The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-05-23
III stclIonD. j .
Harriet Beecher Stowe.

in this country, in answer to an inquiry
for some particulars Of her early life,
! give an account tf the origin of the
world renowned Unclo Toms Cabin. "
After a play ful description Of her per-
sonal nrrearauce-an account of ler
marriage with Professor Stowe. a. the
age of twenty y-fve-hcr settlement at
Lane Seminary. near Cincinnati, iu Ohio,
and the increase of her family, she says
The most beautiful If these (hcr
childrcn) and the most beloved, lies
buried near my Cincinnati residence
it was at his dying bed. and at his grave l.,
that ] learnt what poor slayc.mothcr
may feel when her child is torn from her
In the depths of my sorrow, which seem
ed immcasurable, it vas my only prayer
TO God that such anguish might not bo
suffered in vain.
There were circumstances connected
with this child's death Of such peculiar
bitterucss.-of what might sccn almost
cruel suffcring-that felt could nov.
or be consoled for it, unless it should ap.
pear that the crushing of my own heart
might enable me to work out some great
good to others.
His death took place during the chol.
era summer, when in circle of five miles
around me nine thousand were buried
a mortality which | have never heard
exceeded anywhere.
My husband, in feeble health, was o
bligcd to be absent the whole time, and
| had sole charge of family Of fifteen
persons He could not return to Inc be-
cause would not permit it; for in ma
ny instances where parents had returned
from distance to their families ayd the
infected atmosphere, the result had been
sudden death, and the physicians warned
me that if he returned, it would only be
to die. My poor Charlie died for want
of timely medical aid for. in the univor
sal confusion and despair that prevailed
it was often impossible TO obtain assis-
tanco ill it was too late
| allude to this bcrcavcm1nt because
| believe that much tha, is inS Uncle
Toms Cabin had its root in the a. ful
scenes ard bitter sorrows Of that sum.
mcr. 1t has left now trust, no trace
in my mind, except deep compassion
for the sorrowful. especially for mothers
who arc separated from their children.
During long years of struggling with
poverty, sickness. and hut, dcbililatirg
climate, my children grew up around
me. The nursery aud the kitchen we're
my principal fields of labor. Some Of
my friends. plying my tolls. sent some
Of my sketches to certain libcrally.pay-
ing ANNALS with my name. With the
first money that | earned this way
bought feather bed For, as / had
married into poverty, and without a
dowry and as my husband had only q
large library of books. and great deal
of learning, this bed and pillows were
thought Oh the whole the most proliia.
Die investment.
now thought had discovered tho
philosophers stone, and wl.nn ncw car
pct or mattrass was needed, or when at
the close of the year it began to be evil
dent TINT my family accounts like Do
ra's. wouldn't add up.' then | used to
say to my faithful friend aud ctotum,
Anna, who shared all my joys and sor-
rows, NOW, II you IL Keep the babies
| qu'ct' ana attend TO an the things IN the
house tor one day, III write q piece, aud
'"en we s''a'' DC oo' o' the scrane' And
SO occaihe an au'horess ! very mod
est at Grst, | do assure YOU and rcmon-
strating very seriously with the friends
VINO had thought 1t best to put my name
to my productions. by way of getting up
reputation
during my ne at the Vest l lived
Two milcs from 'he eily OF Cincinnati,
IN the country and domestic service
not Always TO DC iound IN the city, is
next 10 'n'p"ssioie 10 be obtained IN the
country, even oy tnose VINO are Wiling
to give the highest wages. so what was
to be expected Tor me, who had very LIT.
lie ol tn's worios goods TO oiier Had
J, Ho' pecn 'or my 'nsep1raoie friend
landed on our Amcr;c,n shoes n das,; "
tntion and sorrow md who ,,Ioro % nn,o
mo a. Ru,h un,o N,oo; Lad nsrar
l;vod tbronyb MI ,he ,o;I wk;ch ,h;s nn
oar,oin,r aed ah.oInto m,n, ~ don.,;,
scry;co ;mnosed urnn mo you nav ;,r
on;no ,boreforo hom nIoa w.s - n
aSon, dorsn fam;,ios - i;h"r.,oJ ra'
rroes came and se,tled /, onr v;o;ni,v
Tbev became INV favor;te rosor,s Il
| AN'NfN'S tNSSA'S AH