A LITTLE STORY.
1874.

I was born January 21st, 1785, at West Farms, the north Parish of Norwich, Connecticut-in 1786 set off as a town by the name of Franklin.

The house where I was born stood in a pretty valley. It was a low, two-story, unpainted building- there were three rooms on the first floor- one was a large family-room, made memorable by one large arm-chair better made and of better material than the other chairs. In this room, every morning, our Father sat on this chair and read a Chapter from Holy Scripture. We stood, and joined him in a form of prayer- I remember part of it-

"Day unto day uttereth speech-night unto night showeth knowledge. Raise up the bowed down- comfort those that mourn".

Sunday morning- "Bless the Ministers of the Gospel. Endue them with every Christian Grace and every moral virtue"- A wainscoted room, with open ceiling. Our aunt's room above was of the same size, with plastered walls and ceiling. Her bedstead had a tester, and a full suit of home-spun curtains.

There were two small bedrooms on the same floor. Near, very near, the window of my room was an old apple tree, with a partially hollow trunk. Here every year, a Red-breasted Woodpecker made her nest and reared her family in quiet and comfort, never disturbed by one of the twelve children. There was a dark garret, with one small window of diamond panes set in lead. There was a store-house for walnuts, chestnuts, butternuts and hazel nuts. There was a well of pure water with a rack bottom, very near the door on the west side of the house. We drew the water by a pole-at one end the bucket- the other end fastened to the well-sweep, which was a long timber with a heavy weight supported and balanced in the middle by a high post. This post in summer was covered with a morning glory plant, full of dark purple flowers- fit object for a picture. East of the house, and very near it, was the Susqueon-out, a pretty little noisy brook. A few rods north of the house it made a beautiful curve, trees met and interlaced their branches. The"water-loving Alder" on the banks, with a low thick growth of bushes made us a fine bath-room. Here, the ground descending a little, the brook went on in a canter over large boulders, over a smooth rock, at the end a tiny fall, which made a little rattle, then into a small pond made by a dam- at one end by a solid rock, at the other earth-work. In the spring freshet the fall of water from the rock part of the dam was so heavy

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as to make a hollow spot, and here was a pool where the sheep of the farm, and from neighboring farms, were washed every May. The brook started off from this pool in a hurry. This first dam was to secure a water-power for a saw-mill. A little further on was another dam which received a water-power for a fulfilling-mill and grist-mill. Here the little stream by a high pile of rock. After a solitary run of a few rods it united and made a water-fall of seven or eight feet. Here it was pressed into narrow quarters between two moss-covered rocks. From here it spread into a wide stream- now over a stony bottom, and made its way, leisurely, through pretty meadows to the Yantic.

In my first consciousness I was on horseback, in the arms of my father on my way to the burial of my grandfather Ebenezer Peck. It was a bright day in October...In a very sunny spot... I remember looking up to some tall trees on the top of a hill. Nothing more till I stood by an open grave, at the side of my grandmother Elizabeth Deming Peck. My great-grandfather gave the ground to the parish- a home for the dead- the first inmate was his daughter Elizabeth Peck.(My mother was the daughter of the Rev'd John Ellis- he married Bethiah Palmer of Cambridge, Mass. He was a graduate of Harvard and for a short time a congregational minister of West Farms. At the beginning of the Revolutionary war he entered the army, an accepted Chaplain of General Washington. Five of his eleven sons were in the army- one perished on the"Prison Ship".)

I was four years old the next January. Here I have a recollection of a piece of mischief- ignorant of the power of heat I was the cause of my little brother's (two year's younger) burning the palm of his hand - my first lesson in cause and effect. At a dear rate I learned through a "piece of mischief", так как if we live and move we must have air. It was the rule of the house " the first summer after a child was four year's old, that child girl or boy must go to the District school". We went through the "mowing lot". In the early part of the summer-term filled with dandulations and a very handsome variety of wild violets- later in the summer wild lilies. From this beautiful field we went over stone steps into the orchard- early in May every tree was covered with blossoms. Over another set of stone steps we went into the lane- a rough cross-road with a deep rut each side. Beyond the rut, on one side, was a gutter, rattling its way down hill to "the brook". When the little pools were covered with thin ice in the fall, we lingered a little to look through this looking-glass at the well preserved green grass.

