fj #> ^Rf? 7 / T^ oco hat fearful calamities would fall upon Malta if she persisted in her iniquitous course ; and that repentance would still avail to avert the judgment. She wrote to the authorities, the grand- master and the governor ; but the consul was much displeased with the letter, and threatened Catherine with another imprisonment. He had reason to change his opinion \ for a short time after, there came a " terrible storm in which there was great thunder and lightning, which set on fire and blew up one of the powder-houses about a mile out of the city, and another powder-house was thrown down." In the city, houses were overthrown, glass windows in palaces broken, the doors lifted off of their hinges, etc. At the foot of the bed where these women lay, was a glass window which was blown in, but they 176 The Home Circle. received no hurt. The house was shaken by the force of the wind; but " being given up to live or to die, their fear was soon taken from them and turned into joy in the Lord." They were so still and quiet, that when the consul came to their room in order to see after them, he did not know whether they were alive. While he was speaking, others came in to tell of the destruction in the city ; even the ships in the harbor had not escaped. Some days after this, Sarah had a similar impression, and spoke to the consul, who conveyed her message (similar to that of Catherine) to the magistrates, who admitted that "the women had a good intent, but were de- ceived. ' ' They appealed to their conduct hitherto — "was it likely that persons who lived as they did, could be deceived in this ? ' ' The message was un- welcome ; magistrate and monk alike turned from it; but the prediction came true, for punishment inevitably follows wilful sin. At length they were able to bid farewell to the island, upon whose shores they had landed so un- willingly, and where they did indeed drink of a "dreadful cup," as Catherine had foreseen. The Sapphire, a vessel commanded by Captain Titswell, took them on board, in company with some knights of Malta, among whom was a brother of one of the inquisitors who had had them so long in charge. He seems to have been a kind man, for he spoke to the captain with regard to making the women comforta- ble; and probably became somewhat tetter ae- The Home Circle. 177 quainted with their views and opinions, for he told them, if they ever came to Malta again, they should not be persecuted; observing to the captain, "If they go to Heaven one way and we another, we shall all meet at last." A singular remark from a Catholic, and a singular remark for these times of bigotry and hatred. Arriving at Leghorn, they received great kindness from the English merchants there, who sent wine and other refreshments; and who offered money, also, but the last they were unwilling to accept. From thence they came to Tangier, which belonged to the king of England, as the marriage portion of his wife, Catherine of Braganza, daughter of the king of Portugal. The place was besieged by the Moors, yet Catherine and Sarah entered the town, and "many people came flocking to the house where they lodged,' 7 whom they boldly exhorted to depart from wickedness. They also went to the governor, who took their admonitions in good part, and promised to follow their counsel. He, too, would have given them money, but they would not accept it. He commanded that none of the garrison should abuse them by word or deed, on pain of severe pun- ishment, though some were ready enough to do so, probably the lower order of the Catholic population. They were inclined to go to the Moors ; but this the governor would not permit, telling them they must expect nothing from that savage people but bonds or a cruel death. They were not afraid, for i 7 8 The Home Circle. they believed the Lord would still preserve them as he had hitherto done. When they were thus prevented, however, they believed the Lord had accepted the will, instead of the deed. By this time their reputation as holy women was so great, that several persons took shipping with them from a belief that on their account the passage would be safe. They met with storms and tempests, but at last landed on the English shores, there to meet the husbands and children from whom they had parted so many years ago. CHAPTER XX. THE CHILDREN ARE FAITHFUL. YOU will think, perhaps, that the trials and troub- les of these women were over, and that here in their own native country they could meet together, and worship according to their own consciences, in peace, with none to molest or make them afraid. It may have been so with Sarah Cheevers, of whom we have no further record. The name of Catherine Evans occurs among those of the women of Bristol w T ho were taken from a religious meeting held there, and thrown into prison. The account runs thus : " After most of the men at Bristol, who were called Quakers, had been shut up in prison, the women who continued to keep up the meetings were also seized, so that at length few, but the children who had re- mained with the servants in the houses of their parents, were left free. Among these women, Cath- erine Evans is mentioned. And her children, taught by the unfaltering resolution of their mother, were probably among that little band, all under sixteen years of age, who met to worship in