m^i9 %&.''"

*!

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

ACQUIRED BY EXCHANGE

BESSIE;

[mmmnm of ^* §mt\\iUx

OF A NEW ENGLAND CLERGYMAN OF THE
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

^imvlt Jaftis, J*imi)ly i^U,
BY A GRANDMOTHER.

NEW HAVEN:
J. 11. BENHAM, STIi\M PRIXTEB, OLEBE BniLmSfl.
1861.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861,
BY A. F. CARE1N6T0N,
In the Clerk's office of the District Court of Connecticut.

PREFACE.

Who ever reads a preface] — not "children. In childhood I
was not very different from other children ; and when read
ing a book, I always skipped all preliminary remarka Most
of the books in my father's library were prefaced by so many
closely printed pages of uninteresting matter, I never could
bring my mind to worry throngh them, and so far as I was
benefitted, they might as well never have been written.
I well remember, when searching among tliose ancient
volumes, to find a book that wonld be interesting to read,
after selecting one with a promising title, how tiresome it
was, before eoQiing to the subjeet matter, to be obliged to
t urn over so many leaves of preface, and when congratula
ting myself that I had at length got to the end of it, how
discouraged I felt to find added as many more pages of in
troduction. Upon reading such books, I found they were the most un
interesting of any, and the length of the preamble finally be
came a test to judge ^f the merits of a book ; and when I
found it was long, I tbifew the book aside as not worth the
perusal. In that respect, modern authors have improved.
Their preambles are not only shorter, but printed in much
larger type, and I have sometimes been decoyed into reading
them by the coarseness of the print, but have never given
th^jp sufficient attention to know what the subject of such
remarks should be, and was much surprised, upon giving my

11 PREFACE.
manuscript to a friend to read, by his observing that some
of the closing sentences more properly belonged to the pre
face. From that remark, I inferred that a preface should not
only contain the author's reason for writing a book, but
should also give a sketch of its contents.
This book was written expressly for the gratification of
my grandchildren, and although a child's book, aged people
have expressed much pleasure in hearing the manuscript read,
and by their request I have been induced to have it pub
lished. It has been my object to snatch from oblivion many ancient
customs of which the present generation are ignorant, and
also to give to the world, not " The Shad}-," nor " Tho
Sunny," but a blending of both in the " true side " of a pas
tor's life.
The story is just what it claims to be, a true one, and is
already so much condensed, that to attempt an outline even
would be to write it twice over.
I am convinced that some of tlie preliminary remarks are
at the end instead of the beginning, and although a blunder
I do toot regret it, for it will come right to such readers as
are accustomed to commence a book upon the last page, and
will also insure the reading by children who have a habit
of skipping the preface.
In giving this narrative to the world, if it does no good, I
trust it will do no harm. Hoping it will give pleasure to
the reader, I submit it, witli all its imperfections, to the
public.
THE AUTH0RKS8.

CONTENTS.
ohapteb. page.
I. Introduction  9
II. Grandmother's Stobt,  16
HI. Bessie's BiRTnpLACE,  24
IV. Bessie's Mother  32
V. Bessie's First Grief,.  41
VI. Bessie's Meetinghouse,  49
VII. Bessie's Schoolhouse,  58
VIII. Bessie's B.tBYHOusE and Bessie's Babbeb,  68
IX. Bessie's Home,  15
X. Bessie's Neighbobs,  92
XI. Bessie's Visit to Her Gband.motheb,  103
XII. Picking Whoetlebebries,  lOt
XIII. Bessie Leabns to Spin upon a Quill Wheel,. . . Ill
XIV. Bessie's Fibst Visit to the Citv,  125
XV. The Dancing School,  135
XVL The Donation Visit,  145
XVII. The Singing School,  153
XVIII. Bessie Learning TO Weave,  165
XIX. Bessie's Jouknet to a City,  173
XX. Bessie Keeping School,  185
XXI. Peace is Fboclaimed,  195
XXIL Thasksqivinq Day,  205
XXIIL Puritan Wedding,  213

BESSIE.

CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
In the State of Connecticut, so near the city
of New York that gentlemen go there daily to
attend to business, in the center of a town of
some pretensions, may be seen an antiquated
building, that has stood firm through the storms
and blasts of more than a hundred winters.
Were it not for the deep yard in front, filled
with lofty trees, that in summer are clothed
with such thick foliage as almost to screen it
from the passers-by, such an unsightly object
would not long be allowed to retain a location
so attractive.
I have often wondered that beggars should
select such a place for charity, in preference to
the many splendid mansions by which it is sur
rounded. But there is something forbidding in

10 BESSIE.
those doors that lock when they close — emble
matical of closed hands and inaccessible hearts —
while an open door looks more inviting, and
you expect to find within, not only open hands
but unsuspecting, sympathizing hearts. Per
haps such vagrants have found in their experi
ence, that the poor who have known want, are
more ready to give of their poverty than the rich
of their abundance, and if their wants cannot
all be relieved by the poorer class, (for to sup
ply them all would require unbounded wealth,)
yet they are almost sure to receive from such,
not only kind words, but aid to the utmost ex
tent of their ability.
The interior of that ancient habitation, (so
attractive to wanderers,) is divided into nu
merous apartments of various dimensions, with
nooks and crannies beside, sufficient to bewil
der a modern architect. The windows are
small, and the ceiling so low that tall persons
are obliged to stoop in passing the doorway.
One of the lower front rooms is large, and
square, and is warmed in winter by an open
stove, with a pipe extending to the room above.

BESSIE. 11
The stove is now filled to its utmost capacity
with anthracite coal, for it is a bitter night, and
although the fire is burning brightly, it is found
almost impossible on such a night to make the
inmates of the room comfortable.
In the corner, seated in "an old arm chair,"
is an aged female, busily engaged in knitting
stockings for her grandchildren. She has a
lamp on a small stand by her side, for her
eyes have grown dim from age, and sorrow
has left deep furrows upon her cheeks.
Knitting has become her only pastime. In
deed she has become incapable of doing much
beside, but as she knits round and round the
stocking, it grows like magic beneath her fin
gers. By the motion of her lips she appears to be
counting the stitches, but a qlose observer can
see that when she has gone round, the count
ing does not stop, but she continues to knit,
and to count unceasingly.
Knitting has become such a habit that she
cari shape a stocking nicely while her mind is
wandering from her employment,

12 BESSIE.
She is now apparently unconscious of every
tiling that is going on around her, and her
thoughts appear to be far away from her occu
pation, probably living over again past scenes,
but Avhether joyous or sad, ber countenance
gives no indication.
In the room are four little boys, the eldest is
trying to read by the light of an astral lamp,
which is burning brightly upon the opposite
side of tbe room from where the old lady is
seated. But it is so boisterous without, and
there is so much confusion, within, if he had
not the faculty of abstraction, it would be im
possible for him to fix his mind upon the book
he is endeavoring to read. The three younger
are amusing themselves as boys often do — ^one
of them is trying to build a house with bloc'cs,
and another is sure to knock it down at the
moment, and sometimes before, it is completed.
Such conduct elicits angry words, and occit-
sionally blows from the injured one, who is
obliged to witness go unexpectedly the demoli
tion of his beautiful structure at the moment
he had supposed it completed.

BESSIE. 13
At any unusual outburst, the old lady ap
peared not only to knit faster, but in a more
nervous manner, evidently disturbed by the
contending elements without, as well as by
the contending elements within. It is a bleak
night in mid-winter, but she heeds not the
wintry winds that ever and anon come in such
fitful gusts, as to make every door and window
in the old house clatter. And were it not at
such times that she drew her shawl closer, you
would suppose her insensible even to cold.
A bright little girl is seated on a low chair
by her side, with a couple of large knitting-
needles in her hands, trying to learn to knit
by watching the motions of her grandmother.
Every few moments she rises to examine more
closely how the old lady puts the yarn over
the needle, then she reseats herself and again
makes an attempt to knit. Having at length
succeeded in learning the stitch, her only ob
ject appears to be accomplished. Weary of her
occupation she throws the needles aside, and
with an air and manner indicative of disgust,
very abruptly exclaims,

14 BESSIE.
" Grandmother, do tell me a story."
The old lady did not seem to hear, but with
increased speed the knitting and counting con
tinued. ;¦
The little girl who made this request was a
very plain looking child, especially when a
frown was upon her face ; but when she smiled,
her countenance beamed with such irresisti
ble sweetness, that she looked really beautiful.
After waiting a short time for an answer, and
getting none, she again addressed her grand
mother, but in a more gentle manner, having a
sweet smile upon her face.
" Grandmother, please tell me a true story."
The improved manner in asking, and the
simple word " truth" now caught the old lady's
attention, effectually arousing her from her rev
erie, and in a tremulous voice she replied in
true Yankee style, by asking the question :
" Is it a true story, my child, that you wish
me to tell ?"
" Oh! yes, grandmother, a "true story."
The old lady loved the truth, for she had
been taught the value of it from her wf^ncy.

BESSIE. 15
She was born and educated in a New Eng
land village, where the truths of the Bible were
faithfully preached in the pulpit upon the Sab
bath, and indelibly impressed upon the minds
of the hearers, by the exemplary life of the pas
tor through the week, which was a more con
vincing proof that he fully believed what he
taught, than all the sermons which he could
have preached would have been without a cor
responding life.
The winds had now sunk to repose, and the
little boys were quietly sleeping. The old lady
sympathizing with the calmness around her,
grew less nervous and deliberately rolled up
her knitting. Placing the ball upon the ends
of her needles, and pinning the knitting sheath
upon the outside of the roll, it soon found its
way to her capacious pocket. The little girl
all the while, eagerly watched her grand
mother's movements with breathless impa
tience, hoping she would begin the story.
The old lady, then drew her shawl more
closely around her, and folding her arms across
her lap, at once commenced.

16 BESSIE.
CHAPTER II.
ClftANDMOTHER's STORf.
A sketch of the pastor's early life. His wooing. His settla-
ment. The new home and reception of the young couple.
The Church.
Mt head has not felt quite clear to-night,
and perhaps my story will be as confused as
my brain, and should you discover any broken
links in the chain, you must attribute it to that
and to the infirmities of age.
I shall endeavor to recall scenes of olden
times, and relate incidents that occurred long,
long ago, and if my narrative should fail to be
interesting, you may derive some satisfaction
from the assurance that it is no fiction.
Nearly a hundred years ago, there lived on a
rocky New England farm, a widow, having six
children. Five of them were sons. The eld
est had received a liberal education before his
father's decease, and the three next in age were
sturdy boys, and were well calculated to till the
rocky soil. The youngest, however, had no in-

BESSIE. 17
clination to labor. He was of a slender make,
and books and study were his delight. He
was so fond of these, and so desirous to obtain
a classical education, that his mother thought
best to indulge him, and determined as much
as was in her power, to assist him to accomplish
his wish. Her f^grm was her only support, the
product of which was insufficient to send him
away to schooL He could learn the first prin
ciples at home, and she would be his teacher.
He was fond of his mother, and such boys are
u^ially successful in life, if their fondness is
accompanied by obedience.
This little boy was oTjedient as well as lov
ing, ready and willing at all times to attend to
his mother's every wish. Day after day be
might be seen seated by her side, studying his
Latia grammar, which he very soon committed
to memory ; and to fix it in his mind, he was
in the habit of repeating it to himself, in the
morning before he left his bed.
S*ich unremittjsQg labor, was eventually
crowned with success. His eldest brother hav-
-ing rendered all the requisite a:«sist3Dce to fit

18 BESSIE.
him for College, he entered the Sophomore
class, and graduated with honor, at Yale Col
lege, and left the institution with an unblem
ished character, at an early age.
While in College, he sought and obtained an
interest in the Savior ; and determined to de
vote his life and talents to His service, by be
coming a preacher of the gospel.
He pursued his theological studies in the
family of an old divine — ^for at that time there
were no theological schools — and became tho
roughly indoctrinated in the truths of the Bible.
Now came a time of trial with this young stu
dent. He had spent his portion of the inheri
tance left by his father, in his collegiate course
of studies, and his mother had become palsied,
and was unable to render him any more aid,
and he had no means to complete his educa
tion. He must therefore depend upon his own
efforts, and having music in his soul, and a me
lodious voice, he resolved to become a teacher
of music. To resolve with him was to act,
and at once he opened a school in the parish
where the divine resided, with whom he pros-

BESSIE. 19
ecuted his studies. During his course of pre
paratory study, his circumstances had so much
improved, that at the close of it, he was not
only able to pay up his board bill, but was the
owner of a horse and watch, and had a few
shillings in his pocket beside.
He had now become celebrated as an instruc
tor of music, and was invited to a neighboring
town to teach the science. Stopping in the
place at the time, was a young lady of gentle
blood, who was induced to attend the school
for the purpose of listening to the sweet musi
cian. That step decided her destiny, for she
was not only charmed with the song, but the
songstei:, and the attraction being mutual, a
connection was soon formed which Avas not
severed until more than half a century after,
death dissolving the tie.
At the close of his school he received an in
vitation to preach in a country town, not far
from his native place. The people very soon
united in giving him a call, and he became a
settled pastor, upon a salary of $300 a year.
The goods for housekeeping purposes had

20 BESSIE.
been sent in advance of the young couple, who,
on arriving at their new home, found that the
people, — many from kind intentions, but more
from motives of curiosity, — had ransacked all
their drawers, and had made an attempt to ar
range the furniture, even to the hanging of the
curtains. These were of figured chintz, and
had been hung by them, upside down.
Their dwelling was a mile south of the
meeting house. At that time, not the house
of God, but the people of God, were called the
church ; such as had separated themselves from
the world and professed their faith in the Sa
vior, realising their depravity by nature, their
need and utter helplessness, and believing that
He who had redeemed and justified, would
finally sanctify, and save all who believed on
His name, and of such believers the church is
composed. His pro/issserf followers constituted
the visible, and his real followers made ap the
invisible church. And in these plain, pious
times of which I am speaking, nothing was
known of a church, composed of wood, stones,
bricksaadmortax. Our good fathers aijd moth-

BESSIE, 21
ers of that day would not have tolerated such
a misuse of this consecrated word. The only
church they knew anything about was one
wrought out of "lively stones, built up a, spir
itual bouse, a holy priesthood, to offer up spir
itual sacrifices acceptable to God, by Jesus
Christ." That church is now in its militant
and imperfect state. Hereafter it will be a glo
rious and perfect church — the general assembly
and church of the first born, which are written
in Heaven. The church of the living God
will live in everlasting life, when all these ma
terial structures shall have crumbled and passed
away. This minister was a scholar, and always so
much absorbed in his studies and his books,
that the cares of the family necessarily de
volved upon his wife. She had been accus
tomed to all the luxuries of life, and often
found it difficult, with such limited means, to
provide for the wants of her household. She
was continually compelled to devise the most
economical plans for the expenditure of the
small salary, that her family might make a re-

22 BESSIE.
spectable appearance in the world. And by
persevering effort, she succeeded in maintaining
the comforts of home.
This young couple struggled on together
through a long life. Their united labors, and
sufferings are now ended, and they are lying
side by side in the quiet graveyard, sleeping
peacefully together.
The old lady became choked with emotion,
and suddenly stopped.
" Grandmother, is that the end of the story?"
No, my child, that is only the beginning.
The little girl whom I propose to make the
heroine of my story, was the daughter of that
worthy couple, whose history I have so imper
fectly sketched. I am now so much fatigued
that 1 cannot talk any more to-night, but after
I have rested, if you will remind me, I will
resume my narrative.
The next morning the old lady appeared
quite refreshed, and little Anna did not forget
to remind her of her promise, and her grand
mother thus continued.,
I have related this brief sketch of Bessie's

BESSIE. 23
parents, that you might know her origin, and
why it was that in childhood she was subjected
to so many privations, and also the source from
which she derived so much self-reliance, and
untiring perseverance.

24 BESSIE

CHAPTER III.
Bessie's birthplace.
A bell in the meeting-house, and a belle in the parsonage.
The mother's fright. Farming. The crazy nurse. An
economical spinster. " The widow's son."
Bessie was born in a low farm house, situ
ated a mile north of the meeting-house, upon a
high hill. It was partly inclosed by woodland
which hid the eastern prospect. The western
view, however, was exceedingly beautiful, the
undulating country being open and cultivated
for miles in that direction, and dotted here and
there by low farm houses, which, in the dis
tance, made it look quite picturesque.
The same year in which Bessie was born,
(and possibly the same time,) the first bell was
hung in the meeting-house, where her father
proclaimed the Gospel. And thereafter, while
his voice aroused the consciences of the hearers
by his earnest and unceasing exhortation to re
pentance, the clear sounding bell awoke the

BESSIE. 25
echoes of the hills and valleys of the surround
ing woodland.
The meeiing-house was situated upon an
eminence, at the northern extremity of a large
green or " common," a beautiful location, and
upon the same spot, it is supposed, where an
Indian tribe once worshiped the Great Spirit,
and near where their chiefs smoked the peace-
pipe around their council fire. At the time of
my story their pipes had long since been smok
ed out ; the wigwam fires extinguished. These
Indian tribes were long since scattered, having
fled at the first sound of the white man's ax.
An old " tavern house" stood upon the same
spot, it is supposed which an Indian chief had
formerly chosen for his wigwam, and upon the
opposite side of the green was a dwelling house
with an L, which was used for mercantile
purposes. As our fathers thought the preaching
of the Gospel was of more consequence than
any thing else, they also thought the house of
worship should be placed in the most conspic
uous location.
In winter, in that region of country the
3

26 BESSIE.
ground is covered with snow, and Bessie's
mother usually improved the fine sleighing to
make the most distant visits among her hus
band's parishioners, for at that time it was
thought that to visit all the families of the par
ish was the duty of the pastor's wife, as well
as of the pastor himself.
One cold day in winter, when the sleigh
ing was good and her husband was going to
visit one of his more distant parishioners, she
wrapped up Bessie (who was the baby) closely
in blankets, placing her under her cloak, and
prepared to accompany him. They only went
for a call, expecting to return before dark, but
the good people whom they called upon would
not consent to their leaving, until they had
taken tea. The tea was a long time coming,
which made it late before they started for home.
As the evening advanced, the weather grew
colder, and the mother wrapped her babe more
closely, to keep it from freezing. After a time
the child appeared heavier to its mother, and
she could perceive no motion. She began to
be alarmed. She shook the child, but it gave

BESSIE. 27
no sign of life. She became very much excited
and alarmed, and told her husband that she
feared the child was dead. They were then
far from any habitation. At that time in that
part of Connecticut, the houses were few and
far between.
Her husband drove with all possible speed,
and at length reached a farm house. As soon
as the horse stopped at the door, the mother,
with the babe in her arms, jumped from the
sleigh, unceremoniously entered the house
without any salutation, laid her babe upon an
old lady's lap, who was sitting quietly in her
rocking chair, and who had not time to rise, so
abrupt and sudden was the entrance, telling
her at the same time that the child was dead,
and that she felt afraid to look at it, and then
turned and gave way to her grief. The old
lady leisurely unpinned and opened the blanket
to examine the dead baby, but the moment the
light struck the child's eyes, she stretched up
both arms as if awakened from sleep. It was
late and she was only quietly taking her eve-
ing nap. The old lady then called the mother.

28 BESSIE.
who was overjoyed to find her child still alive
and with a thankful heart re- wrapped her babe,
and pursued her journey homeward.
Bessie's father had- removed from his first
residence to this farm house, in the hope of
adding to his home-comforts, by cultivating
land. His wife's father was a wealthy farmer,
who provided him with all kinds of farming im
plements, to encourage him in the undertaking.
Notwithstanding, the farming proved an utter
failure. They could not afford to hire help,
and as a substitute took into their family a
small boy, who was a kinsman, and whose
mother was a widow. They were to clothe,
feed, and school him for' his services ; but the
boy, more fond of his books than work, was of
very little use upou the farm. When .sent out
to work alone, (for the clergyman, engaged in
study, could not always go with him,) he was
sure to be found lying in the shade of a tree,
with a book in his hand, either reading or
studying. The clergyman knew how to sympathize
with one who evinced such a deiSire for knowl-

BESSIE. 29
edge, and determined to teach him what he
could. The family very soon left the farm,
but they kept the boy, and many years after,
when he had shown his courage in battle upon
the sea, (for he was a captain, and afterwards
promoted to the rank of commodore in the
Navy,) he attributed his rise in the world to
the instruction he then and there received.
The clergyman always retained his love for
his mother, and would often visit her. She
was palsied and bed-ridden, and could not
visit him. Upon one such occasion he took
his wife with him, leaving Bessie in charge of
a woman partially deranged, (who was very
fond of stayitig at the house,) and also left the
boy to keep watch of her movements. She
had always appeared sane while with them,
and concluded it would be perfectly safe to
leave the child in her care. She was very
neat, and after she had washed and wiped the
dishes until they shone, she would not allow
them to be used again until the clergyman
and his wife returned. She insisted upon the
boy taking his dinner upon a large clean chip,

30 BESSIE.
who was obliged to submit. She then swept
the sand upon the floor in the form of a herring
bone, dressed Bessie in a white frock, which
was never worn except on great occasions, laid
her across her lap, that it might remain smooth,
and there sat erect, patiently waiting the return
of the parents ; and in that position they found
her, and the boy outside the door watching her
motions, for after sweeping the floor she would
not allow him again to enter.
At another time when the family was away,
they left a sane woman, as housekeeper, in
charge of the boy. She felt the responsibility
of her situation, and saw the necessity of prac
tising the strictest economy. She commenced
her saving process by withholding butter from
the boy, and would not allow him any with
his meals. He remonstrated, and told her that
the family were always in the habit of having
butter upon the table, and that he did not rel
ish his food without it. She replied, " If you
do not like it, you can eat the less of it."
Many years after, when upon a visit to the
clergyman, he was heard to remark, that he

BESSIE. 31
never forgot the saying ; but many a time, at
sea, when compelled to eat unwholesome food
that he could not relish, he always acted upon
her suggestion, and "ate the less of it,"

3'i' B E S

CHAPTER IV,

Bessie's Mother. Her personal appearance. Troubles oc
casioned by her curling tresses. Ancient custom. Vis
itors. The various scenes in the life of Bessie and
her mother are so blended together, that I find
it difficult to give a correct history of Bessie
without portraying at the same time many
traits of her mother's character, and as you
may wish to form some idea of her personal
appearance, I will pause in my narrative to de
scribe it. Her good qualities will be sufficient
ly exhibited as I proceed with my story.
Bessie's mother was not pretty. She was tall,
her movements graceful, and her figure so
slender that a half yard would meet around her
waist. Her complexion was dark, her eyes
gray, and her beautiful hair, that curled natu-
4,..
rally, and fell gracefully over her neck and
shoulders, and a high intellectual forehead.

