tendency more than any other to elevate 
 and expand our conceptions of the perfections and 
 operations of the Great Creator. This neglect has, 
 perhaps, been owing in part to the mode in which 
 the subject has been generally treated, ai\d numer 
 ous technical terms which have been interwoven in 
 its discussions. It was never my intention, in my 
 writings on this subject, to enter into the abstrusities 
 of the science, or its mathematical departments ; but 
 more of its facts and principles may be stated and 
 illustrated, so as to bring them within the compre 
 hension of ordinary minds, to give them a taste for 
 the subject, and to prepare them for more abstruse, 
 investigations, should they choose afterwards to pros 
 ecute them. 
 
 Perhaps, in your remote district, in the State of 
 New York, you have little opportunity of looking at 
 the heavenly bodies through telescopes, and hence I 
 find you are anxious to procure a " small achromatic 
 object glass and eye piece." Achromatic object 
 glasses, of any considerable size, generally sell at a 
 pretty high price. A few months ago, I sent the 
 material of an achromatic telescope to an astronomi 
 cal genius, Mr. Daniel Simmons, Paris Hill, Oneida 
 county. The object glass is about four inches in 
 diameter, and five feet four inches focal distance. 
 It cost fifteen pounds sterling. Four or five eye 
 pieces, in brass were sent along with it, and several 
 other articles, which cost about five pounds more. 
 It will make an excellent telescope ; the large tube
 
 340 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 was to be fitted up by Mr. Simmons himself, and he 
 has already obtained some interesting views by 
 means of it. But I suppose such a telescope would 
 'be considered as too expensive for your use. The 
 eclipse of the sun, which you have calculated for 
 February 22d, will be invisible here, as it happens 
 about half past one o'clock in the morning of the 
 23d, when the sun is below the horizon. The 
 eclipse will be annular, as the moon's semi-diameter 
 is only 15 deg. 39 sec., while the diameter of the 
 sun is 16 deg. 11 min. 
 
 Your son, Pliny Miles, with whom I have fre 
 quently corresponded, has at length arrived in this 
 country, after having traversed the length and 
 breadth of the United States. He arrived in this 
 quarter about a fortnight ago, and has nearly finished 
 a course of lectures in Dundee. He is an interest 
 ing young man, of good dispositions and talents, and 
 appears to have acquired a considerable share of 
 miscellaneous information. He appears to be well 
 acquainted with the world, and makes himself at 
 home, wherever he has occasion to sojourn. I have 
 felt much interested in his society. He is anxious 
 that I should take a trip to America, and deliver a 
 few lectures in different places ; but at my advanced 
 period of life, I do not think it would be expedient 
 to undertake so long a journey. According to his 
 account, I have got several years ahead of you in 
 the jurney of life. As the lectures of Mr. Miles are 
 generally well attended, it is likely he will realize a 
 small fortune by the time he has finished his pere 
 grinations. He has been frequently with us since 
 he arrived in Dundee. Last night we had the plea 
 sure of his company, and this morning he left us 
 after breakfast, as he was to deliver a lecture in 
 Dundee this evening. I wish him much success,
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 341 
 
 and pray God that he may be under the Divine care 
 and direction in all his movements in life, and be 
 preserved from all evils and dangers, both physical 
 and moral, and be returned again to his father's 
 house in safety and in peace. 
 