From the Lane, we went on to the well travelled "Lebanon Road". A few rods walk was the long low unpainted school-house, with an open fire place at each end. Here I learnt my letters from an alphabet, in two columns-

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capital and small letters- then into syllables, a great many pages-
from one syllable to the longest words in our dear old English; there
were easy lessons in the first book. The next was Webster's Third part-
a selection from the best English authors.

Asa was now four years old. The law was as steadfast as the " Medes
and Persians". He must go to school. On the orchard path there was a very
large thistle- in that stage of growth when it is most beautiful, long
broad leaves covered with thorns. The sight of it filled the barefoot
boy with terror. He wouldn't pass it till our aunt, and teacher, stood
upon it with her thick-soled shoes. He told me in 1873-" my first and
last indulgence in that line".

Days and yearx went on with very little change- the summer school
taught by a woman, and one week of vacation;- the winter term taught
by a man- one week of vacation. Our play-things were the gift of Heaven-
the brook was our toy in summer- and snow and ice in the winter toys.
I keep my admiration for running water, and a new made pure white snow-
drift.

The books on a little shelf are soon catalogued-

Holy Bible

Hervey's Meditations

Sermons

The Rev'd Charles Backus's Sermons (Of Connecticut)

Whole Duty of Man

Lady's Calling

(a few) Pamphlets.

We always had books from a well selected, small Parish Library.

Now comes a sad event. Death came and made a large family desolate.
One of our brightest was taken from us January, seventeen hundred nine-
ty nine.

The fifteenth of July, the same year, there was a terrific storm.
The first distant sound of thunder I was with my mother and sister Melis-
sa, two years old, in the orchard gathering Genetins, just beginning
to ripen. We soon saw in the south-west a very black angry tumbling cloud.
My Mother said-"we shall have a hard storm" and hurried us into the
house. Three hours later the trees were without fruit and almost leaf-
less. The clouds hurried along in the most fearful movement, thunder,
lightning, wind, hall and rain made a scene of terror which certainly
I have no power to describe, and at this distant day it requires a
stout courage to tell the story. Some of the hail-stones were as large
as turkey's eggs- little lumps of ice frozen together. The window glass

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on the south-west side of the house was broken, except one pane which was left without a crack- the sashes in some of the windows were broken. Bits of glass were found in an ancient well at the distance of twenty feet. Hail two feet deep under the south window, only partially melted the next day (16th July). Ten days later hail was found in the woods. A great many trees were uprooted- a pear tree eight inches in diameter with a load of half grown fruit was twisted off as if it were a wyth of straw. Garden and field crops were destroyed. A very great harvest of buckwheat saved some of the poorest from the poor-house and was the principal article of food in the best of families. December of that year Washington died and left a great mourning family.

When sixteen I kept the District school. One of my scholars was a little girl I had seen and heard drilled over a column of letters in Webster's spelling Book till she knew them by heart. The sight of this book made her tremble. I opened an Oct-vol. of large print, and called her to me to read. The great book made her laugh. I pointed her to a letter, told her the name- then she would find others like it. At the close of the term she could read and spell words of two syllables. Wears after I heard her "thank you". I must add she married a man who never had any teeth.

I was a short time at the Academy at Canterbury. A year or two after I went to the then District of Maine with my sister Mrs. Abell. We went from New London on a little schooner. The little craft put into Martha's Vineyard (Holmes' Hole). Went across a pretty field, gathered strawberries, to the only house we could see- a little "peasant's hut on a hill". Here we found a busy cheerful family. Two were playing checkers. One woman watching them with a deep interest, said to one of the players- " your salvation depends upon your next move". I remember but one item of our refreshment- the cup of water. Our next stopping place was Bath on the Kennebec. From here we went in an open boat to Topsham. Here I taught a district school, part of the tune assistant teacher in a school a step higher. At the end of the year and a half I returned to my Franklin home, busy in the daily round of farming duties and farming labours. I always had a book by me and no minute of leisure was lost.

In June 1806 there was a total eclipse of the sun. I was one of a little company who watched it in a large tub of water, from the very beginning to the end. There was a bright circle which defined exactly the shape of the little intruder. What a hush! Not a leaf stirred in the trees. We could see stars - the cows broke from their pasture, ran to the house- hens went to roost- a light dew; and stillness much deeper

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than the stillness of the calmest summer evening. This was mid-day. In a neighboring town, in a great fright, a woman ran from a strawberry field. When the Eclipse was off she was told she could go back;" no, no there will be another by the time I get to the field"- She was a sister of Benedict Arnold.