BESSIE. 33
made her more than ordinarily good looking.
Her beautiful tresses had always been a source
of trouble to her. When a girl, it was fashion
able to comb the hair smoothly over a cushion,
upon the top of the head, and to fasten it with
a quill. Whenever she attempted to dress her's
in that way, she found it impossible to make
it lay smoothly, and every means she used for
the purpose only made it curl the more.
Those ringlets, which she found so trouble
some to arrange in her youth, were now fash
ionable, as well as ornamental ; but they were
likely to continue to be a source of trouble ; for
since she had herself become reconciled to them,
they were an occasion of grief to others. One
good brother in the church, was grieved to
think his minister's wife should spend so much
precious time it) curling her hair, and considered
it to be a sufficient cause for church discipline.
He, therefore, contrary to the Scripture rule
in such cases, called upon the clergyman to
make his complaint, instead of going to the
clergyman's wife, the real offender. At that
time, when the Bible was read more than any

34 BESSIE.
Other book, it is very strange that he should
have done so ; but good people, even then,
sometimes erred. It was rather a delicate sub
ject to introduce to the good minister, especial
ly when his own wife was the subject of re
proof. But he was so much impressed with
the belief that it was his duty, that he mustered
courage to tell his grievance. The clergyman,
after patiently hearing him through, replied, " I
hope you will forgive her, for it is her infirm
ity." Having become convinced that it was
really a misfortune, the aggrieved brother left,
apparently reconciled.
Bessie's grandfather was in affluent circum
stances, and her mother received from him a
fine setting out in the world at the commence
ment of her married life.
" Grandmother, what is a setting out ?"
" Why, it is what people in these degenerate
days call furnishing a house. Gentlemen fur
nish their own houses now, you know, but at
that time, no young lady would think of getting
married until she had spun and woven cloth
sufficient for her sheets and table cloths, and

BESSIE. 35
had filled a pillow-bier with stockings of her
own knitting."
" What is a pillow-bier, grandmother?"
" Why, what an ignorant child yon are of
the most simple things. Have you never read
in the Bible that the dead were carried upon
biers ? Sleep, is an emblem of death, and peo
ple in that state rest upon their pillows ; and to
call the covering a pillow-bier, is more sensible,
I think, than pillow-case. Why the name was
ever changed, I cannot imagine, unless through
the influence of the Romanists, who are very
fond of perverting the Scriptures."
In those days the knitting was done in the
evening, and by the poorer class who could not
afford candles, by the light of the pitch pine
knots, which were hung in the chimney.
The fireplace was so broad and deep as to
admit of a "form " on either side, upon which
the females of a family would sit, and knit on
winter evenings by the light of the blazing
knots, protected from the air on every side but
one. The father of the family, screened from the

36 BESSIE.
cold by the round table drawn up in front,
with its leaf turned up for a back, (for the table
served the double purpose of an arm chair and
a table,) would sit and comfortably doze until
bed-time. The young girls would sometimes prolong
the knitting until a late hour, and until the
cold compelled them to retire, for they were
anxious to fill their pillow-biers.
Either from some mismanagement upon the
farm, or from increased family expenses, at the
close of the year the clergyman found himself
in debt, and concluded that the only way to
surmount the difficulty would be to ask for a
dismission. Two elderly ladies, a mother and
daughter, who were members of the church,
having heard of his intention, came immediately
to see him, and to spend the afternoon and
take tea. They were both very fond of their
minister, but were more fond of the tea-drink
ing. Their object at this time in coming
was to see if some plan could not be devised to
lessen his expenses, and so the minister be en
abled to remain with his people. They arri-

BESSIE. 37
ved at the parsonage about two o'clock in the
afternoon, which was the usual hour to go a
" visiting," each having her knitting.
It was Bessie's province on all such occa
sions to see that the visitors were seated in the
best room, and to carefully lay away their
bonnets and shawls. These preliminaries over,
the clergyman would soon appear, and after
the usual greetings the knitting would com
mence. It was expected, of course; that Bessie would
behave with the greatest propriety, which con
sisted in sitting quietly and listening to the
conversation of others ; but never to speak her
self unless first spoken to. In those days, the
good old rule was in force, " Children should
be seen not heard." Now-a-days it is pretty
much out of fashion, I'm afraid.
Very soon the old lady began to express her
sorrow at the idea of parting with her pastor,
and with her eyes filled with tears, she wished
to know if there could not be some way con
trived for him to live upon less money. When
he replied that he knew of none, she inquired

38 BESSIE.
if the family could not dispense with tea in
the afternoon, and substitute baked apples and
milk. She said that her family often made
a supper of them, and she thought they were
very good and wholesome. He replied in
answer to her suggestion, that he was not
fond of apple and milk, and he could not see
how, by making a supper of it, his expenses
would be lessened, for he should be obliged
to buy both apples and milk. It was a new
idea to her, that the garden at the parsonage
did not yield all the comforts of a farm. She
looked sad and dejected, for she could think
of nothing else to propose. Bessie was quite
relieved when she was called upon to assist in
setting the tea table, for she had been still a
long time. She 'brought out a few things at
a time, to prevent dropping them, and also to
prolong the exercise. As soon as the tea drink
ing Avas over, the ladies exipressed a wish to be
" going," that they riiight be home in time to
milk. In that heailthy employment the females
of a family were always expected, to assist.
Bessie brought ^to them their outer garments

BESSIE. 39
with the greatest alacrity, for she had been
taught not only to welcome the coming, but
also to speed the parting guest.
" Did Bessie's father move away from that
place, grandmother?"
"No, my child. His people all expressed
much sorrow at the idea of a separation ; and
to prevent the necessity, they proposed to loan
him a hundred dollars, taking his note on in
terest for security, which sum would relieve
him from his present embarrassment^ He
therefore concluded to remain, from a sense of
duty, for he considered the union of pastor
and people to be almost as sacred as the mar
riage covenant, and that neither should be bro
ken without good and sufficient reasons. But
now, when sin abounds, the clergy are kept
continually upon the move, that the people
may not have time to receive benefit from
their preaching. At the same time, the mar
riage vow is equally lax. I have been told
that the statute laws of the State of Connecti
cut allow seventeen causes for divorce, while
the Scriptures allow but one. And when any

40 BESSIE.
were separated, according to that holy law, they
were to remain unmarried. But now, judging
from the rapidity with which some who have
been liberated from the matrimonial yoke again
renew their bondage, it would seem that the
desire to form a second connection was the
sole reason for wishing to dissolve the first."
Bessie's mother had been homesick upon her
first coming to the town. Their dwelling at
that time was a half a mile from their nearest
neighbor. When her husband was engaged in
study, she would go out to the highest point
of land, in the rear of the house, where she
could get a view of her native hills, and sit
alone and weep. But the cares of life soon
pressed so heavily upon her, that she found little
time to indulge in such morbid sensibility, and
ever after strove to look upon the bright side.

BESSIE. 41

CHAPTER V

When Bessie was two years old, she com
menced her education, and learned the alphabet
the same summer, by the side of a school mis
tress, who Avas her teacher,
Bessie had a little sister two years older than
herself, who was her companion. She was a
lovely, loving child, to whom Bessie clung
with all a sister's affection. They were play
mates who never separated. Wherever you saw
Bessie, there you would see the gentle Clara,
like a guardian angel, to protect her. They
gathered moss from the same wood, and played
together upon the same ledge of rocks, in the
rear of their father's dwelling. They would
often repeat together those beautiful hymns,
written by Dr. Watts expressly for children.
The one of most frequent repetition, that par
ticularly struck their youthful fancy, was " Tho

42 BESSIE.
Busy Bee," and another especial favorite was
" Whatever brawls disturb the street,
There should be peace at home,
Wliere sisters dwell, and brothers meet,
Quarrels should never come."
And there was peace in that dear father's
home, where contention and bitterness never
found their way. True, they did not have all
the elegant appendages of fashionable life, but
they had all that was necessary for comfort, and
they enjoyed, in its perfection, that peace which
the world could not give nor take away.
At night, when the little sisters laid their
heads upon their pillows, they would repeat
that little prayer, so expressive, and so easily
comprehended by children :
" Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep ;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.''
They would then fall asleep in each other's
arms, and quietly rest, until the singing of the
birds awoke them in the morning, when they
would renew their innocent pleasures of the
previous day. But such happiness could not
always last. A blight soon fell upon Bessie's

BESSIE. 43
young heart. The gentle, lovely Clara, too
pure for such a sinful world as this, was con
veyed by angels, while asleep, to her Father's
home in Heaven. This was little Bessie's first
grief. She did not express her sorrow as many
children do, by cries and lamentations, but
seemed almost paralyzed. She would sit still
for hours without speaking, and when told by
her mother to go out and play, she would start
up suddenly and go out, and wander over the
ledge of rocks, where she had so often played
with her sister, looking mournfully at the
moss, that she now had no heart to gather ;
then she would return to the house and sit
listless as before.
Her mother, who had been so much depress
ed by her own sorrow as to be unmindful of
her little girl's grief, soon awoke to the neces
sity of trying to interest her, and, as she had
found in her own experience, that active em
ployment was the best antidote for grief, she
thought she would try the remedy upon her
child. She began to call upon her to assist in
every possible way in the household occupa-

44 BESSIE.
tions, and while in this manner she was en
gaged in trying to assuage her child's grief,,
she in a measure forgot her own.
I think Bessie's parents had made an idol of
Clara, and that might have been the reason
why she was taken from them, for the Lord
does not approve of idol worship, not even of
so natural an object as an own child.
It would have been difficult, however, for
any one not to be devoted to so lovely an ob
ject. She had such a sweet disposition, always
ready to yield to Bessie, and give up, to please
her, any little plaything she happened to pos
sess. She , was also an obedient child ; and
when told by her parents to perform any ser
vice, she would not delay a moment, but would
cheerfully obey their commands, and appeared
delighted that it was in her power, in any way,
to assist them.
She had also inherited her father's sweet
voice, and had committed to memory many
of those delightful hymns in Watt's Divine
Songs, and would sing them so melodiously as
almost to enchant those who listened to her

BESSIE, 45
sweet strains. And, to crown all, she was very
pretty. With her soft black eyes, and dark
brown hair, which curled naturally, and fell
gracefully over her neck and shoulders ; with
a fair complexion, and cheeks the color of the
rose ; and then that slender, sylph-like form, so
graceful, whether in motion or at rest, it is no
wonder she was admired. You will not be
surprised at the devotedness of her parents to
such a child, possessing such graceful manners,
and such an amiable disposition, an inward,
and outward loveliness combined.
Bessie was a plain looking child, but she did
not envy her sister, for, nothwithstanding her
own plainness, she was a great admirer of
beauty. But children are quick to perceive,
and Bessie could not help seeing that Clara
was her parent's favorite -child. Bessie's mother
often reminded her that she was not handsome ;
but she did not mind it much, for her father
always assured her that good behavior was far
more desirable than good looks. She thought,
(for children do think,) that in that particular,
she could be her sister's equal, and for that she

46 BESSIE.
would strive. There is a good old saying, very
often repeated when Bessie was a child, which
I think it might do well for children now-a-
days to remember, " Handsome is, that hand
some does."
" Grandmother, you have not told me how
Bessie looked."
I suppose I should have done so, if at all,
earlier in my narrative ; but as I could not give
a very flattering description of her, I designed
to omit it altogether. But if you insist upon
knowing, as " truth is my motto," if I describe
her at all it must be just as she was.
" Oh ! yes, grandmother, do tell just how
she looked."
She was a short, chubby child, the string
that would reach round her waist, measuring
two inches more than her height, and so clumsy
that whenever she attempted to run, she would
fall. Her eyes were gray, her hair light colored
and straight, her complexion dark, her cheeks
full and round, and she had a large mouth with
a thick upper lip, and two broad front teeth.

BESSIE. 47
which, she was always told, were butter teeth
She was a good natured child, aud, in infancy,
was seldom known to cry. Soon after the
death of her sister, Bessie had a little brother,
which was to her a new source of happiness,
but it was a transient pleasure. When only
eight days old he had been given to the Lord,
by having the baptismal rite applied to him.
The Savior accepted the gift, and very soon
took him to his home in Heaven, where his
sister, who had gone before, was ready to
welcome him, and where none but little chil
dren are ever allowed to enter,
" Why, grandmother I did you mean to say
that none but little children would ever go to
Heaven ?"
My child, I was only repeating the words of
the Savior, He says in his Holy Word, " Ex
cept ye be converted, and become as little chil
dren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
Heaven," I suppose the meaning of the text
to be, that when people are converted, they be
come submissive to the will of their Heavenly

48 BESSIE,
Father, obeying his commands, and confiding
in him as much as little children do in their
earthly parents, and in that sense they become
as little children.

BESSIE, 49

CHAPTER VI.
Bessie's meeting-house.
The meeeting-house where Bessie's father
preached the Gospel, and where Bessie was
early trained in the public worship of God, was
long and oblong, having upon one end a steeple,
with belfry and turret above it, pointing to
Heaven, The first story of the steeple, was
the only porch, or " vestibule," as the fashion
now is to call it. The pulpit was at the side,
and not, according to modern style, at the end
of the house, and the front door or main en
trance was in the opposite side, opening imme
diately from the street. There were two other
entrances, one at the other end, one of them
leading through the belfry, and the opposite one,
like the front entrance, opfening directly from
out-o'-doors. In this porch the bell-rope hung,
and here the sexton stood while ringing the
bell. Near the opposite end door was the horse-

50 BESSIE.
block, The winding stairs to the gallery were
in the front corners of the house, upon the
inside. The females took the right aisle, and
the males the left, on their way thither.
The pews were square and upon the top of
the side was small balusters, far enough apart
to form little parallelograms, of seven by nine,
inches. Tbe wall pews were a step higher
than those in the centre of the house. The
minister's pew was the nearest wall pew, upon
the right side of the pulpit.
Then, the object in attending the meeting
was to worship. And parents, fully believing
what was taught in the Bible and catechism,
that '• Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to
enjoy hiin forever," with that object in view,
and to that end, endeavored to train their little
ones. When infants, they took them to meet
ing and used every effort to keep them quiet
through the long sermons, (for the short ones
of the present day would not have satisfied
our forefathers,) but if a child happened to cry,
the mother would leave at once with the babe,
rather than tjie clergyman should be annoyed

BESSIE. 51
by the sound. But as soon as the crying ceased
she would return, and by going out, had not
lost, perhaps, more than one head of the dis
course. And that, in their opinion was far bet
ter than to have kept an individual away from
the sanctuary altogether, to take care of the
child, and by so doing, be deprived entirely of
the means'of grace. Had they not been actu
ated by so worthy a motive, there was a more
insurmountable reason ; they had no one in
whose care they could leave them. Most of
them were their own servants, and beside ta
king the entire charge of their children, and
attending to their domestic concerns, also spun
and wove all the garments of their families.
It being the custom to take the children to
meeting, Bessie's mother commenced very early
with her. In those days it was the practice for
the congregation to stand while the minister in
their name, and in their behalf, addressed the
Supreme Being. They considered that, and
kneeling, the most respectful, as well as the
most Scriptural attitudes in prayer. For had
they been addressing an earthly monarch, they

52 BESSIE.
would have stood, and they would not treat the
King of the Universe with less respect.
One Sabbath, Bessie was standing upon the
seat by the side of her mother, in prayer time.
Becoming restless she crowded her head through
one of these little openings, between the balus
ters, where she was held fast, unable to get her
neck out of the trap. Being a heavy child,
she sank down with her own weight, so that
it was quite an effort for her mother to hold
her up, until she could be liberated from her
imprisonment, A gentleman across the aisle,
seeing the dilemma in which the child was,
stepped forward to assist in extricating her.
He did it in so quiet and prompt a manner,
that very few in the congregation observed it,
Bessie's parents rode to meeting on horse
back, her mother seated behind her father upon
a pillion, " What is a pillion, grandmother ?"
It is a flat cushion fitted to the back of a horse
for the double purpose of making the seat even
and more comfortable, for you know the back
of a horse is rolling, Bessie's mother had

BESSIE, 53
more need of a pillion than most women, for the
horse not being high fed, the back was unusu
ally sharp. Bessie rode upon the neck of the
horse, before her father, with his arm round her
to prevent her from falling ; and when arrived
at the meeting-house, he would put her upon
the horse-block, which was nearly as high as
the horse ; it was built of stone, with steps upon
one side, finished at the top with a large flat
stone. This was a very convenient arrange
ment for old ladies who rode to meeting on
horseback, from which to seat themselves upon
their side-saddles.
One Sabbath, soon after the marriage of the
clergyman, at the close of the service, the bride
was standing upon the horse-block waiting for
her husband to come round with the horse. A
gentleman was standing by her side — for at
that time no gentleman would suffer a lady to
remain long in so public a place unattended.
After waiting some time for the clergyman,
they saw him ride slowly away, apparently
lost in his own reflections ; after riding in this
manner some distance, it suddenly occurred to

54 BESSIE.
him that he had left his wife behind him, and
as suddenly he turned his horse and rode back
with increased speed. The gentleman smiling,
observed to the bride, that she ought to pardon
him because he rode back so much faster than
he rode away.
Little Bessie was excessively fond of music,
but she could not join that part of worship, for
she had no voice naturally, and had never been
taught to sing. The style of music then used
and the arrangement of the choir, had a pecu
liar charm for her. The base singers occupied
the gallery upon the right side of the pulpit,
and the treble singers upon the left, and the
tenor and counter in front. The chorister
would get the key of the tune he possessed to
sing, after naming it in an audible voice so as
to be heard by the whole congregation, by
striking his pitch-pipe upon the breastwork of
the gallery, then holding it to his ear when he
would give the pitch, by sounding the first
note to all parts of the tune, and Avhen every
part had sounded the first note, the singing
would commence.

BESSIE. 55
They sang fuging-tunes. All parts would
sing together, until they got through the two
first lines of the stanza ; for example : —
" How long, dear Savior, 0 ! how long
Will this bright hour delay 1
Then the bass would strike in, full and loud,
and sing : — Fly swifter round,
Then the tenor would sing :
F.y swifter round.
Then the counter would sing :
Fly swifter round.
And lastly, the treble would begin and com
plete the stanza : —
Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,
And bring the welcome day."
All parts would come out together notwith
standing they commenced so much in advance
one of another. And when every part had
separately called for the welcome day, to fly
swifter round, and then, all together in full
chorus ; — it would seem as if it had actually
arrived. There was a great deal more solemnity
iu such singing, at any rate more life and spirit
than there is in the artificial music of the pres
ent day.

56 BESSIE.
There was another mode of singing more
strictly congregational, in which Bessie took
great delight, when the deacon was the leader.
The deacon's seat was in front, under the pul
pit ; upon lecture days, after the psalm had
been read, one of the deacons would repeat
the first line in the key of the tune he intend
ed to sing. In a voice tremulous with age, he
would commence, and .when he had sung the
first skir in St. Martin's, which was his favorite
tune, the people would join in the singing ;
(but if Mear was to be the tiiue, the second note
rises so suddenly, they would be aware soon
er what tune they were expected to sing.)
When they had sung one line he would repeat
the second, iu the key of the tune, when the
people would again join in the singing, In the
same manner, he would repeat a line at a time,
always in the key of the tune, and the people
would sing in the same manner to the end of
the psalm.
The other deacon could not distinguish one
musical sound from another, yet he always
joined in the singing, but in a tone so low and

BESSIE. 57
monotonous, that unless a person was seated
near him, it would be impossible to hear a
sound. But if he sung with the spirit, making
melody in his heart unto the Lord, his attempts
at praise were just as acceptable, (and perhaps
more so,) than the other, who praised the
Lord in more elevated strains.
Above the pulpit there was a large sounding-
board, so thick and heavy in its appearance, that
Bessie often wondered what supported it, and
trembled lest it should fall upon her father's
head and crush him

•58 B E S S I E .r

CHAPTER VII.
Bessie's school house.
Bessie's school house was just across the
way froni her father's dwelling. That school
house was a model structure I I have often
wonderedj who, in the eighteenth century,
could have been the artificer of a building of
so much external beauty, and so complete in
all its internal arrangements. I am inclined to
give the credit to one of the former clergymen,
for they were both educated men, and probably
men of taste. They had spent their ministe
rial lives in that district, and, no doubt, took a
deep interest in all matters pertaining to the
rising generation. The school house was a
long, narrow building, having a chimney at
each end. It had twelve large, long windows,
extending from the ceiling above to a level
with the desks. These desks were movable
and each one would accommodate two persons.

