i :>; .*■ (ilass _. Book_ CX)PmiGHT DEPO»l r l.\ jiaskeWs Women of the Bible wives of presidents, ETC. 1892 INTRODUCTORY REVIEW. BY DR. EUGICNE F. STORKE. "The Women of the Bible and Wives of Our Pres- idents, etc.," is the title of a new book now issuing from the press and challenging public attention. The auihor, Thomas Nelson Haskell, having finished his third volume of poetry and prose writings, has submitted it for an introductory review, and having perused it with pleasure and profit we predict for it an extensive and useful patronage. Complimentary as the press of different countries has been towards '■'Konkaput and Occasional Poems and Descriptive Pieces," we think this volume, in the same ornate style as the others, will attract still higher apprecia- tion. It has several distinct general subjects, each of which is popular and ennobling, and no readers of literary taste, who are either pious or patriotic, can fail to prize this new and unique contribution to the biblical, biogiaphical and historical literature of our land. The first section of this forthcoming book is a Resume of a larger work entitled "Echoes of Inspired Ages," and like that is conveniently arranged for daily reading. This resurvey of that ground is enti- tled "Women of the Bible," and is devoted entirely to the female personages found in the Sacred Scrip- tures, and has over seventy sketches of biblical char- acters, from Eve in Eden to Eunice and the "Elect Lady" of all lands, described by the Apostles, One beautiful character is word-painted on each page, in most part in flowing pentametres, with now and then Alexandrine couplets which do not, as Pope com- plained, "drag their slow length along." The suc- cessive page-poems are in their chronological order, and logically follow appropriate scripture passages on which they are based, and much thought and action are compressed into a limited space, giving the reader abundant matter for meditation. ir INTRODUCTION. Appropriately supplementing this division are brief poetical accounts of " Some Bible Women," in various lauds, whose characters were formed by reading Family Bibles, or — as in the Catholic examples given — indirectly from its influence. Among these notable women will be found Madame Guiyou, Madame Guizot, Mrs. Wesley, Mrs. Hemans, Queen Victoria. Jenny Lind and Florence Nightingale. The verses of tribute to their noble efforts, deeds and sacrifices, follow condensed historical sketches and suggestive scripture references. After this foreign section is one entitled: "Bible Women of America." In this a truly national spirit and very patriotic feelings are evinced. Taking up the songs and philanthropic services of Jenny Lind and Florence Nightingale, this begins with "Christian Nurses in Our Country's Need" and "Teachers of the Freedmen," and presents "The Wives of Missionaries, Home and Foreign," Christian Teachers in Sunday and public schools, and such "honorable women not a few" as Emma and Francis Willard, Amelia Welby and Mrs. Vice-President Morton. Then comes the "Mothers, Wives and Daughters of Our Presidents," nearly all of whom appear to have been Bible Women of great excellence, constituting the completest succession of historic female worthies in the world. W^ith these glorious themes the author seems entirely at home and certainly does rare and commensurate literary work. A long residence in Washington as pastor of an important church made him familiar with many interesting facts which he shadows forth succinctly in his rythmic words. Car- rying out the prevailing line of thought, he compre- hensively and briefly sums up into a single page the biography of each of these noble women as a nucleus around which gathers the halo of their country's glory and their illustrious husbands' high renown. From "Mary, the Mother of Washington" down to "Harrison's Daughter and Baby McKee," all are pleasantly depicted in true poetic colors, so that each reader feels acquainted with every " Lady of the White House " and their distinguishing traits. The book is free from all efforts at toadyism, poetical INTRODUCTION. ill exaggerations and historical inaccuracies. It is, as the author says, impaitial in politics, unsectarian in religion, and fair in everything. Immediately after these various tributes, and before the famous article on the President of the Rebel Con- federacy, is placed "Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe and Uncle Tom," which would have been among "The Bible Women of America," but for a careless omis- sion. This printer's blunder, however, proves to be a sort of Providential blessing, for certainly this portion of the book comes midway between the conditions which led up to secession and the rebellion itself, and it is proper to confront the two great anti-slavery and pro-slavery leaders together in the presence, as it were, of the glorious lovers of their country who have lived as our models in the Executive Mansion. There will be an intensified interest in this book also when the reader is informed that Professor Haskell's wife was the Miss Annie Edwards who acted as Mrs.Stowe's secretary in Andover, and their veneration for this renowned American authoress is very great and filial. Supplementing the poetical portion are these two prose articles, "Haskell's Reply to Redpath's Eulogy of Jefferson Davis" and his "Essay on Bribery and The Ballot," both of which are now of great political and public importance. It is in the first of these that the reader will find Mr. Haskell at his best. Strong though much of his poetry may be, yet in the fields of stirring prose does he evince his full strength and sterling worth. In proof of this see the closing paragraph of his spontaneous and able rejoinder to Redpath, from which we quote: "And when the relentless finger of time shall have rubbed out every inscription, and his mighty hand have thrown down the monument, there will still be written in history and upon the heart and memory of humanity also, this simple, solemn memorial, more enduring than time and more eloquent than eulogy: Wrong — though overruled and forgiven — is wrong forever." The closing essay on "Bribery" is both peerless and opportune, and is so candid and so conclusive that no conscientious American citizen can arise from its perusal without appreciating the supreme import- IV INTRODUCTION. ance of purifying our politics, and saying with Pro- fessor Haskell concerning the bribing of the ballot: " Franchise is more than friendship ; it is the life of this Nation. Were my dearest brother in this great wrong, I would defend the right hit whom I might. Let those who sympathize with these sentiments put on their virtuous armor and defend them with valor. Let no man despise his birthright. The Past, with all its sacrifices and examples ; the Present, with all its obligations ; the Future, with all its hopes, unite to say : Let every citizen stand by our suffrage as sentry and everybody do his duty to his kind and country." We have sincere words of commendation for this compact and comprehensive book, as remarkable for its marvelous originality as for its elegance of design and diction. That it will be interesting to all, who shall be so happy as to own and use it, we cannot for a moment question ; and we close by repeating that we have great pleasure in the work assigned us of Introductory Reviewer. E. F. S. British Reviews of Hasliell's Bool^s. The Rev. Fergus Fergii-ion, D. D., of Glasgow, a noted Scotch author and crilic, in a three column "Re- view of Haskell's Koukaput and Occasional Poems," sa3's: "The}- are most entertaining and useful vol- umes. The romance entitled 'Young Konkaput, the King of Utes,' begins with an exciting 'Indian Le- gend, of Twin Lakes,' and has its principal scenes laid among the Rocky Mountains. Although professedly a vi^ork of fiction, it may ba cons.dered as an imagin- ary embellishment and poetical exaggerations of facts which really were or might there have been. Its heroine, Susan, or Shawsheen, is a real personage, like Pocha- hontas, and the hero is the supposed son of a famous Sachem, Colorado I., whose twin sisters w^ere seized by invading savages and driven with their captors into the 'Upper Twinlake' and drowned. (An excel- lent frontispiece engraving represents this scene.) In this beautiful region 'King Konkaput' was born, and in the neighboring 'South Park,' he met and woed his dusky maid, whom he meant to make the Queen of Utes, when his mother, Piesse, shall have passed away. He is, however, tempted to enter upon a long trapping and hunting expedition, and never sees either of them. again; for during his absence an Indian war broke out, his betrothed, Shawsheen, is carried away captive, and both his parents perished. "After his return, the principal part of this roman- tic poem is occupied with Konkaput's wanderings among both savages and civilized people to find the captive squaw. He hears that she had been rescued by the whites from the burning stake and taken to the Pacific Coast; but there he is told she was carried East to be educated. Thither he goes and gets an education B REVIEWS. himself, but nowhere has any trace of his prospective queen. , As Ivougfellow's Evangeline searched for Gabriel, so young Konkaput has wandered from tribe to tribe and sea to sea without finding the object of his search; but in his lonely journeyings he sur- veyed the whole Indian subject and sets it forth 'In thoughts that breathe and words that burn.' "At length he hastens back again to his tribe to help them into civilized life, and there learns that Shawsheen was restored to the Utes, and, supposing he was dead, has married a famous medicine man, and so can never be his wife. This makes him all the more devoted to his ennobling mission to raise sav- ages into saints and citizens. But alas! like our Lord, 'became unto his own and his own received him not!