Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-10-01
3fiseellanu.
From the Advance,
"Reminiscences of Doctor Lyman
Beecher.
BY REV. j. G. WHITE.
HIS LOVE OF CHILDREN.
BY REV. J. c. WHITE.

strained freedom OF intercourse, and a
most exuberant independence in the ex-
preston of opinions. The family circle
was often debating society, and woe to
the luckle5s one who had no opinions or
who could not defend those he had. Nor
were they limited in the range of sub
jects. Their field was the world, wheth-
er of mind or matter whether of nature
or the supernatural. In the family it
was that the Beechers got their root-hold
and their primal development and as
the girls did not go to college nor a con-
vent boarding school, they retained their
individuality, and maintained progress
sive development which has by no means
ceased to this day. The boys, especially
Henry Ward and Charles, were so Wig
orously natural that their teachers could
not make them over, and therefore they
were not spoiled III making-as boys gen.
orally are
This freedom of the family it was,
which made father and children so fresh,
independent and impelling. And not
merely an intellectual freedom was this
Of the Beechers, but social as well. Pa
rent and child were playmates as well as
schoolmates in the house. Exercise and
amusement, play and fun were as freely
participated in as prayer and preaching.
Gymnastics, outdoor and indoor, kept
blood and brain, nerve and muscle all
astir. The best room in the house was
not too good for practice. well remem-
Der calling upon the family with two lit
tie girls to see the young Beechers. We
were seated in the front room" until
the children appeared. As soon as they
saw who had called, they jumped with
joy, saying, Come into the sitting room,
we are having such fun with father "
And sure enough, there he was-the
great DR.. Beecher of half century in
years,-going It on oil fours from end to
end of the room, with one and another,
and all, on his back riding horse Now,
he would throw them, and then they
would throw him. What cantering,
jumping and tumblingl When down the
children would take him by the legs and
drag him back and forth, and roll him
over and over, until an upjump and run
away of the horse, and ringing shout
and scamper of the children to head and
hold him.
How unlike all this was the practice
of ministers and deacons' families forty
years ago! And how unlike the results
Aye, how different the practice of to-day
in nearly all of our homes! Henry Ward
has we'll said that I" There is no place fol
boys nowadays" The parlor is toe
good for them, and the street is too bad
for them, and the grand old kitchen ha:
been abolished, and where can boy-naturt
have fair play? Boy nature! Who
knows or cares anything about it Anc
yet is it not the greatest of all studies
Oh, for parents and homes that will de
velop noble boyhood into nobler man
hood!
LOVE OF MUSIC.
DIR. Beecher was as fond of music a.
he was of children. He was no poet MOI
artist, but he loved the music of violir
and knew how to make it. That Beech
er violin! How the good doctor woulC
stir and strain it And how unlike, Da
vid's harp of "solemn sound "-provid
ed Watts was truthful Beecher's violil
knew little about doleful hymns and fu
nereal dirges. 1t appealed to the finger
and toes, and swept over the nerve Ger
tres with soul stirring inspiration an
yet with a mighty power of repose.
Coming to the family altar one eve
; ming after hard study, the doctor foun
the current of his thoughts too strong fo
control. 1t kept right on with the trai
of his sermon in hand $50 bring m
my fddle'" said he to oneof the famil
who were waiting for devotions. Th
fiddle was brought; and the Doctc
evoked such strains that the spell ws
: broken and the mind and heart prepare
: for family worship.
DIR. Beecher never lost his relish ft
the music of the viol. Nor did he 70
get how to play it. In his retirement 1
Brooklyn, stranger friend called to 81
him. The call was one of mingled CT
riosity and reverential admiration. B
. fore leaving. the stranger hesitating
,. referred to the common report about II
d Doctors being good violinist, and as
ed the favor of a specimen tune or tw
The Doctor readily acquiesced and ha
died the bow as of olden time. There
IS. said he winding up with grandiloque
flourish, "what do you think now
His lone, rapt auditor was dumtfounde
s. THE BEECHER HUMoR.
or Lyman Beecher was as full of wit al