B E S S I £ . 69
There were high benches with the desks, and
low benches in front, for the little cliildren, on
both sides of the room, which was as long as the
building. There was a double door for the
inner entrance, and the teacher's desk was in
front of the door, on a platform raised two
steps higher than the floor of the house. When
occupied by the teacher, no urchin could escape
his notice. The capacious fire-places, one at
each end, would hold at least half a cord of
wood at a time, with back-logs so large that
it would take two men to get them in. There
was an entry outside, or close portico, which
held the children's outer-garments, where they
could have hung very nicely, but where they
were usually seen in a confused mass behuid
the door.
It was the year of 1800 when Bessie com
menced her education in that house. It was
an old house at that time. Then the Bible
was read in the school in the morning, and the
children who attended were taught the West
minster Catechism, and were questioned from
that book every Saturday afternoon

60 BESSIE.
The clergyman would often be present and
hear them answer those questions ; for he con
sidered it a very essential part of a pastor's
duty, to know that all the children were well
instructed in the truths of the Bible, From
the catechism they learned the commandments,
both what was required and what was forbid
den in them. They there also learned that
sin is the transgression of the law. Then tlie
solemn poetry, the picture of John Rodgers
burning at the stake, while his wife, with an
infant in her arms, and nine small children by
her side, was compelled to stand by and wit
ness the burning of her husband ; the pathetic
appeal he makes to his children to prepare for
death ; and the dialogue between Christ, Youth
and the Devil. These were all well calculated
to make an impression upon the youthful mind,
and to awaken them to a sense of their lost
condition. Murder, robbery and theft, were of
rare occurrence in those days, and Satan was
not at all pleased with this system of youthful
training. He knew that the catechism was a
powerful instrument in thwarting his purposes,

BESSIE. 61
and he thought if that could be banished from
the schools, it would be an easy matter to stop
the reading of the Bible.
Soon there were different sects, whose chil
dren mingled in the common schools. One
sect did not believe in infant baptism ; an
other was opposed to the doctrine of eternal
election ; and the catechism taught both ; and
they were unwilling to have their children in
structed in what they believed to be false doc
trines. Let us hope, that nothing worse than
" conscientious scruples," and " honest differ
ences of opinion," were the cause of its being
laid aside from the schools.
Satan now rejoiced, for his wish was accom
plished, and that, through the efforts and influ
ence of many nominal, and no doubt some real
Christians ; and no doubt he was better pleased
than he would have been, had it been done by
any openly wicked agency..
Could those Christians have realized the ef
fect this setting aside the catechism would
have, not only upon their descendants, but
upon the world, they would have hesitated

62 BESSIE,
long before lending their influence to such a
measure. But Satan knew, for he had felt
their united influence against him ; and he also
knew, that united Christian effort would shake
his kingdom to the foundation. Bat he felt
f,
quite secure of his reign while disunion among
Christians continued,
Bessie was very fond of school, and soon
became expert in the art of spelling. In the
education of children at that time, it was con^
sidered very important that they should spell
correctly.; and the more thoroughly to teach
them in this useful branch, teachers would re
sort to a great variety of measures. Once in
each \veek, the children would draw lots for
the head of the class. The lots were made by
writing upon paper as many numbers as there
were scholars to spell, and then cutting the pa
per in pieces, leaving a number on each piece.
Then the pieces, with the blank side up, were
placed upon a book and passed around to the
spellers. They would moisten the end of the
finger to toake the number which they chose
adhere to it, and thus each'take up one of

BESSIE . 63!
the numbers, and keep it until it was called
for. When they were all drawn, the teacher
would call "number one." , Tbe lucky indi
vidual who had that number, would walk out
and take the head, in the corner of the room
nearest the chimney. The numbers were all
called in the same manner, until all had taken
the places their respective numbers indicated.
Then they were called upon to straighten the.
line by placing their toes against a crack, where
the boards met upon the floor. If Bessie had
the first chance in choosing, it was her fortune,
notwithstanding, to draw the lowest number.
When every scholar had " toed the mark,"
the spelling would commence. The scholars
were allowed to spell only once upon a word.
When missed, it was passed to the next. If
again misspelt, it would go down until some
one could spell it correctly, and that one
would take the place above the one who first
misspelt the word. By spelling a word cor
rectly which had been misspelt by all the rest,
I have known Bessie go from the foot to the
head of a long line of scholars.

64 BESSIE.
Bessie never intended to break the rules of
the school, but it was very difficult to keep her
upon the crack. She would get so much in
terested that she would step far enough for
ward to see the face of every scholar in the
class. Another practice which pleased Bessie, was
choosing sides. Two boys or girls wishing to
do so, at the end of the week would get the
teacher's permission. They would then place
themselves at the corners of the chimney, op
posite each other, when the teacher would
throw up his rule, and one of the boys would
catch it. The other boy would place his
hand upon the rule above where the first
caught it. Then the first boy would place his
hand next above, and so on, till they reached
the end of the rule. The boy in whose hand
it was left, when they got to the end, was enti
tled to the first choice, and he would imme
diately call the name of the one whom he con
sidered the best speller in school. Then his
opponent, on the opposite corner, would call for
one. Thus they would continue to call, alter-

BESSIE. 65
nately, until the whole school that could spell,
were standing in opposite rows upon the floor.
For every word misspelt the teacher would
make a mark upon a slate against the name of
the captain, on whose side the mistake was
made, and the one who had the least number
of marks was declared the victor.
Bessie felt quite flattered when her name
was called first, and was stimulated by such
practices to perfect herself in the art of spell
ing. Occasionally, on winter evenings, the
teacher would appoint a spelling school, when
the entire evening would be devoted to
this exercise. Sometimes the scholars would
choose sides, and ,for a change, the whole
school would rise. When a word was spelt
wrong, the scholar making the mistake was to
sit down, and so on for every mistake, until
only one was left standing. That one for the
time, until the next trial day, was considered
the best speller in school. At such times the
teacher was at liberty to choose words from
any part of the spelling book. Somtimes a
singls boy would be left standing, and the

66 BESSIE.
teacher would search for difficult words until
wearied, and would stop, thinking any farther
effort would be useless. Honoripialitudinity
used to be a famous word.
The only premium ever awarded in that
school was a book, and by right it should have
been Bessie's. But her father, being one of
the committee to decide, insisted that it should
be given to a poor gii-1, who had nearly equalled
Bessie in the strife.
In Bessie's school days, beside reading and
spelling, writing, arithmetic, and grammar,
were the only branches ever taught in the
school. And those branches were confined to
the winter months. In summer, it was sim
ply reading and spelling, sewing and knit
ting. In summer, they always employed fe
male teachers.
The writing was done with a quill, fresh
from the wing of the goose ; and much of the
master's time was taken up in scraping the
quills. This had to be done before the pens
could be made, and they required to be mended
so often, that he always kept his penknife in

BESSIE. 67
his hand, and most of the time he had one
or more goose quills behind his ear. He also
had all the writing books to rule with a leaden
plummet, and copies to set in each of them.
And these copies were always instructive, and
contained a moral, which was well impressed
upon the mind of the pupil by the time it had
been written over and over again, to the bottom
of the page.

68 BESSIE.

CHAPTER VIII.
Bessie's baby-house, and bessie's barber.
" Grandmother, did Bessie work all the
time ?"
Oh ! no, my child ; she had a baby-house
where she spent much time when out of school.
But she never stayed away from school to play.
She preferred books and school to any amuse
ment. " What kind of dollies did Bessie have ?"
All that time Bessie never had seen a real
doll, yet she was the owner of a great many
babies, but they were all of her own manufac
ture. They were rag-babies, and she would
spend hours in arranging them, and adding to
their numbers.
" What kind of a house did they have ?"
In her father's study there was a cupboard,
upon the shelves of which he kept books and
papers, but the lower shelf, which was the

BESSIE. 69
floor, was Bessie's baby-house. There she pre
sided with queenly dignity, and no one was
allowed to disturb, or make any alteration in
her arrangements. When she placed her dolls
in a sitting posture, with their backs against
the wall, which was her favorite mode of ar
ranging them, they looked, in their plain
dresses, like a community of shakers. But
Bessie did not love them any the less for being
clothed in coarse garments, and those plain
dresses were more in accordance with her taste
than they would have been, bedizened with
ribbons and gauze. She liked to see the cheeks
of the little girls look fresh and healthy, and
to make them so, she would color them with
the juice of the cranberry. But she preferred
to see the little boys with pale faces, for she
thought it made them look more like scholars.
I have often thought, when I have seen
children throwing about upon the floor, with
their clothes stripped off, and bodies black
with dirt, and arms and legs mutilated, their
beautiful wax and porcelain dolls, how horror-
struck Bessie would have been at the sight.

70 BESSIE.
for she always kept her's in perfect order.
How her eyes would have glistened, could
,she have been the owner of one such doll.
But her father could not afford such a luxury
for his child. And if his means would have
allowed it, it might not have added to her hap
piness. I really believe she took more satisfac
tion in making and dressing her rag-babies,
plain as they were, than little girls now do in
playing with their elegant doUs,^ all dressed to
their hands, in the splendid costume of a fash-
. ionable belle.
We are so constituted that we require some
employment in which we are interested, or we
cannot be happy. Even children need to have
something to do. Bessie continued to play with
those babies until she was four years and a
half old, when she had another little sister.
She was a quarter of a mile from home when
she heard the joyful tidings. Immediately,
without waiting to put on her sun-bonnet, she
ran with it in her hand, without stopping, until
she reached her father's dwelling, when she
nished into her mother's room to make sure

BESSIE, 71
of the reality. When she found it was really
true, she was so much delighted with a living
baby that she ceased to take pleasure in play
ing with her rag-babies, and from that time
neglected them entirely, and remained con
stantly by her sister's side. When requested
by the nurse to go from the room on any
errand, she replied that she was perfectly will
ing to go, but she did not like to leave the
baby so long, It was a beautiful black-eyed
child, and was likely to supply the place in the
affections of the peirents of the little girl whom
they had lost.
Every year Bessie's father would visit the
city to attend the election of the Governor,
and, on his return, would bring her a pait of
bright red morocco shoes, which would last for
Sabbath shoes until the next election.
As Bessie grew older her fondness for at
tending worship increased, and there was noth
ing which would have caused her so much
grief as the thought of remaining at home,
.while her parents were engaged in the servi
ces of the sanctuary. She was, however, a

72 BESSIE.
child subject to disappointment, and that which
of all things would occasion her the most sor
row, actually came upon her, and partly in
consequence of her own folly. A family lived
in the neighborhood which she was allowed to
visit, Avho had a son about her own age, with
whom she was very fond of playing. This
boy, like most children, was delighted to play
with scissors, and when he could find nothing
else to cut, he persuaded Bessie to let him cut
oft' her hair. She was naturally a very plain
looking child, and when her hair was shaved
close, which it was in many places, under the
hands of this inexperienced barber, she was a
frightful object to behold. Her mother was
ashamed to have her seen abroad, and as a pun
ishment for submitting to such an operation,
she would not allow her to attend religious
worship for several succeeding Sabbaths.
At that time it was customary for military
officers to invite the minister of the parish to
dine with them on training days, for the purpose
of invoking a blessing upon the meal. The
tables used to be spread upon the green under

BESSIE. 73
a bower, composed of trees" and evergreens.
Just before the dinner hour arrived, the com
pany would march to the clergyman's house,
with drum and fife, to escort him to the ta
ble. Upon one such occasion, when Bessie
was on a visit to the boy who had been her
barber, she heard martial music, and ran out
and got upon the horse-block, (for no house
would have been considered complete in its
arrangements without an appendage so neces
sary,) when she was greatly terrified by what
she beheld. Her father, in his plain black
dress, looking as if about to be executed, was
walking meekly by the side of a military cap
tain, arrayed in uniform, with sword in hand,
while the large company in the rear, all armed
with guns and swords, were marching with
firm and measured steps, and visages stern, ap"-
pearing ready and willing to execute, without
shrinking, any command their leader might im
pose. It is no wonder the child should have
had fears for her father's safety while in such
company, and that all the assurances of the

74 BESSIE.
boy's mother should have failed to convince
her of their peaceful intentions, and that her
terrible forebodings should not be fully allayed,
until she again saw him safe home.

BESSIE. 75

CHAPTER IX.
Bessie's home.
The old house, the home of Bessie's child
hood, which her father had purchased, was situ
ated in a valley half a mile south of the meet
ing-house. It was a low one story building,
containing only three rooms; front room,
kitchen, and bedroom, with a small passage
way, with shelves upon two sides, opening
into the cellar. The front room had an open
fire-place. The kitchen had also a large fire
place, and an oven, and in each was an out
side door. There was but one chimney, and
that was near the end of the house. Be-
mind the chimney was the bedroom, the en
trance to which was by the side of the fire-place
in the front room. These rooms, and a low
unfinished garret, were the entire house. That
garret was the sleeping apartment of Bessie
and her sister. I heard her mother say, that
once on a cold stormy night she went up stairs.

76 BESSIE.
as was her custom, to see if her little girls were
comfortably warm, and found Bessie's hair
covered with snow, that had drifted through
the crevices of the old house and found a lodg
ment there. But Clara was so snugly en
sconced under the bedclothes it was with diffi
culty she found her at all. The snow had not
been able to find her.
At the next society meeting after the loan
to the minister of a hundred dollars, it was
voted to raise his salary to four hundred dollars.
At that time stoves had not been heard of,
and the houses were all warmed by burning
wood in open fire-places. This clergyman's
house was not only cold, but it did not
meet the wants of the family, and they were
so much cramped for room that they concluded
to enlarge it by making an addition of twwf
rooms, a large square parlor, and a study back .
of it, with a chimney between the rooms,
which would leave space for closets on either
side. The expense of building to be defrayed
from the profits derived by taking boarders and
scholars after it was completed.

BESSIE. 77
They accordingly went to work and raised
a building half a story higher than the old part.
The floors were also higher, so that in entering
the parlor, or study, you were obliged to ascend
two stairs. The roofs to both the. old and new
parts sloped towards the street, making a unique
style of architecture. The old house was
built upon the hill-side, and the addition ex
tended further down the slope, which left the
yard in front, that before descended naturally
and gracefully, exceedingly disproportioned.
To improve the appearance, they built a w barf
ing of stone as far down as the new part ex
tended, and in front, until it reached the height
of the ground upon the upper side of the
building, and leveled the yard by filling it with
gravel ; and to complete it, there was a picket
fence with a gate, and stone steps in front,
reaching down to the street. Under the addi
tion, there was space for a cellar kitchen, in
the chimney of which a fire-place was made,
which was used for washing purposes. The
ground was the floor, and in winter it was used
for a woodhouse, and when the snow was deep,

78 BESSIE.
was found a very great convenience. The
well was upon the same side of the house as
the addition, and as far forward as the front
yard extended. A more inconvenient spot
could not possibly have been selected for family
purposes. Their comfort could not have been
thought of in the arrangement. The idea of
carrying water such a distance up hill and half
round the house, before reaching the entrance,
at this time would never enter the brain of any
one. I have often wondered by what motives oui
forefathers were actuated, when they dug their
wells in places so conspicuous, by the wayside,
so remote from their own habitations. They
could not have been so devoid of taste as to
suppose those long well-sweeps, which were
made from the longest trees of the wood,'
poised high in air upon one end of a large
stick of timber, while the other was planted
firmly in the ground, having a heavy stone
bound to the largest end of the tree for a
weight, and a long pole attached to the taper
ing end, with a bucket fastened to the end of

BESSIE. 79
the pole, left dangling in the air, could have been
ornamental. Their object might have been to
protect themselves from loss when the winds
were so boisterous as to dash the bucket against
every obstacle in its way, to the utmost limit
of the pole, with such violenc«!Mfc||pt only to
shatter windows, if near enougl^T?ut also de
stroy itself by the force of its own blow ; or
they may have been influenced in thus placing
them, by the example of the Jews, (for I am
inclined to believe they were induced to do so
from charitable motives,) that they might be
easy of access to the weary, toilworn traveler,
when exhausted and faint, to stop and assuage
his thirst. Whatever their motives were, they
evidently did not consult their own comfort,
or the convenience of their families.
The water from this clergyman's well was
drawn by such a pole, and the long well-sweep
•extended half the length of the garden wall
in front, which bounded the premises, and all
the scholars of the neighboring school came to
that well to quench their thirst, from the " old

80

BESSIE,

oaken bucket ;" so that the public, if not the
family, were benefited by the location.
Bessie's mother was a timid woman, and
was afraid to remain alone with her little chil
dren after nightfall, when her husband was
away, wyc^jiften occurred. Sometimes he
would be m the school house, attending a
singing school, for he always retained his love
of music. At other times he would be in some
remote part of the town, preaching a sermon
for the benefit of some invalid, who was un
able to attend the services of the sanctuary ;
and seldom a week passed, that he did not
preach one or more sermons in the school
houses of the different districts of the town.
Once he was called to preach upoii a wed
ding occesion, and the bride had selected for a
text that very appropriate passage in the book
of Ruth, — " For whither thou goest, I will
go ; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge ; thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my
God." In consequence of Bessie's mother being left
so much alone, she took a lone woman into the

BESSIE. 81
house for company. At that time there were
many such, who had survived the loss of their
father's, who had been slain on the battle-field
of the Revolution. They were left to suffer a
living death in consequence, many of them
homeless and friendless, who were glad to labor
through the week for food and shelter. But
Bessie's parents would not allow the one who
worked for them to devote more than two days
in the week to their service. On other days,
after getting the breakfast for the family, the
time was her own, and she could spin or do
what she pleased for herself. In those two
days she would manage to get through with
the washing, ironing, baking, and scrubbing
the house.
This arrangement was a mutual benefit, for
it not only made a home for the lone woman,
but was also a great relief to Bessie's mother,
whose constitution was naturally delicate, and
Avho had found it more difficult to perform the
labor of the family, since she had been suc
cessful in her plan of taking scholars and
boarders.

82 BESSIE.
Bessie made herself useful in various ways.
While the family were taking their meals, she
would amuse her little sister, and would also
bring the dessert, wipe the knives, and ex
change the plates ; for in those days children
were not the most important members of the
household, but were accustomed to wait not
only for their dinners but upon their superiors.
When the elder members of the family were
done, the children would slip into their vacant
places, and eat the broken pieces, with appe
tites sharpened by so long smelling the dinner.
That custom not only made a great saving of
labor, but also of food.
These boarders, who were young men, were
fond of sport, and the lone woman was the only
one they dared to pla,y their pranks upon. She
consequently got a double share. She was
smart to wojk, and such persons are usually
great scolds. And one object they had in an
noying her, Avas td hear her give vent to her
excited feelings. Every time she left her
spinning-wheel they would contrive to pull off
the band ; and one day Avhen she came out

BESSIE. 83
from dinner she could not find her wheel for a
long time. After searching the house upon the
inside, she looked outside, and saAV it standing
upon the garden Avail some distance from the
house. This raised a breeze so high that the
rnischievous lads were glad to take refuge in
the study, where they knew she dare not fol
low them. It was a little Avheel upon which
she was spinning flax.
" Grandmother, how did those little Avheelg
look." I do not think that I can describe one so that
you can form a very correct idea of it, Avithout
the aid of a pencil.
The lady sewing upon the machine, as you
see pictured in the newspaper, is a very good
representation of the position of the female as
she sat spinning upon the little wheel, with her
right foot upon the treadle. Before her was an
upright distaff, round which the flax was Avound.
Hanging upon the base of the distaff was half
of the shell of a dried squash, filled Avith Avater
to wet the thread, which was done by occasion
ally dipping the finger of the spinner as she spun.

84 BESSIE.
" I should like to see the ancient wheel upon
Avhich the puritan maiden, Avho came over
in the Mayflower, spun her " snow-Avhite
wool." That must have been differently constructed
from those used to spin flax in my day. To
spin Avool upon such a wheel, the thread would
have " snapped short " while passing through
the Aviry hooks of the " flier," Avhich Avhirled
rapidly enough Avithout the excitement of praise
to accelerate the motions of the spinner, or
spindle, before reaching the " dexterous fingers"
of the " thrifty puritan maiden."
When Bessie attended school in summer, her
mother would.,baste patch-work for her to take,
and the school-mistress would not only teach her
to sew, but would see that it Avas done nicely.
At first she took the stitches deep, and would
also pile them one upon another. When the
mistress examined the Avork, she would pick
out and sew two or three even stitches for a
pattern. Bessie would try very hard to imi
tate them, but It took a long time to make a
patch for her bedquilt, it required to be picked

BESSIE. 85
out SO often. It was like Penelope's web,
that Tho' she stoutly did bestir her,
The finishing was ne'er the nearer.
It Avas a long time before she could sew nicely
and evenly, but Avhen she had learned to do so,
she commenced to mark a sampler upon canvas
Avith different colors of sewing silk. She made
not only the capital and small printed letters of
the alphabet, but capital letters used in writing,
and also figures, to the number of ten. Then
there was a border round the edge and a divid
ing line betAveen the different kinds of letters ;
and to make it complete, there were four lines
of poetry. Avith her name and age.
Such samplers Avere the embroidery of the
age ; and people in affluent circurnstances had
them framed for their daughters, and hung in
their parlors, that any one might see at a glance
how ingenious their daughters were, and how
industrious they had been ; and in many par
lors they are hanging to this day. Bessie's
Avas a beautiful sampler, but the poor child could
not have it framed, for her father could not afford
to spend money unnecessarily, and probably

86 BESSIE.
did not attach so much importance to fram
ing as Bessie did \ so she was obliged to lay it
aside to refer to it in after years, Avhen she
should have occasion to mark her OAvn sheets
and pillow-biers. That now would seem a
small matter, but then it occasioned many a
heartache to Bessie ; and whenever she saw
those sampler pictures, she thought how much
credit she Avas losing by not having her's
framed. At that time it had never entered into the
imagination of our forefathers, that there could
be the least impropriety in using cider freely
and at all times. But they thought distilled
spirits should be used Avith caution.
Bessie's father Avould have considered it in
hospitable not to have offered something of the
kind to a brother clergyman, Avho called, Aveary
and faint from traveling, for the purpose of
rest and refreshment. At such times, if there
was no spirits in the house, a messenger was
dispatched at once to procure the article, but
privately, for he would have been mortified had
it been knoAvn, or even suspected, that he Avas

BESSIE. 87
not supplied with what was considered so ne
cessary for the promotion of the comfort and
happiness of his friends. His cellar was well
stored with cider, and just as soon as Bessie
could screw the tap into the barrel so as not to
leave it leaking, it was her office to draw it. It
was not an occasional service to be performed
Avhenever she felt like it, but it must he draAvn
fresh every meal for the table, and frequently
as people called through the day ; and this was
to be done not only one, but every day in the
year. I do not know why Bessie should have
felt more unwilling to go into the cellar at
night than in the daytime, for it was equally
dark at all times, and to see to draAv cider
required the light of a candle as well in the
day as in the night ; but after she had been sit
ting quietly Avith the family in the evening, she
felt very reluctant to go into the cellar, but
she never expressed her repugnance, and would
have been ashamed to have acknowledged her
timidity. Bessie could also pick up chips, and of
course she was required to do it. That Avas a

88 BESSIE.
more laborious task than to draw cider, for the
chip-basket when full was heavy, and it required
a great many chips to keep the pot boiling ; and
it would cease to boil whenever a different kind
of vegetable was added. If she picked up a
few at a time, she only had to go the oftener.
The pot, Avhen boiling, was hung upon an iron
crane, and hooks, and trammels of iron, Avere
used for lowering it, as the wood burned down.
Potatoes were the last vegetables added, and
then the sun Avas nearly at its meridian, and
the heat had become very oppressive, but that
did not excuse Bessie ; the chips must then
be gathered, or the dinner Avould not be done.
But notwithstanding her tasks were oftentimes
irksome, she was never heard to say, " I can't,"
or " I don't want to," but the more distasteful
the sooner she Avould try to accomplish it.
It has often been said by writers of the
present day, -that the Puritan Sabbath was a
dull day for children. Bessie did not find it
so ; to her it was the happiest day of the seven.
Although there was then no Sabbath School
for her to attend, vet her religious education

BESSIE. 89
was not neglected on that sacred day. Parents
then were the Sabbath School teachers. The
place of teaching was by their own fire-sides,
and their children were their scholars. Parents
then knew what instruction their children re
ceived, and what would be most likely to in
terest them.
Upon that sacred day, Bessie was required to
repeat a few verses of the catechism ; but it
was no hardship, for she had already learned it
at school. Occasionally she Avas requested to
read a chapter in the Bible, before prayers, but
through the day she was allowed to read any
good book she chose. She usually selected
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Of that she never
tired ; but Sabbath after Sabbath, she would
follow the pilgrim through all his adventures
and hair-breadth escapes, which he met with
on his journey from the city of Destruction
until he safely arrived at the gate of the Celes
tial City. She did not fully understand the
allegory, but she had a general idea of the
meaning by so often hearing the scriptures
explained.

