The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-08-09

bis purpose 10 write . novcl, and proceed.
Cd, ON encouragement, 70 detail something
Of It's plot He had some manuscript with
him. but time not suiiloing then. an sp-
poinlment WAS made for another week. II
VAS ON certain "Wednesday afternoon near
tho close OF tho year 1871, that the 6rst two
chapters Of Barriers Burned Away we're
read outside the parsonage study. They
were listened 10. As the full foolscap pages
we're turned over, with real interest. A
few criticisms were offered at the close, aud
readily. even gratefully, accepted. Dr.
Fields suggestion that portion OF one Of
the chapters should be brought forward.
WAS one OF them. Only encouraging words
we're spoken touching the interest Of the
story from the specimen offered, aud Mr..
Roe took his way up the river TO his little
parish greatly cheered,as be hes many
times assured us, ssding more than once.
that il our judge nt had been adverse
instead Of fAya the manuscript would
hare gone I'M 6rs then and there. and
his aspirations 70 authorship with III No'
quite so, we should hope, but We report
him correctly.
The frat chapter Of the work appeared
ID these columns on Feb. 90. 1872, and IL
ran on nearly to the close Of the Iycar. and
rs we bad reason TO note, mnch 10 the Inc
terest OF our readers, young aud old.
And by this appearance in "The Evan
gelist." il came to pass that Mr.. Roe had
not far to look for good publishers. nj.
". Dodd (the elder) was an attentive read
er OF the story as it appeared from week to
week. and IL was at his instance and ur
gency, as he has assured us, that the ex-
celent and enterprising firm lever since
bis publishers) arranged for the appearance
of Barriers Burned Away" in book form
What they have done in that line since
With this initial volume and fifteen others
with yet the authors last TO follow, the
public we'll know. $1,000 copies OF Mr..
Roes first book have been issued by this
firm, and several others by the same au.
thor are close rivals. The Evangvlis!'s
protege has, however, never been quite
oyertaken. Aud the singularity and no.
bleness OF this great literary achievement
and success, are that Mr.. Roe has left no
line which, dying, he would blot. He has
continued TO preach, but by changed me
thod. He has given his hearers and they
are many more than gathered about him
at Highland Fallsl-the best that was in
him. and they have not been slow TO recog-
nize the value Of the Offering and to be-
come, great multitude Of them, his ad-
mirers and moral benefcisries. Between
seven and eight hundred thousand Of Mr..
Roe's novels have been published in this
country, and including those published
abroad, and translations into German and
French. the total must be much abovo
million copiesl
His last years must have been full Of
satisfaction, dispite heavy and almost
crushing pecuniary reverse incurred in the
endeavor to sustain brother. But he sp-
peared to have we'll passed these cruel be-
setments Of lifes voyage, and about to
emerge into calmer and wider sens, when
Just month ago he came into our office,
and sat dawn, as so often before, with
those who had appreciated his first chap
ters in department Of literature in which
be had won fame and fortune. The inter-
view was partly reminiscent and most
pleasant, and there was no thought as he
went from us but that it was TO be repeat.
cd again and again for years to come. He
seemed in full health, and the day Of his
death probably more distant than in the
case Of either Of the friends, older than be
by dozen years, with whom he convsrsed.
But alas! alas! full soon, at evening time,
IL was said 10 him:
"AIl thy other journeys past.
Gird thee. and make ready fast
For thy longest and thy last"
--es