^ Shawsheen 's brother, Arrow, had usurped the head- ship of the Utes and connives at Konkaput's death, but finally felt such compunction for this murder, heightened by certain papers found on the martyr's person (which a white man interpreted) that he often visits the dead king's grave to confess this sin, and enters even upon the very course of reform among his people which the enlightened Konkaput had planned. ' ' Such, ' ' says the Scotch reviewer, " is an outline of the story that Professor Haskell tells in such a way as to make it very interesting and beneficial, too. There is a fine breeziness about the book, as if it breathed forth constantly the mountain air of freedom. The author everywhere evinces sympathy for the oppressed and weak of every race, and admiration for all liber- ators, of whatever clime; still he is not blind to the faults of the American aborigines, whom he repre- sents as being often savage in their cruelty, as seen in The ' Key to Konkaput, or. The Fate of the Phil- anthropic Meeker Family.' '" REVIEWS. c " We are very unwilling," continues the critic, "to find fault with so interesting and valuable a poem, but we venture a suggestion: There are five pages — (42—47) written in the measure of Longfellow's 'Hia- watha,' which are so admirably expressed that we fancy it would have been a decided improvement if the whole poem had been in that r^thm, instead of what musicians call the ' long metre' of Scott's poet- ical works. It could have been, even, in the measure of Evangeline and retained its original and unique character. Either of Longfellow's popular measures would have fitted the Legend of Konkaput well, and still left the author the imitator of none but himself. Homer did not copy Hesiod though both wrote hexa- meters, and no style is any one man's exclusively. "This criticism does not, of course, apply to the odes and addresses which the author, every here and there, puts in the lips of his principal characters. Thus ' Konkaput's Apostrophe Upon Pike's Peak ' (p. 177), in the French Alexandrine, is truly sub- lime, and we are sure our readers will like the young king's hymn upon 'The Mount of the Holy Cross,' beginning with this heaven-born assertion, (p. 183) " The loftiest thing in human thought Is God's redeeming love! " "As to HaskeIvIv's Domestic Poems, we should have mentioned sooner, that one attractive feature of these books is their admirable pictorial illustrations ; and here, after a modest, frank preface, which fully justifies the author's family feeling of friendship with his readers, we have a fine cut, called * Courting on Horseback,' in which the equestrians meet in a se- questered grove near the Andover lakes, and the like- ness and posture of Mrs. Haskell (Miss Edwards, then), are so very sweet and graceful that we do not wonder that the Professor fell in love with her. D REVIEWS. "la another engraviug the countenance of their dear daughter Florence, who died in Denver at the age of 14, and 3^et in what seems the maturity of womanhood, is so sedate and winning we do not won- der at the beautiful tribute to her memory, 'The Sec- ond Anniversary of Sorrow.' The other domestic pictures of both parents and children, and the types of women and maidens and martyrs and Susan are delightfully apropos, suggestive and eloquent, while the rougher 'chalk sketches,' like Konkaput with his sledge drawn by jubilant deer, are delightful for chil. dren and inspiring to all. " 'The Occasionai, Poems ' Foreign, Patriotic and Juvenile,' are also worthy of the beautifully printed book in which they are bound. We had no thought when we were once traveling in Palestine with Pro- fessor Haskell that he was writing a poem every day on passing scenes and events; but here the spontane- ous compositions are in terse and rythmical form upon topics of interest all the way from Egypt to Athens and the Alps, via Jerusalem, the Jordan, Damascus Smyrna, Mars Hill and Fireuzi, or Florence on Arno's fair and classic banks, till finally on vSwitzerland's Alpine pinnacle he sings: " On the top of Mt. Rhighi this Fourth of July, The year of our Lord eighteen sixty and two, I swear in Christ's name I were willing to die To make my dear country immortal and truel " "Soon after this consecration to his country's cause Mr. Haskell came to Scotland and here published in the Glasi^ozu Christian Nezvs an important Inter- national Letter upon 'The Origin, Issues and Pros- pective End of the Pro-Slavery War then Waging in the United vStates.' Opinions were much divided here then in regard to that war; but his instincts and predictions proved eventually to be correct ; for the REVIEWS. E Union cause triumphed and the slaves became free. Subsequently Mr. Haskell was Professor of Logic, Literature and Political Economy in the LTniversity of Wisconsin, but moved to Denver, Colorado, in the hope to save the life of his child, the beautiful Flor- ence before described. We have occasionally ex- changed letters from afar, and will be glad to meet our old fellow-traveler again in the fields of poetry or prose, and if not once more in the Palestine of earth will greet yet again in the Paradise of heaven." ANOTHER BRITISH REVIEWER SAYS : " I have found much amusement and profit in reading ' King Konkaput and Other Poems,' by Pro- fessor Haskell of Denver. The first is a rythmical romance suggested by the terrible ' Meeker Massacre,' and seems to give the true solution of the vexed In- dian problem in the United States. Having glanced, here and there through these neatly bound volumes, I was struck with their unique, original and highly picturesque character. Perceiving some most beauti- ful poetic gems of the first water therein, I said to myself: Here I shall find real mental recreation and rest. "But after a little more desultory reading, I became so fascinated with Konkaput that I could not lay it down. Even my meals seemed intruded upon me. Yes, 'Young Konkaput' is indeed a fascinating book, handsomely bound and elegantly illustrated. Its style is easy and perspicuous, rich in the sublime, flowing full of nature's charming scenes as they pass before the eyes like a panorama of the rocky crest of that great land, and each scene is photographed on the reader's mind by the pure and lucid style of the author. "It must enhance th^ pleasure of tourists through F REVIEWS. the Rocky Mouutain scenery to read Konkaput before starting on their trip. It would add good sauce to a rich feast. The rythmic and graphic style of this romance reminds one of Sir Walter Scott's Lady of the Ivake, though its tone and sentiments are purer and more ennobling. The lines are clearly drawn between savage and civilized Christian life. It is a book that is bound to live and become popular with lovers of nature and good poetry. While the whole book is a casket, still some of its gems are richer and more radiant than others. *■ How simply beautiful are the four stanzas entitled 'The Holy Cross, by Konkaput.' There is a preci- ous gem that ought to be set in letters of gold. The thoughts reach the infinite, while the words are so meek! What lofty inspiration is breathed forth, also, in that graphic piece, ' King Konkaput's Apostrophe Upon Pike's Peak.' Another brilliant gem is 'The Last Lone Indian's Soliloquy' by the Sunset Sea, page 121, and Zinziba's last letter to Konkaput, page 201, is as compact heroism a§ can be conceived, while the ' Paraphrase to Pushamata's Address to La Fayette' is even better than Chief Logan's Hebraic rythm, so famous for its eloquence. " 'HaskeTwI^'s Occasionat, Poems' are also refresh- ing to the mind and do it good like a medicine. In reading them, I experienced the truth of Dr. Carpen- ter's teaching in his mental physiology, concerning the mutual influence of the body and the mind. The humor of the ' Quack Doctor and his Hypocondriac Case,' the playfulness of the 'Boy's Visit to the Moon,' and the solemn beauty of the 'Seerlike vSong of Sixty-One,' will suggest the pleasing variety that pervades all of Professor Haskell's books." Rev. Wm. Anderson, A. M. (Of Trinity College, Dublin.) REVIEWS. G OTHER TESTIMONIALS TWO BOOKS THAT ARE BEAUTIES. "Collier & Cleveland are publishing a new holiday issue of Haskell's Romance and Poems entitled 'The Legend of Twin Lakes — Konkaput and Key,' and 'Occasional Poems at Home and Abroad.' These Vols. I. and IL are elegantly bound, gilt-edged and stamped for both shelf and center table. In matter and appearance they are twin beauties, and entitled to a place in every household library in the land. The books contain also two British Reviews and other opinions of the press that show a high appreciation of them as standard works that are in the literature of America to live and hold an honored place." Colorado Patriot. "Haskell's beautiful poems have won much praise here and elsewhere for their author. Mrs. Condit (who is a reader of fine literary taste) pronounced Konkaput 'fascinating and masterly.' She read, then re-read, and loaned to our friends. " Prof. P. M. Condit, "(vSupt. of Schools, Delta Co., Colo.)" "Thomas Nelson Haskell is one of the true poets. His Legend of Twin Lakes has not only poetic value, but its descriptions of natural scenery are excellent." ^—Milwaukee Herald, (German). "Mr. Haskell not only deals with the Indian Question, but touches also our duty to the Colored People of the South, and writes with special facility when dealing with western scenes and themes. His Occasional Poems have a marked variety and merit." — Chicago Interior. " Of Haskell's Poems indicating high water mark, we single out the one 'On Leaving Jerico.' There can be no hesitation in ranking this with Ray Palmer's best." — Geo. BIcCLurg in Pike's Peak Herald. H REVIEWS. " ' The Story of Konkaput,' the King of Ute.