The Irish standard., 1895-12-07
How BEBCHER Won A Wife
AS a Boy of Seventeen He Captur.
ed the Heart of the Girl
lie Married.
While Trying to Teach Her Latin
He Taught Her Love
Instead.
Vowed He Would Never flarry a
Girl Who Could Not Sing
but Broke the Vow.

often live over the sixty-fiye years
that have passed since ] first saw Mr..
Beecher, then a Lad not quite II. So much
has been written and published Of Mr..
Beecher it viii, be impossible to avoid re-
peating some things that have often been
given to the public. In 1881, during the
May vacation in Amherst College, my
brother brought. home with him two OF
his classmates, ona quiet, sedate young
gentleman, the other boyisb-looking
youth not yet IT, an age when many
Young men are often awkward or pain
fully diftident and inclined, usually to
shrink from notice, to the discomfort Of
those who would gladly interest and en-
tertain them But in this case it did not
take long for the merry, laughing eyes,
the roguish mouth, the quaint humor and
witty repartee to relieve one Of all ankle
ty, writes Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher.
This was Henry Ward Beecher as we
first met, not distinguished for beauty,
thought of that who had spent an hour
with him. Before the first evening closed
he seemed a stranger to no one present
never obtrusive, brLt as naturally step
ming into his place as if always one Of
the family.
After supper we (rnosher and myselD,.
with some simple work in hand. sat down
with our guests to enjoyhthe evening with
them. Wishing to wind a skein Of silk,
as I was in the habit of doing, put it
over the back of chair. More thought
full and helpful, apparently, than his elder
companions, this young gentleman IN
sisted upon holding the skein for me.
For some mysterious reason the skein
became hopelessly tangled and snarled, as
II In the hands of Macbeth's witches.
"a badly tangled skein, WAS it not?'
said he, when at last had finished.
Rather more troublesome than 1t
would have been had I kept it on the
chair
"A good trial OF patience, anyhow"
was his merry reply, In response to the
nlaneuvers
Later in the evening my father, who
had been out among his patients. came IN
when all were laughing merrily at some
thing Young Beecher had done or said,
and stood In the doorway, somewhat sur
prised to find all 50 "jolly.' My brother
stepped forward and introduced his
friends. and Henry in a very quiet, easy
way, as if one Of the family, brought for
ward the large arm chair for the doctor
Little by. little that same subtle influence
that had chiefly led to the evening en-
ioymeut began to steal over father, and
long before anyone thought OF retiring
these two, the elderly physician and Inc
young lad, were interchanging anecdotes
and amusing incidents as it they had al
ways lived together.
Many matters of public interest or sub
1ects of Importance in which all joined
were freely discussed But whatever the
s,,biect. the doctor was more closely
drawn to Beecher than to the others.
When at last the guests retired, he said
to my mother:
swell. that young Beecher is smart
IF he lives he will make his mark in the
world
The next evening my brother asked Mr..
Beecher to get his flute and they would
have some music. But before they began
he said: "Beecher did you know that F.
Zone of their classlnates) is engaged to
Miss L---?'
81 don't believe d word OF it. She
knows nothing about music. and know
never sang a note in her life. ] don't be-
lieve F., who is so fond Of music, would
marry anyone who could not sing
would not.
After some further talk the flute was
brought and all prepared to sing, my
mother, who was good singer, ready TO
join with them. Turning to me, Henry
asked me If would not sing with them.
II am very sorry to say that | cannot
Sing at all"
During ths summer and fall after this
vacation visit ] taught school, but my
father insisted that should rest through
the winter and spend a little time with
All aunt in Whitingsville, Mass. My
brother knew of my plans, and very nat
uralIv doubtless spoke Of them to class
mates wilo knew me.
The winter vacation in Amherst Col
lege occurred just before left for my
visit, and again young Beecher walked
from Amherst to Boston and stopped at
nv fathers for a short rest. During his
call he Incidentally remarked that he was
going TO teach school during his vacation
in North bridge. Mass. and was to board
with q Mr. Fletcher in Whitingsville. just
across the bridge from the schoolhouse.
whitingsvile is only a part of North
bridge.
why that's where my daughter is go
ing. Mrs. Fletcher is her aunt. and, I
turning to me, las you wish to continue
your Latin studies. and as our young
friend here is to board at. your uncle's,
perhaps, If you need, he may be willing
to help you a little. 81
We al, liked him very much, his humor,
his cheerful, pleasant ways, but was
amused at fathers suggestion, for in my
self-conceit did not believe he could
help me much--I, a oolmistress Of a
4 years standing. And how young and
4 boyish he did look! ,5 sFsss5.
Saturday evening of the hrst week
~ that Mr.. Bescher had been in charge Of
81 is school he had spent some time in
\ sasEsting: my young cousin in her lessons
Sx4 n vsiae Snx, m hp side ff