90 BESSIE,
And the commencement of the Sabbath —
those quiet Saturday evenings, so grateful to
the weary, Avhen the toils of the week were
ended, and the overstrained nerves, that so
much required repose, had found a resting place
and all the Avanderers of the household were
gathered in. And as Nehemiah of old com
manded the gates of the city of Jerusalem to
be shut Avhen they began to grow dark before
the Sabbath, that no burdens should be brought
in on that day ; so from the pastor's fire-side
were banished all perplexities and cares on
that evening, and the family enjoyed more
undisturbed tranquillity than even the Sabbath
day offered, with the unavoidable bustle and
confusion, Avhich ever attends a preparation for
public worship, and takes so much from the
sacred observance of the day, and, also, has a
tendency to detach the mind from Heavenly
contemplation, and fix it upon earthly objects.
But Saturday evening had no such interrup
tions, and Bessie's father usually devoted that
time to the study of his sermons, while the
family perused i}»e Bible ; and to that time,

BESSIE, 91
more than any other, Bessie Avas indebted for
the knowledge she obtained of the scriptures.
And in after life, when most of the pastor's
family Avere sleeping the sleep that knows no
waking, and the remainder Avas scattered, when
ever Bessie's thoughts reverted to the home of
her childhood, those quiet Saturday evenings
Avere the bright spots in life, that time nor dis
tance could ever efface from her memory.

92 BESSIE.

CHAPT ER X.
bessie's' neighbors.
There was a poor family some distance be
yond the school house, Avho supplied themselves
with water for cooking purposes from the
pastor's Avell. These were Bessie's nearest
neighbors, and it was her favorite place to visit.
They were not only agreeable people, but their
house was the perfection of neatness. It was
small and low, having but tAvo rooms and but
one glass windoAv, On the front and back sides
of the kitchen, there were windows with slid
ing shutters, to admit light or air. There Avas
also an outside door upon one end of that room,
and near it Avas a trap door in the floor, with a
leather strap attached, by Avhich to lift it. This
Avas the entrance to the cellar. There was also
a front door, which opened into a little passage
way betAveen the rooms ; and in that was a lad
der, upon which the family ascended to their
lodging place in the garret above. The chim-

BESSIE. 93
ney was large and built of stone. Stones, also,
were used in the place of andirons. The walls
were simply boards nailed together, but they
Avere kept Avhite-Avashed, and the oaken floor
and table Avere scoured with sand, until they
were polished by the process. They baked
their Indian cakes in an iron spider by placing
coals under it, until the bottom of the cake
was stiffened, and then they would turn up the
spider and bake the top of the cake by the heat
of the fire.
Bessie Avas delighted to watch the cooking
process, and also to see the old lady spin linen,
for she supported her family by taking in flax
to spin. Upon the outside, in front of the glass
window, Avere beautiful sunflowers and ragged
sailors, which grew very tall, and were always
in bloom, during the season for flowers. For
drying clothes, they used a large tree Avhich
had been drawn from the wood, Avith all the
branches and twigs remaining upon it. Bessie
often wished that her mother had such a
nice place to dry herbs, instead of the garden
wall, where they often got soiled by being

94 BESSIE.
blown upon the ground, for clothes lines had
not then been thought of. When the wind
raised them from this tree, they were sure to
be caught by the branches.
When this old lady became too infirm to spin,
and the daughters could seldom get work, (al
though they did what they could,) they were
unable to keep Avant from the door, but then
there were charitable people Avho had hearts to
feel. But they did not make a display of their
gifts, or do their alms to be seen of men. No
poor person or family was ever known to die
of starvation in their neighborhood. Bessie
had been the bearer of some food to this poor
woman, enough to relieve the present wants of
the family ; and she concluded that they must
be suffering for the Avant of bread. The old
lady looked dejected, and she thought she
would sing her a hymn, which she supposed,
and which really Avas peculiarly adapted to her
case. It Avas one which Bessie's father very
often sung ; and from which he appeared to
derive much satisfaction. Bessie was not much
of a singer, but the sentiment of the song, she

BESSIE. 95
considered to be of more importance than the
melody. So she commenced singing :
" Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings ;
It is the Lord that rises
With healing on his wings :
Wlieu comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again,
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.
In holy contemplation,
We sweetly then pursue,
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new ;
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let the unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may.
It can bring with it nothing,
But he will bear us throngh ;
Who gives the lillies clothing,
Will clothe his people too.
Beneath the spreading heaven,
No creature but is fed,
And he who feeds the raven.
Will give his children bread.
Tho' vine, nor fig-tree, neither
Their wonted fruit should bear ;
Tho' all the fields should wither,
Nor flocks, nor herd be there :
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice.
For while in him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice."

96 BESSIE.
When she had got through the hymn, she was
surprised to see a more settled gloom upon the
old lady's countenance than it had Avorh before,
and she wondered that her a:ttempts at consola
tion had proved so unavailing. The poor child
had yet to learn that to remind a person of their
troubles, was not the most likely way to make
them forget.
" Grandmother, Avas that poor woman a
widoAv ?"
No, my child, she had an intemperate hus
band, aiid that is worse than being a Avidow.
But if she was a Christian, as she professed to be,
" Her troubles, and her trials here
Have only made her richer there.
In that bright home in Heaven."
The nearest neighbor in the opposite direc
tion was a widow, and her house was also very
attractive to Bessie. She kept a cow and made
cheese, and would give Bessie new cheese and
curd, and the parings from the cheese, Avheu
she turned it in the press. It Avas her daugh
ter Avho received the premium which by right
l)elonged to Bessie.

BESSIE. 97
The AvindoAVs in her house were glass, the
panes Avere small, in the form of diamonds.
Her house had but two rooms on the ground
floor with a lean-to back, and a small front
entrance. Her mother-in-law, who Avas an
aged Avidow, occupied the best front room,
which the little girl always called granny's
room. It Avas the fashion in those days to pay the
greatest deference to age. There Avere no less
than five grannies Avithin the limits of Bessie's
acquaintance, Avho were fixtures with their beds
and little Avheels in the best rooms of the
houses, which they severally occupied. They
Avere considered theirs by right, and no one
ever thought of doubting or infringing upon
their rights.
This AvidoAV had stairs by Avhich she could
ascend to her garret. Her house was a story
and a half high, which made the two upper
rooms more commodious than those of most
of her neighbors. One was a finished room, but
tlie other Avas an open garret, and in that she
kept her warping-bars, for she earned her living

9S BESSIE.
by both spinning andweaving. In winter her
hens also found a roosting place in that same
open garret, for she had nothing on her premises
in the shape of an out-house. Her loom occupied
a part of the room of the household, in which
she attended- to all the wants of her family.
The old lady Avas her first care, and no pains
were ever spared to make her comfortable.
People now with such contracted accommoda
tions, would feel justified in not providing for
their mothers at ail, especially Avith such lim
ited means as this woman had. And if they
did, they surely would not give them their
parlors. But the thought never occurred to
this poor Avidow that it was possible to deprive
the old lady of a right which every one con
ceded to the aged, no matter hoAV much they or
their families were incommoded in consequence.
Sometimes Bessie would tremblingly lift the
latch, by pulling the string upon the outside of
the door, for the purpose of taking a peep into
grauny's room, to see what the old lady Avas
about ; but her childish curiosity Avould. be
quickly satisfied for the old lady Avould look

BESSIE. 99
so sternly upon her, Avithout speaking or stop
ping in her occupation of arranging her bowls,
and plates of pewter, which were nearly as full
of bruises as her skin was of Avrinkles. This
old lady's form Avas bent with age, for she
had lived more than ninety years. Many of
these years had passed amidst the tumultuous
scenes of the revolutionary war, and many of
the friends of her youth, and perhaps her own
husband, had been slain in battle. No wonder
that she had ceased to smile, and that her vis
age was stern, for she had lived in stern times.
But Bessie did not understand this, and there
are many persons noAv, who are learned in
many things, who are ignorant of the character
of New England people ; and Avhen I hear
such honest, hard-working, self-denying per
sons accused of littleness and meanness, it
is with difficulty I restrain my indignation, I
have such a desire to defend them.
Our forefathers fought the battle, and their
children inherited poverty in consequence, and
must pass aAvay, before they can recover from
its desolating effects. And those persons Avho

100 BESSIE.
make such false assertions, ought to remember
that they are making but a poor requital for
the benefits which they themselves are reaping
from the labors and sufferings of those brave
men. In those days it was not customary to
burn oil, but candles made of talloAV Avere used
for lighting the dwellings ; and to harden them
for summer use, bayberry tallow, or beeswax
Avas added. Those designed for company had
wicks of cotton ; but for common use, they
were made of tow, from motives of economy,
for such would not consume so quickly. Every
family Avere obliged to make their OAvn, and it
took SO much time to spin the wicks and dip
the candles that people were very saving of
them, and only when they had visitors of dis
tinction did they burn two at the same time.
Some families did not light them at all in sum
mer, but Avould retire by twilight and rise
with the lark; but in long winter evenings, if
their AVork required, they would burn one, but
when unemployed, they would sit and chat by
the blaze of the wood fire until bed-time.
Bessie's mother had no time for such idleness ;

BESSIE. 101
she usually kept two candles burning, her hus
band required one to read by, and unless her
work Avas knitting, she must of necessity burn
another. Snuffers Avere an indispensable article, and to
keep the candles snuffed, took most of the
time of one person.
Bessie was very early taught to make can
dles. Her mother Avould dip them once to
straighten them, and then leave her to finish.
They required to be dipped many times to make
them sufficiently large, and Bessie's Avould
always be too large for the candlesticks, and
very small at the opposite end ; and to remedy
the defect, her mother Avould hold them awhile
in hot water, to melt away the superfluous
tallow. At that time no farmhouse Avould have been
thought completely furnished without a blue
dye-tub ; but Bessie's mother could not afford
one ; Avhenever she wished to color blue, she
would send indigo sufficient for the quantity
she Avished to have dyed, to some kind neigh
bor, who would not only put it into her tub.

102 BESSIE.
but Avould also wring out the yarn once in a
day, until it Avas sufficiently colored. To
make the color fine, the tub was placed in the
warmest corner near the fire. It was made of
oak, Avith a closely fitting, cover. Whenever
Bessie went on errands Avhere they were, she
always chose that seat, for the reason that it
Was low as well as warm, and it was one of
the many conveniences that she coveted for
her mother.
In summer, Bessie's " slips," or " coolers,"
were made of linen or toAV yarn, striped blue
and white. Her aprons were checked, but of
the same material and color ; so that her
mother often had occasion to color blue. Both
garments were drawn by a string and hung
loose from the neck.
But the blue dye-tub is now aniong the
things that Avere ; and most of those who use
them and knew their worth, have also passed
away.

BESSIE

CHAPTER XI

It is a pleasant morning in winter, — the sun
is shining brightly, and every pendant icicle
upon the eaves, and sprays of branches upon
the trees, as far as the eye can reach, are spark
ling like diamond in its rays. The snow upon.
the ground is of sufficient depth to make
the sleighing both safe and delightful,
Bessie had often expressed the Avish to visit
her grandmother, and her father had as often
replied, " one of these days." She thought
there Avas a promise implied in that oft-repeated
answer, and that at some time in the far distant
future her wish would be realized. And she
Was not onlj' surprised but rejoiced, Avhen she
-was told on this fine winter morning, that the
long deferred day had actually arrived, when
she was to accompany her father upon one of
his customary visits to his mother. Bessie's

1U4 BESSIE.
wish would have been granted sooner, had
her parents thought it prudent, Avhen so young
for her to ride such a distance in winter in an
open sleigh. And as that was the only vehicle
for transportation which her father possessed,
her visit must of course be delayed until she
was older. In summer it Avould have been not
only unpleasant but painful to have made a
journey of sixteen miles, sitting before her
father on horseback. But now the day has
come, and Bessie, Avrapped as warm as possible
in coat and hood, is seated on the seat at her
father's side, silently riding over the hills and
through the valleys, disturbed by no sound but
the jingling of their own sleigh-bells.
The Avorld is all new to Bessie, and the
rugged stumps and leafless trees, and glit
tering icicles, are all beautiful objects in her
eyes, and there is nothing that escapes her no
tice. Even the old hovel situated in the midst
of the Avood, from which the smoke gracefully
curls around the leafless trees, fills her young
mind with wonder, for she cannot imagine how
the daily wants of those Avho inhabit it are

BESSIE. 105
supplied, surrounded, as they are, by so much
barrenness and desolation. But she does not
express her wonder, for she is a child of few
words, and her father all the while apparently
in deep meditation, suffers her also to enjoy
her own thoughts, only occasionally he asks if
she is cold ; and although her feet at the time
are aching Avitli cold she does not acknowl
edge it, for Avith such a bright prospect in
view, she feels nothing to be suffering Avhich
she must necessarily endure, to accomplish so
desirable aii end. The Avay begins to seem
long and her feet groAV colder. At length they
arrive at the old homestead, and Bessie, for the
first time, crosses the threshold of her father's
birth-place. It is a two storied house, and is
larger than she expected to see. There are
tAvo front rooms, and a long kitchen and a bed
room back of it. Her grandmother is in the
best room — she follows her father into her pres
ence, and all her childish anticipations at first
beholding her are at once dissipated. Instead
of a grandmother dispensing cakes and sweet
meats, as she had pictured her in imagination,

106 BESSIE.
she saw an old lady reclining Upon her bed ;
and when her father took her withered hand
and told her that this little girl was her grand
child, and namesake, she endeavored to talk,
but in- a manner so broken that Bessie could
not understand a Avord she tried to utter, — and
this Avas palsy. Bessie had no idea of the
entire prostration of strength this disease occa
sioned. She felt sorry for her grandmother's
affliction, but Avas glad when the time came to
return home. This Avas Bessie's first and -last
visit to her grandmother, for death soon after
ended the old lady's sufferings.

BESSIE. 107

CHAPTER XII.
PICKING WHORTLEBERRIES.
July and August are the months- for picking
whortleberries. There is a weed bearing a
yellow blossom, Avith an upright stem, about a
foot in length. Upon this the little girls string
their berries, after first stripping off the green
leaves, and leaving the blossom to protect the
berries. Their object in stringing the berries
is to court favor with the school-mistress, by
presenting them to her upon her return from
dinner. It is a season of great delight to little
girls. In the afternoon when the last hour has
arrived, before their release from school, they
Avatch the hourglass with the greatest impa
tience, until the last grain of sand has run out,
for then they knoAV they Avill be at liberty to
commence their wanderings in search of berries.
There Avere plenty of them that grcAV very
near the school house : but the little girls AA-^ere

108 BESSIE.
never content to stop to pick those, but would
wander through several lots until they reached
a favorite one, where the berries were not only
large but grew thick upon the bushes. In the
centre of that was a pine tree, around Avhich
the little girls would cluster, and Avhen fatigued
with carrying about their baskets, which grew
heavier as they picked, they would place them
under the tree, Avhicli was a guide by which to
find them, and then Avould make cups of leaves
in the shape of a horn Avhich were much lighter,
and as fast as these Avere filled, Avould empty
them into their baskets ; for they imagined they
filled much faster in this Avay, and no little girl
Avould think of returning home until her basket
Avas filled.
Sometimes Avhen. fatigued and heated, they
Avould break doAvn the bushes, selecting such
as were bending' Avith ripe fruit, and seating
themselves under the shade of the tree, pick
the berries into their baskets. While picking
in this Avay, they not only had rest, but an
opportunity for conversation. At such times
Bessie Avould throAV off her heavy sun-bonnet

BESSIE. 109
to relieve her head from the weight. It was
made of thick pasteboard, covered with muslin
or calico, with a deep cape to keep off the sun.
She was" very particular not to put green
berries into her basket, but would select the
largest and best, and her mother always praised
her for picking them so nicely. When Bessie
Avent alone to pick berries, she did not like to
Avander so far away, but would always keep
Avithin sight of her own dwelling. She had
a great antipathy to snakes, and there Avere
some poisonous kinds in that vicinity ; but
she never met with any but striped snakes,
which are harmless ; and Avhen she encountered
such, she Avould give one scream and run as
fast as possible, and the snake, equally fright
ened, Avould run just as fast in an opposite di
rection, and appeared equally desirous to
increase the distance between them. Bessie
never attempted to kill and would not harm
even a snake, and could it have known her
peaceful disposition it Avould have had no fears.
But there Avere boys in the place Avho did not
scruple to kill snakes, and who, to tease Bessie

110 ' BESSIE.
and. see her run, would fasten a dead one upon
the end of a stick and swing it toAvards her ;
and such Avas her aversion, she would appear
more alarmed when she saw a dead snake
coming near her, than she did to see a living
one running aAvay.
On Saturday when there Avas no school the
little girls would go early in the day to pick
berries, taking with them a lunch, and larger
basket to fill.
One such day when they had gone out early,
they came suddenly upon that very old woman,
Bessie's neighbor, who had walked that dis
tance, and with her staff Avas beating the ber
ries from the bushes into a large milkpail, for
the purpose of drying them for pies in winter.
They all turned instinctively away from her,
and conversed in whispers, until they got out
of hearing distance ; but she was perfectly harm
less, and they Avould have found it difficult to
have given a reason for their fears.
Such were Bessie's happiest days.

