The sun., 1890-01-26
MRS. STOVES LAST DAYS.
aHE 10 FADING QUIETLY AWAR IN HER
HARTFORD HONE.
The Son OF the Author or "UncIe Tome
Cabin" Loses His Pnipit Through His
Zeal In Writing Her Biography,

ThN G0n OF the AuthOr OF Uncle Tom,
CnbIn" Loses His Puipit Through HI,
zeal In Writing Her Biography.
HARTFORD, Jan. 25.-while the life of Mrs
Harriet Bcecher Stowe is fading fast away, anc
,he Is not expected TO live many weeks longer
her vitality is remarkable For nearly yea,
thiS remarkable woman has been in conflict
with the great destroyer. Her homo is one oI
the pleasantest In the Hill section OF Hartford
Surrounded by graceful trees, tho house has an
inviting appearance. Large bow windows and
A pretty porch add to the beauty OF the build
ing In which tho author Of Uncle Toms
Cabin Ia InssinR her last days. Adjoining In
the rear Is the quaint house Of Mark Twain.
while within q stones throw is the home OF
CHARLES Dudley Warner. Her household is
composed Of herself, her twin daughters.
= maiden ladies Of As. two servants, and the
nurse in constant attendance upon the failing
head Of the family The son. the Rev. Charles
Stowe aged about 40. has until few weeks ago
Rregational Church, and lived q mile or moro
from his mothers place. Mrs. Stoves sister.
Isabella Beecher Hooker. OF woman suffrage
fame. lives in Forest street.
The last time the reporter met Mrs. Stowe
out OF doors she was followed by her nurse In
stroll through the back yards Of her own and
adjoining residences. She was singing in o low
voice the stanza commencing, Am / q
soldier OF the cross2" She stopped and looked
the writer squarely in the eyes and for mo-
ment or more did not utter q word Then
came an inquiry about hisdomestic affairs for
he was an old acquaintance: but when he at
tempted to enter into conversation or even to
make an answer Mrs. Stowe Immediately re-
sumed the old hymn and started on. Then she
turned and asked. Are you trusting In God p
That Ia her common ouerv of evnrvhodv To
the answer is in the affirmative, or is evasve,
she adds that the person s all right II his trust
Is fixed. During her wanderings on that day
she was as happy as child. yet there was no
smile on her face. Instead the countenance
wore half-severe look softened only by the
natural womanliness In the outlines. The
head was white with the wavy gray hair as OF
yore, fastened with band Of velvet.
1t was about the time OF the death OF her
brother Henry that she fully realized that her
faculties were on the wane. Up to this time
she was considered in the height of her men,
tai powers. The fatal illness OF her brother
with its hours OF anxious watching for the end
wore upon her mind. The writer, in conversa-
tion with her few days before the death OF
Plymouths pastor. found her in state of great
unrest and nervousness. She imagined her
brother was dead. and her friends were keep
ing 1t from her. She nervously pleaded to know
II the end had come. and on being assured that
her brother was reported as more comtortA-
be. she became absorbed in her own thoughts,
oblivious ot ANY person in her presence. Alter
the death Of henry ard she was stricken with
sorrow, and maintained the quiet of Il recluse
for some time. The winter OF 1859, following
her return from Sag Harbor, was remarkable
days she took walks on the streets in the vi
ctnity OF her home, accompanied by her nurse,
an attendant She was able to walk a hal mile Hs
or more at time. and showed improvement in
health as u result OF her outdoor exercise
When she met acquaintances she was always
ready TO pass pleasant word with them, aud
ghe showed that she remembered their faces
long and almost fatal Sickness ON q number
n pleasant pleasant SUNDAYS she occupied her seat in
Rttontively listened to the sermons Of the Eev
Joseph TWichen the special friend OF Mark
During the following spring the in elect
showed evidence OF decay: Strange remarks
we're at first observed. Then followed IRA
was wa:c6iul in her Duties. and aIioWod notfe Ro6
inE ; TO happen excent under her eye. slowly
child. The changes were so gradual as to be
hardly noticeable at first She continued her
walks on the streets and greeted friends. but
conversation. Then she failed to recognize |
persons she had K. own, or v ould greet them |
t9r months. In pleasant weather she has been |
allowed to roam about the yard and the adJoin-
and she would occupy hours In wanderinG
about in search Of wild blossoms. Of which she
Sssemsd SsnnS Z, especially i9nd Her nurse followed
a mIna 10 pave full play as far as was possible.
1nEl1g these wanderings the woman would
milisr hymn Of the old time church service,
SE more ebeut itre9aeaIy when searching for fow
s S rs GSd w s ss sha G%sr SUNG
In In all the churches for the past half century
@SS cross Hcb %hs1 the
ann tnSt she sings again and again every day.
The Rev. Charles H. stowe has gone to Flori-
time OF his departure he ask ed leave Of ai:sence nee
i9r %t one year from the duties of pastor OF the
maa;inH masasor x avenue 6s Co1gregaional Church
MN nat the society could hardly grant SO long
S,Haa q Vacation: II hoped be would so arrange his
ple absence. In response to this came prompt
~ formal resignation. which was at once ac-
Work NOR Of Mr.. stowe in writing the biography Of
his mother. which has recently been placed on
S9oS.o Ssas; ne sr intended to write the lie of Mrs
hmnish 1t until after her death. Mrs. Florence
5sIsShorm a5IsEer mSsSMTay aS yivaeious writer and
volume on the works of the famous author
q ssf, and and to this end, obtained the consent
years ago. She at once went 10 work to yet
Mta!erisl toMdr a. and made frequent visits to tho
l.in lTGms Cabin and her other books, She OBJ
tsr t,nea G many fact. outside of the subject mat
ri :
me son and daughters. photographs Of Mrs.
p ci!CEe I'VE AZ different ages. Sho also got copies
VI !he Inscriptions on the silver plate present.
% 70 her by abolition societies In this country
sna m, 10 Europe. and which is now stored In
sSI sSie- ep sit vault. The bright little woman
ssoen s began TO look about outside OF tho family
things "' N "'
vd.E The son son became alarmed at the scope OF the
"oik' which he had supposed would only net i
iac1 Sh bs baaEertisement for his bo9k TO oll9w In
S.rl SSork which he was doing would "be likely to
Sor So nii the better received for the work which
Ia are about 70 pu bish;" When he discovered
ba and neck race with her. For over year
H. eonhned himself TO the work OF getting his
SonEtt on the market as soon or before the 8
took Hook ot his rival Hard feelings between the
tSIS '0oK s the place Of pleasant relations. All
preparing his sermons. In one year he per. !
IvYlnea vannta the labor lie had laid out for three !
Wiz giT r r.! !hree months ago the race was ended
M WrpeSaring one week in advance Of the Rev.