I accepted an appointment to teach the Female Department of a new school in Bath. My last school-teaching was in Norwich (Bean Hill) Conn. Twelve loving, obedient, well-behaved little girls. (One of them Mrs. Charles Hyde still living in Hartford, S.N. 7/23/86.)

Married Feb. 8th, 1812, the Rev'd Sml Nott Jr. Franklin, Conn. One of the first five missionaries sent to India. I must stop and gather courage to step out into the great darkness-July 20th, 1874. 23rd.

A bright cool morning with a handful of gifts. Health courage and hope. Our ride to Philadelphia was very rough and hard. We had a warm welcome in the home of Mr. Nott's friends, Dr, and Mrs. Allen. We enjoyed their hospitalities a few days. Dr. Allen went with us to the Harmony- there gave us his " good bye" and his blessing. Here we found missionaries from England- Baptists and Independents. The twenty second came and was observed in the usual way, before out of the river. I was soon helpless from seasickness. The East India Company- af this time a Kingly Corporation- carried no passengers on their ships but those employed by the company).

"Western Islands Ho!"

Where are they- the question went from one to another, finally came to my bedside- I repeated my school girl lesson-" about an equal distance from Europe, Africa and America". I was, on my bed, dinned with thanks and I put the little bit of a"feather" into my night-cap. We were so near the Cape de Verdes we could see trees. Nearer that heap of rocks Tristan d'Acunha than we liked. The wind died and we were for a little while in danger of drifting upon a very uncomfortable bed. Our next sight of land was Port Louis, lying very pretty snug and looking very pretty at the foot of a semi-circle mountain, in the Isle of France. (In crossing the Line we had the never failing Theatrical of Neptune. We doubled the Cape of Good Hope without seeing land.) The officers were full of fears-to their great relief no Declaration of War- This fear was removed to give place to another- One of the English missionaries carried books on shore and sold them without passing through the Custom-House. A settlement was mad and the ship and cargo were saved from confiscation. We took a room and lived on bread and coffee. We saw from our window negroes

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tied in pairs with ropes, drawing heavy loads-not slaves-the island
had been British soil two years.

After reading "Paul and Virginia" we started, a cool bright morning,
on a walk up the little mountain. We saw the black boys gathering rasp-
berries-the plant and fruit were like our wild red raspberries. At the
we saw "The Thumb"- on our right hand and on our left we saw " the world
of water". We stood in silent wonder. Who could talk in such a Presence//
How beautiful the country was below us/ It may have been enchantment,
for we kept on down the mountain. We passed a small plantation of pine-
apples-at a little distance they looked like a tall growth of cabbages.
We found a new revelation at every step. A negro carried me in his arms
over a clear, pretty brook with a bottom of handsome pebbles. Weary and
thirsty, we called at a French home for a cup of waver. We found a very
lively family. We had the cup of water and a walk with the cheerful in-
mates around the garden. One of the little company pointed to a meagre
oak, grown from an acorn, the gift of an Englishman-it said, as plain
as it could speak, "I want the rest of a cold north winter". They urged
us to stay longer. The day was far spent and we hurried on to save day-
light enough to carry us safely round the northern point of the little
mountain. A little after sunset we were in Port Louis-the end of a walk
of 12 miles. After a few days of rest we accepted an invitation and
visited a boys' school-house. It was a pattern of neatness and order
throughout. In the sleeping room were twenty one very white single beds-
One a little elevated, for the superintendent, one of the teachers.

We saw from the Gov.'s pavilion, by invitation, a horse race- my
first and last. This ended my sight-seeing in Port Louis. Mr. Nott brought

from the Public Garden, a full grown nutmeg in its green outside.
It looked like a large walnut when the outer bark is green. Inside of this
bark we found the mace and nutmeg. Mr. Nott saw and had pleasant conver-
sation with priests at the Convent. One time a woman with odd queer ways
came near them-not to use her language, he made the best use of his
english "His mind is vanished".

The ship was now ready to sail. No time must be lost. The officers
were full of fear- expecting every turning, perhaps " by the birds of the
air", to hear the Declaration of War. On the return of the ship she was
chased into New Bedford by an English Man-of-War.