BESSIE. Ill

CHAPTER XIII.
BESSIE LEARNS TO SPIN UPON A QUILL WHEEL.
The hair and tow carpet — Bessie's sickness — The removal — Her
' adopted sister — The old square top chaise.
When one want is supplied another is sure
to follow in its immediate train. The addition
to the parsonage, although a great convenience,
did not prove to be labor saving ; but on the
contrary was the means of increasing the work
to a very great extent. The yellow pine floor
in the new parlor, which was thought to be
such an improvement Upon the oaken floor of
the old one, Avith its broad boards and large
knots rising like little hillocks over the entire
surface, was not, however, without its attend
ant evils ; for unless scoured perfectly white, it
was far from having an elegant appearance.
And to keep it looking nice, the scouring pro
cess had to be gone through with very often.
All the crockery for family use, was kept in

112 BESSIE.
the cupboards of that room, and every step
upon the white floor would leave a mark, and
the tracks were not only frequent, but very
perceptible. And as the scouring devolved
upon Bessie's mother, she tried to think of some
plan by which to lessen the labor. After pon
dering upon the subject a long time, she could
think of nothing but a carpet, which would
remedy the evil. Paint never occurred to her,
for then it Avas never used for such a purpose.
But a carpet she thought would be doubly ad
vantageous, for it would not only save labor,
but Avould promote Avarmth in Avinter, which
in that cold region was very desirable. And
it Avould also add much to the comfort of the
family. Having at length decided upon a car
pet as the most feasible plan for improvement,
another difficulty arose Avhich was not so easy
to solve. Of what material should it be made ?
Not of wool, for to make clothes for her hus
band, and a winter frock for Bessie, took all
of that article Avhich they could afford to pur
chase. Cotton was also too expensive. Flax
was raised by farmers but not so abundantly as

BESSIE. 113
to warrant its use for such a purpose. It was
an expensive article. But the tow which was
hatcheled from flax was cheaper, and swingling
tow was cheaper still. She therefore resolved
to make the warp of tOAV, and the filling of
hair and tow mixed together, and to lessen the
quantity of tow by having the Avarp half sleyed.
After settling those important matters in her
mind she at once commenced operations.
The great wheel and the quill wheel were
brought from their hiding places in the garret.
The quill wheel Avas converted into a spinning
wheel by removing the box for quills from
under the spindle for Bessie's special accom
modation ; for she Avas too young, and her arms
too short, to reach the rim of a great wheel so
as to turn it.
She had always a great desire to learn to spin,
and this carpet spinning her mother thought
was a fine opportunity to teach her the art.
Her mother carded the tow, for that Avould
have been too hard work for Bessie, and also
required skill as Avell as strength. Her father's
study Avas now so remote from the kitchen

114 BESSIE.
that he could shut off the noise, for he did not
fancy the buzzing of the spinning Avheels, and
Bessie and her mother improved the time to
spin Avhile he remained there. It was vacation
in school, and Bessie could have all her time ;
and she and her mother continued the spin
ning, day after day, until there were skeins
spun sufficient for the warp of the carpet. In
the meantime Bessie had learned to spin an
even thread. She could not spin as fast as her
mother, for she Avas a SAvift and elegant spinner,
and before leaving the home of her childhood,
had spun all the fine sheets and table-cloths
Avith which her house Avas abundantly supplied.
It Avas fortunate for her that she did so, for
now she had as much to do as she could well
attend to, without spinning for such a purpose ;
she having not only to manufacture the cloth,
but to make all the garments Avorn by the fam
ily. You can imagine that her time must have
been fully occupied.
Knitting Avas more common, and indeed
more necessary then than now, for gentlemen
wore breeches, and the stockings required to

BESSIE. 115
be lohg enough to reach over the knee, over
Avhich they Avere fastened by knee buckles,
Bessie's mother could knit one such stocking
in a day, but she usually reserved knitting for
her evening employment.
Bessie was fond of spinning, but it took her
a long time to get her spindle full enough to
reel, and she was so much delighted Avith the
reeling that her mother permitted her to reel
for her, which while it pleased Bessie gave her
also an opportunity to rest. Bessie could reel
very accurately upon the clock reel ; for it
would always strike one Avhenever it had been
turned round forty times, which made a knot.
Every time it struck, Bessie would cross the
leband. And seven knots completed the skein.
She soon learned the art of reeling, Avhich was
to keep her hand, in Avhicli she held the thread,
even with the point of the spindle.
In those days it took two yards and two
inches to reach round a reel ; and Avhen you
purchased a skein or a knot, you knew the
quantity it contained; but noAV you can form
no idea. *****

116 BESSIE.
Now the scene has changed ; and the striking
of the reel and the buzzing of the wheels have
ceased for a time, and every other noise in the
house is hushed but such as are unavoidable in
attending upon the Avants of little Bessie who is
dangerously ill. Her mother is greatly alarmed
for many children in town have died of the
disease of which she has been 'so suddenly
attacked. The carpet is now forgotten, and all
her anxiety is for her child. She is a constant
Avatcher by her bedside, never leaving her by
night or by day. ' And iiotAvithstanding the
physician considered her case almost a hopeless
one, still she never relaxed her efforts, or neg
lected to watch, nor entirely cease to hope,
Bessie Avas always a patient child, and now
she Avas sick she Avas a patient sufferer. She
would take readily and without complaining
the most disagreeable medicines Avhich Avere
offered her ; and it may be in consequence of
her doing so, that she finally recovered from
an epidemic which had proved- so fatal to
many. At length the physician considered her
symptoms more favorable, and thought there

BESSIE. 117
Avas hope in her case. After this every day there
Avas a change for the better, and finally he pro
nounced her to be out of danger. But she con
tinued very weak for a long Avhile, and slept a
great part of the time. One day she awoke
from one of those long naps and was surprised at
finding herself alone. She had never left the
house since her illness ; but feeling somewhat
stronger for her nap, she thought she Avould try
to find her mother, Avho she suspected Avas in
the school house over the way. She supposed
her father Avas in the study, but she had no
fancy to go there. So she walked sloAvly to
the school house, and gently opened the door.
Her mother gave a scream of surprise at be
holding her, and Bessie was equally astonished
by what she saAV. The carpet spinning had
been renewed, and the hair and toAV, Avhich Avas
to be the material for the filling, was flying in
every direction so thick, she could with diffi
culty discern her mother. The lone Avoman
Avhom she had pressed into the service, was card
ing, and that occasioned moie dust than the spin
ning. They had resorted to the school house

118 BESSIE,
that Bessie and ber father might not be dis
turbed by the noise and dust which must
necessarily arise from the carding of hair jiist
as it came from the cow's hide, Avith a mixture
of lime that had been used for detaching it.
Bessie Avas not suffered, neither did she Avish
to remain long, and she never intruded again.
Two such efficient Avomen soon completed
the carpet spinning. The next process Avas
the dyeing. Then the pastor was called upon
to assist in chipping the bark. The butternut,
Avhich Avas used for coloring the black, and the
Avalnut the yellow, were both supplied from his
own wood pile.
The carpet was Avoven in stripes, and the
floor Avas soon covered ; and it excited the envy
of some Avho would not take the trouble to pro
cure for themselves such a luxury.
The parsonage had now become so attractive
in consequence of the picket fence, Avhich I be
lieve Was the only one in the tpAvn, that the
physician, Avho lived upon the hill near the
meeting-house, proposed to exchange houses
with the clergyman. After some little demur-

BESSIE, 119
ring on his part, he finally acceded to the pro
posal, and the family were soon established in
their ncAv home.
No one experienced such immediate benefit
from the removal as Bessie ; for now, instead
of an open garret, she had a snilg little bed
room in the second story for a sleeping apart
ment, Avhich was to her a great source of hap
piness. This house Avas the one having an I. attached,
and Bessie's uncles occupied that part of the
building in Avhich they kept for sale all kinds
of merchandise, and they themselves were
boarders in their sister's family.
But as it is not my object to give you, in de
tail, all the various trials to Avhich the clergy
man and his Avife were often subjected, in con
sequence of their limited means, I shall avoid
as much as possible, every disagreeable passage
in their history, which does not, in some way,
have a bearing upon the weal or Avoe of little
Bessie. The only disadvantage to her, by the removal,
Avas the increased distance from school ; and

120 BESSIE,
her attendance there now ceased for a time, by
an occurrence that took place in the neighbor
hood. There Avas a poor christian woman, feeble
and friendless, who had an only child, a little
girl, to suppo'rt, and was destitute of the means.
It was therefore thought best, by a few chari
table individuals, as a relief, to send their little
girls to her for instruction ; and Bessie was
among the number. Had she been consulted
in the matter, it would have been her choice
to have gone to the district school ; but she
submitted cheerfully to the better judgment of
her parents, as children always should.
This school Avas of short duration — for the
poor Avoman's life soon terminated — and it was
her dying request to Bessie's father, (Avho at
tended her in her last moments,) that he would
take charge of her child, saying that she could
not die in peace unless he consented to do so.
He had already two little girls, and he felt
that a third Avould only add to his care and ex
penses. But he Avas kind, and could not find
Avords to refuse that dying christian's request.

BESSIE. 121
Accordingly, as soon as she had ceased to
breathe, he returned home, bringing little Olive
Avith him, who was in future to take the place
of sister to Bessie. She was three years older,
and could relieve her from some of those duties
which she had been previously required to per
form, so that this occurrence proved of more
advantage to her than to any one else. Again
she commenced to attend the" district school,
and her little sister now accompanied her. It
was a great distance for such a wee thing to
walk, and on the way she would often get
discouraged. Whenever she became wearied,
or got vexed with Bessie for trying to hurry
her along, (as she sometimes did when it was
late, and she was anxious to get to school in
season,) she would stop short in the way ; and
all Bessie's persuasions, entreaties, or threats of
leaving her, had no effect whatever. There she
would remain until Bessie's patience was en
tirely exhausted, and she had no means of re
dress ; for she would not strike Hter sister, and
she dare not leave her, and this the child knew ;
for when Bessie had complained to her mother,
11

132 BESSIE.
she had said in her sister's hearing that she must
not leave her.
She was a wayward child, and as long as
she thought Bessie "was troubled, she would not
budge an inch ; and all Bessie could do was to
Avait the young lady's pleasure, and when the
freak Avas over she would again walk slowly
on. One day she had walked on very steadily
until she was opposite the widow's, Bessie's old
neighbor's house, Avhen she threw herself down
in the street, saying she Avould not walk a step
further. Bessie flattered, and tried to encourage
her, by showing her the school-house, and tell
ing her she was almost there, but all to no pur
pose ; at length the widow espied her, and came
to the rescue. When the child saAV that she
bad provided herself with a stick, and was about
to use it, she soon found that she coiild walk ;
and such energetic measures were quite effec
tual in curing her of so bad a habit.
There was an event which took place about
this time, AKhich was the occasion of much
happiness to the entire family. Bessie's grand
father had lemoved from his farm in the couq-

BESSIE. 123
try to a residence in the city. He was the
owner of a chaise, and as he .did not consider
it sufficiently stylish for city purposes, he left
it behind for the benefit of his daughter. That
old square-top chaise may be said to be an era
in Bessie's history, for from the time it came
into the family she began to experience plea
sures which were to her before unknown. She
now went with her father upon his preaching
excursions to the different parts of the town —
and when he went to the neighboring towns —
and began to look forward with pleasure to a
promised visit to her grandparents, in their new
home in the city.

BESSIE. 125

CHAPTER XIV.
bessie's FIRST VISIT TO*THE CITT.
Bessie had now very much improved in her
personal appearance. Her figure had become
more slender, and her hair had grown longer,
and of a much darker hue. Her mother had
remodeled her apparel, until she Avas thought
to be decent enough to be presentable to her
city friends. And now she has started, in com
pany with her father, upon the journey from
Avhich she has anticipated so much pleasure. It
was a lovely spring morning, but their way lay
through a dreary region of country ; the hills
were steep, and the roads were rough ; some
times they Avould ride through thick woods,
Avhich extended for miles, Avithout seeing any
inhabitants. With such traveling, it took them the most
of the day to make a journey of twenty-seven
miles. At every inn, they stopped to give the
horse rest and refreshment, for he was unused

126 BESSIE.
to such laborious exercise as it required to drag
the heavy chaise. After such a hard day's
travel, and through such a country, toAvards
nightfall the city suddenly burst upon their
view, and Bessie appeared to be almost enchant
ed by what she saw. She could hardly sit still
in the chaise ; her head Avould turn from one
side to the other in such quick succession, that
she might see both sides of the street at once,
that her father at length told her that she must
not stare ; if she did, people Avould call her a
country girl, and a yankee. The rebuke was
effectual — ^from that time she kept her head
still, and saAV nothing which was not directly
before her. She thought, if not staring was all
that was necessary to prevent her from being
called a country girl and a yankee, she would
feign indifference, and would refrain from ex
pressing surprise at any object, however won
derful it might appear to her.
The streets of the city were at that time
paved with cobble stones, and after rattling over
them for some time, they at length arrived
safely at her grandfather's house. Here she
needed no introduction, but was welcomed by

BESSIE, 127
them all, for she had seen them all often at her
father's house, and her little cousins had spent
months there, when they had no other home —
for their father had been long at sea, and their
mother was poor.
Bessie was surprised at the altered appearance
of these little girls since their removal to the
city, they Avere so much better dressed than
formerly, and apparently wished her to notice
it ; but she kept her resolution, not to appear
astonished at any thing she might see. She
therefore made no comments,- and tried to look
as if she thought it was all a matter of course.
Bessie felt quite satisfied Avith her own appear
ance, for she was dressed in a ncAv calico frock,
which her father had purchased expressly for this
occasion. And in her bundle, Avhich had come
nicely in the chaise-box, she had a white dreSs,
Avhich she thought would occasion no little
astonishment to her cousins Avhen the bundle
should be opened. To obtain this white dress
had caused her mother some self-denial, as well
as labor ; for it Avas made from a part of a dress
she had kept from her girlhood days, and was

128 BESSIE.
made in such an old-fashioned style, Avith its
long train and short waist, that she had deter
mined ahvays to preserve it as a relic of olden
time. But Avhat has a poor clergyman's wife to do
with dreams of the past, or visions of the fu
ture. The present, with its cares and perplexi
ties, is sufficient to tax to the utmost all her
powers of thought or feeling. And if, by any
means, she can get her present wants supplied,
she must learn to forget the past, and must
trust the future to Him Avho feeds the ravens,
Bessie needed a frock, and her mother could
no longer indulge in such idle fancies ; and
she Avas compelled, by necessity, to make
use of this last, long-cherished memorial of her
early days. It Avas accordingly soon despoiled
of its beauty, and metamorphosed into a frock
for Bessie,
¦ One of the cousins Avas just the age of Bessie,
and she could hardly credit her senses, Avhen
the bundle Avas opened, and her white frock
exposed to view, that her cousin manifested no
surprise whatever ; but instead, in a very patron-

BESSIE, 129
izing manner, began at once to suggest improve
ments in the way of trimming. She brought
out her own dress to convince Bessie of the
importance of having her's trimmed in the same
fashionable manner, and proposed to go with
her to the place where her's was procured to
purchase more of the same article. The trim
ming was a blue and Avhite chintz for the
belt and sleeves. It was fortunate for Bessie
that it Avas not expensive, and the few coppers
she had were found sufficient, after her cousin
had cheapened the article, to purchase the
trimming ; and before the Sabbath, by the as
sistance of her aunt, she was ready to appear in
public with the blue trimming upon her dress.
Bessie Avas astonished Avhen she attended meet
ing, to see so much display in the sanctuary ;
and those who made the gayest appearance
only excited her pity, for they reminded her
so forcibly of those wicked people in Bunyan's
description of Vanity Fair, that she could not
but think their end would be equally deplor
able. Bessie's aunt was a fashionable young lady,

130 BESSIE.
and she proposed, as a furtlier impravement in
Bessie's appearance, that slie should have her
hair cut short. Bessie had some misgivings
about the haiir cutting, for she remembered the
shearing she had. submitted to in her early days,
andhow much she had suffered in consequence.
But her aunt grew more earnest, and. told her
it was all the fashion to wear the hair short.
Bessie had quite an exalted opinion of her
aunt's taste, and her manner was commanding:
as well as persuasive, so that she finaUy sub
mitted more from necessity than inclination.
But every lock as it fell from the shears, sent a
pang to her heart. At length Avhen her aunt
bad completed the cropping, and the brushing',
she told Bessie to look in the glass. After she
l^ad looked she felt more dissatisfied than before,.
and what made it more provoking was the cout-
Bciousness that her aunt Avas not herself pleased
Avith the effect, for she tried to console her by
the assurance that it would grow out hand
somer another time, if she was careful not to
let it get sunburnt as before.
Bessie's patronizing cousia continued to

BESSIE. 131
exert herself for her amusement, and did not
give her much rest. But the other cousin,
who was two years older, was more gentle, and
reminded Bessie of the sister she had lost
both in person and manner. She had not her
musical voice, but she was fond of reading
and was retiring in her disposition, and her
confiding manner avou Bessie's affections, and
they soon became mutual friends, and their
friendship continued unbroken through life.
They were constant correspondents, and those
letters filled with love and sympathy Avere
read and re-read by Bessie long after the Writer
had mouldered to dust, until they were literally
worn out by the reading. Some of the frag
ments still remain, but the name like the writer
has perished. The last visit Bessie ever re
ceived from her she was accompanied by &
young gentleman to Avhom she was engaged
to be married, but the union never took place.
The scarlet fever, (that fatal disease,) cut
her off in the bloom of life, and Bessie never
saw her again. But whenever she visited the
city, she always visitedi the city of the dead,

132 BESSIE.
to search among the multitude of monuments
for that unpretending stone upon Avhich Avas
inscribed the name of that dear friend, Avhose
memory was engraved on her heart in more
imperishable characters than upon the stone
which marked her grave.
Bessie had come to the city, to remain a
fortnight ; but time, which she thought such
a laggard in its movements while in an
ticipation of this visit, had flown as on eagles'
wings, and she was now astonished at its fleet-
ness. The pleasant scenes had passed so rapidly
that before she could realize they Avere here,
they had taken their flight. Her grandfather
Avas to see her home, and the time had now
arrived to commence the journey. By this
time she had become so much accustomed to
wearing her hair short, that the loss of it did
not occur to her until she reached her father's
dwelling ; when suddenly it occurred to her
memory, and she felt very reluctant to appear
in her parents' presence. She found Avhen she
saw them, their disapproval had not been mag-

BESSIE. 133
nified in her imagination. Her father mani
fested the greatest displeasure ; it Avas a long
time before he could look upon her with any
degree of approbation ; but her mother, when
she found it Avas done through her sister's in
strumentality, Avas sooner reconciled.
At this time there had been several new
houses built upon, the green, and Bessie's uncle
had purchased one of them, and had persuaded
her father to exchange houses with him. This
noAV house was not completed, and her father's
time Avas so much occi^ied in attending to the
Avorkmen who Avere employed in the finishing,
that he found little time to observe Bessie until
her hair had again grown.
The expense of building far exceeded his
expectation, and the hard times soon came on ;
for it was at the close of Jefferson's adminis
tration, Avhen the embargo was laid, and in
consequence every article of consumption was
doubled in value. At the close of the year he
was so much in debt that he was obliged again
to ask for a dismission from his people, and
was desirous that liis request should be granted.

134 BESSIE.
But instead, they raised his salary another
hundred dollars. , Provisions were so high that
this sum did not-afford him much relief, and he
thought he would try to retrench, but upon
trial he found nothing which he could dispense
with but the lone woman, who, getting married
about this time, he took no measures to supply
her place. And the work of the family now
devolved upon Olive and Bessie.
As the means of the family decreased, their
number iaereased. Every few years a helpless
infant was added, until t^e children had become
like " olive plants round- about the table."
Such events were hailed with joy by Bessie,
for she was excessively fond of little children-;
and it was fortunate that she Avas so, for much
of the care of them devolved upon her ; and
when they were cross and troublesome, there
was no one, except the mother, who could equal
her in soothing them ; so that she not only be
came housekeeper, but also a nurse.

BESSIE. 135

CHAPTER XV.
THE DANCING SCHOOL.
Bessie had now become so perfect in the
art of reading, that in summer she had ceased
to attend school.
I think her father must have been proud of
her performance, for at that time there was a
meeting of an Association of ministers at his
house, and in the morning, after that body
were assembled, he called her into the room to
read, before prayers, a chapter in the Bible ;
and she read with the greatest propriety, for
she had such perfect confidence in her father's
judgment, she did not suppose he would re
quire her to perforin anything improper.
In the house which her uncle now occupied,
upon the second floor there were tAvo rooms,
that could be thrown into one by raising a
swing partitionV Avhich could be fastened by
hooks to the ceiling above. By raising this

136 BESSIE.
partition, these rooms were noAV converted into
a hall, iu which there was to be a dancing
school. Bessie's uncle Avas extremely anxious
that she should attend it, and tried very hard
to gain hpr father's permission. As an induce
ment, he offered not only to pay the expense,
but to furnish her with every thing that Avas
necessary, even to her shoes. But his very
generous offers Avere of no avail ; her father
Avould not accede to the proposal. Poor Bes
sie- was sadly disappointed at his decision, and
he was equally sorry to disappoint her, for he
delighted to indulge her in everytliiug which
he thought would promote her happiness. But
he foresaw the evils to Avhich this would tend ;
and from such he Avished to preserve his daugh
ter. " Grandmother, did he think it was Avicked
tb dance ?"
No, my child, I do not suppose he thought
the exercise of dancing Avas sinful, but this
dancing school he considered a stepping stoue
to a long train of evils which Avould naturally
follow, which Avere sinful.

BESSIE. 137
If you would prevent a body of Avater from
deluging the whole surrounding country, you
must make the dam secure ; and if you would
not raise bitter fruit, you must nip off the
buds which produce it.
The first evil, probably, which Bessie would
have experienced had she attended the dancing
school, would have been the love of dress,
which would have made her vain. Then some
of her companions would have been very
Avicked people, Avhose influence over her would
have been decidedly evil, and the effects, per
haps, irreparable. Her father was actuated by
pure motives and correct principles, in this de
termination ; and had not only the good of
his daughter in view, but also his people's.
His whole object in life was to do good ; and
he would not destroy his influence to that end
by giving countenance to that which was not
only the cause of numerous evils, but also had
a tendency to dissipate all serious reflections.
In winter, Bessie again attended the district
school ; and in that old school house, she
derived all the benefit and some of the evils,.

