St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-09-24
Henry Ward Beecher's Counting.
As Related BY Mrs. Beecher in Life Of Her
Husband, Some Years Ago.

lard with Henry Ward Beecher did
not occur, it seems. when she was
pupil at the old Hadley academy,
but when she was at her fathers
home in West Sutton, and her
brother Ebenezer brought two OF
his classmates in Amherst home tor
a visit. Beecber was then but II
wears old. and Miss Billiard was nine
months his elder. 1t is delightful
touch OF the old times to read OF the
three boys footing it all the way
from Amherst to Sutton, pretty
strong DAYS walk, there being no
railroad facilities then. Mrs.
Beecher's account, contributed to a
life Of Mr.. Beecher edited by their
SOP, Col. W. c. Beecher, some years
ago, was as ioIlows:-
I'm May, 1881, my brother Eb.
enezer, hen freshman in Amherst
college, wrote The tenn closes this
week and | shall walk home, so
miles, and would like to bring two
OF nv classmates with me. We shall
start before the sun and hope to be
with you by supper time. Don't be
at any more trouble than it there
were three Ebenezers coming home
No, OF course, no more trouble; sick
ness in the village made it impossi-
BILE to get help that summer. My
mother and were doing the work
alone tor a large family, so large
that half-dozen, more or less, made
little difference. In good time for
supper, weary and travel soiled, my
brother and his two friends made
their appearance. One tall, very
dark complexion gentleman, the
other verdant-looking youth,
freshman and not quite IS, an age
when one is prepared to find young
man wardly and painfully en-
barrassed and to look with dismay
on the prospect OF trying to enter
tain and make him comfortab BILE.
But even then the roguish mouth,
the laughing, merry eyes, the quaint
humor, quick repartee. very soon
put all such anxiety to fight. This
was Henry Ward Beecher as | first
sa " him. Truth TO tell. an exceed
ingly homely young man, but in
youth and old age, who ever thought
of that, or thinking, believe it, after
being with him an hour? Before
the first evening was ended none Of
the family thought of him as stran-
ger. He was thoroughly at home
with all. There were truly only
three Ebentzers there, eachequally
ready for quiet conversation, music.
fun, repartee or teasing, but the
youngest of the three was the most
expert in the latter accomplishment.
After our outside work was done
mother and l took knitting and
sewing and sat down with them
was going to wind a skein Of sewing
silk, that was before spools were
common, and it was my custom to
to put it over the back of the chair.
More gallant and thoughtful APP
parently, than his older companions,
this young gentleman insisted on
holding it for me to wind. For some
reason, perfectly unaccountable, il
one could judge only by bis innocent,
quiet face, without watching the
eyes and month, that skein beca me
as intrlcately tangled as il tied by
Macbeth's witches. "A badly tangled
skein. is it not said he, and | lost
halt my evening in getting it wound.
Rather more troublesome. | imagine
than it had kept the chair, replied.
1t was good trial OF patience, any
how, was his response to the laugh
that followed.
Even my quiet mother was not
exempt from some of his mirthtul
sallieS, but he carried, in all fun such an
inexhaustible store of gentle and
good humor that think she really
enjoyed it. Often in alter years she
used to say that Henry always made
her feel young again. My father
had been called out some distance 20
ste patient and had not yet met
the three Ebenezers, but came in Just
AS we were alllaughing at some story
that Henry had told, and stood m
/, tie doorway, tall, dignihed anc
somewhat stern. When at last we
became conscious OF his presence my
, brother at once came forward anc
, introduced his classmates. Father
: received them courteously, but lit
tie of the sternness still fingered or
his iace as he took the chair, which
, without the least appearance O
boldness somehow young Mr.
Beecher was the first to bring him
yet in no way seeming to put him
self forward. Little by little thu
o same subtle influence that had per