public, while the parents suffered in prison. The children kept up the religious meetings as much as lay in their i79 i8o The Home Circle. power. It is true they, as minors, were not within the reach of the law, w T hich carried the parents away from their homes, and threw them into dungeons and gloomy cells ; but if they had been, they had the spirit of martyrs, and would have borne pain and privation as bravely as their fathers and mothers. Nineteen of them were taken to the house of correc- tion in defiance of law, kept there for some time, and threatened with whipping if they returned to the meeting. They, like their parents, were undis- mayed ; and though they suffered exceedingly from the cruel and wicked rabble, when the law should have protected their tender years, they continued to keep up their meetings ; and taking no notice of the insolence and reproach which they constantly re- ceived, they continued steadfast to the faith, as became the "children of light." Catherine Evans was imprisoned several times in England — continuing faithful through all her trials and sufferings. She died in 1692 ; or rather, she entered into that life of which St. John says, "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 have passed away." CHAPTER XXI. Charley's home. THE winter was almost over, and Mary Stewart was now occupied in preparing for her own home. Her friend, Charles Hilton, was a farmer, owning the place upon which he lived. It had been in the occupancy of the Hilton family for more than a hundred years ; its fertile fields, its even, well-kept hedges, denoting careful cultivation. The ground was rolling, and on the top of a hill stood the man- sion house, fronting south ; much of the material of which it was built was brought from England, and • there was still on the staircase a small window, the panes of which were set in lead. An ample lawn sloped away towards a rich meadow. On the north side was a piazza running the whole length of the house, and a few steps from it, a never-failing spring of the most delicious water gushed into a trough placed for that purpose. Great trees grew all around except towards the south, and there lay the garden in the full light of the sun. The barn was beyond the garden ; the road passing around the latter led from the highway to the out-house. There were acres upon acres of woodland on this old place ; tall 16 ifi 182 The Home Circle. trees that were there when the Indian stealthily trod the war-path, and, below their green leaves, the brooks, at which the savage braves had stopped to slake their thirst, still ran merrily on. The bear and the wolf had long since disappeared, and the wild deer had forsaken his haunts ; but opossums, raccoons, foxes and rabbits were still to be found. A short distance from the house was an immense spreading white oak, its branches each as large as an ordinary tree. Immense as it was, an enor- mous grape-vine threw its luxuriant arms around and covered it with the most delicious fruit. Edward Hilton's grandfather remembered it as a great tree when he was a boy, and that people used to come in their carts from miles around to get the grapes, which were small and sweet. In the eyes of the little girls, the garden was the crowning glory of the place. The mother of Charles Hilton had been very fond of flowers, and Charles, though he knew little about them, kept them in some kind of order for her sake, whom he had lost two years ago. He had taken all four, Rebecca, Jane, Lizzie, and Patty, to spend a day the preceding summer, and they were never tired of talking about the evergreen box bush standing near the gate, and large enough to fill a room, and of the red velvet-rose, the white rose, and the large damask rose, scenting the air with perfume, the snow-ball bush, which was just out in bloom, the peony, the white lily, the johnny-jump- The Home Circle. 183 tips, the bachelor's buttons, and the mourning widow. They were too late to see the great bed of tulips and hyacinths, which Charles described to them, and which they were sure must be "splendid " when all in bloom together. Charles seemed to be easily adopted by all of Mary's family; he had been acquainted with them ever since he could remember, having visited at the house with his mother, when he was no larger than Eliy. Mary's mother had been "bridemaid" to his own mother. Charles was an especial favorite with Elly, who knew him better than he did either of his three absent brothers, and felt on terms of equality with him, as well as friendship. He would climb into "Charley's" lap, and rummage pockets that were not often empty : there was a never-failing supply of apples, round and rosy as Elly's own cheeks, and often a piece of white sugar, smuggled in, because Mary Stewart did not like her little boy to eat the colored candies so temptingly displayed in tall glass jars at the village confectioner's. Charley compromised the matter for his little friend, who was never rude, and generally obeyed at once, if desired to do anything. He never suspected that this friend who so kindly brought apples and sugar, and told him such beautiful stories about cows and sheep, intended taking away his sister. The girls all knew, and had quite brought their minds to it, every one of them thinking how delightful it would be to have two homes, and