Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-11-07
THE HERALD.
From the New York Observer.
MRS. SARAH j. EALE.
OLDEST LADY AUTHOR IN THE wonLD.
BY LrcY z. SANFORD.

OLUh6H LADn Aks Hn " W. -
BY LrcY 2. SANFORD.
Sunapee Lake nestles among the
mountains of New Hampshire. Its
waters, seeking the sea, take The
form of a narrow stream that winds
in and out among the hills, som etines
doubling on itself in got lost. sort of
way, then massing its strength to
break through barriers, leap over
stones. dash down precipices, until it
finds rest in the calm Connecticut,
which bears it to the ocean. This lit
tie stream is studded with manufac
tories and makes the industries of
three towns. When bat one lone
grist-mill was on its banks, many a
farm was, and in farm house in the
town of Newport, on the oath of o.
tober, 1888, little girl was born
whose name to-day is househ old
word. She married lawyer OF her
native town, and the home to VIII oh
he brought her--a two-story white
house, with its three windows on enc
side and two on the other OF the front
door-still stands in the heart of the
busy village. Her childhood friends
are all dead, but many who knew her
well in her married life still live. One
charming lady, now 70 years old,
whose home was next to Mr. Hale's,
and whose family was one of the
most noted of the town, at once be-
came very fond of the young bride.
As a child, she never wearied of Mrs.
Hale's stories, and when she grew
older and her strict father would not
allow her TO go to balls, she would
console herself by spending the night
with Mrs. Hale.
Mrs. Hale, nearly famished by the
meagre diet which farm life in those
days permitted the hungry mind, al.
most devoured books, always reading
when caring for her babes. Indeed,
they tell story Of new book hav-
ing been given her when she was
sweeping, and friend found her
hours after with the broom in one
hand and the book in the other Her
life ran smoothly until FIVE children
were born to her, and then Mr.. BALE,
after short sickness, was laid in the
churcbyard on the hillside.
Let me digress. The good minis
ter who preached the funeral sermon
still lives, in hale and honored re
he told me it was Masonic funeral
and the chaplain of the Lodge was
Congregational minister of the ! ext
town, who but ten days before aad
been one OF a Council to dismiss che
Congregationalist minister of this. In
his prayer he remembered it, md
asked that the Sister church may soon
settle n pastor One vi The deac ms
Of that church was one of the all
bearers, and this prayer was eau tic
to sore conscience. On his way TO
the grave he broke forth:
Now, wasn't it mean Of that Oh ap-
lain to twit our church of not ha, NO
paid our dismissed minister p
With one voice the bearers disputed
the charge.
But be did! He prayed we night
settle Nth our minister
But TO return. Left with snail
means and five young children, it be-
came necessary for Mrs. Hale to do
something to support them, and ,he
opened milliner's shop. To givs up
reading and writing and tie hersel to
a shop life was torture to her, out
for her children's sake she resolutely
attempted it. Bat already her first
novel was in the printers hand, and
in hours stolen from sleep she wrote
a poem which took prize in Bos, IN.
Both were seen by Rev. ohm L. 81. Ike,
a stranger to her, and he wrote ask.
ing her to take charge of a Lady's
Magazine which be would start for
her in Boston. This was the turn IN q
point of her life. To her 1t wa, a
JOY, the opening to her of life to her
taste, and yet she doubted if her new
found wings could bear her to such a
height. To her friends it was a wild
project, an absurd scheme. Some
urged that her love for the beautiful
could find ample expression on ladies'
bonnets, and here her life was useful,
and why change for one SO useless !
But the grand argument was, that no
magazine for women, edited by a
woman, had ever been heard of, and
it would be very bold in fact, an
improper-step for her to take! But
she took it land many severe re-
marks were made about her in conse-
quence of it. Before leaving she
wrote in her friends album
How fair the simple flowers appear
When hands beloved the garland Irvine 4;
And Friendships flowers collected here,
Though springs may die, will ever shine
1876 CoRNELI,.
have nothing to say about flow ers
shining but this know. the partlcu
lar flower has for more than hal. a
century had perfume and sweetr ess
tor her friend. The Magazine was
started in 1927, and, though sm al,
was IN all its features like the Lad rs
Book, into which it was merged in
ASos' ~ v"bu"l vi bhab year me
notices DIR. 5. q Howe's Educat on
of the Blind, which, in these days
when Blind Asylums are so nun err.
GUS and ot such assured success, re Ids
so strangely | transcribe 1t III pa It !:
1t is about five mouths since 1t st TT
ed, aud the plan is a novel Que h, re,
and the Trustees resolved to est
their system before asking aid she
saw two little girls who could ad
correctly by running their fling ars
over raised letters
lu the autumn of 1887 she nc, cd
TO Philadelphia, where she still Ii es,
honored and beloved. In 1916 she
first suggested the idea OF Matte al
Thanksgiving. The President fes red
it was an innovation, but by her err
severance she has secured it. On her
saith birthday she wrote her 'An ri.
can National Thanksgiving Hymn,
which was sung on the follow .ug