Our next point of interest was the mouth of the Hoogly- the ship
for two days was hunting for a pilot. When this important functionary
came on board the first thing he said to the Captain "you haven't been
on pilot ground". We were soon between the low banks of the Hoogly. A
rank growth of green trees, a short growth of matted together by creepers,

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made one feel away from home. It was just one thing all the way to Calcutta. The first news on reaching this wonderful city—"The Caravan with the missionaries from Salem arrived two weeks ago. Mr. and Mrs. Newell have sailed for the Isle of France". A few weeks later Mr. and Mrs. Judson and Mr. Rice went. Mr. Rice returned with "the liver complaint" to the United States- Mr. and Mrs. Judson gave their lives to Burmah.

After a few days of rest and in the enjoyment of great kindness, we went to Serampore. The Baptist Mission, fostered and protected by Denmark, was in great prosperity. There, too, we were received with great kindness by Cary, Marshman, Ward and their families. We returned to Calcutta shaking with fear. We had a kind reception in a country-house near a large tank. On one bank there was a very thrifty growth of the pomelo trees (Shaddock of the West Indies). Now there came another grief Mr. Nott was helpless with a fever, severe for a few days. Medical aid and good nursing he was soon on his feet- It is one of my pleasant recollections- he told me many a time-"your washing and rubbing were the great restoratives. Here we were a few weeks longer, days of darkness with now and then a streak of light. Now to their great surprise, Mr. Nott was a great success. Mr. Hall and Mr. Nott got a clear pass for Bombay. We were soon on a Brig going down the Hoogly. The next point of interest was anchoring in the Roadstead at Pondicherry. Here we saw a marriage in a Roman Catholic Church- dined with a French family-saw a camel (under a tree that made a very thick shade by a pretty brock) kneel and receive its allotted burden. The French colonize- every house looked like a home. We had a second ride over the surf and covered with mist were safe again on the Brig. We had a dim sight of Point de Calle, but it made a picture on my mind. We had light winds and a dull time up the Malabar coast- at times becalmed near the shore- then out of sight of land. Glad when we reached Bombay and were safe in a tolerably comfortable house in Mazié Mazagan, a native village. Mr. Hall and Mr. Nott began, I think, the next day the study of the Mahratta language. Soon orders came from Calcutta to send the missionaries to England. They ran away with the hope of a plan of reaching Ceylon where they would be under the protection of the Crown. I soon had quarters in a purer air with pleasanter surroundings. The grounds around were large. I walked morning and evening- there I killed a snake- the natives said it was a cobra. I think they were mistaken, they are very timid. The missionaries were followed by government- Officers brought them back- placed in the Admiral's House in the Fort of Bombay. Their plea with the high authorities, backed with by some of the best influence of Bombay availed nothing. The evening be-

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fore the ship was to sail they each wrote a personal letter to the Governor, urging the claims of Christianity and pressing upon him a sense of his own responsibility individual responsibility. Mr. Nott said "yours is the best"- added his name- sent it- Soon a smiling messenger came with a reprieve. The papers were all sent to London and with them a member of Parliament made a case before the Directors of the E.I. company in favour of the missionaries. These were sent to Bombay confirming the decision of the Governor. The Governor said in one conversation with Mr. Nott said-"Bombay is land-locked like Boston". He was in Boston in the Revolutionary war.

Mr. Newell came and we were all soon in a very comfortable house in Cocoa-Nut Grove. Mr. Nott and Mr. Hall renewed their study of Mahratta- Mr. Newell joined them. Now, for a short time, we had smooth sailing. They studied by day- talked with the natives in the evening. Then came the effects of Mr. Nott's Calcutta fever- just what is sure to follow a fever in that climate-" liver complaint". He was very suddenly prostrated. In this his state of weakness we accepted an invitation and visited friends on Salsette. (They are gone- They are gone) We had days of great social enjoyment with our steadfast friends. We spent one day in Tanna. I have had to jog my memory to recall that it is a fortified town. We started in the dawn of a bright morning for the caves of Kenney. On our way we saw a Banyan covering an acre of ground, enough branches had taken root to make a pretty grove. There was a Tiger-Trap,- not set but it made me shiver. Going up the hill from here, every rod or two, were small excavations. At the top was a large cave- used by the Portugues as a Church. There were some small Church-Ruins, some small tanks of clear water with little shining fishes full of frolic. He dined on cold chicken and bread- at sunset returned to the home of our friends. We went back in a few days to Cocoa Nut Grove. Mr. Nott was so much refreshed that he went on with his Mahratta with a degree of vigor. Soon he began to fail- severe liver attack- weakness- almost helpless-painful, swollen side. His friends sent him medical advisers- two of the best physicians of Bombay-" You must leave a tropical climate". The missionaries said- "no, no, live or die you must stay". They wrote in that tone to the Board of Missions. At a later date Mr. Hall wrote-"What I did then is now one of the sins I daily confess- we were then two of us". They assumed authority I did not accept- They meddled in with household affairs- which I was weak enough to resent. Out of all this grew a discussion which ended in making a smooth path for later missionaries. They came to their native land - breathed in health and spirits with the good northern air- retuned not to " give their bodies for the sin of

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the soul"- not to be self-made Martyrs- but Christian men to do a Christian work.