138 BESSIE.
attendant upon the dancing school. The ben
efit to be derived was the exercise, and that
she did not particularly require, for she assisted
her mother in the morning in her household
duties, and the walk, twice in a day, the dis
tance of half a mile, was quite as much as AVas
necessary to promote health. On stormy days
she carried her dinner ; and those scholars who
had attended the dancing school, spent the
intermission in dancing ; and they not only
taught Bessie the steps, but the figure ; and she
learned to sing and dance,
" The girl I left behind me,"
equal to any of them. Bessie kept this danc
ing from her father, for she thought he would
disapprove of it ; and she Avas just as guilty
as she would have been to have disobeyed a
direct command ; but she flattered herself that
this deception in keeping it from him was a
different thing altogether from telling an un
truth. So you can see that the dancing school,
notwithstanding all her father's care to prevent
it, had a bad influence upon Bessie ; for it not
only taught her to disobey, but indirectly tq

BESSIE. 139
deceive her father. At the close of the winter
term, Bessie's mother carded, and made cotton
into ropeing ; and Olive and Bessie, each with a
great wheel, commenced to spin cotton. They
Avere required to spin the filling for their
own garments, with the promise that it should
be Avoven separately, and each should wear the
cloth of her OAvn spinning. Bessie was ambi
tious to spin an even thread ; but Olive was
wasteful and careless, and would always leave
a bunch upon her's at the end of the spindle ;
and she wonld pull off whole threads at a time
and put them in her mouth, until the floor near
her wheel Avas literally covered with wads of
-cotton. She was often reproved for her heed
lessness, but without any effect. At length the
Aveb was woven, and Bessie's spinning made
much the handsomest cloth, Olive's AVas full
af bunches, and she Avas very indignant to
thhik she was obliged to wear garments made
from the yarn which she herself had spun.
The embargo lasted a number of years, and
the times grew Avorse and worse ; and the only
place to be found, in wliich the clergyman's

140 BESSIE.
family could curtail their expenses iri the least,
Avas in their wearing apparel. This answered
very well one year ; but when there were no
additions made to their clothes, year after year,
it was found difficult for the family to make a
decent appearance. The burden pressed most
heavily upon Bessie's mother, for all the reno
vating of old garments Avas done by her. The
button hole's upon her husband's coat had been
worked over and over again, until the cloth
Avould hardly bear the weight of the needle ;
and the covering of buttons, and the addition
of new cuffs, had only been done by robbing
the lining, and inserting a different kind of
cloth in the place of it.
It was expected that the clergyman, no mat
ter how poor, Avould always make a decent
appearance in the pulpit.
Bessie's bonnet had been trimmed for several
summers with a pink gauze ribbon, colored
with balm floAvers. But now the spring had
far advanced, her Avinter hood had become op
pressive, and she saw no sign of a change. Her
mother's time Avas fully occupied Avith more

BESSIE, l4l
pressing matters, and she began to think she
would be obliged to Avear the hood through the
summer. At length she saAV . the old cambric
bonnet washed and starched, and her hopes
began to revive. She looked Avith anxious
eyes towards the trimming ; for she had hoped
this summer to have a new ribbon for her bon
net. But Avhen she saw the pink dye made of,
balm flowers, and the old gauze ribbon newly
dipped, she knew then that the die was cast,
and that the same trimming must be worn
another season.
At that time the physician of the village
boarded iU the family ; and Avhenever persons
came to the house to have teeth extracted, he
would always call upon Bessie to hold their
heads, she being the only one in the house
who had the courage to do it. Her father also
took scholars to fit for college. Among them
was a boy whose parents resided in the city of
New York. This boy boarded with his grand
parents in the neighborhood, and he came
every morning to her father's house to recite
his lesson. One morning he came in with a

142 BESSIE,
violent tooth ache, and very boldly requested
the physician to extract the tooth, Bessie was
immediately called upon to hold his head.; but
when he saw the instruments, the"y looked so
forbidding, he was reluctant to submit to the
operation, Bessie assured him that it was a
small matter ; for she had witnessed the ex
tracting of teeth so often, when people appeared
to think nothing of it, that she really thought
so ; but he remained stubborn and undecided,
until at length Bessie's patience was exhausted,
and to convince him that it Avas really a trifling
matter which he appeared so much to dread,
she told him she would have one taken out
herself. She had one large double tooth that
Avas defective, but had never caused her any
pain, and she sat down at once to have it taken
out ; but at the moment it was drawn she gave
such a screech, that the lad's courage entirely
forsook him, and he would listen to no more
persuasion, but left the house, taking his aching
tooth with him, I think in this instance Bessie
proved her kindness and her simplicity to be
quite equal to her courage. There was another

BESSIE. 143
service Avhieh devolved upon Bessie since the
times were so hard, that her father could no
longer afford to keep a boy, which she thought
Avas rather degrading.
In pleasant weather she was required not
only to milk, but to drive the cow to and
from the pasture, which was across the green.
When the Aveather was storiny, her father
relieved her by doing it himself. Bessie en
joyed going out to milk in the morning, better
than she Avould to have assisted in getting the
breakfast by the fire. And then the walk to
the pasture was very pleasant ; but notwith
standing the early walk upon the dewy grass,
and the freshness of the morning breeze, and
the singing of the birds, and all the poetry of
her nature, which the surrounding scenery in
spired, she could never entirely divest herself
of the thought, that driving a cow was a men
ial service, which should be performed only by
boys ; for she saw no other little girl engaged
in such an occupation. She ahvays welcomed
winter, with its stormy blasts and drifting snows;
for then she was freed from this unpleasant

144 BESSIE,
service, and could again mingle with her com
panions in the exercises of school.
After milking and driving the coav, she was
required to spin tow ; and now it was not
done for amusement. She had learned to spin
and could spin well, and every day she Avas
required to card and spin fourteen knots, which
was half a day's work for a woman. If.
Bessie's mother was never idle, but was
always contriving something to do by which
to supply her immediate Avants, She was now
very much in need of a new set of silver tea
spoons ; and she commenced to make artificial
flowers, for she could think of no other way
to procure money to purchase them. The
floAvers Avere attractive, and the young ladies in
the parish bought a sufficient quantity to raise
the sum required for the spoons. And Bessie
now had a new wreathe for her bonnet.

BESSIE. 1 45

C H AFTER XVI,
A DONATION VISIT.
In those days, minister's houses Avere places
of entertainment for clergymen and their fami
lies, Avho Avere disposed to travel from all parts
of the country, whether acquaintances or stran
gers. Their houses Avere so often frequented
by such travelers, they acquired the appellation
of " minister's taverns."
Traveling clergymen ahvays met with a
welcome reception at the house of Bessie's
father, for he was never forgetful to entertain
strangers. Her mother lived in such constant
expectation of such visitors, that she never felt
safe to retire for the night, if the guest-cham
ber was not in readiness, and her larder stored
with bread, meat and pies sufficient to provide
a meal quickly should she be called upon to
rise for that purpose, as she occasionally had
been by the arrival of a belated traveler. She
iz

146 BESSIE,
habitually kept something in reserve for the
refreshment of guests, when, in consequence,
her family partook of a meagre dinner. I
think instead of calling such houses " Minis
ter's Taverns," they should have been called
" Parish Poorhouses," for clergymen were main
tained by their parishes, and their houses were
asylums for the poor, more especially the pious
poor ; maidens, and Avidows, who lived remote
from the sanctuary, but loved to linger near
it, made choice of the minister's house as the
place most desirable to spend the intermediate
time, from the lecture preparatory on Friday,
until the Monday following the Sabbath of the
communion season.
Bessie's parents had their full share of such
visitors. They could not give them more at
tention than to make them comfortable, for
their time on Saturday was fully occupied in
making preparation for the approaching Sab
bath. Such visitors could not have rendered
the family any assistance, had they been so
disposed, for they were arrayed iu holiday at
tire, and sat in a listless manner during the live-

BESSIE. 147
long day, with their hands folded, unless they
had taken the precaution to put their knitting
in their pockets before leaving home, as some
of the wise and more frequent visitors were in
the habit of doing. They were not the most
agreeable companions in the world, and in
these days of refinement Avould hardly be tol
erated. In one way, however, they could be, and
I have no doubt were, of service to their
pastor. They had tongues to speak of the
"nakedness of the land," and by so doing
were instrumental in stirring up a few gene
rous hearted women to make their minister a
donation visit — possibly the origin of such
visits. At any rate it was the first of the kind
that ever came to my knowledge.
" O, grandmother ! I am so glad, I hope
they gave Bessie a doll, and a new frock, and
a great many beautiful things beside."
No, my child, they were more like the
" wise-hearted women " in the days of Moses,
who spun " goats-hair " and " fine linen," as
an offering to be used for the curtains pf tbe

148 BESSIE.
tent, over the Tabernacle. But I Avill try to
give you a description of that primitive dona
tion party, that only in name bore any resem
blance to such gatherings of the present time.
It was not a surprise party. Previous to the
arrival of the ladies, the minister's family were
duly notified of the contemplated visit, and
that the ladies would provide their own re
freshments. Early on a pleasant afternoon in
the delightful month of June, they began to
assemble at the parsonage. Bessie did not se
clude herself, by Avay of manifesting indiffer
ence to her mother's friends, as is practiced
now by some young girls. Attired in her best
dress, she stood in the doorway to welcome
the guests, and to relieve them from whatever
articles they brought, in the way of food.
There were in all about a dozen ladies.
Each one contributed something toward the
entertainment. One lady brought a loaf of
wheat bread. It was made of Avheat, of home
production, and the loaf was of a much darker
hue than bread that is now made of West"
ern Avheat. Another lady brought a loaf of

BESSIE. 149
very light cake, but most of the sAveet was
upon the surface. It had been rubbed over
Avith molasses, which gave it a very glossy ap
pearance. Another brought a few doughnuts,
and another an apple pie, made of such pleas
ant apples it required no sugar, and the crust,
from the long Avorking, was exceedinglysmooth,
for the lady had spared no pains in the making,
and in those days flaky pie-crust was a thing
unknoAvn. One lady brought a pumpkin pie
that tasted of nothing so much as the pumpkin,
and another brought a pound or tAvo of new
cheese. I cannot recollect all the dainties
that were furnished for that occasion, but am
confident there Avas an abundant supply for
every guest present. As the minister's family
partook of the entertainment, it was no more
than right that they should supply all trifling
deficiencies, such as sugar, tea, butter, &c.
To convey their articles, thp ladies made use
of their pocket-handkerchiefs. Those party
handkerchiefs differed so much from the gossi-
mer ones ladies now use on such occasions,
that I cannot refrain from describing them.

150 BESSIE.
They were blue and white plaided, made
of the finest of flax, three times hatcheled,
and were manufactured by the ladies Avho
sported them. Bessie's mother did not fancy
the plaided style. She made a short web of an
improved pattern, of her own designing. Her's
were white in the centre, with a copperas-col
ored border, striped Avith white, two inches in
depth. " Grandmother, I should think a minister
would look funny with such a pocket hand
kerchief in the pulpit."
These were not clerical handkerchiefs. The
mode for the clergy in those days were red silk
bandannas. But I am wandering from my
donation party.
The ladies brought their knitting, and passed
the time usefully and socially, not interfering
with the family arrangement, so much even as
to place their OAvn food upon the table. Olive
and Bessie arranged the table, and Avaited upop
the company.
The gifts were from each lady, a few skeins
of linen, or toAV yarn. No one gave less than

BESSIE. 151
fourteen knots, and none more than twenty-
eight. It was of as many different sizes as
there were ladies who had been engaged in the
spinning. To arrange it to advantage, re
quired all the ingenuity that Bessie's mother
possessed. From a factory in a neighboring
town she procured cotton yarn for the warp
of a web, and for the filling of it made use of
the donation yarn. Each lady's gift was woven
separately, and the finest end of the web Avas
assigned to the clergyman, and the coarsest
part Avas made use of for family purposes.
Before evening, the ladies all left for their
respective homes, Avith approving consciences,
no doubt, for having performed such a mission
of charity. If that gathering Avas really the
origin of donation parties, it only shoAvs Avhat
great things Avill grow from small beginnings.
Or, as the poet has expressed it,
" Large streams from little fountains ilow.
Tall oaks from little acorns grow."
The truth of this sentiment was verified in the
experience of Bessie's father, many years afier,
when, ifpon such occasions,- his heart was

153 BESSIE.
cheered by more costly gifts and a more nu
merous assemblage of persons, among which
Avere some of the descendants of those same
" honorable Avomen," who were the originators
of the first donation party.
One aged gentleman, who Avas never present
at those later gatherings, remembered his pas
tor notwithstanding, and at one time sent him a
nice fat chicken, with a stanza accompanying
it, so expressive of good feeling, I think it
should be perpetuated for an example to future
generations. It was this :
" This chicken I do freely send,
Unto my patlure and my friend ;
And if received with thankful heart,
I beg you'll let your wife have part."

BESSIE. 153

CHAPTER XVII.
THE SINGING SCHOOL.
To make some amends to Bessie for her dis
appointment about the dancing school, the suc
ceeding winter she was allowed to attend the
singing school. Her father purchased her a
-new singing book, and she learned the gamut
perfectly. The scholars met to sing two after
noons and three evenings in the week, and
Bessie never failed to be present at the meet
ings. She had no natural voice for singing ;
but by constant drilling through the winter, she
at length succeeded in raising and falling the
octave. The teacher assured her, if she could
do that, she could learn to sing.
When the new singers commenced to sing
tunes, the old singers came in to assist in
the performance ; but they studiously avoided
sitting near Bessie, for, notwithstanding she
sung correctly, her voice Avas shrill and harsh ;

154 BESSIE.
and one young lady observed that it sounded
like a split quill. But Bessie was so much
delighted to think that she could sing in any
style, that she gave no heed to such unkind
remarks, but persevered in the singing. She
was similarly situated to the porcupine in the
snake's hole, who, when the snake complained
of the pricking of the quills, coolly remarked,
" Those who do not like can leave — for my
part I am very Avell accommodated." Bessie
commenced at once to sing in the choir upon ^
the Sabbath ; and if any one left the seat upon
that account, it never troubled her — she only
sang the louder.
That old meeting-house was never warmed
by fire ; but no matter how inclement the
weather, if it was opened for worship, Bessie
was always in her place. In extreme cold
weather she carried a foot stove, and by stand
ing upon it when she sung, she was enabled to
look over the breastwork of the gallery. One
Sabbath Avhen it Avas so cold and stormy that
she had to carry a heated stone in her hand, to
keep her fingers from freezing, she found her-

BESSIE. 155
self alone in the galleiy. Her father com
menced singing a tune, as was his custom Avhen
the chorister was absent, and she immediately
rose upon her footstove and sang with him
through the hymn. She Avas then but ten
years old. The same winter she attended the
district school, cyphered as far as the rule of
three, and Avritten down a fcAV sums, under
each preceding rule, for the inspection of the
committee. But she could never get any fur
ther in her arithmetic, for every new teacher
insisted upon her commencing at the beginning,
and the Avhole winter Avas taken up in doing
and copying the sums from addition to the
rule of three.
The school house was so cold, that it took
much of the scholars time to get Avarm. From
morning until night there was nothing to be
heard but "please, sir, may I go to the fire."
Sometimes the circle Avould get so large, by
the scholars standing round each fire, the
teacher would find himself almost alone in the
centre of the room. At one time Bessie was
crowded so faf forAvard by one of these dense

156 BESSIE.
circles, that she scorched her green baize frock
so badly, upon the front breadth, that it could
not be mended. When Bessie's mother saw
the burnt frock she looked distressed, for it had
been procured Avith the greatest difficulty, and
at first she could think of nothing by Avhich
to supply its place ; but upon searching aniong
her treasures, she found one Avoolen sheet left
from her original stock of bed clothes. She
immediately made a black dye of logwood and
alum, dipped the sheet in the dye, and it came
out a dark lead color. Bessie wore the frock
which was made from that sheet, the remainder
of the Avinter. She thought it was rather a
coarse material, but she felt so conscience-
stricken for burning the other, that she made
no complaint. In summer, Bessie was fond of
riding on horseback, and improved every op
portunity to do so. One day she Avas invited
by a young lady friend to ride with her on
horseback. Bessie rode upon a strange horse
that her friend's father had just purchased of a
stranger, and they knew nothing of the habits
of the horpe, After going ^long steadily for

BESSIE. 157
awhile, they agreed to make their horses can
ter ; and the moment they whipped them for
that purpose, the strange horse, supposing they
were running a race, commenced a fast gallop.
At every leap he made, Bessie would stand
upright in the stirrup. Fortunately they were
near a house, and she succeeded in stopping him
by reining him up to the door ; but it gave
her such a fright that she was contented to
ride home upon a sober trot. At that time, the
inhabitants dwelt far apart, and it was with
difficulty you could get to some of their houses.
That deacon, who never sung to be heard
by man, lived three miles from the meeting
house, off the road, in an isolated farm house
and any one riding to his place would be
obliged to dismount and let doAvn a pair of
bars when within half a mile of his habita
tion. His pew in the meeting house was just back
of the minister's, and his daughter, who was
somewhat advanced in life, usually Avore, Avhen
she attended meeting, dangling from her neck,
a long string of black bugles, and in the season
14

158 BESSIE.
of flowers, brought in her hand a large scarlet
peony, for a nosegay. She took a great fancy to
Bessie, and had often urged her to come and make
her a visit. The deacon had early apples, and
when they were ripe she insisted that Olive and
Bessie should take that time to visit her.
Bessie gave her father no peace, until he con
sented to let them go on horseback.
One Avould not suppose, with such limited
resources for happiness as Bessie possessed, she
would ever require checking for getting too
much excited ; but her father must have thought
differently, for after he had taken the trouble
to borrow a horse and side-saddle for Olive, and
had put his wife's saddle upon his own horse
for Bessie, and both were at the door, and the
girls, with their bonnets on, all ready for the
apple excursion, he made them sit down and
Avait while he read to them the " History of
the ten days of Seged, emperor of Ethiopia."
Bessie endured the reading with as much pa
tience as she could command, but she did not
think that going to the deacon's for apples was
at all similar to the ten days of perfect happi-

BESSIE. 159
ness Which Seged proposed to himself. She
Avas somewhat sobered in consequence, and
when obliged to dismount to let down the bars,
she concluded that must be the disappointment
which her father wished to prepare her to meet
with. The deacon's house was low and old ; and
his wife entertained Bessie by taking her to all
her chests and drawers, to show her how meiny
sheets she had spun, and how many apples she
had dried ; and her daughter Conversed with
Olive at the same time she was preparing the
tea. They took tea in time to get home before
dark. Bessie never again got excited about
visiting the deacon's, for she saw plenty of tow
at home, and her pleasures were not enhanced
by being obliged to admire sheets and table
cloths made from the article, when abroad.
As Bessie grew older, she felt more keenly
the privations to which the clergyman's family
were obliged to submit. And when she saw
her schoolmates, Avhom she excelled in the
branches taught in the common school, leaving
town to attend a city boarding school, where

160 BESSIE.
they could learn painting and embroidery, and
the higher branches of education, she could not
but repine at her sad lot in life, and the pov
erty which alone prevented her from enjoying
like privileges. And when they returned Avith
their fine paintings, which they Avere very fond
of displaying, and all their city airs, she felt
that she was, and must ever remain their infe
riors. Olive was three years older than Bessie, and
Avhenever she had an invitation to visit, Bessie
was invited to accompany her ; so that through
the influence of Olive, she began very early
to go into society, which is a great disadvan
tage to young girls. In the toAvn were many
girls of the poorer class, who were similarly
situated to Bessie ; and noAV she began to min
gle more Avith those, for she felt that such Avere
her equals.
At that time, quilting parties were the parties
of the age ; and Bessie often attended such,
for although young she could quilt very expe
ditiously. After the quilt Avas off in the eve
ning, the beaux would assemble. They were a

BESSIE, 1
class of young men who had no conversational
powers, (for their education was limited,) and
the only amusement in which they could par
ticipate, were those low kissing plays, Avhich
were then practised among vulgar classes,
Bessie knew and felt at that time, that she
was lowering herself in the estimation of people
of refinement, by giving countenance to such
amusements; and in after life, Avould have
blushed to have been reminded of her early
folly. But she felt crushed in spirit, and had
become almost reckless, and having noAv learned
to sing, there was no one that sung,
" Oats, pease, beans, and barley O,"
" Green grows the rushes 0,"
with more zest than Bessie. Had her father
been aware that she ever united in such plays,
he would not have suffered her to visit in such
company. He only knew that she was invited
to the houses of respectable people ; and he
thought quilting to be both innocent and
useful.

162 BESSIE.
Very soon, however, there was a revival of re
ligion, and many of those young people became
pious, and saw the necessity of separating them
selves from the Avorld ; and by so doing, those
silly, vulgar plays, died a natural death, and were
never revived in Bessie's young days. And
now that young people are more refined and
better educated, I sincerely hope that such
plays may never again be introduced or coun
tenanced ; for I think they are more demoral
izing in their effects than even the dancing, as
practiced at that time. But I cannot say as
much for the waltzing of the present ; for it is
my opinion that waltzing leads to more serious
evils than either ; and I hope, my child, you
will never be so wanting in self-respect as to
engage in it.
Bessie continued to attend the district school
in the winter season, until she was fourteen
years old. She could then parse a sentence in
grammar correctly, and could also write a
cramped hand ; for she never could hold a pen
as the teacher directed, any longer than he was
standing by her side. Her voice had also

BESSIE. 163
become melodious, and in the course of time
she was promoted to the highest seat in the
choir. So, my child, if you continue to try, you
need never despair of learning to sing.