Charles for a brother — a 184 The Home Circle. brother who would stay at home with them, and allow them to see for themselves the wonderful horses, cows, sheep, the old dog "Sappho," and the young dog "Neptune," and some day they might even see a wood-chuck looking out of his hole. One reason why Charles was so fascinating to the children was, that he was something of a natural- ist, and his habits of close observation enabled him to detect any peculiarity at once, so that he knew and was interested in the traits of the domestic animals, and could describe the character of each. Thus, he told the children, that when a new cow is purchased, she is obliged to take rank according to her courage and ability, as the old cows will fight her in succession until she falls into her proper place. It sometimes takes a series of battles, before they decide to which the supremacy or leadership of the herd belongs. He told them of " Primrose," a dark red cow, who would not upon any consideration allow another to precede her as they walked into the barn-yard. She ran past the gate again and again instead of entering ; he called to the boy who was driving her to turn "Blossy" out (she had remained in on account of indisposition), which being done, "Primrose," only stopping to give "Blossy" a little hitch with her horn as she went by, walked in immediately. You see she was proud, would not "walk be- hind." How much that is like some of us ! One The Home Circle. 185 of his stories was about two hens, sisters, and inti- mate friends. They could not and would not be separated. If you saw one, you might look for the other : it would be sure to be close by. They ram- bled over the farm and took their walks and meals together. At length they wanted to set, and, in con- sideration of their feelings, a long box was provided with a nest full of eggs at each end. This arrange- ment suited them exactly, and they amicably took possession. They hatched their chickens at the same time ; but maternal love proved too strong for friend- ship, and they started off in different directions to scratch for their broods, after which they never seemed to care for each other. " Didn't they, after the little chickens grew up ? " asked Patty. a Iam afraid not," replied Charles. And Patty stopped to think a while, then raised her eyes. "I would like to see 'Primrose' and the two hens." She asked Charles if there were any kittens at his house ; he could not help being amused with her earnest face and tone, by which it was evident she attached a good deal of importance to the answer. He gravely replied, however, that he was glad to say he had two very fine cats, named c ' Castor ' ' and "Pollux," twins, and black, so black that he could scarcely distinguish one from the other, only he thought the little white spot on the bosom of " Cas- i86 The Home Circle tor" was rather larger than that on the bosom of " Pollux," and that Aunt Betsy (the cook, who had lived with his mother, and since her death, with him) said they were "proper, nice cats," and he had no doubt they were. " I'm glad of that," said Patty. " If I was shut up in prison, like Catherine Evans and Sarah Cheevers, I should like to have some kittens to play with. I wonder whether the man with the black rod would let me." Charles thought Patty was getting out of her depth, and turned the conversation by asking about her lessons, and she informed him that she had got as far as the " Lamb," CHAPTER XXII. MONTHLY MEETINGS. YOU know we have monthly meetings, but perhaps all do not know their object, nor how they originated. They were established in the early days of our society — many of them, by George Fox, in 1666. The Friends', oppressed by enemies without, and often injured by the injudicious partisanship of men of unsound principles within, organized themselves into a body, the better to assist each other, and, as the discipline expresses it, " also for the exercise of a tender care over each other, that all may be pre- served in unity of faith and practice," answerable to the description which he, the ever-blessed Shepherd, gave of his flock : " By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. " The "Monthly Meeting" is the executive branch of this body, transacting most of the business. It may have one " Preparative ' ' meeting (that is, a meeting to prepare and present the business), or it may have several belonging to it, according to the demands of the neighborhood. The "Monthly Meeting" takes cognizance of marriages, births and 187 188 The Home Circle. deaths, keeping accurate accounts of each ; of the moral obligations of its members; and of a due observance of what are called the " Testimonies " of Friends. It is also, or ought to be, the guardian of the helpless, the afflicted, and the orphans. The women have an apartment of their own, where they transact their business independently, referring to the men as the head of the body where united action is necessary. Charles Hilton and Mary Stewart belonged to the same monthly meeting, before which they proceeded to lay their intentions of marriage with each other in- the following manner: The usual business having been transacted, both meetings were notified there was a "presentation of marriage " on the table, and a man was sent into the women's apartment to see if they were ready to receive it. The answer was affirmative, and Mary Stewart walked up to the gal- lery, accompanied by a few of her young friends, and took her seat by her mother, who was already there, leaving room by her side for Charles and who- ever might accompany him. There was silence for a few minutes, broken only by the sound of men's feet on the other side of the partition which sepa- rated the two apartments. The door slowly opened, and Charles, accompanied by his uncle, David Hil- ton, an old man with white hair, entered and took his seat beside Mary. Another silence so intense that a pin was heard to fall, and every eye in the meeting was fastened on the young couple. Charles The Home Circle. 