^, aud Shawsheeu, his maiden Queen, is of thrilling interest and holds the reader's rapt attention from the open- ing verse to the closing linl^! — Hon. Arthur E. Pierce, in Denver Eye. ** In Konkaput the author rises to unusual poetic altitudes, his plan is subtle and artisiic, and the en- thusiast ever prevails throughout its fascinating pages." — A. Kauffuuxn in Commonzvealth. KIND ESTIMATE OF A COLORADO AUTHOR. "Hon. Charles Townsend of Ohio, in speaking of Western authorship, says: 'I read with great satisfaction Prof. Haskell's Review of Redpath's Memories of Jefferson Davis. The arraignment of the great Con- federate leader's conduct is the essence of law and reason, so vigorously and clearly stated as to be unanswerable. I have never read an abler review. ' This literary statesman also writes concerning "Has- kell's Legend of Tvvin Lakes:" 'I read Konkaput with intense pleasure. Sweet and pleasing is the current of the rythm, and elevating and instructive the lesson. So graceful, indeed, in manner that it carries the reader along on easy and noiseless wings. I would rather be the author of this poem than hold any place of official distinction within the reach of reasonable ambition. ' ' — Denver Republican. "Professor Haskell mailed to Mr. Gladstone a copy of his 'Young Konkaput, the King of Utes,' not expecting any notice of its reception, but the Grand Old Man sent a very cordial and grateful autograph acknowledgment and appreciation of the work, signed, ' Yours, very faithful and obedient, W11.1.IAM E. Gi^Ar STONE." — Rocky Mountain News. 'For other "Opinions" of the book see notices in the back part. WOMEN OF THE BIBLE A RESUME Echoes of Inspired Ages, THOMAS NELSON HASKEl.L, I > AUTHOR OF 'MESSIAH AND HIS MARTYRS," SEVERAL BOOKS FOR SOLDIERS, "THE LEGEND OF TWIN LAKES," "OCCASIONAL POEMS," ETC., ETC. DENVER : The Reed-Wheelon Pub. Co. 1892. iTA^i^tfy^ t i\.LL Rights Reserved. DEDICATION. To my Mother, Wife, Sisters and Daughters, and to all Women who sincerely love the Word of God and the model characters which it contains, is this work dedicated with a glad and giateful heart. T. N. H. Contents. WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. Invitation— Come Heod the Call, 1 Bible Women the Fairest in the World, 2 Help of Women in the World's History, 3 The First Woman and her Future Worth, 4 The Four Women that Would Cross the Flood, 5 Three Maternal Ancestors of Messiah at Mamre, fi Rachel the Lover of Children, Leah's Rival, 7 "Remember Lot's Wife," Ancestress of Ruth, 8 Hagar's Sorrow and Help with Ishmael, her Son, .... 9 Hebrew Midwives and their Heathen Monarch, 10 Jochebed, Moses' Judicious Mother, 11 Moses' Sister, Miriam, Mistress of Song, 12 Inspired Helpers on the Lord's House, 13 The Faith of Rahab, the Harlot Reformed, 14 Judge Jephtha's Daughter— Joy and Grief, 15 Judge Deborah, the Seeress, and her Divine Song, .... 10 Jael the Kenite, and Sissera's Mother, 17" Judge Samson's Mother and her Mighty Son 18 Naomi and Ruth, the Redeemer's Mother, 19 Hannah, the Mother in her Nation's Emergency, . . , . 20 The Women who Sang of David and Saul, 21 Michal, Saul's Daughter, Saving David from Death, ... 22 Abigail, "the Wise and Beautiful" Wife and Widow, ... 23 The Wise Woman of Tekoah and her Miserable Mistake, . 24 The Wise Woman of Abel and her Pacific Power, .... 25 The Wise Mother of the Wisest of Men— Bathsheba, . . . 2G Rizpah's Devotion to her Crucified Sons, 27 Jereboam Sends Ano to Ahijah the Seer, 28 So Ano Comes Mourning to Tirza To-day, 29 The Great Woman of Shunem in Grief for her Son ,30 A Prophet's Widow with her Sons in Want, 31 The Little Maid and her Leprous Master, 32 Jehoshabeth Saving her King's Son, ,33 Athaliah, a False Mother and a Foul Murderess, .... 34 Wicked Jezebel, Harlot Wife of Ahab, 35 Huldah, a Prophetess Heroic Before Princes, 36 ii CONTENTS. PAGE Esther the Queen— Whence the Wise Men Came, .... 37 Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist, 3S Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Messiah, 39 Anna the Seeress, Owning the Infant Savior, 40 The Legend of Amibition to Bear Our Lord, 41 The Hunchback Daughter of Abraham Healed, 42 The Kuler's Daughter Raised From the Dead, 43 Mary Magdalen's Love for her Lord, 44 Herodias, a Mother, with the Head of her Martyr, .... 45 A Grecian Woman with Great and Wonderful Faith, . . . 4G A Widow Solaced when Weeping for her Only Son, .... 47 Peter's Wife's Mother and her Pious Ministry, 48 The Woman of Samira Winning Others to Messiah, ... 49 The "Woman that was a Sinner," 50 The Adulterous Penitent Arraigned and Pardoned, .... 51 Martha, Exacting Sister but Excellent Hostess, 52 Her Sister Mary Sitting with Their Master, 53 Salome: Who was Mother of Zebedee's Children? . . . . 5t Pilate's Wife Procla, and Peter's Accusers .55 The Women at the Tragic Mountain, .56 The Women at the Sepulchre, 57 Did Women See Our Lord as He Went Into Heaven? ... 58 Jesus' Mother in the Pentecost Prayer-Meeting, .... 59 Saphira's Sin Against the Holy Ghost 60 Mary the Mother of Mark and her Meeting for Prayer, . . 61 Rhoda, the Damsel that H'lrked at the Door, 62 Tabitha— Dorcas— Raised from the Dead, 63 Lydia, the Hostess who Loveth the Lord, 64 The Demoniac Damsel and Slave, 65 Deacon Philip's Four Daughters 66 "Candace of Ethiopia" and "Queen of the South," ... 67 Phebe the Deaconess, and Other Daughters of God, ... 68 And "Honorable Women Not a Few," 69 Eunice and Lois and their Lives Even Now, 70 "The Elect Lady" and her Like in all Lands, 71 Saint Agnes, and Such as then Knew the Savior, 72 BIBLE WOMEN. "Santa Monica," Augustine's Mother, 73 Kathrine Von Bora, an Augastine Monk's Bride, .... 74 Annie Askew, a Bible Reader, Burned, 75 "The Woman on the Scarlet Beast" Burning a Blind Girl, . 76 "Saint Elizabeth" of Hungary, 77 "Saint Theresa" of Spain, 7S Madam Guyon— the Godly "Mystic," 79 CONTENTS. Ill PAGK Madam Guizot and his Goflly Mother, SO Grace Aguilar, a Godly Jewess, 81 Princess Louise, Prussia's Illustrious Queen, 82 Victoria, Empress of India and Queen of England, .... 83 Kamabai of India, Born Again of the English Bible, ... 84 Madam Susannah Wesley — "Mother of Methodism," ... 8.') Mistress Hannah More and her Devout Works, 86 "Charlotte Elizabeth" and her Loyalty to Truth, .... 87 Mrs. Felicia Hemans and her Pilgrim Hymn, 88 Jennie Lind, "The Swedish Nightingale," 89 Florence Nightingale and her Aid to America, 90 BIBLE WOMEN OF AMEBIC A. The Cliristian Nurses in our Country's Need, 91 Women that Followed the War as Teachers of Freedmen, . 9i The Widow Lee, of East Tennessee, and her Son, 93 "The Angels of Buena Vista," by the Quaker Bard, ... 94 Isabella de Herera, "The Rose of Pervi," 95 Mesdames Guyort and (^hauveny, of Quebec, 9fi Margaret Bourgeoys, of Montreal, 97 Our Bible Women as Missionaries Abroad 98 Home Missionaries' Wives as Bible Women, 99 Young Women Teaching the Bible in Sunday Schools, . . 100 A Common School Teacher who Tauglit Christian Truth, . 101 Mrs. Emma Willard, whose Mission was Grand 102 Miss Frances E. ^Vlllard, of the World's W. C. T. U 103 Utterly Bereft— Mrs. President Marsh, 104 Amelia (/. Wclby, a Wondrous Mistress of Song 105 Mrs. Vice President Morton, and her Motherly Pride, . . 100 OUR PRESIDENTS' WIVES, MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS. Prefatory Notice 2 Mary, Mother of Washington, 3 Martha, Washington's Wife, 4 Abigail Adams, the Second President's Wife, 5 Martha Jefferson and her Daughters, Mrs. Dorothy (Payne) Madison, 7 Mrs. Eliza (Cortright) Monroe, 8 Mrs. Louisa (Johnson) Adams, J. Q 9 Mrs. Rachel (Donelson) Jackson and Niece, 10 Mrs. Hannah (Hoes) Van Buren and Angelica V. B., . . . 