It was just at the close of the War of 1812. The U.S. had no trade with Bombay. Mr. N. engaged our passage on the Gen. Stuart for Portsmouth Eng. In June 1815 we went on board-two days out the ship sprung a leak. We were hours in great danger- twelve feet of water in the hold, she would sink with fourteen. Signals of distress were answered by a Government boat and we were safe on land. In October we sailed again. I was on deck - the world of water as quiet as a mill-pond or I couldn't have been there- I was the first to see a sail-The Captain stood by, laughed, merely said" you have earned a glass of grog"-" You may give it to your countryman now at the wheel"-his very best seaman.(A man named Quigley who was present at a meeting in New York some years after this, where our father had preached and came and talked with him afterwards- as I recall the case now.S.N.12/23/79) Doubling the stormy Cape- if my memory is not in fault - he was forty eight hours at the wheel. A few weeks later the Capt. hailed a ship- the answer " Great news,-Glorious news for Old England. A great battle at Waterloo- Bonaparte a prisoner- on the Northumberland- on his way to St. Helena- In the keeping of Sir George Cockburn(Coburn)- Peace in all the world."

Newspapers confirmed the whole. It was (next) another day- the great world of waters was sparkling with sunshine and as quiet mild as my little mill-pond. (August 13th, 1874. Very warm)

The papers to read and the wonderful news to talk about made agreeable occupation the rest of the way to St. Helena. The Genl. Stuart went in for water. Here was the Northumberland with the man who had uncrowned kings- had Crowns for playthings. The passengers were full of plans and devices for landing. They must have a passport from the Admiral. An officer of the Crown and an officer of the E.I. company were as helpless as the rest. The application must be made to the first officer of the Northumberland- Somebody, in great kindness, applied for us, without success. " Do you refuse because they are Americans/No- If I had known there was an American on board the ship shouldn't have anchored". Harmless bodies/ We didn't want Bona, nor did America want him. All we could see from the Genl. Stuart of the island was a hill of rocks and a rough road. The ship was well entered in a hurry and soon on her way to England. We accepted an invitation- and with the kind and gentlemanly attentions of the first Officer saw the Big Ship from end to end- Madison's pillow- a little " keepsake" picked up by the Admiral in his welcome visit at Washington. Here was a man who had been living, week

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after week, with fallen greatness- whose beginning was in that terrible scene, the First French Revolution. We had followed him with heart-aching interest, through all of his great battles- now weak like other men//

We saw Ascension- the place of turtles. Now we had a brisk talk amongst the passengers about Turtle soup- To my unaccustomed taste, very short of a delicious dish. The next event was a sad one. Entering Portsmouth harbour a man- nobleman- fell overboard and was drowned. Half an hour before he said to me -" welcome to Old England". Now we had a scene. Mrs. R-- was detected in an attempt at smuggling. She was using her nide shawls for petticoats and concealed her jewelry under her stays. An experienced eye could see, at once, that the woman had something to conceal. The Officer soon found the hidden treasures. She sent forth a piteous lamentation- heard all over the ship. "Oh Mr. and Mrs. Nott if I had taken your advice I shouldn't have had this trouble". The purser calling from the top of the stairs-"Good enough for you- good enough for you, Mrs. R--" I threw in a word of plea. "Ladies in India often make their shawls into petticoats"- a good english word- saving the word skirts for the right place. An Officer of the Crown had placed under his cap a little bag of Cornelian he was carrying to his Cornwall sisters, very sure no one would dare compel a King's Officer to take off his cap- but they did and he tossed his treasure into the sea. We were one night in Old Portsmouth. The next night we staid at Liphook-(I have never found it on a map) It was Saturday. (Telescope, p.172 says they arrived in London the last of Febly 1816. So this Sunday must have been the last Sunday of Feb'ly or possibly the last but one. S.N.) Here we had our first Sunday in Old England. Mr. Nott went to the Parish Church. There was a pretty sprinkling of snow. The next day we went to London- left a little girl in our charge.- with the youngsters- took lodgings in Gowell St. Road, Islington, memorable from Cowper's humours-some years later by Charles Lamb's sorrow. We were indebted to new friends for our sight-seeing. At St. Paul's we saw Howard -the pitier of prisoners- with his key and scroll-whispered in the Whispering Gallery and had an answer- saw, from the top of the Old Cathedral, men and women, looking like children of two years old. London was a picture at our feet. Another day I sat on the throne in the House of Lords. The show-woman- in the tone well known to all sight-seers- said- If you mustn't put your feet on the foot-stool- that would be treason". Standing in the door way of the House of Commons a person said to me" You are standing on the very spot where Per-cival fell, Prime Minister- assassinated a few months before.

