Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-31
BEECHER AT SEVENTEEN,
Mrs. Beecher Tells of Her First Meeting
With Hm-His First Sermon.
He knew his people.

A1iSe WIN lACuAN w al u
Beecher was in the early part of May,
1880. He was classmate of brother
of mine, in Amherst College. and very
close friends. The two were Just out
of their freshman year when together
with another college classmate. they
walked from Amherst to nv fathers
house at West Sutton for their spring
vacation, writes Mrs. Henry Ward
Beecher in the first paper on Mr.
Beecher as l Knew Him." in the
Ladies Home Journal. At that time
young Beecher was not quite seven
teen years old. but so young and boy
lsh was his appearance that no one
would have thought him more than
tifteen-an age when boys are usually
awkward and painfully bashful. For
that reason my family feared we might
not be able to entertain or make the
young man comfortable. But awk-
ward he never was, and his roguish
mouth. his laughing merry eyes, his
quaint humor. and his quick repartee
soon dispelled all such anxiety.
Before the first evening he spent at
our house had passed, none of the
family felt him to be a stranger.
My father was absent with some of
his patients when the young men ar
rived. but returned in the evening
wheH all were laughing heartily at
some story Henry had just told Father
stood in the doorway-tall, dignifed
and somewhat stern. at such a tumult.
When aware of his presence. my
brother at once introduced his class
mates.
Little by little the same subtle in
fluences which had pervaded the whole
evenings enjoyment stole over fathers
face, and long before it was time to
retire, they were telling mirth- provok-
ing stories as cheerfully as if they
were boys together.
When, at length. the 'good-nigh
were exchanged, l left father and
mother by the fire, while l made some
preparations for breakfast.
AS | returned to the room, father
was saying:
We'll, he is mart! He'll make his
mark in the world, if he lives"
WHO, father?' | asked.
why, that young Beecher."
Such was Henry Ward Beecher
when first saw him; and, truth to tell,
he was not remarkable for his beauty.
x
During this time. | was with an aunt
in Northbridge. Massachusetts, rest
ing after long session of teaching,
and MIR. Beecher came there during
this visit to teach for the first time
through vacation. And here. where
he taught his first school, he also
preached his first sermon. Eyening
service was being held in the little old
school-house where he taught and the
villagers had requested Mr.. Beecher to
take charge of it for that evening. At
first he was surprised. but lie quickly
cole cted himself and consented to
preach. How we'll | remember the
look of surprise-almost scorn-on
some faces. when he-this lad of seven
teen-rose to address them. Some
thought it farce, until he began to
speak. Then, attention became levelled
| at him, and for nearly an hour scarce
ly one in the audience moved in his
seat. The sermon was an earnest one,
simple yet eloquent. Not once did he
hesitate for single word. Sentence
| followed sentence as smoothly as if
they were uttered by minister of long
experience. Never did he in Plymouth
puI pit, or on any other platform, hold
an audience more fully under his con-
troll, SO thoroughly spell-bound-than
in this. his first effort.
One day, shortly after we became
engaged, Mr.. Beccher walked from
Amherst to Brattleboro. Vermont. to
give temperance lecture-his first
public address. After speaking, he
walked back the entire journey, using
the money, sent to take him there and
back, for books-onlv reserving enough
to buy simple gold ring. The ring,
worn out by hard labor while at the
West, and mended time and time
again-the mending paid for by sew
ing at right while others slept-was.
| when we came to Brooklyn. so thin it
could only be mended by lining. was
worn long after that until, after a
quarter Of a century's use, it could be
no longer repaired. To-day it rests
close to ME as | write-sacredlv kept
as the result of Henry Ward Beecher's
first earnings by public speaking at the
age of seventeen!
once heard Il young lady say, show
ing her engagement ring: There! |
always said would never be engaged
if could not have diamond ring"
And then | thought of the old worn
ring, SO carefully treasured. which.
half century ago. cost eighty-live
cents, and questioned if there was on
earth ring more precious.