11 Mrs. Anna (Symms) Harrison, 12 Mrs. Letitia (Christian) Tyler (and Julia* G. T.) 13 Mrs. Sarah (Childress) Polk 14 Mrs. Margaret (Smith) Taylor and Daughter, 15 iv (U)NTKNTS. PAGE Mrs. Abigail (Powers) Fillmore, 16 Miss Mary Abigail Pillmoro, 17 Mrs. Jane (Appleton) Pierce, 18 Miss Harriet Lane— Buchanan's Niece, 19 Mrs. Mary (Todd) Lincoln 20 Abraham Lincoln's Mother, 21 Mrs. Eliza (McCardle) Johnson, 22 Johnson's Daughters, Martha and Mary, 23 Mrs. Julia (Dent) Grant 24 Mrs. Sartoris— The Nation's Pet, Nellie 25 Mrs. Lucy (Webb) Hayes, 26 Mrs. Eliza Ballou Garfield (Mother), 27 Mrs. Lucrctia (Rudolph), Garfield's Wife, 28 Mrs. (Herndon) Arthur, and Mrs. McElroy, 29 Mrs. Frances (Folsom) Cleveland, 30 Miss Rose Cleveland— The "Maiden Mistress," 31 Mrs. Carrie (Scott) Harrison, 32 Harrison's Daughter and "Baby McKee," 33 Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe and "Uncle Tom," 34 Haskell's Reply to Redpath's Eulogy of Jefferson Davis, . . Haskell's Essay on Bribery and the Ballot INVITATION. come! heed the call,, both one and all! Come to my garden and gather the lilies and spices. Wake, O north wind, and come thou south; and breathe on the flow- ers, that their fragrance may flow forth. Where is thy beloved, O fairest of women? Let liim come and feast on the pleasant fruits. Come, daughters of Zion, see King Solomon crowned by his Mother, in the day of his espousals and gladness of lieart. (See Solomon's Song.) Come into my garden of spices; Abide in the beautiful bovvers; Discern all its artful devices; Its fragrance, its fruits, and its flowers; There feast with the "fairest of women," Bright stars in the Biblical story, Who shine more than diamonds and ermine And "Solomon in all his glory!" O look and rejoice at the lilies and roses. While breezes, spice-laden, breathe love half un- spoken, And virgins declare, aye, their virtue discloses The troths that they breathe, all too true to be broken ; And lives all day long are delightful in duty. And voices of song greet the sunbeams so vagrant; And blush, like pomegranates, emblazens love's beauty, Till matronly fruits shall mature fresh and fragrant. Aye, come to this garden — to Eden's enclosure; To Miriam's brave marching with timbrels and dancing; To Debora's people she saved from exposure; To women w4io sang Saul and David's advancing; To Ruth in her beauty, 'mong Bethlehem reapers; To Hannah, when called to her hopeful confession; To women with Christ, and his sepulchre weepers — How precious in faith this whole female procession ! Come, come, then, regale in these gardens of roses — 1^'rom Eden, from Sharan, from Bethany's greeting, From the garden wherein e'en the Godhead reposes And women with spices the Angels are meeting; O visit my gardens, Mary Magdalens, even— And here enter kindly the kingdom of heaven! 1 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. THE BIBLE AVOMEN WILL BE FOUND THE FAIREST IX THE WORLD. rin all the land there were found no women so fair as the daughters of Job— the earliest of Biblical authors. He named them Jemima— bright as day; Cassia— the aroma of heaven, and Cornucopia — a horn of plenty and beauty; and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.]— Job xlii:14-15. There's beauty in the heavens above, And beauties on the earth abound, But the best thing of thought is love That in "fair women" will be found; For beauty of their body beams In highest acts of heavenly art On matter animate, that teems With beauties of both mind and heart. When in creation's course there came to view The beautiful, in sky and field and flower, And moving things, in varied modes, so new, Appropriate, and proud of life and power, The human form came forth" a finished fact; Earth's Maker in his image made a man. To imitate himself in mind andiact, Then closed with Woman — climax of his plan. And w^omen vary over all the world; This great variety gives spice to lives; The banner of their love hath been unfurled By model Women — maidens, mothers, wives; Those in the Bible are the best of earth — Unless we look at lives now by it led, Whose loveliest features in its faith have birth, For brightest beauties found are Bible-bred! The Bible woman's the most beautiful In every land; m work and love as well; Her days and nights, indeed, how dutiful. And time and tongue would fail her worth to tell. "Wise women" often grace the Word of God; Brave, wise, fair, beautiful, will there be found; Then go, retrace, where'er God's Truth hath trod, Till "Rights of Women" o'er the world resound, And these kind people keep their recompence, And, like their brethren, have inheritance! WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. O THE HELP OF WOMAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. [God said: It is not good that man should be alone; 1 will make a help meet for him. A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her.]— Genesis i:27; Proverbs xxxi:30. The noblest feature in a nation's faith, Is formed from mutual confidence Of sex, when each sincerely prayeth For heaven's pledpfed inheritance. (Psalms 127:3) No ancient people e'er this fact Possessed, in vital power and zest. Like Bible women, who did act Upon this fact and so were blessed. Fidelity and fortitude abound In women of that rare and wondrous race; Deeds chaste, heroic, charming, here are found, And grandest fame grows hence from female grace. From Rachel's virtue rose the valiant strength, When Joseph broke Zuleeka's brazen snares; Our Christian loyalty hath come at length From Bible women and their works and prayers. The Bible-Mother and the Bible-Maid Were source and succor of their nation's might; Surpassing worthy, and without parade, Their temper, good and true for God and right, Did not desert them in their darkest age; In startling changes of both church and state Appear they aproims upon the stage, And kings and wise men on their counsels wait. We should judge nations noic by notions shown Regarding woman and her rights and wrongs; And note that thence is naturally known What future fortune to their fate belongs. It will be good to turn, then, to God's Word, To test its patterns of the pure and true. From Eve to Eunice, "handmaids of the Lord," Till Christian virtues rise in quick review, And women rule the world as their reward For ''''fearing GocV and founding Home regard; Although their life at home is often hard! 4 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. THE FIRST WO.MAX AND HER FUTURE WORTH. [And God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the first man Adam, and took one of his ribs and made a woman, and brought her unto the man; and Adam said: This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called woman; therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living; and he begat sous and daughters.]— Genesis i:27; ii:lS-24; iii:20; v:4. A sinless sight of sinless Eve, More fair than Ariadne's face, Or Marrj sitting to receive Titian's last touch of tender grace, Is here displayed in homely speech, Inspired with beauty from above; Till Adam's tongue to us doth teach The claims of all connubial love. Thence we obtain the best ideas on earth Of mankind's social duties the most dear; Of woman also— her immortal worth — In modest virtues which all men revere. She is indeed embodied art divine; The crowning part of the creative plan ; The last best gift of God's ornate design; The partner, helpmeet, and the hope of man. Her source, from her own sleeping consort's side; His flesh and bones selected and refined. Into the beautiful young maid and bride, Endowed with modest and devoted mind. Well suited his unselfish love to win; Her social nature — known to Satan well; Her godly sorrow for her guilty sin; Her unbelief, that disobeyed and fell: Her origin, her actions, and her heirs; Her guileless nature, near her guilt and grief; Her promised "Seed" to heed her sighs and prayers; Her full brief sketcJt can scarcely fail belief! The delicate love-legend of her life — As real Madonna of our mortal race. This world's ^rs^ maiden,u'oman, mother, wife— Engraves her, source of grief, and source of grace, Weak struggler with the strong in this world's strife; Our Lord's first Mother dear, let all revere! WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. O THE FOUR WOMEN THAT WOUI^D CROSS THE FLOOD. [And Noah went into the ark, and his three sons and his wife and his three sons' wives with him; and the ark went upon the face of the waters, uuti] it rested on Mount Ararat. Tlien Noah went forth with his wife and liis sons and their wives, and they built an altar unto the Lord, and He blessed them, saying: Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the eartli.]— (ienesis vii and viii. The wives of Bradford, Allerton, Of Winslow, and Miles Standish brave, World-wide renown for wisdom won, Because their wills could breast the wave. And bear their loving lives afar. To plant a new world's life and joy, There precious future homes prepare Where old-world sins would less annoy. And never more the earth destroy. And thus these ancient wives — those women four, Stood bending near that brave stupendous bark, That soon must bear them mighty billows o'er. To make on new and unknown worlds their mark Of moral and religious might and worth; We look upon them with both love and awe. Those famous Mothera of the future earth. The life adherents of God's holy law; The bravest women this world ever saw! They gladly entered in that "Ark of God;" There gave themselves each day to God in prayer; And thus were borne, by night, by day, abroad. The conscious objects of his constant care, Until they safely rest on Ararat, And share the new world's bleak and nameless shore; Then on the sands the cold encampment sat And ruminate on years and scenes of yore; And on their barren place blessings implore. Most desolate, indeed, ilielr "Plymouth Rock!" But they had courage equal to their care; And all the future from their little tiock, Rose earth to culture and kind homes prepare. Forgive the world, for these four women's sake, That they have shared so little human thought. Who could with courage such work undertake, To teach the will to do what wisdom taught, A righteous and new heaven and earth to make; The old world's fetters into flinders brake! ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. THE THREE MATERNAL ANCESTORS OF MESSIAH AT MAMBE. [And Jacob said: Bury me in the cave of Machpela in Marare; there they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. Isaac and Re- bekah his wife, and there I buried Leah — of wiiose son I said: The ceptre shall not dej)art from JuiUili till Shiloh comes. And there appeared a wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun ancl the moon was under her feet, and on her head a crown, of twelve stars. J — Genesis xlii; Hebrews xi; Revelations xii. A brave chaste woman, cherished by The man who won her maiden hand, Moving o'er plains and mountains high, Led to some lonely, far oif land. And garnered in "God's acre" there, Where coming ages crowd along, And keep her tomb with constant care — Such is the substance of this song. So "Sakai" marched beside her manly spouse, When Ahram went, as bidden, he knew not where; So, too, Rebeka rode to join his house; And so w^ent Leah, in kind Israel's care; ^From Haran's meads these heroines thus move, Into the happy, verdant, Hebron vale, Three loyal cases of connubial love, Whose faith and constancy could never fail. And when the first became, through faith, the dame, Sarai, "my lady," was saluted soon, As Sarah, "Princess," hence her proper name. Whose pious daughters tread upon the moon. Devout Rebeka saw the Damascene (Genesis 15:2.) Portray his Patriarch's promise, troth and prayer; With spirit marked what such espousals mean, And soon was bride of Abrah'm's only heir. Next Judah's mother, Jacob's modest bride. Saw her Redeemer in descent so dear. That Israel begged "O bury me beside My wife in Mamre; tJicre I hinied Leah!" Thus three line MofJiers of their Lord, Messiah, Are sleeping 'neath the ancient Mamre grove. And their Descendant, named "The Earth's Desire,'* Is calling all the world to Christian love! Soft be their beds in tombs that still abide. With their three consorts sleeping by their side, Till Shiloh garner all, our heavenward guide! WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. RACHEL, THE LOVER OF CHILDREN AND RIVAL OF LEAH. [Leah was blear-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful, and Jacob loved her, but she envied Leah and said: Give me, also, chil- dren, or I die. So God heard her prayer, and she bore Joseph and Benjamin— but dying in child-bed, was buried in the way near Bethlehem— where ages after, the prophets fancied her weeping over Herod's slaughter of the innocents.]— See Genesis xxix-xxxvi: Jeremiah xxxi :!."); Matthew ii:18, A shepherd lass, named for her sheep, A buoyant maid in beauty's mold, Her father's flocks for hire did keep, On ancient plains, pleasant as old. Laughing- she looked upon her lambs That grazed and gamboled on the green. And ruled over her dams and rams As quietly as if their queen. There, Rachel— modest, chaste, a rural miss — So longed to know and love some noble man. That Jacob came with joy and sealed the kiss Of love, whence their two lives together ran. (Genesis 29-11.) Then Joseph's mother, she with modest joy Impressed his heart with pure and hopeful pride, That bred a manly mind within her boy. Developing deep virtue when she died. Her second son, Benoni, 's "sorrow's heir" — For, groaning on her bed in dying grief. She poured her heart and hope to heaven in prayer — Her love for children here laid down her life! In after ages, when Jesus was born. And Heroci killed (he thought) the infant king, Her spirit, like a spectre, seemed to mourn O'er murdered babes, 'bout whom their mothers cling. A voice of horror was in vision heard, Of Rachel, weeping around children slain! It seemed as if the very stones are stirred — And never would be comforted again! Lo! Rachel's love of children yet doth lead; Her monuments, by Bethlehem, remain; And righteous they who love these lives to read. In mind of her and Herod's murd'rous reign. Lo! Bethle'em Judah lives, a beauteous gem; Rachel burled, Jesas born, at Bethlehem! « ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. "REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE," THE AXCESTKESS OF RUTH. [As it was in the days of Lot (Abrah'm's nephew I so will it be wiien the Son of Man is revealed. Remember Lot's wife; for when the Angels hastened Lot out of Sodom, she looked back from behinci, and in the rain of fire and brimstone became encrusted as a pillar of salt. Yet God overruled the guilt of her daughters for good in the gift of Ruth, the Redeemer's ances- tress indeed. |— Genesis xix:2t)-37; Ruth i:4; Luke xvii:26-li7. Full many have forgot, 'Mong heirs of Eve and Adam, The luckless "wife of Lot," When fleeing out of Sodom; Whose case by Christ's command. Is carefully confirmed; So, if her story stand, Forewarned should be forearmed. Joseph us, too, the just historian Jew, Says that he saw her statue still in salt, To pro\e the law and prophets live as true And that her faith and fancy were at fault. I see her statue here in history stand, In moral meaning set among mankind; It lasts, a monolyth, in many a land, To warn all classes to be well inclined. She and her daughters do not shine, indeed, Like Ciiristian women, in a Christian world; But then, remember well the words w^e read, The fires of Sodom on its sins were hurled. So wicked was the city wliere they lived; So loose, so lustful, was the Siddim land, Those women had been of wise helps deprived; And yet, through Ruth, Chrisfs ancestois they standi When urged by Justice and Jehovah's hand, With words to "hasten" on our heavenly way, ^Tis well to keep in mind Chrisfs kind command; Heaven's wisest beings would his word obey! I would not be a learning, by my woe, Against such dalliance in safe duty's path, When God would urge and guide me where to go, To find salvation from such sacred wrath; And yet, 'twere better, even, to be so. Than help to save no beings here below. WOMEN OP THE BIBLE. 9 hagar's help and sorrow, with ishmael her son. [When Sarah saw Ishmael, Hagar's son, mocking Isaac, she said to Abraliam: Cast out the Egyptian woman and her son ! And he took bread and a bottle of water and gave unto Hagar, and they departed, and when the water was gone, she laid her child under a shrub and went over against him and wept; and God heard the voice of the J ad, also, and called out of heaven, saying: Wliat aileth thee, Hagar? Arise, lift up the lad, for I will make him a great nation. And she saw a well near and replenished their water. J— Genesis xxi:l-20. Earth's sorrows seem the more severe, When, foUowingr in our weary way, They are repeated year by year. And dupHcated day by day; But, lo, this woman ticice^- so lone, (Genesis It): 8.) With none but Heaven to see or hear. Hath noiv, in sohtude, the moan Of her starved diikl upon her ear. Two Hves are cUnging to the desert's breast; Tico weary outcasts wilt beneath the sun; Their burning thirst forbids them both to rest; Of either strength or water they have none! So Hagar lays her Ish-ma-el down to die— Beneath a withered shrub, and steals aw^ay; She cannot look upon his languid eye, And seeks in perfect solitude to pray. When two wrecked sailors, on an untried sea. Are drifting death ward on a shifting spar. And one is entering eternity From that wide w^aste of waters off so far, O, hear their cry, for help, that rends the sky! So Hagar wept, a heart rent Mother's wail Of utter woe! Her anguished, piercing cry, With Ishmael's going, doth with God prevail ! He heard the voice of the young dying lad; His Angel called to Hagar out of heaven: What aileth thee, O woman, wan and sad! A hardy Nation as thine heir is given Through this, thy son; go take him by the hand; For see, a living spring is flowing near, A fountain La-Hcii-Roi, and my command Is for thy guidance and thy child's good cheer, Whose heirs shall ever stand in many a land! — Hence as swift ages run Mohammed is her son ! * Sec Patriarchal Period, page 109. 10 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. * THE HEBREW'S MID-WIVES VERSUS THEIR HEATHEN MOXARCH. [Children are a heritage of the Lord: the fruit of the womb is his reward; his jfirst command said: Be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth. But the king of Egypt said to the Hebrews' mid-wives: If their babe be a son, ye shall kill it ! They, how- ever, feared (xod, and saved the men children alive; therefore God dealt well with tlie mid-wives and made them houses,] —Genesis i:28; ix:l-7; Exodus i:15-21; Psalms cxxxvii:3. We boast of love and letters both; Own practices humane our pride, And mourn and grieve the modern growth Of that foul sin, infanticide ; But Egypt's King enjoined to kill Defenceless babes the day they're born, And these brave mid- wives' better will Could scarce avail his crime to scorn. These women, doubtless, were some Coptic dames Set over the slave mothers to consign Their babes to death. With noble, pleasing names, Of Shiprah, "handsome," Puali, "tresses fine," Their fear of God was more than Pharaoh's awe; For they had watched the Hebrew women's prayers, And learned therefrom Heaven has a higher law, Than any brutish monarch ever bears. They found those slaves foresaw their Savior's life And kept with special care its sacred springs, And how child-bearing helps to cheer the wife. While God her offspring guards and heavenward brings; So, well He blessed those mid-wives in their cares; Their deeds He honored with divine award; "God made them houses" — of most goodly heirs, Love's promised heritages of the Lord. 