189 and Mary arose, and Charles taking Mary's tremb- ling hand in his firm grasp, said, in a clear manly voice, "With Divine permission and Friends' appro- bation, I intend marriage with Mary Stewart; " then Mary, in a lower voice, but still clear and distinct, repeated the same form of words, "With Divine permission and Friends' approbation, I intend mar- riage with Charles Hilton." They sat down quietly and all again was silent. After a short interval, Charles and Mary, Mary's mother and "Uncle David," rose and went into the men's meeting, where they declared their intentions in the same manner. The men escorted the women back to their meeting and returned to their own, where they resumed their seats and the business went on. This was now to appoint "some suitable Friends to inquire into the clearness" of the young people from similar engagements, and to see there was no just cause that the marriage should not take place. It was not likely that a young man and young woman brought up and educated as Charles Hilton and Mary Stewart had been, earnest and true, know- ing each other, and each other's surroundings so well, should need supervision or advice, more than they already received ; but the rules of discipline are for all and do not bear hardly upon any. They are intended particularly for the benefit of those who have not had the same advantages, and the meeting only desires to exercise the authority and tender care of a parent towards his children in endeavoring 190 The Home Circle. to discourage connections which are unsuitable and likely to lead to unhappiness. That this authority and care have been useful, no one can doubt who has studied the records of our society, which testify that the pure and real affection among its married members is not exceeded by that of any other. On the present occasion, David Hilton, the uncle who accompanied Charles, and Joseph Dunhower were appointed on the part of the men; Elizabeth Tudor and Grace Sidney on the part of the women. These friends were invited to dine at the house of Ellwood Stewart, in company with others, among whom were the young women who sat by Mary at meeting, and were expected to officiate as bride- maids, and their duties commenced immediately. So that you may be sure there was a merry bustle in the house for some weeks. Charles's house was well supplied already ; but Mary thought she would like to furnish two or three rooms according to her own fancy, and these were still to be arranged. The linens, of which an ample store was always kept in the house of a "well-to-do" Friend, were spun, woven, and bleached years before, and now were all ready. Table-cloths, napkins, sheets, and pillow cases reposed in snowy whiteness in the drawers of an old-fashioned bureau or case which reached almost from floor to ceiling. Mary remem- bered well when she could only reach the "little drawer" by standing on tip-toe. The coverlets, The Home Circle. 191 made of small pieces of calico or silk of different patterns, were quilted, and everything that could be finished was duly attended to and put in order beforehand. But the wedding-dresses were to be made, the invitations consulted over, written and issued, the dinner planned and provided for, and cakes of various kinds were to be made. The guests, friends of the family, were arriving and departing — so that a pleasant bustle was apparent nearly all the time, and Mary had no more leisure for turning over the leaves of the old books. I cannot describe the wedding presents by reason of there being none to describe, except a large Bible, handsomely bound, presented to Mary by David Hilton. CHAPTER XXIII. A NEW HOME. AT the next monthly meeting, the clerks read the " minutes ' ' of the last, pausing after each, and when a reply was needed sitting down so as to allow an opportunity for its being made. In the men's meeting the clerk read thus : " Charles Hilton and Mary Stewart having laid their intentions of marriage with each other before this meeting, and having the consent of surviving parents, Daniel Hilton and Joseph Dunhower are appointed to make the usual inquiries with regard to the clearness of the young man from similar engage- ments, and report to the next meeting. ' ' The clerk then sat down, and Joseph Dunhower rising, said, "We have made some inquiry and see nothing to obstruct." Then the clerk stood upon his feet again, and said, " Will the meeting name some Friends to have the oversight of this marriage ? " Another pause, and then another voice was heard, " I was thinking the same Friends might be con- tinued;" there was no dissent from this, and the same Friends were "continued." 