Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-21
HARRIET PRESCOTT SPoFFoRD.


blossoms of New England.
The coming to the front of new writers
Of short stories, like Mary f. Wilkins and
Octave Thanet," has somewhat over
Swallowed the fame of the older writers.
| But Elizabeth Stuart Phelps and Harriet
| Prescott Spoford have borne goodly
share in the evolution of the short story
and its establishment as a literary fact
Surely the new aspirants will do we'll If
they equal the pathos and power of Jack"
and The Madonna Of the Tubs" or the
| fascination of THE Amber Gods" Ny
youth found great delight in Harriet Pres
colts stories. | reveled in her sonorous,
burning diction, whose lavish color and
| life somebody has described as "the stiff
mother tongue molten and fused in
magic crucible, and turned TO liquid gold
and gems" One cannot help wondering
whence came this tropical luxuriance of
Imagination in a child born among the
lumber forests of Maine, nurtured amid
the prim provincialism Of old Newburyport
and educated within the austere limita-
lions of PinkertOR academy, ia New Hamp-
shire. But one sometimes finds flaming
fire lily of scarlet among the pale blossoms
of New England's hillsides.
Her mother is said to have been intel,
lectual and high bred, but rather proud
and reserved; her father brilliant, tender,
and prodigally hOspitable, and, withal, de-
scended from what DIR. Holmes calls "the
Brahmin race Of New England" Mr.. Whit
ter many years ago, described Harriet
] Prescott to me as delicate and shy as a
wildwood anemone" This was a great
| shock TO preconceived notions of the bril-
! liant writer
Like H. H." in her childhood, she in
duced playmate to start off with her to
/ ma the jumping off place" of the world,
which her imagination wildly pictured.
Treat was her indignation to be brought
back ANONYMOUSLY by a kind Armer who
found them footsore, but persevering, two
miles from home. She was the delight of
her girlish friends by her ability to write
dramas or school exhibitions, many of
! them resting on a historical basis These
dramas have survived their generation,
and also served the purpose of the schools
of today.
Her first literary success was winning
the prize for an essay on Hamlet" Of
iered to the pupils of the Newburyport
iree school. This attracted the attention
OF THOMAS Wentworth Higginson, whose
Keen insight discerned her ability and en-
Outraged and developed her genius.
A childish friendship between Harriet
Prescott and Hon. Richard S Spofford rim
ehed into betrothal, and after many years
eliminated in marriage Their only child
dying In infancy, lefta grief in the me hers
heart that time has not effaced. Until Mr..
oponords death they spent part of every
winter at the Parker House and were be.
loved by circle of Boston friends. Mrs
Spoiiord still occupies their unique and ex
qulsltely beautiful home at Deer Island
picturesquely situated between Newbury
port and Amesbury. Great pine trees or
one SIDE aud the river rushing past on the
other make the seclusion complete and va
lew steps bring them to the bridge
whence the street cars lead to the two
towns. Her sister, Mary ~ Prescott, who
also has the gift of story telling, share. he,
home. Mrs. Spofford's short stories ar,
frequently seen In various periodicals. ant
her last book was juvenile story. 9TH,
Lost Jewel" which n little friend pro
nounces perfectly lovely"
, Names often have a peculiar fitness {,
the persons bearing them, as il the goo,
fairy Mt the cradle foresaw the future per
sonality. Again, a name is strangely IL
adapted to Its recipient. Did you eve
know gawky woman named Grace. an,
dark muscular one whom fate had I'm
kindly christened Lilyi Mrs. Spoffor,
tells personal incident in this same line
One OF her colored servants in Washing
ton asked permission to name her bah,
after her mistress, but when the it'll
dnrky was brought for inspection its nam
proved TO be Genevieve. "Oh," said Mrs
Spohord, II thought she was to be caiie,
Harriet after me-" Job course, Mis- Poi
tic" said the mother, but you see Gene
We've 'spresses you sight bcttcr'n Harrie
does. boston Cor. Worcester Spy.