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At the Tower we saw the Mailed King. A Crown suspended over the head of Edward the Sixth- Queen Bess, standing by her pony- with her page ats its head and she equipped and ready to mount and lead her troops at a minute's warning, the time of the Armada. We saw the "Thumb" Screws found in the Hulks of that terrible Fleet. They were to torture the English into a confession of " hid treasure". The Crown Jewels are seen through glass. The show-woman told the price of every one as she took it up. In a raised voice and that well known tone said "The Ruby is invaluable".

In Westminster Abbey I could only look, stare, and wonder. How could it be otherwise The Record of Ages. In India I saw many things that looked old without being old. Thaf climate makes early old age. In Poets-Corner I recovered my senses a little. Here I found names that I knew-persons of whom, in the little nook by my pretty brook, I had read. I had some of the feeling of being in the "Old Country". Here in London I saw my first panorama The Battle of Waterloo. The Prince of Orange fainting and falling from his horse- Fragments of Ammunition Wascors flying in the air. A woman touch'd my arm and pointed to the Scotch-Grays.Brave men in thaf great Battle(August27th 1874- Very Warm)

The Princess Chavlotte, to the great joy of all England, was married to the man of her choice (1816) Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg. (Leopold mad-ried a daughter of Louis-Phillippe-refus'd the Crown of Greece- Died King of Belgium.) We were walking near Buckingham Palace. All at once a great crowd had uncovered heads-"Princess Charlotte"- Mr. Nott-always ready to show honour where honour to whom honour is due, soon added an-other naked head to the crowd. They were riding in style differing but little, from an English nobleman. The Princess was bowing right and left, to the admiring multitude. Only one yead and all England were mourning. Bells were tolling. The "Princess Charlotte and her son died on such a day" went from end to end-the Idol had perish'd.

At the meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society we heard the Duke of Kent make a very sensible speech-fien, fresh english, complex-ioned gentleman-asove medium height and a very compact form-express-ing vigour and strength. Instead of asking for more income he was going abroad where he could live cheap and eke out his small means He was in esteem with the people- The favourite Duke-the Faxher of the noble Lady- Queen Victoria. Mr. Nott was saw at a publick breakfast the Duke of Sussex-Bishops Nobles and Gentry. He met, here, Wilberforce and found him very pleasant in conversation free from all stiffness and for-mality. The Ep of Gloucester-not an old man-he looked veneravle in his wig-Text- "The life I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the

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Son of God". Daniel Wilson- late Ep of Calcutta- was the great preacher. His Ch. was always crowded. Wilberforce worshipped in his Ch. It was Lent when we heard him- Text-"Jesus said unto him-" It is written again ". A great deal of action, and great earnestness- living words. At a Methodist Missionary Meeting we heard Adam Clark. There was a noisy applause. He said "a simple hear, hera, is enough". He had a very mild benevolent expression. Roland Hill sustain'd his character of eccentricity. He would make a good coashman out of a Highway robber. Mr. N-- in company with his friend Mr. M-- went to see the London Dook. He saw many planes and many people that I did not see. He saw Smithfield- the home of Mac- tyrs. We had a pressing invitation from Dr. and Mrs. Farish and made them a visit in Cam. We knew a daugh(ter) of the family- wife of the Arch-Deacon of Bombay. We had a time of great enjoyment with the Father, Mother, two daughters-a call now and then, of "the Christ-like Professor Farish"- Simeon- then a household word in every christian family. We went to see the wonder of wonders, the mysterious Architecture of roof King's College. Sir Christopher Wren said" show me the Key Stone and I will unracel the Mystery. One Evng. we listened to the Nightingales in the bushes of Old Cam. I didn't hear the Cuckoo nor the Skylark.