BESSIE, 165
CHAPTER XVIII,
BESSIE LEARNING TO AVEAVE,
In this hitherto quiet village there is noAv
great excitement. For the first time there is a
cotton factory in operation, and every female
far and near that can throw a shuttle, is engaged
in weaving for this factory.
At that time, poAver looms had not been in
troduced, and the price paid for weaving a yard
of cloth Avould now purchase one, which made
it an object for those accustomed to manufac
ture their own clothing to engage in this busi
ness. Bessie was very ambitious to learn to
weave, but she had no suitable loom for the
purpose, and her father could not afford to pur
chase one.
Many of her acquaintances were weaving
ten yards in a day ; and one young girl, whose
father was a carpenter, and had made her a
loom with a spring shuttle, could weave twenty.
And these girls were earning all kinds of gay

166 BESSIE,
clothing for themselves, and many articles for
family use beside, Bessie could no longer re
main an inactive spectator. She was deter
mined to try the old oak loom, which was left
by her grandparents on their removal to the
city, and was made for the purpose of weaving
coarse domestic cloth and carpeting. It Avas
as large as a small tenement, and contained
more solid timber than many of the bouses of
the present day. She brought every part of
this loom from the garret, a piece at a time,
excepting the great beam, which Avas too heavy
for her to lift. Then she persuaded her father
to assist in setting it up, and also urged him to
go to the factory and bring home yarn for a
Aveb, Now she had got the loom and the yarn ;
but she was entirely ignorant how to proceed.
She thought of her old friend and neighbor,
the widow, and went to consult her. She
gave her all the necessary information ; but
there were so many prelLnainaries before she
could commence to weave, that it was very
discouraging. First she was to make a sizing

BESSIE, 167
for the warp, then wind four skeins upon each
spool ; and having done that, she was to carry
them to the widow, who would teach her to
warp the web. When this sizing, and the
spooling were both completed, she started,
basket in hand — the basket filled with those
heavy spools, to walk the distance of half a
mile to get the web warped.
The Avidow calculated the number of yards
the web was to be upon the bars, and then
showed her how to take the leese, and to make
the turn at each end of the Aveb ; and by fol-
loAving her instruction she managed to do it
very nicely. And when the threads were
all Avarped from the spools, she again assisted
and taught her to loop it, in taking it from the
bars. After the web Avas warped, there was a
harness to be made ; and the twine to make it
with must be doubled, and twisted, and sized.
Her mother assisted her to make the harness.
Fortunately, just in time a young lady came
to the parsonage to spend the day, who under
stood weaving, and she assisted Bessie to get
iu the web. She taught her how to wind it upon

168 BESSIE.
the beam, and how to draw it into the harness,
and through the reed, and to wind the quills
for the filling, and to mend the threads in the
warp whenever they happened to break ; and
also charged her, Avhen mending them, never
to cross them above the rods. She then wove
a few inches, to enable her to put in the tem
ples, and left Bessie to weave out the web.
When she first attempted to throw the shut
tle she found it very difficult to send it straight
through the web and catch it Avith her other
hand. I think the shuttle was partly in fault,
for it Avas so light that it Avould fly up through
the warp and break the threads. The lathe
Avas as much too heavy as the shuttle was
too light ; for Avhenever she brought it up,
some of those fine threads were almost sure
to break.
That web was a great trial to Bessie's pa
tience. It was forty yards in length ; and she
sat in that old loom, day after day, and some
days she would not accomplish more than a
yard, for it took most of the time to mend the
broken threads ; and when she could not find

BESSIE. 169
the right one to tie, she Avoiild cross one above
the rods that she could find, until at length
the Avarp got into such a snarl, that it took
longer to pick up the rods than it did to weave
the cloth.
Sometimes, Avhen it began to go on quite
smoothly, and she would feel encouraged, the
treadle strings would either break or slip, and
her foot would come to the floor so suddenly,
and Avith such force, as to give her a great jar.
Then she Avould have to crawl down under the
loom and try to tie a knot that would not slip.
But every few moments, down she would come
again. The poor child did not knoAv how to tie
a square knot. Occasionally the old rotten
tow strings, Avhich held the pulleys, would
break, and they would fall upon the fine
threads, causing much destruction as they fell.
But Bessie persevered in weaving, and made
no complaint ; for she knew that this trouble
was of her own seeking. After about forty
days constant labor, the Aveb Avas at length
woven out. The heavy temples, with their
great teeth, had made large holes in the selvage,
15

170 BESSIE.
and the numberless knots which had been tied,
made the surface of the cloth appear very
rough. Bessie's father took the web home ;
and the clerk in the factory store, out of re
spect to the clergyman, allowed the full price
for the Aveaving. He found no fault at the
time ; but afterward Bessie heard of his saying
that he smuggled it among other pieces of
cloth, out of sight of the overseer, lest he
should make her pay damage for spoiling the
yarn. Notwithstanding the trials Bessie experienced
in Aveaving that web, she determined to try
again ; for her Avants were too pressing to yield
to a few discouragements. The yarn for the
warp of the second Aveb proved to be stronger,
and occasioned her less trouble in Aveaving :
and having fcAver knots, the cloth was much
smoother, and her first experiment in crossing
the threads Avhen mending them above the rods,
made an impression she did not forget. " Ex
perience is the best school master."
When Bessie learned that the price paid for
Aveaving bed-ticking Avas more than double, she

BESSIE. 171
could not be contented any longer to weave
plain cloth, but commenced at once to weave
bed-ticking. To do that required a double
harness to be made ; but when Bessie made
up her mind to do a thing, she could overcome
all obstacles. She wove several Avebs of bed-ticking,
eighty yards in length ; but it Avas Avoven so
thin, I think it must have shed feathers. I
knoAV one did that she Avove for herself. The
weaving proved so lucrative, that from this
time the spinning wheel was set aside, and the
spinning of tow was never again reneAved.
Bessie's industry enabled her to dress more
like other people, and now she is also relieved
by her eldest brother from ever again driving a
cow.

BESSIE, 173

CHAPTER XIX.

Bessie has now arrived at the verge of avo-
manhood. The peculiar trials to which her
young life has been subjected, and the self-
denial imposed,, have occasioned a subdued
expression of countenance, which makes her
appear interesting to every one. Her manners
are affable and graceful, her affections ardent,
and her disposition amiable. She has also im
proved in outward graces ; her figure is more
genteel, with much elasticity of movement ;
her complexion has grown fairer, with a fresh
ness of glow which health alone can impart;
her glossy hair has again grown long, and of
a much darker hue. And although she has no
claim, and makes no pretensions to beaut^, yet
she possesses charms sufficient to excite the
envy of those very persons Whom she once so
much envied.

174 BESSIE.
The balm-colored trimming upon her bonnet
has given place to a beautiful rose upon the
side of a hat of her own manufacturing, and a
bufl' and white gingham dress is said to be very
becoming to her complexion.
Attired in that hat and dress, in the old square
top chaise, she is now going in company Avith
her father to a city, not to attend a boarding-
school, but to remain a short time Avith her
mother's relatives, Avhile her father is engaged
in his ministerial duties in a more distant region
of country.
On their Avay thither, they pass through her
father's native place ; and that gloomy visit to
her grandmother is brought to mind, and
remembered by Bassie in all its freshness ;
that visit which terminated in so much disap
pointment, and in which all her bright antici
pations had been so suddenly blasted.
Her grandmother had now gone; and the
room she once occupied Avas all that remained
to remind her of the departed. That room,
which witnessed nothing but sickness and suf
fering for nine long years, Avas now filled with

BESSIE. 175
joyous, happy faces ; and Bessie wondered that
the dead Avere so soon forgotten. She did not
realize that years had passed, and that time had
made the place familiar to its present occupants.
She also tried to forget, and Avas so far success
ful, as to pass an agreeable evening with her
cousins. The next morning they pursued their journey ;
but they made sIoav progress, for the country
through which they Avere traveling Avas a con
tinual succession of hills, many of which Avero
so long and steep that it was a great effort for
the horse to climb them. Her father often re
lieved him by Avalking up such, and leaving
Bessie alone to drive. On reaching the sum
mit, she Avould wait till he came up. She Avas
fond of the beautiful, and on this journey had
a fine opportunity to admire the varied scenery.
Thus sloAvly they proceeded on their Avay, and
Bessie spent much of the day in looking at dis
tant views, while her father was toiling up the
long, tiresome hills on foot. In descending they
made more speed, and as the ups and doAvns
were in equal proportions, they were enabled.

176 B E- S S 1 K .
in consequence, as the shades of evening ad
vanced, to reach the city, which was the limit
of Bessie's journey.
Her uncle's family received her very cordially,
and expressed much pleasure that she Avas to
remain under their protection the fcAV days her
father Avas to be absent.
After her father had gone, and she Avas left
Avith friends Avho were comparatively strangers,
she felt an unusual degree of loneliness. Her
cousin Avas an accomplished young lady, and
treated her Avith civility and kindness, but she
Avas older than Bessie, and they had no feelings
in common. While she AVas engaged assisting
her mother in her household duties, Bessie, of
necessity, Avas left much by herself, and of
course felt dull and lonesome; and as she had
neither books nor AVork to occupy her time, she
could think of nothing to relieve the sadness
of the hour but to exercise her vocal poAvers.
The moment she commenced singing, and her
melodious strains reached the ears of the family,
her cousin came in, and looking very much
distressed, requested her to stop. Perhaps she

BESSIE. 177
thought the singing of psalms might attract
the attention of passers by, for it Avas summer,
and the windows were open.
Bessie considered the singing of sacred music
proper at any time, and Avas surprised that any
one should think differently. She felt grieved
at the rebuke, and was of the opinion that if
her cousin had no time to entertain her, the
least she could do was to allow her to amuse
herself in her own way. For the first time in
her life she felt homesick ; but she concealed
both her thoughts and her tears.
It is a great mistake to suppose that country
girls, who are ignorant of city etiquette, are
therefore devoid of sensibility ; for there are no
class of persons who will sooner detect any de
ficiency in true politeness, or Avho are more
keenly alive to any want of kindness, although
they are not exacting of others, and give very
little heed themselves to things of ininpr im
portance. Bessie's grief was soon dissipated by the ar
rival of two young ladies, who called expressly
to see her, and to invite her to spend the Sab-

178 BESSIE.
bath with them, at the house of their father,
Avho had been a classmate of her father when
in college. She did not mention her trouble
to these new friends, for she would have con
sidered it highly improper to speak disparagingly
of any one, especially those of Avhom she had
received hospitality.
The good effect of the catechism, with which
she was familiar, Avas apparent by the manner
in Avhich she conducted herself orr this occasion.
One of the maxims in that little code of morals
is to " Deal justly with all —
Speak evil of none.''
And now, when throAvn upon her own responsi
bility, she did not do, as is too often practised
at the present day, -by some Avho make capital
of real and imaginary injuries, and magnify the
faults of the offender for the purpose of ingra
tiating themselves into the good graces of such
as they wish to please. For it was her fixed
principle and practice, when she could not com
mend, to remain silent.
One of the young ladies Avas near her age,
and her trouble, and her precise cousin, were

BESSIE. 179
both forgotten in the charming society of
those lovely girls. She not only attended
meeting, but spent most of the time Avith them
while she remained in the city.
They introduced to her acquaintance a min
ister's daughter, whose father had also gone to
the gathering of the clergy, and had left this
young girl in the city to replenish her Avard-
robe, in his absence. He had given her thirty
dollars to spend as she pleased. She Avas no
older than Bessie, and she consulted her taste
in making her purchases, and solicited her com
pany upon her shopping expeditions.
Bessie could not account for the difference in
the circumstances of the daughters of country
clergymen. She kncAv that her father had
superior talents, and Avas a far more acceptable
preacher than the father of this young lady.
But she found upon inquiry, that this clergy
man had wealth independent of his salary, and
had also received a liberal compensation for
his services.
Bessie Avould not have exchanged situations
with this young lady, were such a thing pos-

180 B K B S I K .
sible, for she greatly preferred talents and
poverty, to wealth and stupidity ; but she
could not but feel that her father had not re
ceived an equivalent for the time and talents
he had devoted to his people. With a salary
of five hundred dollars a year, and the inter
est of one hundred (which had been loaned at
the time his salary was but three hundred) to
be deducted from that yearly ; and that debt
he Avas never able to pay until his children
Avere all married, or of age to support them-^
selves, and his life Avas almost spent ; and it
had been such a weight upon him such a
number of years, that when he finally was
enabled to cancel the obligation, he felt that it
must be one of the last acts of his life ; Avith
a large family to support, and the hard times,
it was Avonderful how he managed to live at all.
NoAv a single gentleman would not think he
could live upon that sum, when everything to
support life is comparatively cheap. And Avhen
I hear clergymen, who are receiving three
times that sum for half the labor, complaining
of the difficulties they have to contend with

BESSIE. 181
in supporting their small families, I feel that I
should like to place them in his situation, at
least long enough to teach them a lesson of
gratitude, and to prize their superior privileges.
When Bessie and her father Avere upon their
journey homeward, they called at the house of
his sister. This Avas no new place to Bessie,
for she had been a frequent visitor in the fam
ily, and they were all very dear friends. But
now they only called for the purpose of rest
and refreshment. While the horse was eat
ing oats, Bessie ran out Avith a bundle to put
in the box of the chaise ; and the moment she
stepped into it, the horse started and broke the
reins, Avith Avhich he was partially secured ;
turned about, and on the way to the street,
one wheel passed over a small wood-pile, but
the chaise Avas so broad it did not upset ; then
the horse commenced to run, and the louder
Bessie cried A\'-hoa, the faster he would go. She
Avas obliged, to enable her to keep in the chaise,
to extend her arms and grasp firmly both sides
of it.
They soon came to rising ground, when

182 BESSIE.
the horse slackened his speed, and noAV that
he trotted sloAvly, Bessie had a mind to jump
from the chaise ; but as she watched the turning
of those large Avheels, that came so far forward,
she Avas afraid to take the leap, lest she should
not clear them, which, if she failed to do, she
Avould probably break her bones, and possibly
lose her life. She dare not look back, lest
the horse should again take fright and run, for
having freed himself from his blind bridle, he
could see all her movements. She concluded
the most prudent course would be to remain
quiet, and Avatch the horse to be ready to jump
at any emergency, and wait the result. He
continued to trot, and also kept the road, and
when he came to a junction, he always turned
to the left. After making several such turns,
he at length came to one that was very narrow,
with sloping banks upon the sides. Bessie
now felt forlorn : she was going farther and
farther aAvay, she knew not whither, and she
was most troubled at the thought of the dis
tress her mysterious disappearance would oc
casion her father, for she supposed him to be
16

BESSIE. 183
ignorant of the occurrence, and that he Avould
never think to look for her upon such an un
frequented cart-path.
While indulging such gloomy thoughts, she
espied a man in the distance, whom she soon
met, driving oxen, and the cart to which they
Avere attached completely filled the pathway.
This Avas the critical moment which Avould
decide her fate, for if the horse turned to pass
the cart, the chaise must inevitably be upset.
The man at once comprehended her position,
for the horse was without a bridle, and the
reins were dragging in the street.
As the horse turned to pass the cart, the
driver caught him by the head, and pushed him
against the wall with such force as to stop him,
and at the same movement, the chaise went
over, and Bessie rolled safely into the top, and
it Avas with difficulty that she extricated her
self But when she Avas finally freed, she
found that she had received no injury from her
Gilpin-race, but the fright. Her father soon
appeared, having followed on foot the whole
distance, Avhich was three miles. Had Bessie

184 BESSIE.
knoAvn that he was so near her, she Avould
have felt comparatively safe. After adjusting
the harness they rode back in company, nei
ther one of them having any covering for
their heads. They then proceeded on their
journey, and reached home in safety the same
evening. Here a new trouble av^aited Bessie, for dur
ing her absence her mother had made her a
linsey woolsey. petticoat, and short gown, for
a working dress. She had been where she
had seen young ladies so very much dressed,
that she did not at all fancy adopting such a
Cinderilla costume, but it Avasher fortune always
to have something to mar all her enjoyments.
And in this matter, perhaps, Bessie's experience
is the common experience, with much fcAver
exceptions than many are apt to suppose.

BESSIE. 185

CHAPTER XX.
BESSIE KEEPING SCHOOL.
In those days, the office of school teacher
was considered not only respectable, but hon
orable ; and she Avho could preside with dignity
in the school room, commanded respect else
where. NotAvithstanding Bessie's limited ad
vantages, she Avas now called upon to assume
that office ; and upon examination, she was
found to be better qualified for it than those of
her companions who had received a more
fashionable, but which proved a more super
ficial education.
The times are noAV no better. Even money
sufficient to purchase a calico dress, Aviiich is
found really necessary for her to have, has
been raised Avith difficulty ; for at that time
this material could not be purchased for less
than a dollar a yard. And had a dress then
been of the same dimensions as those of the

1.86 BESSIE,
present day, it would nearly have ruined her
father to have purchased one. But fortunately
but half the number of yards was then required
to make a fashionable dress. And soon the
dress is procured, and Bessie, in her ncAV attire,
is installed as mistress of the very old school-
house where, but a fcAV years before, she had
been a scholar. As a pupil she had witnessed
many kinds of punishment Avhich appeared to
her both cruel and unnecessary. She deter
mined that noAV she was in power, to adopt
measures not only mild but just. She had
seen one teacher use as a punishment, a stick
Avhich she placed betAveen the jaws of the
unruly pupil, so that they Avere kept opeli to
their utmost extent, and after a time became
very painful and unpleasant, both for the suf
ferer and those who witnessed it.
Bessie's patience Avas very much tried by
the dullness of some of her scholars. One boy,
in particular, who had attended school several
years, would recite the Avhole alphabet from A
to Z, and vice versa, without mistake, by rote,
but when required to do so, could not name

BESSIE. 187
one letter singly. Bessie had also much diffi
culty in eradicating some of the erroneous
modes of teaching Avhich had been practiced
by her predecessors. Upon giving a little boy
the word Aaron, to spell, he in a shrill voice
said, great A, little a, r-o-n ron, Aaron. And
when the Avord Amos was given, another boy
screamed, Abyselfa, (meaning A, by itself a)
m-o-s mos, Amos. This Avas the practice pur
sued in the early part of the eighteenth cen
tury, whenever a word Avas given having a
vowel by itself. If the word was Eber, it
was Ebyselfe e, b-e-r ber, Eber. If Ira, it was
Ibyselfi i, r-a ra, Ira. If Obed, it was Obyselfo
o, b-e-d bed, Obed. If Uriah, it was Ubyselfu
u, r-i Uri, a-h ah, Uriah.
Bessie had neither hour-glass nor watch, and
Avhen she wished to know the time, she would
send to that poor neighbor, that I have de
scribed to you. They had a sun-dial fastened
upon one corner of the house ; and when the
sun shone, she could know the time by that,
but in cloudy Aveather she never knew when
to dismiss her school.

188 BESSIE.
She was required to remain in school six
hours in a day. In the morning from nine to
twelve, and in the afternoon from one to four.
The time seemed very long to her, but she
would not have dared to fall short a moment.
Once, when she had been invited to visit,
she shortened the intermission half an hour,
and dismissed her school at half past three.
One AVoman, who sent two little girls to
school, took pains to Avalk two miles to com
plain to one of the district committee for her
neglect of duty ; but he was a friend to Bessie,
and took no notice of the complaint. One of
the little girls Avas learning to knit, and either
coming or going, or in the school house, she
had lost one of her knitting-needles, and her
mother was very much displeased, and thought
it Avas Bessie's fault. I think if this woman
had received an invitation, to visit with Bessie,
she Avould have been more amiable. Before
Bessie commenced her school, her father tried to
dissuade her from teaching ; he assured her " it
was a thankless office," and Bessie's experience
soon convinced her that his opinion was cor-

BESSIE. 189
rect. Her engagement was for five months,
and she thought the time Avould never wear
away. In those days, children were not only taught
to read and Avofk, but they Avere also taught
good manners in school. No matter how
many times in a day they entered or left the
school liouse, if the teacher was present, the
boys were required to bow, and the girls to
courtesy at the door, and also before and after
their recitations. Whenever they met any one
on their way to or from the school, they were
expected to "make their manners." They
were also taught to say " yes ma'am," and " no
ma'am," instead of yes, and no ; and whenever
they addressed the teacher, they always said,
please may I do this or that. This had become
such a habit, that Bessie had no trouble with
her scholars in that respect. But some of her
largest boys were troublesome, and took advan
tage of her mild measures ; but she managed
to keep them within bounds, until the last day
of school, when two of the most unruly, greatly
to Bessie's chagrin, jumped from the windoAV

190 BESSIE.
and ran away. It Avas then the custom for the
teachers to board among the different families
of the district. It was called "boarding round."
Bessie wished to do as others did. It would
have been her father's choice to have boarded
her himself altogether, but she only spent her
Sabbaths at home.
This "boarding round" was good discipline
for Bessie, for she learned not to be particular
about anything, for she was obliged to be sat
isfied with all kinds of cooking, and she learned
to sleep upon all kinds of beds, from the
coarsest straw to the softest down. When
Bessie was a scholar, she was happier in the
school house than anywhere else ; but she
found being a teachier was a different thing
altogether, for she then not only had the re
sponsibility of teaching, but also every family
in the district to please ; and when the term
of her engagement had expired, she was not
only tired, but heartily disgusted with the
whole affair.
Notwithstanding Bessie's humble position in
life, and the despondency which she naturally

BESSIE. 191
felt in consequence of it, she was a general fa
vorite with her companions, and no one loved
her the less for her inability to outshine, in her
outward adornments, any of those with whom
she associated. Her genial spirit made her a
far more acceptable and attractive companion,
than those girls who were morose and forbid
ding in their manner, although they were
decked in the most fashionable and costly at
tire. Gay apparel may attract attention for a
Avhile, but unless persons so arrayed have a
congenial spirit and affability of manners, uni
ted with good common sense, they not only
very soon cease to please, but become objects
of disgust to those very persons Avho have
been their most ardent admirers, and attracted
towards them rather by outAvard show than
inward goodness.
Bessie did not attach any importance to
dress, except so far as Avas necessary to make
a respectable appearance in the Avorld ; but she
saw so many of her gay companions, who
appeared to consider themselves elevated in
proportion to their ability to make a display.

192 BESSIE.
that she determined, now she had earned
money by teaching, which she was at liberty
to .spend as she pleased, she would appropriate
a part, if not all of it, for personal decorations.
She accordingly went to the city, and her
patronizing cousin again interested herself, and
at her suggestion she made several purchases
that she afterwards regretted having made. A
great change was soon perceptible in Bessie's
appeatance, and many of the articles selected
were more suitable for a wedding occasion than
for ordinary purposes. Among them Avas a
white satin hat, with a crown three stories
%igh ; and that hat Avas the first she ever pos
sessed that was not of home manufacture.
" Grandmother, Avhat else did Bessie buy ?"
The Avhite hat had a front so shallow that
she was obliged to buy a white lace veil, to
screen her face from the sun ; and then she
purchased a white lace Vandyke, to correspond
with the veil. They were both worked very
elaborately. " What is a Vandyke, grandmother ?"
It is what people now call a cape. Bessie

BESSIE. 193
also purchased a pair of bracelets for her Avrists,
made of three or four round braids of hair
with a gold " snap," to fasten the ends together,
and also a pair of Avhite morocco sandals. I
think she was very deficient in judgment, or she
would not have purchased so many airy noth
ings, Avhen she might have procured for the
money she expended, a quantity of good sub
stantial clothing, that would have been useful
and lasted a long time. But it is not strange
she should have done as she did, for the poor
girl had never had any experience in spending
money, and although she had often felt the
need of it, she did not know its value ; for this
was the first sum of any consequence that she
had ever had to spend, and it Avas perfectly
natural that she should be guided in her choice
of articles, by the advice of her city cousin.
But Bessie did not spend all her money. She
reserved enough to purchase a nice dress for
herself, but she returned home Avithout making
a selection, for she felt convinced that her pur
chases had not been very judicious, and con
cluded it Avas best to consult her mother before
17

194 BESSIE.
making another. When she appeared in the
country in her gay apparel, she found that
some of her companions, instead of greeting
her Avith cordial smiles, as they had been AVont
to do, now cast upon her envious glances, and
treated her with coldness, which occasioned
her much grief, and Avas the means of con
vincing her that gay clothing did not add at all
to the happiness of the possessor ; and she de
termined that in the future she would endeavor
to dress simply and plainly. Such dress was
in reality inore in accordance with her taste,
and she did not choose tb sacrifice the friend
ship of those she loved, for the sake of indulg
ing in what afforded her so little gratification.