'Tip thus that blending races oft are blessed, Whose women love the laws of waking life. And rise up in devotion's reason dressed, As mother, helper, maiden and wid-wife; And happy they who have as parents heard Heaven's first great blessing in God's first command In this sublimely wise and simple word: "God blessed them; be ye fruitful; fill the land;" Inherit loving children from the Lord, And for earth's future good have first regard! * See also "Israel in Egypt." WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. 11 JOCHEBED, MOSES' GLORIOUS* MOTHER. [Pharaoh then charged his people, saying; Every son that is born unto the Hebrews, ye shall cast into the river. Now Amram, of the house of Levi, took Jochebed to wife of his own tribe, and she bore him a son and made a basket of bulrushes, daubed it with slime and pitch, put her babe therein, and laid it in the flags by the river's brink, and his sister, Miriam, watched to see what would be done unto him.]— Exodus ii:l-10; vi:20. Mark well how much that Nile scene means! There a stout-hearted mother stands For human life! On Heaven she leans, And her kind Miriam commands: "Go, watch thy brother's fragile bark, And see what guardian God will send To find the little bulrush ark. The infant foundling to befriend!" It surely may be with some fairness said: Jochebed stamped JeJiovah on her sons; And in the mother we see, too, the maid, Who soon as bidden, swift to her ambush runs, To watch the babe that slept and waked and wept, When floating loose among the flag leaves there; To see what careful angels saw and kept The outlawed infant — for a living heir. Go, seek that mother's God ! Hear this girl's heart Rise from the reeds, in which she's hidden, with fear And hope; as when the starlings heavenward start At fancied sights they fear or sounds they hear! So, up she's borne for safety, from above; Her mother's prostrate in her hut at prayer; Both heaven and earth seem hushed in holy love. And take the typic Christ in tender care. Lo, now, a princess lightly presses near The river-brink, to take her royal bath! "What must that basket mean? Maids, bring it here!" She saith, and rescues him from the king's wrath The Pharaoh's daughter there adopts the boy; The "'glorious'^" mother's gladly made the nurse; Jochebkd's heart ascends in holy joy And voices Miriam's valor into verse; For this fond daughter shall in future days Lead forth God's people in more "glorious" praise! * Jochebed means "glorious." See more of her in ''Israel in Egypt." 12 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. MOSES' SISTER, MIRIAM, BECOMES A SEERESS OF MARTIAL SONG. [After this the Lord saved Israel, by tlie hand of Moses, his servant, overthrowing the Egyptians in the Red sea; and Mir- iam, the prophetess, sister of Aaron, the priest, led all the women with timbrels and dancing: Sing ye to the Lord; for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he hath drowned in the sea.]— Exodus xv:l-20; Ezraii:t)4; I Samuel xviii:6 Still, Moses' sister, Miriam, stands The first sure prophetess of songs; She leads the minstrels of all lands In thrilling and advancing throngs. Sapho did not so sweetly sing As Miriam, in her march of praise, Whose minstrels sing till mountains ring With loud responses to her lays. With lofty music dance her maids along. Till "all the women" wake to minstrelsy. And send the echoes of her sacred song From cliff to summit and across the sea: ''Let us sing to the Lord for Ids triumph is glorious; The horse and his rider he hath drowned in the sea; He hath led forth his people in peace and victoj^ious; Hallelujah forever! The Hebrews are freeT Oft since that date, on their deliverance days, The Hebrew women would, even hundreds strong, Pour grandly forth the grateful people's praise; And sometimes Mothers, seeresses of song, Did praise and prophesy, in princely strains. Beholding well, before their sons were born. The marlial ranks that magnified their reigns; Thence minstrel dances many lands adorn. The race is led by legends, ruled by laws; Earth's minstrel music molds her monuments; The heart of woman hails each worthy cause; And Miriam's canto moved the continents! For in her deeds they feel has been displayed Both heavenhj art and hope, as well as Jiuman : And even prosy men have proudly paid Pure words of praise to this one pious woman. The Prophetess that sang her people free. And leapt for joy at sight of Liberty ! WOMEN OP THE BIBLE. 13 THE INSPIRED HELPERS ON THE 1/ORD'S HOUSE. [And all tlie congregration of Israel brought offerings to the work on the tabernacle of the Lord's liouse and its service. They came, both men and women, as many as were willing- heartetl, and brought bracelets, ear-rings, tablets and blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen, which the women, wliom the Lord filled with wisdom for the work, did spin.]— Exodus xxxv:25; Isaiah lxiv:ll. The thousand spindles in a mill, At Lawrence, Lovvell or at Dover, Have so supplanted human skill, The days of "spinning ivheels''^ are over; And yet those glorious deeds of old, When for God's tabernacle met The M'ise ones, with their gifts of gold And works of love, all linger yet. Those earnest helpers in that ancient age. Who gave their gifts of gold, good will and time, Stand, like a steel engraving, on the page Of Holy Writ, from Israel's early prime; And every reader of the record sees Their shapely forms in fitting light and shade, In a plain picture, full of power to please; So, their example serves as ceaseless aid! And quite as worthy, in God's quickening will. Are portraits of those persons, pure and fair, Who help adorn his holy temples still, His tabernacles clothe with tender care; Nor are the heavenly host all unaware Of such as lend unto the Lord they serve. And for his church, his chosen house, prepare Such proper service as his saints preserve. How heavenly angels hailed the hallowed hour. When women with their costly spices went T' embalm the body of their Lord, whose power Preserved his flesh beyond their fond intent! Still holy ones seem hovering to approve The part of those who would perfect the place. Where sinners seek the Savior whom they love, And in love's service see his living face And presence, their misgivings to remove; Bringing both love and beauty from above. 14: ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. THE FAITH OF RAHAB, THE REFORMED HARLOT. [And Joshua sent two spies to Jerico, who went to a harlot's house, named Rahab (who became wife of Sahnon and ances- tress of the Savior), and she said: Your Lord is God of heaven and earth. Swear by liim that you will save alive my father and mother, brothers and sisters. And they were saved. So hy faith the harlot Rahab perished not, but was justified by icorks, when she received the spies in peace and sent them safe away.]— Joshua ii:l-24-, Matthews i:5; Hebrews xi:31; James ii:25. As Joshua's wisdom would begin With faith that went before his face; Just so, kind Rahab saved her kin And calls to view a valiant case Of the wise courage that would bless, As her real friends, a foreign race, And gives a sample of success And of God's saving love and grace, As our own Savior's ancestress. Though but a harlot hostess, one or both. In such an ancient city sunk in shame — Her chaste demeanor here, and cherished oath, Are charming, noble, and make choice her name. Her filial solace and her sister love. Her faith in God, as governor of earth And heaven, proclaim her hope on high, and prove Her better nature is of heavenly birth. Her skill in managing their cause so well. Her "flax" that hid the spies as if they're fled; Her safety, when her fated city fell; Her double honor where the Bible's read; Her later married and maternal life. Before so filial, both so full of faith. Show God this woman made a good house-wife, Twice spoken such in what his Spirit saith: "By ''Faith,'' by '■Works — by both — was Rahab saved, So to regard the sovereignty of God That His free grace might be henceforth engraved On all repentant 'neath His well-aimed rod. Her special portions in th' inspired page Will shine yet purer, as it shall appear She warns forever each unfilial age. Comforts those crushed with shame and cruel fear, Points treacherous harlots, even, her path to heaven, In the dread straits to which her sex is driven. And shows what Magdalens should be forgiven. WOMEN OP THE BIBLE. 