 You requested me to state an opinion " On the 
 final destiny of man." This is a subject of vast im 
 portance, and it becomes us to approach it with 
 humility and reverence. In regard to future punish 
 ment, there are several very strong expressions in 
 Scripture, and whatever opinions we adopt on this 
 point, we ought to be fully .persuaded that they are 
 in general correspondence with the tenor of the in 
 spired writings, and with the character of God as 
 therein delineated. The terms eternal, everlasting, 
 &c., certainly do not of themselves, in most cases, 
 imply duration without end, as many of those objects 
 to which such epithets are applied, are acknowledged 
 to be limited in their duration. At thie same time a 
 difficulty occurs, in the consideration, that the dura 
 tion of the happiness of the righteous and the punish 
 ment of the wicked are frequently expressed by the 
 very same terms, as in Matt. xxv. 46, which might 
 lead us at first sight to conclude, that if the one be 
 limited as to duration, so is the other ; and there is 
 some difficulty in removing this objection, so as to 
 fully satisfy the mind, and to convince others of the 
 consistency of limited duration being intended, in the 
 one case, and unlimited duration in the other. We 
 ought, therefore, to be very cautious how we inter 
 pret the language of Scripture ; and there ought to 
 be a consistency in the opinions we form, and the 
 conclusions at which we arrive in this momentous 
 subject. Whatever may be the truth as to this 
 point, we are sure that " The Judge of all the earth 
 must do right." When I consider the boundless 
 29*
 
 342 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 nature of eternity, and when I consider the limited 
 duration of man, I can scarcely bring myself to the 
 belief that the sins of a few fleeting years are to be 
 punished throughout a duration that has no end ; 
 more especially when it is declared, more than a 
 score of times, that " the Mercy of the Lord endur- 
 eth forever," and that "His tender mercies are 
 over all his works." If His mercy endures for ever, 
 it appears scarcely consistent with the idea that pun 
 ishment will be inflicted throughout unlimited dura 
 tion. Many good men have been much perplexed 
 on this subject, although they have said little about 
 it in public. The late Mr. John Foster,* whose 
 works are so highly esteemed, and who appears to 
 have been a profound thinker, has expressed himself 
 .very decisively on this subject, in a long letter which 
 appears in his correspondence, in which he alludes 
 to the case of many ministers of his acquaintance 
 who appear to have imbibed the same sentiments, 
 though they did not make them a prominent subject 
 of discussion. As to myself, I have never said any 
 thing against such opinions, though I have never 
 formally supported them, except in private. It has 
 always been my opinion, that the doctrine of Univer 
 sal Restoration ought to be made an open question 
 among Christians, and that no one should be con 
 sidered as a heretic, whatever side he takes on such 
 a question ; and therefore I condemn the Evangelical 
 Alliancef for excluding from their body those who 
 do not believe in the eternity of punishment, as well 
 as for excluding the Society of Friends, whom I 
 consider as the best practical Christians in our 
 country. Some American writers have inferred from 
 different parts of my writings, that they are favor- 
 
 *Rev. John Foster, an eminent Baptist clergyman, of England, 
 t Which had then recently held a meeting in London.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 843 
 
 able to the doctrine of Universal Restoration, and I 
 was, some time ago, accused of giving countenance 
 to this opinion, by a respectable clergyman, in con 
 sequence of the representations I have given of the 
 state of two different worlds, in Part III. of " The 
 Philosophy of a Future state." As it is considered 
 to be an improvement, in modern legislation to 
 infliet upon criminals such punishments as will have 
 a tendency to promise their reformation, and not 
 merely that individuals may suffer pain ; so I think 
 it is more consistent with the perfections of God to 
 suppose that the punishments he inflicts upon the 
 wicked are intended for their ultimate benefit, and 
 to prepare them for restoration to the happiness they 
 had lost. The opinion that sin is an infinite evil, 
 leads to an absurdity ; for it is admitted that some 
 sins are greater, or more atrocious than others. But, 
 if every sin, even the least, be infinite, then it follows 
 that some sins are more than infinite, which is 
 absurd. And if every sin be infinite, because it is 
 the violation of the command of an infinite Being, 
 then it follows that obedience to the commands of an 
 infinite Being must be considered as as infinite good ; 
 but no finite being can perform what may be called 
 an infinite good. 
 
 As to capital punishment, as inflicted by human 
 governments, I am of opinion that it ought to be 
 universally abolished, although the convicted mur 
 derer, notwithstanding, should be subjected to the 
 severest punishment, short of death. Many an in 
 nocent person has been capitally punished both for 
 murder and other crimes, and when his innocence 
 was ascertained, he was gone beyond the reach of 
 any recompense being made to him in this world. 
 And, therefore, the subject of capital punishment is 
 now beginning to excite the attention of Govern-
 
 344 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 ments, and the mass of the community. Within 
 these two or three years past, the subject has been 
 brought before the British Parliament, but has met 
 with considerable opposition. It will, however, be 
 brought before the Parliament again, this session. 
 
