Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-01
BEECHER AT SEVENTEEN.
Mrs. Beecher Tells of Her First Meeting
With Him-His First Sermon.

MY hrst meeting with Henry Ward
Beecher was in the early part of Nav,
1880. He was a classmate of brother
of mine, in Amherst College, and very
close friends. The two were lust out
of their freshman year when together
with another college classmate, thew
walked from Amherst to my fathers
house at West Sutton for their spring
vacation, writes Mrs. Henry Ward
Beecher in the first paper on MIR
Beecher as | Knew Him." in the
Ladies Home Journal. At that time
young Beecher was not quite seven
teen years old. but so young and boy
ish was his appearance that no one
would have thought him more than
tfteen-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
Whe3 all were laughing heartily at
some story Henry had just told. Father
stood IN the doorway-tall, dignifed
and somewhat stern. at such tumult.
When aware of his presence. my
brother at once introduced his class
mates.
Little by little the same subtle in
huences 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 nights"
were exchanged, 1 left father and
mother by the fire, while | made some
preparations for breakfast
AS | returned to the room, father
was saying:
We'll, he is SIN art! 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.
During this time. / was with an aunt
in Northbridge. Massachusetts, rest
ing after long session of teaching,
and Mr.. 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. Evening
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 he quickly
collected himself and consented to
preach. How we'll l remember the
look of surprise-almost scorn-on
some faces, when he-this lad of seven
teen-rose to address them. Some
thought it a 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 a single word. Sentence
followed sentence as smoothly as if
they were uttered by minister of long
experience. Never did he in Plymouth
pulpit, 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.. Beecher walked from
Amherst to Brattleboro. Vermont, to
give a 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-only 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
quarter of 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!
l once heard 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 a century ago. cost eighty-tive
cents. and questioned if there was on
earth ring more precious.
The Return of Bill Johnson.