15 JUDGE JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER— THEIR JOY AND DEEP DISTRESS. [And Jephthah judged Israel six years, and he vowed: If God will deliver tlie Ammonites into my hands, then whatso- ever Cometh forth to meet me when I return in peace, I will offer for a burnt offering. So when he came home his only daughter met liim with timbrels and dances. When he saw her he said: Alas! my child, thou hast brought me very low!] — Judges xi-xii. The touching tales, told old and young, About Judge Jephthah's only child, Whose fate the father's spirit wrung, And hushed her hastening timbrels wild; How many pages have they filled; What heart-sick poets have them sung; What throngs of piteous passions thrilled; What distressed nerves, indeed, unstrung! When Jephthah, to Jehovah's favor gain, Made oath to offer in burnt sacrifice His only daughter, if their foes were slain And she should be the first before his eyes, As he, a conqueror, comes home again, We see his want of wisdom — a sore want! — And wonder why his child would not complain. But heirless, mourn in some secluded haunt. We wonder at his vow, so rashly made; We marvel at the motives in each act; We query more whether the quiet maid, Were "a burnt sacrifice" in very fact ; And while we ask, re-ask, the why and hoiv, We so admire the damsel's word, who said: "My father, verify thy faithful vow. Though it indeed lead w^e among the dead!" Such clear convictions of the claims of God, Such sanctity she saw in such an oath. That she accepted the afflictive rod. And gave herself submissively to both. Before her father's bond her faith did bow! No martyr ever showed more native power Than this young virgin, yielding to that vow; Nor was e'er grief more sore in such glad hour! For who hath since, or ever, suffered so? Judge Jephthah's words are just the gist of woe: ^^Alas, my child, thou hast brought me very low !" 16 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. JUDGE DEBORAH, THE SEERESS, AND HER DIVINE SONG. [And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, also judged Israel, and she bade Barak draw nierli to Mount Tabor with 10,000 men. And God discorafeited Sisera before them. Then sang Deborah: Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of his people. The villages ceased till I arose a mother in Israel. Awake ! Awake ! Lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Ahinoam !]— Judges iv-v. True merit shows its moral power, In all the greatness of its strength, When, rising equal to the hour, It comprehends the breadth and length Of crisis issues in advance, And calls up forces adequate. With helmet, shield, breast-plate and lance, To save the soul and save the state. And such had ''Deborah, the prophetess, And judge of Israel," in that great day. When but for her, and Heaven her word to bless, The Hebrew Commonwealth had passed away. A moral conquest's in her martial call; An eloquence still lauded in all lands: ''Up, Barak, up! On the Philistines fall! This day, God leads thy way; and in thy hands The Jtosts of Sisera by night shall be! — Then down Mount Tabor, side by side, they rode To battle and unbounded victory. In the dread names of Deborah and God! And then she sang Time's best triumphal song, Impromptued over Esdraelon's plains. Till Angels joined the grand orchestral throng, And over all '■'Jehovah Jereh'' reigns. The martial Maid of Orleans has the mark Of blood upon her tablets of renown; For on the statue of Joan of Arc* The maiden's sword supports the monarch's crown; But Deborah, with neither shield nor sword. Inspired their chieftain, and, in their distress, To Israel's hamlets life and peace restored, And, as the Mother, did their homes all bless, While her delivered land adored her Lord, And called her '■'•Deborah,^ his conquering Word.''"' * Anglicise "Joan," etc.; Deborah means "word." WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. 17 THE MOTHER OF SISERA, AlTD JAEL, THE KENITE. [And Deborah sang: Blessed above women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. She smote Sisera in her tent through his temples, and he fell dead at her feet. Lord, so let all thine enemies perish. But the Mother of Sisera looked out at a win- dow and cried through the lattice: Why tarry the wheels of his chariot? He waitetli to divide the spoil and the captive damsels with their choicest needlework.]— Judges iv:17; v:24. How Deborah had won the day And sang her triumphal subhme, Will never pass from earth away; Her deeds are heralded by Time! How Jael slew the general Of Israel's relentless foe, Doth not demand approval all. Nor should her "blessing" teach us so. How Sisera's Mother sees his captive slaves, Bespeaks divisions of abundant spoil, And counts the slaves her cruel nature craves, Will still compel the Christian hearts recoil. And how that cruel Mother's hope doth cry And for her victor (?) son so vainly call, For damsel captives, robes of tyrian dye, Seems leaping still from Sisera's lattice wall. How tender women, in the time of war. May suffer more than soldiers in the field, Is easy here to be accounted for; Heart wounds have been the worst ones to be healed. Yet women yearning for the welcome year When peace shall thrive and piety shall live. May tent full near the fight, nor shed a tear, But first and last the grandest impulse give. So Kenite Jael, of kind Jethro's kin, Was tenting near that sanguine battle scene; She wished Jehovah's warriors there to win; But was besought in words both false and mean By the commander of their cruel foes. The lecherous scoundrel with a lie to screen. Her woman's tent was sacred, the world knows; But o'er the coward the brave Kenite bent. And pierced his stupid brain with sturdy blows; Soon to his wicked, waiting mother sent A world of wisdom and a world of woes!— We shudder at the life that ''lattice" fiction shoics! 18 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. JUDGE SAMSON'S MOTHER SYMBOLS AND FOEESEES MESSIAH. [And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of God, and he delivered them unto the Philistines. But the Angel of the Lord appeared unto the wife of Manoah, and said: Thou shalt bear a son, and he shall deliver Israel. And she called her child Samson— son of Righteousness— and he judged Israel twenty years.]- Judges xiii:2; xv:20. A living purpose of the Lord Is that a nation, for known sin, Shall reap forth -with its fit reward — With vice adversities begin. So, idols found in Israel Waked fellowship with Philistines, And guardian wisdom of God's will Gave serious warnings 'gainst such sins. Yet in those days of disobedience and Distress in Israel, for long, dark years, Because idolaters invade their land. The sore forebodings and incessant fears Made men and women look for some relief; With falt'ring hopes and fears and sighs and tears. They built on God again their good belief. And sought those guests wherein Ms grace appears. While in this mood, Manoah's wife one day — A worthy daughter of the wily Dan — When sore oppressed, sought out some place to pray. Where faith's Messiah, in the form of man, Appeared, and claimed her people's cause his care, Promised her progeny — then past her prime — And, through the medium of modest prayer. Told her puissant son's appointed time. In proof most kind, the Prince Iramanuel came Again, in proffer to her husband's prayer; And, though withholding his most hallowed namey He showed his essence by ascension there! Then both fell prostrate — bowed upon their face; The Danite father fell, as dead, with fear; The plucky woman rose with pleasing grace; The 2womised Savior! did that sight appear: Sphinx-like, did Samson soon adorn his sphere, For twenty years Philistia filled with fear. And Israel cherished with astounding cheer! WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. 19 THE BEAUTIFUL, NAOMI AND THE MOABITES' RUTH. [Elimelech, of Bethlehem, went in famine, with Naomi his wife and their two sons, to Moab. There the sons married, but soon the men died, leaving three widows, Naomi, Orpah and Ruth. Then Naomi rose to depart to her own land, and Orpah kissed her good-by, but Ruth said : Whither thou goest I will go; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God. So they went together to Bethlehem, where Ruth married Boaz and became an ancestor of our Lord.]— Ruth i:16; iv:22; Matth- ews i:5; Luke iii:32. Near where Jesus came to save With the Angels hov'ring there; Near where David, young and brave, Slew the lion and the bear; God, before, a famine gave. And a farmer, full of care. Went where welcoa-e harvests wave To sustain his household there. He went to Moab's high, well-molded hills. Where sleeps in beauly many a balmy spot; And dew, like Hermon's, on the heights distills — There he united with the heirs of Lot; For his two sons here wedded and took wives Of Moab's daughters, modest, dear and fair — Soon the three husbands lost their useful lives; And three sad widows in one scene were there! Then did Naomi — lovely* mother-in-law — Charge her fair daughters once for all to choose Their land of Moab, or her Lord with awe! Orpah kissed her farewell, and did refuse The God of Israel, his grace and truth; But words of special worth the other spake: ^' Thy people and thy God,'' responded Ruth, "7 ivill for mine henceforth forever take r The fair young widow thence— in faithful weeds — Is led a princess to the Promised Land; Her daily life she fills with filial deeds, And soon in David's ancestry doth stand; The child of Moab there doth charm and shine, And adds her bright'ning fame to Boaz' name, Who led with her the "Son of David's" line Through Obed, Jessee, born in Bethlehem; All Christian annals in her name combine — Mother of Mary and her Son Divine ! * Naomi means "amiable," and Ruth "satisfied." 