 A good deal is doing just now in this country to 
 promote economy in our government expenditure 
 which is most extravagant and likewise endeavor 
 ing to counteract war, and to secure the blessing of 
 universal peace among the nations, particularly in 
 recommending arbitration instead of war, when dis 
 putes between nations occur. Your countryman, 
 Mr. Elihu Burritt, along with another gentlemen, a 
 few days ago, delivered some powerful addresses in 
 Dundee, on this subject. War is not only inhuman 
 and unchristian, but an absurdity ; for it never de 
 cides on what side justice and right are to be found, 
 and when millions of money have been spent, and 
 ten thousands of human beings have been slaught 
 ered, everything returns nearly to the same position 
 as when the parties began. Nations that resort to 
 physical force in order to settle disputes, can be con 
 sidered as only half civilized. I had several other 
 things to state, but my limits will not permit. 
 Wishing you all happiness, both here and hereafter, 
 I am, my dear sir, 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 THOMAS DICK.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 345 
 
 CHURCH ORGANIZATION. 
 
 " This do in remembrance of me." Luke six. 22. 
 
 Many of the Christian world are so much opposed 
 to ceremonies of every description, that the observ 
 ance of the Lord's Supper is unheeded by them, and 
 passed by as a useless form ; and by others it is re 
 garded as almost blasphemous. But the greatest 
 majority of professors of religion is made up of 
 those whose worship consists mostly of the outward 
 observance of all the forms of the church ; and if 
 these were taken away, what remains would exist but 
 in name. Though a due observance of the ordinances 
 of the Gospel is productive of much happiness to 
 the faithful believer in Christianity, and is also 
 necessary to perpetuate the memory of its divine 
 Author : thus inciting them to cherish a love for 
 those virtues he sought, and so happily exemplified 
 during his short life. It was evidently with this 
 view, and this only, that Christ urged upon his fol 
 lowers a performance of this external service. And 
 it is for this same reason that we regard all re 
 ligious ceremonies of any utility, as the assembling 
 ourselves together on the Sabbath, to listen to ex 
 positions of the word of God ; to unite in public
 
 346 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 prayer, and to raise our voices in sacred songs of 
 praise to the Author of all good. All these are but 
 ceremonies ; but so long as they are beneficial in 
 calling to mind the sufferings and death of Christ, 
 to which he submitted with calmness and resigna 
 tion, as evidence of his love to a sinful world, a 
 strict observance of them is calculated to promote 
 unity of feeling among brethren, and is therefore 
 worthy the approbation of every one who is deserv 
 ing the name of Christian. The question naturally 
 arises here, who are worthy members of the Chris 
 tian Church ? Believers in the endless duration of 
 sin and punishment have a right, of course, to ex 
 clude all from their churches who do not reach their 
 standard of perfection ; and in this they manifest a 
 consistency which is truly commendable, inasmuch 
 as it is in perfect harmony with their belief; for it 
 would be the height of absurdity for them to retain 
 in their earthly folds those whom God will cast off 
 for ever. But, according to the belief of the Uni- 
 versalists, we cannot see that they are in any way 
 justifiable in rejecting one from their communion 
 table, for we profess to believe that all, however 
 vile, will eventually become members of Christ's 
 church. Why, then, should any be cast off here, as 
 unworthy of our regard ? It would require a very 
 nice discrimination to draw the dividing line between 
 the righteous and wicked, as " all have come short
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 347 
 