192 The Home Circle. 193 In the women's meeting, the minute was gone through with in the same way. Elizabeth Tudor and Grace Sidney gave the same report of Mary ; that they saw nothing in the way of her proceeding in marriage with Charles Hilton ; and they were both appointed to oversee the marriage, to which they had already received invitations, written on small cards with embossed borders — the writing small, too, but very neat. Mary Stewart and Charles Hilton request the company of HENRY Tudor and wife, to dine at Ell wood Stewart's, on $th day, 4th month, 23d, 18 — . At that time the country was not very thickly settled, and families lived at a distance from each other and from the meeting-house. It was the cus- tom to send a card of invitation to a young man, and with it, one for him to carry to a young woman. When he gave it to her he was expected to ask if she would accept his escort, and if she answered in the affirmative, it was his duty to provide a suitable con- veyance and take charge of her whenever necessary during the time of the wedding festivities, which might, and often did, last several days. The 23d of the 4th month had come. The morning was clear and bright, and all were awake early. The rooms had been prepared the day before, but the weather was just cool enough to render a blazing fire upon the hearth comfortable. It looked so cheerful, too. After breakfast Mary retired to her 194 The Home Circle. own chamber, where her mother, her sisters and her bridemaids called upon her very often ; the little girls, particularly, who could not tie a ribbon with- out consulting her. Sarah, the sister next her in years, had only returned from school after a long absence. She sat prim and dignified, feeling so shy that she scarcely knew how to take her proper place in her father's house. She had never attended a wedding before, and was afraid of saying or doing something that would not be considered exactly right in the eyes of her young associates. She was growing very fast, and the poor child felt scarcely accustomed to her own size. Elly did not even know her. This state of things was soon remedied, as she was not sent back, but remained at home to grow into the place of her oldest sister. About eight o'clock the guests began to arrive. Some of them lived at such a distance that they wished to change their dresses for something more suitable for the occasion. For this purpose they went into a warm room appropriated to their use, and in a few minutes it was full of chat, with many little peals of laughter half subdued, for this going to meeting and saying the solemn words in a large assembly was a serious matter even to their light hearts, and one after an- other declared she "never would be married by meeting," and she " never could stand up before so many people," and that she "never could get the words out of her mouth." But I may as well men- The Home Circle. 195 tion that most of them lived to change their minds, and when the time came felt themselves duly pre- pared, while their bridemaids and young com- panions in turn declared they "couldn't" and "wouldn't," after which they generally did. The description of the bride's dress will answer for all her attendants and maiden friends, who, like herself, were very sweet and pretty to look at. Mary wore a Canton crape of pearl color, delicate and pure. It was made with a narrow skirt and short waist, low in the neck, and finished off with a ruffle called a tucker. A small, thin India muslin cape was worn outside, through which the folds of the tucker were seen. The sleeves were short, and she wore long white kid gloves, which covered her arms. Her hair, soft and smooth, was covered with a cap assumed in token of matronly dignity, and over this a plain silk bonnet of the same delicate hue as her dress was worn. Her slippers were also light-col- ored, and as Charles handed her into the carriage he thought he had never seen a fairer woman, and wondered at his own happiness. As he drove off the others followed in quick succession — one gig rolling out after another, resplendent with shining fixtures, and drawn by the finest horses, the young men piquing themselves upon their handsome turn- outs. The father and mother, with the children, and some elderly Friends, had already gone on and were seated in the meeting-house when the wedding party arrived 196 The Home Circle. Two or three colored men were there to take charge of the horses, and after the gigs had driven up and the company alighted, Charles, with Mary's hand on his arm, walked in the open door and along the aisle until he came to the front benches, where his uncle David and Mary's father and mother were sitting, on the lower bench of the gallery facing the meeting. Handing Mary to a seat next her mother, he sat down beside her. In the meantime the com- pany, following in the same order, took their seats, the bridemaids and groomsmen opposite the bride and groom, the rest on the benches behind the " waiters." The meeting became very still — almost painfully so to some of the younger members — only interrupted now and then by a sudden rustle as some inadvertent movement among the wedding guests startled the rest with the idea that the ceremony was about to begin. At last Charles taking Mary's hand, they rose and stood together. Charles then said the solemn words which bound their lives together : " In the presence of the Lord and this assembly I take Mary Stewart to be my wife, promising, with Divine assistance, to be unto her a faithful and affec- tionate husband until death shall separate us." Then Mary said, in a low, clear voice : "In the presence of the Lord and this assembly I take Charles Hilton to be my husband, promising to be unto him a faithful and affectionate wife until death shall separate us." The Home Circle. 