Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-12-18


This was the day of the concert. The
evening before, a neighboring gentleman had
kindly and benifcently offered that his lawn
should be the scene. His servants should
move the benches, put up the platform, at
tend at the gates, and save all Trouble. In
the morning the hot weather melted away all
doubts. 1t seemed clear that all PARTIES
those who could not be consulted and those
who could-would be best pleased to be sent
TO a shady spot in the open air, where any
number of people might hear without any
crowding. The Hutchinsons themselves
begged that all the town-people who liked
might hear them, those who could not pay,
as well as those who could. That concert
will never be forgotten by any who were so
happy as TO be present. The Hutchinsons
enjoyed it more than any they have given in
this country. Abby left her bonnet in a rho
; dodendron bush, out of sight; and the family
group came up a green slope from a thicket
below. The little platform was erected I'M
der the deep shade of a spreading sycamore.
In front and on either hand were collected a
larger audience than any house in Ambleside
could have contained and among them were
some who could not have enjoyed the plea
sure elsewhere; an invalid lady, who lay on
the grass and an infrm old gentleman,
WUOSt GUAR WdS WnePlBu INTO the ClTCle.-
There was row behind row of the trades-peo-
pie, servants, and laborers of the neighbor-
hood and in the centre behind all, the par
ish clerk-zealous in the psalmody and all
the other good objects of the place, and most
active in promoting our concert. He de-
serves The enjoyment which | am sure he
had.
And low, when | am most anxious TO con-
vey some impression Of this festival, | am
least able to do so. How is it possible TO
give an idea of the soul-breathing music of
the Hutchinsons, to those who have not heard
it? One might as well attempt TO convey in
words the colors of the sky, or the strain of
the nightingale, as such utterance of the heart
as theirs. One can only observe the effects.
There was now hearty laughter, and now
many tears. Nothing can be said of the in
terror emotions which found no eXpression.-
Every body congratulated every body else on
having come. A young servant of mine who
went all in high spirits at the prospect OF an
evenings pleasure, cried the whole time as
did others. At the end, when every heart
was beating in response 10 the brotherly gree
ting and farewell offered in the closing piece
The frantic Sfate-the parish clerk sprang
up and called for three cheers for the Hutch
%insons, which were given by as many as had
unchoked voices. | think no one could have
come away without a strong impression, con-
sciously or unconsciously entertained, of the
good and beauty of a free nurture and eXer-
else of our human powers. There must be
many among us with powers, of one sort or
another equal to those of the Hutchinsons.--
If we could be wise, and take courage to fol-
low the lead of our natures, it cannot be but
that many Of us might be as free, as simple,
as happy, as benificent as thsy-as able as
they to speak to hearts, and to awaken souls.
AS for mel crossed the road 10 my own
gate in a mood which the Hutchinsons des-
cribed 10 me as theirs, when | entered the
room where we met for the last time 1--WE
are happy and sad" said they. | was hap
Ply and sad and, | dare say, so was every
body who was at that moment returning
home from that green spot under the trees
The most moving thing, however, was yet
to come. When they had dressed themselves
for a night stage to Patterdale, and had sup
ped, and said farewell, and seated themselves
in the carriage, they stopped their horses or
my terrace, for yet another minute, and sen
forth a sweet and most mournfnl chorus o.
farewell to me, in notes swelling and dying
away in the still night air. | was " happy
and sad" as ] turned in to my solitary lamp
| could not let the glass door be closed, late
as it was; but again and again | went out OIL
the terrace, 10 look for more stars to light m,
r friends way over the mountain pass, and Il
) watch the Summer lightning-not withou
some impression that their sweet strain O
farewell was still floating over the valley
10 me it can never die away into silence.
The Knoll, .4mbhSide, 1916.