 of the glory of God." But had any attained per 
 fection in this world, this argument would have 
 little weight. Then, " as there is not one on earth 
 that doeth good and sinneth not," why would it not be 
 more in accordance with our professed belief, to accept 
 all who apply to us for church membership, and de 
 pend upon the example of those who choose wisdom's 
 ways to reclaim the more unfortunate ones, who 
 have strayed from the right path. It would in no 
 way affect those more worthy. "For he that eateth 
 and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh dam 
 nation to himself." They who object to this, forget 
 that Christ sat at table with the false-hearted Judas, 
 whom he knew would betray him, and that his ene 
 mies, the Pharisees, brought up the same objection 
 to him for never refusing to eat with publicans and 
 sinners. The self-righteous, at the present day, who, 
 like the Pharisees of old, " thank God that they are 
 not as other men," would do well to remember his 
 reply, when his disciples were asked why he eat with 
 publicans and sinners : " They that are whole have 
 no need of the physician, but they that are sick. I 
 came not to call the righteous, but sinners to re 
 pentance." One object of church organization 
 should be, in my humble opinion, for the mutual 
 improvement of its members in morality and reli 
 gion. But, if they who are most diseased, and 
 therefore more need the healing remedy of the great
 
 348 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 physician, are to be cast out, or an entrance into 
 the sanctuary of the Lord is refused them, of what 
 avail is the example of the remaining members, they 
 are whole, and therefore have no need of the phy 
 sician. But the practice of modern Christians is so 
 widely different from the way that Christ himself 
 taught, that they seem to have almost lost sight of 
 it. For when a brother forsakes the path of recti 
 tude, he is not " told his fault between thee and him 
 alone," but no time is lost in publishing his guilt to 
 the whole world : thus withholding every induce 
 ment for a timely repentance. 
 
 CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 The Christian religion, or that system of doctrines 
 and precepts taught by Christ, is the only religion 
 which can, with truth, lay claim to universal do 
 minion over the hearts of men. It contains prin 
 ciples of purity and benevolence, which are every 
 where applicable, and exactly adapted to the wants 
 of human nature in all ranks and conditions of life. 
 Christianity, as it came from the hands of its founder, 
 is not an inexplicable system, or one hard to be
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 349 
 
 understood, but, on the contrary, its truths are at 
 once so clear and obvious, that even children can 
 comprehend them, and they were illustrated by 
 Jesus with such a touching simplicity, that they not 
 only filled the learned with admiration, but also 
 claimed the attention of the most illiterate. The 
 beauties of Christianity have, indeed, been greatly 
 tarnished, and its truths more or less disfigured by 
 its professed adherents, though they are not alto 
 gether effaced, for they are yet discernable in some 
 degree, in all the various opposing sects into which 
 the Christian world is divided. The great com 
 mandment of Christianity, which enjoins love, must 
 be adhered to with inviolable fidelity before it shall 
 have done its perfect work. Then, however wide 
 the differences of opinion might be, that band of 
 fraternal love by which all the admirers and followers 
 of Jesus are united, would never be severed. No 
 matter, then, how various the buildings are that men 
 erect, if they rest upon that noble- and simple foun 
 dation of love, which Jesus originated, and from the 
 practice of which he never stepped aside. Every 
 act of his short and eventful life, was a happy illus 
 tration of the fact, that the divine principle of love 
 is best calculated to touch and win the human heart. 
 Until Jesus lived on earth, this doctrine was un 
 known, for no human mind before him had ever 
 conceived the idea of establishing the kingdom of 
 30
 
 350 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 heaven on earth, but retaliation and revenge were 
 the principles on which men acted. " An eye for 
 an eye, and a tooth for a tooth," was the governing 
 principle of the world. Therefore, " Love your 
 enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them 
 that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully 
 use you and persecute you," was, indeed, a new 
 doctrine, and its author was walking in a path hith 
 erto untrodden. His low birth, poverty, and 
 obscurity, were not the only obstacles he had to 
 contend with, for he was forsaken by his most inti 
 mate friends, and opposed, and even put to death by 
 his own nation. What other conclusion, then, can 
 we in reason arrive at, than, that this doctrine is 
 sustained by an Almighty arm, and the omnipotence 
 of truth. Its superiority over every other system 
 that preceded it, cannot be denied, even by its most 
 rigid opposers, for lessons of morality so perfect as 
 those taught by Christ, would be looked for in vain 
 from any other source ; for, surely " He spake as 
 never man spake." His exhortations to the practice 
 of virtue, and ardent incitement to piety and devo 
 tion, and the inducements he laid before his people 
 to attain them, were so plain and simple, as to be 
 intelligible to the meanest capacities, and also form 
 an inexhaustable source of instruction to those 
 versed in literature and science. He commenced his 
 ministry by preaching repentance, and a reformation
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 351 
 