BESSIE. 195

CHAPTER XXI.
PEACE is PROCLAIMED.
At length the long protracted Avar (that had
occasioned so much suffering and privation
around the hearth-stones of the ..peacefully disr
posed citizen) terminated, and the olive branch
of peace again Avaved over the nation. As the
inhabitants had all experienced more or less
the direful effects of war, upon the return of
ipeaCe, their rejoicings were simultaneous and
enthusiastic throughout the country.
In no place was it welcomed with more
heartfelt joy than in the family of this poor
clergyman, although the beneficial effects
which would naturally flow from it were not
immediate; yet it inspired the hope, and gave
promise of a brighter day. Many people in
the town gave expression of their happiness by
uniting in a sleigh-ride, a public supper and a
ball.

196 BESSIE.
A young gentleman, of very prepossessing
appearance, (Avho Avas almost a stranger in the
place, and Avas the occasion of much excite
ment among the young ladies,) selected Bessie
for a partner, but her father did not approve of
the manner of expressing gratitude for so signal
a blessing, and objected to her complying Avith
the invitation. She had frequently been to
ride in his company, but to this sleigh-ride her
father would not consent. She tried to con
vince him that there Avould be no impropriety
in her joining in the ride and the supper, if she
did not remain to the ball ; but he was firm in
his decision, and would not allow her to have
anything to do with it in any Avay. She felt
grieved; and the gentleman left the house,
chagrined and mortified, and transferred the
invitation to another young lady.
Bessie saw the long line of sleighs and
heard the jingling of the bells, as they passed
her father's door, and felt sorrowful and sad
while others were happy and light-hearted.
Bessie had no particular attachment to that
young gentleman, and he was not the occasion

BESSIE. 197
of her sadness ; but as she had been a sufferer
with others, in consequence of the Avar, she
would like also to have been a sharer in the
general rejoicing upon the return of peace.
The same day there Avas a theological student,
who celebrated the joyful occasion by dining at
her father's ; but she did not try to make her
self agreeable to him — she always avoided the
clergy — not but she had the- greatest respect
for them and their calling ; but all the troubles
of life were associated in her mind with that
profession, and she attributed all her mother's
trials and sufferings to her having formed such
a connection. Bessie's father had ahvays been
particular to have her mingle with none but
people of respectability, and Avas of opinion,
that bad books Avere just as pernicious in their
effects upon the mind of the young, as bad
company, and all Avorks of fiction he classed
among the bad. He thought such books
had a tendency to give the readers an errone
ous impression of life, and also to unfit them
for its sober realities. The Vicar of Wakefield
was the only romance he ever alloAved Bessie

198 BESSIE.
to read. He considered that a harmless pro
duction ; but in general he prohibited romances^
and was averse to all kinds of fiction ; and
religious novels he liked the least of any,
The withholding such books was no pri
vation to Bessie, for her taste had never been
vitiated by light reading ; and by confining
herself only to such books as her father ap
proved, she became, in consequence, a lover oi
the real and the truthful, and averse to every
thing artificial and imaginative. And the good
effects of such early training was apparent iu
after life, long after the restraining it^uences
were withdrawn.
The young gentleman was not so much
disaffected by the refusal of Bessie's company
to the sleigh-ride as to deter him from a renew
al of his visits, and she rather gained than lost
in his estimation, by her father's firmness on
that occasion.
A few months after the celebration of peace,
another young gentleman came in town to re
side, who was far more attractive, both in
person and manners, than the young stranger

BESSIE. 199
Avho had treated Bessie with such marked at
tention. This last was a professional gentle
man, but not a clergyman, — pious, but not
Avealthy. He Avas modest and unassuming,
and ever treated Bessie Avith the greatest def-
ference. She Avas flattered by his delicate
attentions, and returned his civilities, and they
very soon formed a mutual attachment which
was sanctioned by their friends.
Bessie had inherited her mother's taste, and
greatly preferred a literary poor man, to one
ignorant and wealthy. Very soon she Avas
engaged to be married ; but she Avas obliged to
defer the wedding, for she had made no prepara
tion for such an event. Could her own spinning
have been reserved for future use, as was the
custom Avith other young ladies at the time, she
Avould have had an ample supply of all neces
sary articles for such an occasion. But all her's
had been used to supply the immediate Avants
of the family ; and instead of having a pilloAV-
bier filled Avith stockings, she had not one of
her own to fill. But she had one advantage
over those girls who were so Avell provided

200 BESSIE.
with every thing necessary for housekeeping.
Some who had made the most ample provisions,
had no prospect of ever using their articles for
such a purpose, Avhile she was in a situation to
use, although destitute of a supply ; and she
flattered herself, that it Avould be less difficult
to provide for her Avants than theirs ; for a
little exertion on her part would soon put her
in possession of the requisite articles, while the
more they exerted themselves, the farther they
Avould be from attaining the desired object.
One young lady, after filling a pilloAV-bier Avith
stockings for herself, actually knit a quantity
of different sizes for her future husband, should
she ever meet Avith an individual to bear the
name ; and notwithstanding it Avas generally
knoAvn, not one of the ungrateful sex Avould
ever propose.
All those accomplished, and beautiful young
ladies, Avho were so Avealthy, and had received
so many superior advantages to Bessie, Avith
all their attractions, failed to excite any interest
in the affections of this young gentleman ; and
poor ignorant Bessie, with all her plainness and

BESSIE. 201
simplicity, bore off the palm. Again she com
menced weaving for the factory, in the old oak
loom, and was not long in earning cotton yarn
sufficient to make her sheets and pillow-biers,
which she wove for herself
While preparing for housekeeping, she oc
cupied her evenings in working a white cotton
bed-spread. It was worked Avith cotton roping
in flowers of her mother's drawing. In the
centre of the spread, Avas a basket, from which
pinks and roses Avere shooting forth in every
direction, with more regularity even, than
nature ever produced. Upon the border was a
vine filled Avith clusters of grapes. It was an
elaborate design, and very handsome, but
would require both time and patience to exe
cute. It Avas the custom, in olden time, to put an
immense amount of labor upon bed-quilts. In
her girlhood days, Bessie's mother had made
for herself tAVO such quilts, that now adorned
the parsonage. These were of worsted stuff,
one blue and the other scarlet ; both quilted
in flowers, and stuffed with wool of her own

202 BESSIE,
batting, and so thick and closely quilted they
Avould almost stand alone.
The scarlet one was used exclusively for
the spare bed, giving it always a very gay
appearance. Having been accustomed to such
herculean tasks herself, accounts for her draw
ing a pattern so elaborate for Bessie. She im
proved all her spare moments for many months
in bringing such a quantity of flowers and fruit
to perfection. And while thus occupied, the
season drew near for the annual thanksgiving-^-™
the last anniversary of the kind which would
occur before she would leave her father's house,
with its comparatively trifling cares, to enter
upon the more responsible duties of life, in hej
own home.
That day Avas the great holiday of the year.
To name it even, Avould make every young
heart bound with joy ; and to this day, even,
whenever such seasons occur, they awaken in
my old heart, pleasant memories, which, but for
these, Avould have been long since fosrgptten.
** Grandmother., I never thought tha,nksgiv-
ing day was much."

BESSIE. 203
My child, you can form no idea of it from
the manner in which the day is noAV observed.
I fear I cannot do the subject justice, but I
will try to explain to you the difference be
tween the ancient and modern thanksgiving.

BESSIE. 205

CHAPTER XXII.
THANKSGIVING DAY.
One day in the year, soon after the ingath
ering of the harvest, was religiously observed,
by our forefathers, as a day of Thanksgiving
and praise to Him, who, through the season,
had not only withheld blasting and mildcAV,
but had also given the early and the latter rain,
to croAvn the labor of the husbandman with
success. In Connecticut, every individual in
the State was compelled, by law, to observe
the appointed day.
The Governor, in his proclamation, ahvays
inserted the clause, " all servile labor, and vain
recreation, on said day, are by law forbidden."
At that time the laws were respected, for men
in power commanded respect ; and none but
men of integrity • worthy of it, were ever ele
vated to any responsible station.
Now, what passes for Thanksgiving bears so
18

206 B £ s s I {: .
little resemblance to such a day of olden time,
that could our good forefathers, who instituted
the day, be present, they would hardly recog
nize it.
The Governor only recommends the reli
gious observance of the day, but does not en
force it, and the people, like wayward children
when left to their own choice, are prone to
choose the wrong. Consequently, on the day
now set apart for Divine worship, very few
attend the services of the sanctuary, and the
sound of the Avoodman's axe is heard through
the day.
In olden time, on such a day, the sanctuary
wets filled with devout worshipers. Aud at
their homes', the tables of those >v^o thus wor
shiped, groaned beneath the Ipsid of good
things, which the good inothers had provided
for the entertainment of their guests. It was
a season of fe9,sting, and also of a re-union of
families. Children and grandchildren, Avho lived far
from their childhQod-hOHies, were then all
" homeward bound." Every living member

BESSIE, 20T
of a family, if possible, would be present at
the Thanksgiving dinner ; and the dead also,
were then all called to remembrance, Happy
the family, Avho, at such a gathering, could
number an unbroken household I
Such annual re-unions were the means of
cementing more closely the bonds of friend
ship between brothers and sisters ; and family
estrangements, now so common, were then
unknown. At that time the manner of living was sim
ple, and all the luxuries in which most of our
good fathers and mothers ever indulged, were re
served for the Thanksgiving dinner. Turkeys,
geese, ducks and chickens were fatted expressly
for that occasion ; and the pumpkin pie, for
the making of which our good mothers have
become Avorld -renowned, and Avhich ahvays
graced the board, was but a small item of the
entertainment. To such a dinner, the first course Avas a
"boiled dish." It consisted of beef, pprk,
and chickens, with every kind of vegetable the
garden produced, boiled .together in a large iron

208 BESSIE.
pot, that held at least two pailsfull. The
second course was beef, pork, and every kind
of fowl, roasted. The roasting Avas done before
the fire, by placing the meat, either in a tin
kitchen, or by hanging it by a cord, attached to
the ceiling above, over a dripping pan. While
being roasted in this manner, it was kept not
only constantly basted, but constantly tAvirling.
Meats thus roasted were very delicious, and
would gratify the palate of the most fastidious.
Could those accustomed to partake of it,
have the dry baked meat, called roasted, of
the present day, set before them, they Avould
consider it very poor in comparison. The
next course Avas chicken-pie, plum pudding, and
every kind of pie that was ever invented, and
which those good mothers kncAV so well how
to prepare, and the perfecting of Avhich, had
been the labor of weeks.
Sweet cider, apples, and nuts of every kind
were the crowning of the feast.
After Thanksgiving, the succeeding Aveeks
were devoted to making and receiving visits,
and the abundance of prepared food with which

BESSIE, 209
the larders were filled, would last for company
" fixings," during the Avinter.
It Avas not in the power of Bessie's parents,
neither did they wish to imitate their neigh
bors, by getting up such a variety of courses
for this annual festival. Her father did not
choose to have all the good things of this life
at one time," and there was no absent one of
his family to prepare for, whose return was
expected. Bessie was the eldest child, and would be
the first to break the home circle. The time
was fast approaching Avhen she must leave, and
she was extremely desirous, that for the com
ing Thanksgiving, her parents should deviate
from their usual custom, and equal their neigh
bors, by preparing a great quantity of viands
for dinner on that day. For noAV there Avas
one more, who, she thought, would be entitled
to a seat at her father's board.
She knew that her mother was feeble, and that
such a constant pressure of care and anxiety,
had impaired her nervous system ; but she had
never failed in her accustomed duties, she sup-

210 BESSIE.
posed, of course, she Avpuld attend to all the
necessary arrangements for the approaching
festival. While all was bustle and activity in the vil
lage, there was quiet in the parsonage, and
nothing done, or in progress, preparatory to
the Thanksgiving dinner. Bessie observed the
quiet, and had some forebodings of evil ; but
she felt unusually sensitive about spes^ting
upon the subject. Her solicitude was only
increased by her silence. She kept an anxious
watch upon all her mother's rup.venje'Jts, and
as the day drew nearer, and still nothing Ava.s
done, she could contain herself no longer ; and
in a manner as indifferent as she could assume,
ventured to ask her mother, if there was no
preparation to be made for Thanksgiving, Her
feelings can better be imagined than described,
at her mother's reply.
" I shall do nothing Avhatever ; you can do
what you like."
In making pies, Bessie had ahvays assisted
her mother, but had never made one entirely
by herself. Upon this emergency her energies

BESSIE. 5ill
rose, and she determined to do what she could.
Early next morning after she had become aware
of her responsibility, she brought from the
cellar a piece of corned beef, to be boiled for
mince pies. She knew very Avell the resources
of the family, and that she had but one day to
make preparation.
Then she prepared a pumpkin to be stewed ;
and Avhile the meat was being boiled, and the
pumpkin Avas being steAved, she pared and
sliced apples, heated the oven, and made and
baked both apple and custard pies. She then
prepared the meat, and the pumpkin fpr pies.
During the day, she heated a large brick
oven four times, and before the sun went doAvn
she had made and baked forty pies, Avithout
any assistance.
This discipline, although severe, proved very
beneficial to Bessie. It taught her self-reliance.
On Thanksgiving day, she roasted a turkey for
the first time ; and the commendation bestowed
upon the cook was a satisfactory reAvard for
all her labor. Her mother thought the mince
pies Avere two SAveet ; but Bessie did not think

212 BESSIE.
it possible for anything to be too sweet for
such a guest as was then present. She felt
very much like an old lady I once heard of,
whose minister Avas taking tea Avith her. His
name was Russell. After being seated at the
table, the old lady reached across it, and began
to dip molasses into his cup to sweeten his tea.
After she had put in three teaspoonsful, he very
politely declined taking any more. She per
sisted, however, in putting it in, saying as she
did so, " There can't be two much molasses for
Mr. Russell, even if it Avas all molasses."
It Avas customary for some ladies at that time,
to place the empty tea-cups and saucers by the
side of the plates, around the table. When
they had guests, and they Avere seated at the
table, the lady who entertained them, would
stand and hold the teapot at arms' length across
it, Avhile filling the cups. This, however, was
not the general custom.

BESSIE. 213

CHAPTER XXIII.
PURITAN WEDDING.
The happiest, as well as the saddest day,
must end. Thanksgiving over, Bessie resumed
her usual routine of duties.
In about six months after her engagement
to be married, her articles Avere all completed
for house-keeping. When everything was in
readiness, her father performed the marriage
ceremony, and gave her an edition of Scott's
Bible for a wedding present.
While she had remained under his protection,
he had endeavored to instill into her mind cor
rect principles, and now she Avas about to leave
him, he had still a desire to defend her from
future evils ; and, as a m^ans to this end, he
had given her this commentary upon the
Scriptures. It was not in his power to give
her earthly riches ; but the Bible, if she would
only be guided by its precepts, Avould insure

214 BESSIE.
her imperishable gems in an eternal crown,
which was far better.
This was the only exposition of the Scrip
tures he possessed, but he had so long made the
Bible a study, that he needed nothing but the
promptings of the Spirit, to impart to his peo
ple a correct understanding of Gospel trnths.
All his ministerial life he had practiced reading
the Greek testament through once in a year,
in an audible voice, a portion every morning
befdre breakfast.
I think the great fault of some preachers of
the present day, is their almost ignoring the
Scriptures and substituting fancy sketches. He
Avho feeds the flock Avith hnsks instead of the
kernel, will not only starve them, but such
trash Avill be found ineffectual in bringing sin
ners into the fold ; and that is, or ought to be,
the great object in preaching. And those
clergymen who filhtheir sermons with elegant
extracts from the poets, indiscriminately, and
quotations from the secular writings of the
day, instead of exhortations to repentance, and
truths enforced by the sublime language of an-

BESSIE. 215
spiration, I greatly fear, at the last, their skirts
Avill not be found clear from the blood of
souls. Bessie's father, to prove all his assertions
ahvays confined himself to the Scriptures,
which Avas the great secret of his success in
preaching ; for the Wbrd is Sharper than any
tAvo-edged sword; and such as have respect
for it, the Lord Avill honor.
" Grandmother, you have- not told me any
thing about Bessie's wedding dress ?"
Bessie Avas a very singular girl, and was
either entirely devoid of taste in the matter of
dress, or had such an exquisite one that she
had never been able to gratify, she had come
to regard the whole thing Avith indifference.
Perhaps, at this time she chose to appear in
different, rather than make an attempt and
fail lo attain a certain degree of elegance which
she Avould have thought indispensable in a dress
madie expressly for a wedding occasion. She
therefore took a philosophical view of the sub
ject, and came to the Avise conclusion, that
Awith hfer limited itieans it would be far better

2l6 BESSIE.
to be married in an ordinary dress, than to
spend the money she so much needed for fur
nishing her house, in purchasing one for a cer
emony that, in the performance, would not
occupy at the longest more than ten minjites of
time, Avith none to Avitness it but her own fam
ily. She shrunk from making a display of
herself upon such an occasion, in the public
congregation ; and to select such guests only
as Avere congenial to herself, to attend the
Avedding at her father's house, Avould have oc
casioned not only hard feelings, but unkind
remarks from some of his parishioners, who Avere
not included in the invitation. She Avished
to avoid everything of an unpleasant nature,
more on her parents' account, than her OAvn.
The dress she had worn that day to meeting,
and in which she proposed to be married, Avas a
pelisse flannel of a crimson hue. Being told
by a friend, that to wear red upon such an oc
casion Avas a sign she Avould quarrel with her
husband, although not a believer in signs, she
changed her mind, and concluded to be mar
ried in Avhite. She ran to her room in ha?te,

BESSIE. 217
for shie had but a few moments in which
to select and arrange her dress ; there Avas no
time lost in deciding, for she had but one white
dress. It had hot been worn during the Win
ter, and it happened to be clean. The mate
rial was dimity ; the skirt contained but three
breadths, was cut goring, and upon the bottom
was a flounce of cambric, an eighth of a yard
in depth.
The lace cape, and Avhite morocco sandals,
the purchasing of Avhich had caused her so
much regret, she now found useful ; and the
Avhite lace veil and bracelets, completed her bri
dal attire. She had been gone from the room
but a few moments, arid upon her return found
the bridegroom waiting to receive her. When
she suddenly appeared thus arrayed, her mother,
by a look, expressed much surprise, but made
no remark. In a much shorter time than she
had spent in changing her dress, she was
changed herself into a married woman.
The event occurred at the close of the Pu
ritan Sabbath, just as the sun sunk below the
horizon.

19

218 BESSIE.
Sabbath evenings was the time specially
devoted, in those days, by young gentlemen, in
making visits expressly to young ladies.
Bessie had been guarded with Avatchful
care by her parents from infancy, until noAv ;
and they had spared no pains in teaching her
the most useful branches of female education.
Had they been in such circumstances as not to
require her assistance, they could not, with a
clear conscience, indulged her in idleness, —
ignorant of the common duties of life — Avholly
dependent upon domestics, and if deserted by
them, perfectly helpless — ^unable to provide a
dinner either for herself or family. They were
not so wanting in affection to their daughter.
Although she had assisted her mother in every
department of domestic employment, she had
not been overtasked, but Avas, in consequence,
in a measure prepared to take upon herself the
responsible duties of home.
Like most young ladies, she had at times
been impatient of restraint, but had consoled.
herself with the idea,, that Avhen she was mar
ried, all trouble would be left behind. She^

BESSIE. 2'19
could then go where she liked, do Avhat she
liked, and no one Avould have a rigiit to con
trol or say to her, " Avhy do you so ?"
There Avas no one thing Bessie had always
coveted so much as to be the entire mistress
of her OAvn time. To persons of experience,
I need add no more. Such already know hoAv
futile all her childish anticipations proved.
But young ladies who, like Bessie, are buoyant
Avith hope, looking forAvard to marriage as a
terminus to all earthly ills, sanguine in the
expectation that a married life Avill be a life
replete Avith happiness unalloyed, are the ones
who might be benefitted by a description of
Bessie's married life experience. But that
Avould contain material sufficient, and must be
reserved for another story.
" Grandmother, Avhat became of Bessie after
she Avas married ?"
She commenced housekeeping in the old
house near the school-house, Avhere she had
spent so many days of her childhood ; and the
scouring of the yellow-pine floor devolved
upon her. But uoav she is married, my story

220 BESSIE.
must end ; for her after troubles in life did not
arise in consequence of her being a clergy
man's daughter.
If this story shall awaken any interest in the
hearts of New England congregations in behalf
of their ministers' families, I shall not regret
the telling ; for I have no doubt at this day,
even, many of them are struggling from priva
tion, which, if known, woiild awaljJen the sym
pathy of their parishioners. ^
And now, my child, I hope you will profit
by your grandmother's story, and never allow
yourself to envy those whose circumstances in
life are above your OAvn ; but rather cultivate
a cheerful disposition, and learn to be content
in the situation in Avhich providence has placed
you. That lesson can only be learned from the
Bible. Make, then, the blessed Book your
study. Search its sacred pages. Be guided by
its precepts. Confide in its promises. And it
will sustain and cheer you through all the
chequered scenes of life, — pilot you safely

BESSIE. 221
over the dark waters of death, — and be a pass
port to that Heavenly world where sorroAvs are
unknoAvn. The Book of life, alone contains
A soul refreshing spring,
For mortal griefs and mortal pains.
An antidote can bring.

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