197 This was all, and they were married. After they sat down there was a general rustle of relief, and silence again ensued, broken by an aged and tremu- lous voice, whose work was almost done, that spoke a few words of cheer, comfort, and encouragement to those who seemed to be just beginning life ; end- ing with the words: " Once I was young and now am I old, but never have I seen the righteous for- saken or his seed begging bread." Another pause; then two of the groomsmen went over to the side of the meeting-house and brought a small table which had been placed there for the purpose, and put it before the groom ; the ink and the pen were also in readiness, and the newly-made husband signed his name to the marriage certificate spread before him — Charles Hilton; and immediately below that the wife signed hers — Mary Hilton. The table was set aside and the certificate of marriage read aloud by one of the Friends who had been previously asked to assist at the ceremony. It was then placed on the table again, in order that any one of the assembly might sign his or her name before it was taken home to Mary, to whom it would belong. The wed- ding company rose, the rest of the people present waiting until they had passed out ; the horses were brought, and the merry procession made its way back to Ellwood Stewart's, where several tables were ready, covered with an ample supply of provisions for the many guests. Would you like to know what they had for dinner 198 The Home Circle. and supper ? Well, they had turkeys, roast beef and chickens, with vegetables of different kinds. The butter was shaped into fanciful forms and decorated with the beautiful green leaves of curled parsley, which had been sown and nursed in the kitchen window for this very purpose. They had pies and custards without limit. Also tea and coffee, with the richest of cream to put in them. They had large pound cakes, made of fresh butter and fresh eggs, by the hands of the bridemaids, and small cakes of different varieties. They had loaves of fresh bread baked in the great oven, and muffins, waffles, and buns; "preserved" fruits, but no canned — it was before the time of canned fruits— nor had they any iced cream ; but never having been accustomed to these luxuries, they did not miss them. And these good things were served upon dainty old china, real Chinese porcelain ; the willow tree, the bridge, the runaway lovers on it, with the angry father pursuing, and the doves into which the lovers were turned, all pictured on every piece. And one of the best things that happened was, that all the poor people of the neighborhood were invited and felt great freedom to go to " Miss Mary's wedding," where, after the first dinner was over, a table was set for them, and they ate and drank heartily, carrying home a goodly share to the old people and children who were not able to come, so that all rejoiced together. The young people kept together for several days, The Home Circle. 199 going with Mary to her new home and assisting in her little arrangements for its comfort. You may be sure they had amusement enough, though music and dancing were not looked upon favorably. Some among them had very sweet voices, and Burns was a great favorite, so that it was not to be expected they should always refrain from singing. "Ye Banks and Braes of Bonny Doon" was some- times heard, but never when any one was likely to object j for in those days youth treated old age with reverence. The older members of the party enjoyed them- selves also. They recalled the incidents of their youth, relating many which happened in the days, gone by, before the country was well settled. Some memories ran back to the " Revolution," when the "Friends" were exposed alike to the depredations of either party, and were thought entitled to the protection of none on account of their unwillingness to take up arms. Many of these "Friends" had conversational powers of a high order, cultivated by their manner of living. They had habits of close observation, and what they knew they knew thor- oughly. They allowed themselves to be led by no man; the very form of their church discipline tending to this independence. Fond of reading, vigorous in expression, they had a quaint, racy fashion of speech that rendered their talk very agreeable. A knot of young people was always around them, and one could scarcely spend ten minutes in their company without 200 The Home Circle. hearing something worth remembering. The very- fact that they were driven in upon themselves, and repulsed by others, gave them a warmer and more unselfish love for each other, and one could scarcely help improving in a society that knew nothing of expediency when separated from right. THE END. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IllPllllll II !! Ill HIM 022 216 778 4