 of the corrupt morals then prevalent, and also 
 assures his hearers that the kingdom of Heaven is 
 particularly designed for the " poor in spirit." He 
 foresaw the change that his doctrine was destined to 
 work in the human mind, and, also, that to effect it, 
 would cost him his life, which he was willing to 
 sacrifice, knowing as he did, that his death would 
 result in the salvation of all mankind. Hence, he 
 taught, that none should remain miserable but those 
 who, for a love of vice, hated and rejected the truth. 
 *' He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but 
 he that believeth not, is condemned already, because 
 he hath not believed in the name of the only begot 
 ten son of God." The horror of mind, which is the 
 result of the unbelief, here spoken of, can only be 
 realized by contrasting it with the calm and tranquil 
 mind of the Christian, who, believing in the risen 
 Saviour, confidently looks for a blessed immortality. 
 Death is, to such an one, a messenger of peace, 
 which he meets with a resignation and calmness that 
 the unbeliever knows not of. Then why should not 
 the believer in a happy futurity, willingly follow the 
 call of Death, and readily exchange this life for 
 another, which will restore to him infinitely more 
 than he will lose ? He has already a foretaste of 
 the joys that await him, and his soul is more cheered 
 with the prospect before him, the nearer he ap 
 proaches the place of his destination. He can, with
 
 352 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 an eye of faith, address his sorrowing friends with 
 the comfortable assurance that he shall soon embrace 
 them in another life, which is beyond the reach of 
 pain or death. Thus, full of hope, dies the Chris 
 tian, and enters into the joy of his Lord. 
 
 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE. 
 
 ' " And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree 
 that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. "Genesis ii. 9. 
 
 It was evidently the design of the Supreme Being, 
 in creating the " heavens and the earth," to mingle 
 the beautiful with the useful, in a manner expressly 
 intended for the admiration and imitation of us whom 
 He has created in His own likeness. Nature has 
 thrown around us, with an unsparing hand, an end 
 less variety of tree, shrub, and flower, with which 
 she has made the earth one great landscape of beau 
 ty and order. To those who do not close their eyes 
 upon her charming scenery, and their ears to her 
 numberless musical tongues, she speaks in language 
 too plain to be misunderstood, of rtie consummate 
 skill of the great Architect. Too many of us, how 
 ever, manifest our ingratitude to the " Giver of every 
 good and perfect gift," by neglecting to cultivate
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 353 
 
 those productions of the vegetable world, the only 
 merit of which consists in being " pleasant to the 
 sight." If it were not beneath the dignity of an 
 Infinite Mind to form the lily of the valley, it surely 
 should not be deemed too diminutive employment 
 for us to devote a small share of our time to the 
 rearing and nursing of plants and flowers to orna 
 ment our gardens, yards, and walks. Those who 
 are so fortunate as to be proprietors of the soil might, 
 with comparative little exertion, make almost a para 
 dise, as far as outward appearance is concerned, of 
 this world, where now the eye of the traveller is 
 only greeted with an unsightly mass of disorder and 
 confusion. In "making a clearing," the woodman's 
 axe is laid at the root of every tree. Not even a 
 graceful elm or poplar is left in the meadow or pas 
 ture for its graceful and cooling shade to man and 
 beast. True, the space they would occupy might 
 yield more of the actual necessaries for the continu 
 ance of existence, than it would were they left stand 
 ing. Yes, we know that the jingle of dollars and 
 cents is far more grateful music to some ears than 
 the notes of the nightingale and thrush, for these 
 are melodies which " no gross ear can hear." It is 
 a very mistaken idea that the acttial value of a farm 
 is not greatly enhanced by the simple act of culti 
 vating flowering shrubs and ornamental shade trees, 
 especially in the immediate vicinity of the house ; 
 30*
 
