The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-26
Beechers Happiest Home.

In a recent article giving the late Henry
Ward Beecher's experiences of his first pas
torate, the New York Herald recites the
UPS and downs of Mr.. and Mrs Beecher in
housekeeping during that period.
The scene is at Lawrenceburg, Ind
where Mr.. Beecher had accepted a call from
the Presbyterian church, composed of
twenty members, of whom nineteen were
women. His congregation possessed a very
limited supply of worldly goods, and could
pay him only $50 year. This sum was
supplemented by $50 annually from
the home mission fund. For
several months after his arrival with
his wife at Lawrenceburg, Mr.. Beecher &C
cepte1 the hospitality of one of his elders,
as a yearly salary of $500 was a rather
meager one upon which to begin house
keeping. Domestic Affections, however,
forced the elder to discontinue this arrange
ment, and, Mr.. Beecher being away at the
time, Mrs. Beecher set out to find new quar-
tiers. She was unsuccessful in obtaining
board, and finally was offered the rent of
two rooms over a livery stable for $40 a
year. She went to Cincinnati where her
husband was, and together they took coun-
sci. There was the paltry sum of Csc. in
his pocket-hardly enough to make the idea
of housekeeping very aliuring, particularly
as they had no furniture. Friends, who
were not overrich themselves, came to
their rescue. One gave them half of an old
carpet, another contributed few knives
and forks, third some sheets and pillow
cases. Others bedstead, stove, etc With
these articles they returned to Lawrence
burg, where their not-inviting quarters
were subjected to a thorough scrubbing,
Mr.. Beecher donning long apron and
securing the floors. Mrs. Beecher had the
knack of making things appear at their
best, and in few days the rooms, stained
with tobacco juice, and the floors of which
like the decks of the Mississippi river vessels
desc ribbed by Marx Twain, might vegetate
a crop of corn, were completely metamor.
phosed. The furniture was brought in, and
Mrs. Beecher was made the recipient OF
castaway table that hobbled on three
legs, aud of a few hanging shelves
that had been thrown into a back yard as
rubbish. Mr.. Beecher devoted his genius t.
the shelves, his wife supported the table
until it was supplied with its amputated
member, and then had it vanished, after
which she took the skirt of one of her hus
bands worn out coats and made it do service
as cover. A neat cover it was, too, and
Mr.. Beecher fouGd himself the proud owner
of writing table. The window curtains
were not pretentious-in fact they were made
of &c calico, but they served to add to the
coy appearance of the rooms, and were in
keeping with the surroundings. Everything
was neat but not gaudy.
Here the term of the great Plymouth
preachers first pastorate was spent. and q
very happy pastorate it was. There are
not many homes over livery stables, but
the country abounds in humble ones
adorned with simplicity. where content
rnent reigns. 1t is doubtful if Mr. Beecher
with his S25, coo salary in Brooklyn, and
with fame achieved, was more contented
than when he occupied this unpretentious
place of abode and devoted himself to the
good OF his little flock. Gilded homes are
not always the happiest, and men who have
attained position and amassed wealth fire.
quently look back with something akin to
reverence upon the scenes Of their early
struggles. Mr.. Beecher found that content
ment brought happiness. He is not the
only philosopher who has given this piece
of wisdom TO the world.