The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-27

Mary Baker Eddy was born in Bow.
n. H., July Is, 1921. She was the young
est Of six children. Every one of these
children did well in the world and led
lives Of vigorous usefulness. Three Of
them are more than usually distinguished
and three prospeTed sufficiently TO make
them dignifed and somewhat superior
characters in their environment.
The parents who bore these six unusual
children. one Of whom was destined to
a worldwide renown. were themselves
both well-born and Of high character
and intelligence. The father, Mark
Baker. was a farmer. but his land in
cluded 500 acres, which dignifies a prop
erty TO the name of an estate He was
not rich, but the Baker home was far
removed from poverty and sordidness. It
was home of comfort, refinement, and
intelligence Books We're plainly and
guests frequent.
The Baker family receives the con-
sideration Of four pages in a compact
history of SanborntOn, n. II. This is an
unusually well written book of geneaI-
ogies. by Rev. NJ. T. Runnels. a thor
oughly reliable and scholarly book.
dealing with the oldest families and
those of local repute.
Mrs. Eddy's mother, according to the
Sanbornton history, was Abigail Am
prose, Of Pembroke This lady and the
grandmother of HoEe Smith. the present
governor of Georgia, were sisters. The
Following letter was written December
Is:
Ok West Peachtree Street. Atlanta.
Ga: have known the Rev. Mary Baker
Eddy from childhood. She is nv
hrst cousin. Her mother was my moth
ers younger sister. She was always
beloved visitor in our home We CORE
sponded for several years while 7 was
IN college; the correspondence ended with
my regret. / have always admired NV
cousin sincerity and devotion to good
works One Of her brothers was one
OF the ablest lawyers in New Hampshire
Ills name was Albert Baker. Mrs. Eddy
was always deemed the most scholarly
member OF the family. She has ALWAYS held
sacred place ~ nay heart. It gives me
great pleasure to find that God is ALWAYS
protecting her. II II SMITH
The writer Of this letter is the father
of Gov. Smith.
House still: There.
Nary Baker first saw the light in a
comfortable old farmhouse, So wei built
that it stiI stands on the summit of 2
hlil' Its eentury-Old frame swept by storm
ana bTooded over by sunshine. From this
mouse IS beautiful view Of the Merri-
mac valley. When Mary was a little girl
the broad acres of the farm were under
cultivation.
Mary was delicate child. and being
the youngest of so large a family. was
not obliged TO work hard. as might other
wise have been the case. She divided her
time in romping In the fields and listening
10 stories at her Grandmother Bakers
knees And what stories these must have
been, thrilling and clarifying her awaken
ing imagination. The good old lady told
her Of Washington, and also of the
soldiers related TO her near and distautIy.
She told her Of Hannah More. and the
pious life and writings Of the great
woman, suggesting that the little Mary
might have some of that great woman's
blood in her veins. So great was the in
huence OF this suggestion that when Mary
went 10 the little red schOolhouse down
the country road she always maintained
among her schOOlmates as they talked
Of the future that she meant to grow I'd
and write a book
This determination was deepened by
reading some old manuscripts that her
grandmother cherished, which were from
the pen OF her grandmother |
These contained sOnnets and riddles and
piOUS reflections. But Mary's ambitions
were not so absorbing at that period that
she did not have time for the usual oc-
equations of child on a farm
Going to Church.
Mary first attended church at the Con-
grcgatonal Westinghouse in Concord. Of
which DR.. Nathaniel Boughton was pas
to-. She, with her parents. sisters, and
brothers, carried luncheon with them. |
and between the long services ate their |
dinner under the shade Of a great elm |
tree. This Old white frame structure was /
burned TO the ground and a brick build |
ing erected on another site Nothing but /
the tree and a small cemetery mark the |
spot of her early devotions and the place
where she was baptized
She was a very devOut little girl. for 1
she confesses that having read that 4
Daniel prayed seven times daily she
formed the habit of doing so likewise /
thinking it the duty of all good Christians /
Sine not only made these earnest prayers. /
but kept a record of them. that she might .
examine herself from time to time TO see /
# she improved in grace.
Little wonder that this child So fraf
and delicate, was impressionable. AM
ardent religions nature v-1s b,r,, l., -.
from a sternly pious father and a mother
of angelic temperament; and religious dis
CussiOn probably kept her nerves in a /
highly excited state For period of /
twelve months. she relates Of herself. she .
repeatedly heard Il voice calling her by /
name. This calling seemed to be from her
mother. and she would run 10 her To asI,
what she wanted. Her mother became /
peTpleXed and anxious, especially when a /
cousin visiting them declared she, too. had
heard the voices calling Mary, Mary.
Mary" The child was sitting by her
grandmothers knee in a little chair at
the time and by no means In an csctatic /
mood. That night Mrs Baker read to
her youngest child the story Of Samuel /
from the Bible and told her to reply
when the voice called again. Speak. Lord
for thy servant heareth." once again the
call came but Mary Baker was afraid TO
reply as her mother had told her. After
that she never again had the strange ex-
perience.
Early Visitors.
The quiet. wholesome home life in the
roomy, old-fashiOned farm house at Bow
was frequently enriched by visitors from
the outside world who were of the first
quality I'm American life Albert Baker.