 354 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 for who can be so stupid that would not prize the 
 cottage-home more highly, around which the stately 
 ivy and modest woodbine had woven a mat of living 
 green? I venture the assertion that there is not 
 one, although, as the phrenologist would say, his 
 bump of " ideality " were all " smashed in." Such 
 an one was the man who stood looking at some 
 newly-made flower-beds, which my own hands, with 
 the help of a spade, had cut through the unyielding 
 turf in the yard, and said : " Now, if you will plant 
 that ground to potatoes, they will be worth the 
 trouble you have been to." Was ever any thing 
 more provoking? He is probably of the same 
 mind of a maiden lady, somewhat advanced in 
 years, who sat in the corner of a room with 
 lengthened visage, listening to the suggestions of 
 my friend and myself, with regard to the most suit 
 able time for planting dahlia roots. Said she : " I 
 would rather have one good hill of beans than all 
 your dahlias." One would judge, from appearances 
 on our street, that nearly all of your farmer readers 
 in this vicinty, perfectly agree with Aunt Chloe, for 
 while beans and potatoes flourish admirably, scarcely 
 a dahlia or tulip is allowed to show its head in the 
 yard or garden. No, we have no room here for 
 such incumbrances, so called ; but if you were to 
 take a trip this way you would see plenty of room 
 for any quantity of loose rubbish, in the shape
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 355 
 
 of brush-heaps, knotty hemlock logs, etc., not only 
 by the road-side, but in the fields of our most thrifty 
 farmers, while the huge rocks and stones of " smaller 
 growth," have never been collected from the mea 
 dows and made into a tidy stone wall, to take the 
 place of our dilapidated rail fences. Indeed, some 
 of us have no fences at all to separate our houses 
 from the road. There is my excellent neighbor, 
 
 Major D , who lives in an elegant stone house 
 
 of two stories, with nothing at all in front of it to 
 relieve the eye of the traveller, save one small but 
 ternut tree, which is the only one of Nature's orna 
 ments that has been able to brave the fury of the 
 elements, and outlive all other obstacles ; and, would 
 you believe it ? its owner threatens destruction to 
 this, notwithstanding all the protestations he has 
 heard against it by those of his own household, and 
 others, whom it less concerns. May his and its 
 shadow be no less for many a year. A little farther 
 towards the rising of the sun, is another, an elegant 
 white cottage, which, in skill of workmanship, does 
 credit to the taste of its wealthy owner, though, like 
 the first-mentioned, it has no fence in front to sepa 
 rate it from the stray cattle and swine, of which our 
 street is never clear, winter or summer. True, its 
 highly-painted and varnished piazza have the genu 
 ine polish, that makes almost a mirror of it ; and the 
 same taste, with a comparatively small addition of
 
 356 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 expense, laid out in the front yard, would make the 
 country-seat of a farmer, which, in beauty and con 
 venience, would vie with any that could be found in 
 many a day's travel. On the other side lives " Un 
 cle Sam," in a neat white house. He is " uncle " to 
 every body. His premises are well guarded with a 
 high stone wall in front, which would be almost as 
 formidable to scale as the walls of Auburn Prison, 
 from either side ; and were it not for a huge gate, 
 which tires one to think of, swinging one side far 
 enough to get through, a stranger would be puz 
 zled to find a way -of entrance. You have prob 
 ably reason to believe, by the way I have hauled 
 my neighbor " over the coals," that our own premi 
 ses are a model of perfection. Oh, no ! Lest you 
 may ride out this way some day and find out the 
 facts, I may as well own up, and give you some 
 thing of an " inkling," as the'boy had when the 
 school-master threw an inkstand at him of our 
 own affairs in this respect. Should any of those, 
 whose taste I have called in question, ever retort 
 upon me, they would probably tell you that they 
 would prefer no fence at all in front of their houses 
 to a high moss-covered rail-fence like ours, which 
 reminds me of " peeking through the gates," when 
 attempting to give a look outside. Nor is this all ; 
 that very necessary but disagreeable appendage, to 
 every farm-house, the pig-pen, occupies a conspicu 
 ous position nearly in front.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 357 
 