20 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. HANNAH, THE NOTABLE MOTHER IN HER NATION'S EMERGENCY. [One Elkanah had a wife named Hannah (Gracious), and she bore him a son and called his name Samuel (Asked of God), for she said: For this child I prayed, therefore have I lent him to the Lord. And Samuel grew and God was with him, and he judged Israel long and well. ]— I Samuel i-viii. The holiest lot m human life, Where sinless angels seem to stand, Is when and where the pious wife, Devoted to God's first command, (Genesis 1:28) In potent earnestness of i^rayer. Asks Him for pure Maternal power. With bond to give him back her heir, And feels His favor bless the hour. When such desires, so serious, so divine. Have pleasure in the home's most holy place, And parent hearts in pious hope combine, And God doth give to them new souls with grace, There morning incense is most sure to rise (i:i9) In thrilling gratitude unto God's throne, And faithful offspring shall come forth so wise That all the good their godly vame^'' shall own. So blessed was Hannah, when she blessed the state; Preserved the Hebrew nation by her prayer; Lent to the Lord her son before too late. And symbolized earth's benign Savior there. Her hymn of praise proves her a heroine Inspired, revealing reverential spirit; And diving into depths and heights divine, Her muse hath more than merely liuman merit. How oft hath Christendom its crisis hours! Then, valiant women with their virtues stand, And plead in prayer for such maternal powers As "lent" Judge Samuel to the Jewish land. All life is sacred! and its lawful sources Are ne'er ignored, abused, except by crime. And deadly lusts that lead to such divorces. As have disgraced too much our modern time. The Heavenly King helps keep his kind commands, And puts earth's hopes in pure maternal hands! * Hannah means "Gracious;" Samuel, "Asked of God." WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. 21 THE WOMEN WHO SANG OF DAVID AND SAUL. [When the soldiers returned from David's slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of the cities to meet them with joy and music, and as they played they sang: Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands ! And Saul said: What more can he have but the kingdom? So he hated David henceforth and feared him, for God was with him.]— Samuel xviii:6-12. There are important eras when Events cast shadows on before, And hope within the heart of men The future sees in scenes of yore; When sons of rank and sire that rules Have lost their hold on human hearts, And "lust for power" pants like poor mules Before their overloaded carts. Obsequious adulation of the great Is so instinctive wiih a craven class. That we are now more willing to narrate Th' apparent disrespect that came to pass In a procession given in praise of Saul: The country people saw their king displeased The Lord; and seer-like women, first of all, Were with full sense of public safety seized! The king forboded of his coming fate, And, fierce as Balak, felt himself accursed, And toward his women waxed in haste irate, Whose formal greeting gave his champion first Applause, who slew "ten thousand" foes in one. And saved the nation such a loss of life. That still survived each mother's stalwart son And still un widowed was each soldier's wife. Ijo, see that long procession, loud with praise! — The soldiers' wives and sweethearts, wise and fair, Their grateful rounds of happy greeting raise. Till sweetest music sways the mountain air: "Saul oft good fortunes gained on sanguine fields; His foes by thousands fell about his feet; Yet David's valor ten- fold victory yields! The King and Champion's praise let all repeat; Jehovah's justice shines upon their shields. And Heavenly Wisdom the world's sceptre wields!" 22 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. MICHAL, SAUL'S DAUGHTER, SAVING DAVID FROM DEATH. [So Saul sent messengers to David's house to take him, but Michal, his wife, the king's daughter, let David down through a window, and said to them: He is sick! The king then sent soldiers to bring him in his bed, but she sent to Saul — he said: Let me go; why should I kill thee? And Saul gave her to Phaltiel, one of his generals.]— I Samuel xix-xxv; II Samuel iii:14; vii:16. Doubtless were ways devised by wives, To rescue husbands from arrest, Especially, to spare their lives, Well weighed, they would not all seem best; Yet Virtue's Charity still veils Even "striking faults" in vicious straits — As when Saul's ire his sons assails. And Michal twice prevaricates. It was when Saul, with hatred so inhuman, Desired his own deliverer to slaughter, And Jonathan's pure love passed that of woman, Her duty, as wife, sister, and king's daughter. Mingled such princely and supreme emotions As few women could feel in so full measure. That she, with well-determined wife-devotions, Kept David safe from the king's sore displeasure. She shared indeed her husband's chivalry. And for him, with her faithful life in hand, Dared to resist her sovereign sire's decree, And met and baffled even his arm-ed band! But when her liege was driven to long exile. And Saul breathed slaughter even against the bride. That she should consort with Sheik Phaltiel, Shows an imperfect* heart we fain would hide. Condone devices to deceive a king; Pardon despising of nude David's part When dancing near God's shrine, yet deign to sing: "She loved her husband with a valiant heart!" 'Twas surely brave to shield her husband's life, When sought for by her sire and sovereign, Saul; 'Twere braver to have shielded, as his wife, Her husband's honor, though the heavens fall, And fall herself, unsullied in the strife— 'Twere easier this to say, than with wise skill obey! * Michal means perfect. WOMEN OF THE BIBLE. 23 ABIGAIL, THE "WISE AND BEAUTIFUL" WIFE AND WIDOW. [And David sent ten j-oung men to say to the servants of Nabal: Peace be to thy master and all his. We have shielded thy shepherds; so give of thine abundance for the comfort of thy son David. And Nabal said: Who is David ! Tlien Abigail, ids wife, a woman wise and beautiful, hasted and said to David: Upon me let Nabal's iniquity be; but when the Lord hath dealt well with thee, then remember thine handmaid. So, after Nabal died, she married David.] — I Samuel xxv:2-24. Behold that hurrying incensed host Of God's anointed fugitive, When hasting to rebuke the boast Of one "too brutish even to live!" Mark the pause in the procession, Before "a woman wise and fair," Who, through her eloquent confession, Saved property and life by prayer. When Abigail alights at David's feet. His legions halt; their arms to earth are bent, And eyes to eyes in admiration meet, As she propitiates his stern intent, And, with prophetic, patriotic speech, Reveals the one divinely sanctioned path, By which he may true regal greatness reach. Avoiding rashness and Jehovah's wrath. When cultured woman comes thus with her charms^ And stands with balm for wounds and prayers for peace. Before the march of angry men in arms. Their wrath severe is pretty sure to cease; Their Chieftain — cherishing his love concealed For absent bride or sweetheart — stands at bay. And through their ranks a thrill of joy's revealed: So, warriors wait, and woman wins the day! When armies on the move for fierce att-^.ck. So halt in silence to be so addressed, And then with grand good will and thanks turn back: There is true eloquence by all confessed; And when the Chief, "in every inch a king," Protects the woman and then takes to wife "The rich young widow," we rejoice to sing: Heaven bless such happy means of healing strife; And let the realm with real laudation ring Till the bright Father' s-joy"^ abundant fruitage bring! * Abigail means ^'the father's joy. ^^ 24 ECHOES OF INSPIRED AGES. THE WISE WOMAN OF TEKOAH, AND HER MISERABLE MISTAKE. rWhen Joab saw that David's heart was toward Absalom, lie called a wise woman from Tekoah, wlu> sj^oke to the king as if her son had been killed by his brother and tiiey soiiglit also to take away his life. And when David assured her that her son should be saved, she then said: Thyself art at fault for not fetching home thy banished son, who slew his brother ! The king therefore said to Joab: (io, bring Absalom again.]— II Samuel xiv-xix. The quick perception of her part, In mediation for a man, Who harbored treason in his heart. Below where human skill could scan, And then the will to do and dare Before the king upon his throne. And for his exiled son and heir By feigned sorrow to atone — This was the ivisdom of the woman sought By David's Captain, who desired the King To have the bloody fratricide now brought To favor. She did so the business bring Before the throne, that David scarcely dared Decline; for he discerned the leading mind Was the proud Joab, who, by her, prepared The way for kingly justice to be kind! See "the Wise Woman of Tekoah" test The sovereign's wishes toward his wayward son. With bearing that performs her part the best, Though 'twas a difficult and dangerous one! Hear her sad fiction! 'Tis set forth so well. She wins the object that she would obtain. As of the mover she at last must tell — Now Absalom comes near the king again! But her "zrise" (?) mission proved the worst mistake; For Absalom would thereby worse rebel; And moral reas'ners, now, like errors make By holding none be banished, even in hell! So David over his dead infant said: "I soon shall go to heaven where he is gone;" But wept o'er Absalom, his wicked dead: "Would God I'd died for thee, O Absalom, my son!" Alas! Ins crimes forever crown his head, Where'er his rebel name is heard or read; 'Twas to such woe th'