 But, hold ! we are all trying to make some im 
 provements, which industry, time and patience, will 
 surely accomplish ; and we believe, as the un 
 sophisticated Irish woman said, that " this will be a 
 beautiful world when it is finished." The subject- 
 matter of this article was intended to be what the 
 heading of it indicated, " The Beauties of Nature," 
 but we will confess having dwelt somewhat at length 
 on the ugly side of the picture, for which we per 
 haps owe our numerous readers an apology. We 
 have not, however, intended to misrepresent any 
 case, or put too much paint in the brush. We free 
 ly acknowledge that there are many exceptions, who 
 belong on the side of the lovers of the beautiful in 
 Nature and Art ; and this reserve includes nearly 
 all of the ladies, for every nook 'and corner that is 
 spared to them is used for the cultivation of choice 
 plants and flowers, besides, many a window-stool is 
 laden with boxes of house-plants. Indeed, there is 
 one gentleman not a hundred miles from this very- 
 place, who often wishes he were a house-plant, that 
 he might be noticed and cared for by the ladies. 
 We are not at all sure but he is, as he would wish 
 to be, a house-plant a large share of his time, for, 
 though he is a thrifty mechanic, for some reason he 
 must be violently opposed to " Capital Punishment," 
 for he will not even hang his gate. Finally, we 
 believe with Pope, that " all Nature's difference is
 
 358 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 
 
 all Nature's peace ; " for some of us cannot be rich 
 if fortune refuses to come down upon us with a 
 golden, shower, while others can feel rich, who, 
 after the labors of the day, can seat themselves 
 beneath the shaded lattice and read - a page from 
 Nature's own book. 
 
 NATURE'S BOOK. 
 
 He who would store his mind with useful know 
 ledge, and pure original thoughts, must seek the 
 only original fountain of ideas, Nature's great 
 volume. To one who studies her aright, she un 
 folds beauty, grandeur, and sublimity on her every 
 page. A familiarity with the lessons there taught 
 gives us communion with the Most High, and a 
 more enduring faith in the blessed promises of the 
 Book of Revelation. It also inspires our hearts 
 with*grateful emotions to the Giver of all good, for 
 the beauties of sight and sound He has spread out 
 before us for our admiration. True, we may lock 
 up our souls, like the miser's coffer, and bury the 
 treasure which might have enriched our minds and 
 been the joy of our lives. But it is ingratitude to 
 God, to turn a deaf ear to the music of Nature, and
 
 MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. 359 
 
 shut our eyes to all her beauties. The birds pour 
 forth their melodious notes in thankfulness to their 
 Creator, and the flowing rivulet murmurs His 
 praise. The flowers, painted with hues which no 
 art can rival, open their bosoms to the genial beams 
 of the sun, or drink in the refreshing showers, shed 
 ding forth their grateful incense. 
 
 Every breeze that fans our brows, whispers His 
 love, and the whole earth is filled with demonstra 
 tions of His never-failing kindness. Who then but 
 " the fool hath said in his heart. There is no God." 
 
 What more pleasing and profitable recreation for 
 the contemplative mind, than to go forth when lone 
 ly Spring has robed herself in beautiful garments of 
 green, and view the handiwork of the great Creator, 
 displayed in scenes which the very genius of paint 
 ing would fail to portray. Every object which 
 meets his admiring gaze, furnishes food for the soul, 
 and raises the mind above the numerous cares and 
 anxieties which await all in this existence. The 
 study of Nature, opens innumerable sources of con 
 solation to the down-trodden spirit of the mourner, 
 and furnishes a balm for his wounded heart. It bids 
 him to raise his tearful eyes to the Helper above, 
 and call from thence that assistance, which the ever 
 trusting and confiding heart hopes to find in the 
 greatest abundance when in the greatest need.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
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