My head is out of sorts - over brac'd by days of very cool weather
August 27th 1874.

28th My head clear as usual.

Now came a very warm invitation from Mr. and Mrs. M-- to visit them
at Helm House- Hereford-Shire. Change was life to Mr. N-- and nothing
could be more cheering than a visit to these friends. He often spoke of
it as a time of great enjoyment. Where he saw a specimen of English
Country life- Gentry and peasantry living in the most friendly manner-
no oppression on one side- nor jealousy on the other. On walking with
his friend he pointed him to a sign " Samuel
Nott". Mrs. Money was ( both have gone) the descendant of the "Man of
Ross". In a little room, in Bombay-" Comfort Corner"- she said- "Mr M.
has the money- I have The Family"- The money vanished- The Story of
The Man of Ross will never die. We saw the glory of Oxford- old Oxford
and the new- the paxt and the present. A Missionary Society- Young Men
of the Ch. of England. Years afterwards he recd a little Vol. of sermons
from one of that same society. We saw the Duke of Marlborough's Palace
Elenheim. The name of the Town near one of the great battles- the Gift
of England to one of her Noble sons.);---

Good-bye to the land of Our Fathers.

We had a passage of forty five days to Newyork. We crossed the sound
to her London- from there.

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to New London- from there by stage to the Franklin home- the husband-
the father- sick and penniless- to his honoured and beloved parents.
There we were all cloth'd and fed for more than a year-with a little
help from the sale of an axcount of India.( I have never seen such-
not found in His.Soc. Coll. Hfd. Ct. My sisters have no recollection
of seeing it- It seems to have been published in 1817. That is the year
of the published Sermons on the Idolatry of the Hindoos-pd-Nov. 29th,
1816. Franklin. S"M. ) In looking it over in manuscript, I saw the work
of one day was one line and a half. This work was both a physical and
mental advantage. "Recollections of India- with notes taken on the spot"-
Mr. Ward of Serampore, said-"The most accurate, distinct account I have
seen"(CopyrightCertif. Maxch 25th, 1817 with an Appendix., and per haps
the appendix is whaf is referred to above, but the title as here given
seems to refer to a separate work- S.N. 12/24/79.) Work is a blessed
gift. It helps to make an even atmosphere of disappointments hopes and
fears. He so far recruited as to be able to open a school for Young Ladies
in N.Y. August 1818- This school he taught with success five years- enjoy-
ing the confidence and friendship of the good and the wise in the City.
His health wended and he accepted a call to Presbyterian CH- Galway
Saxatoga N.Y. We has here a pleasant social life with old Colle'te friends
and very warm new ones. Failing in attempts to eke out a small salary
into a competence he accepted a call to Wareham- Plymouth County Massa-
chusetts.

Here I must stop to recover my breath. The first thing this morning
was to take a cold-water-shower-bath. It restored my breath- followed by
a hard good rubbing- gave an appetite for my breas coffee and fruit.
August 3rd 1874 k Sept. M. N.) After the family morning service I reas Holy
Scripture- Corinthians 1st 3rd Chapt. St. Mathew-reas a few of the prettiest
pages in Jane Taylor's "Memoirs" etc. The rest of this cool day I shall
carry out with knitting, along with some pen scratches which I may call
-with some help from self-flattery- a letter. The minister's house in Wave-
ham, was only a partial shelter in a fierce Northeast storm. It stood on
a gravel-bank- without soil tree or shrub. The cry on every side was
"nothing will grow"- they all said " paths cannot be mad e". This was the
first thing to be done. We saw and I remember where we stood- That the
little spot of earth between our house and our neighbor's shap'd like a
pear-with the small point toward the street- would allow a carriage path
on each side. The same piece of earth was ploughed rougheraked and plant-
ed with winter rye. A timely rain soon sprouted the seed and aw the end
of a fortnight we has a pretty little spot of green- to the neighbours
it was enchantment. The next effort was my own. I dug with my own hands

14

a spot of earth, two feet square and on this heep of sand I planted a
Sweet-Brier - wawered it with soap-suds and soon found it mase soil and
I had a very thrifty plant. Two, soil one, stubborn facts to fawe "nothing
will grow". In the uncertainty of a hired home and more than uncertainty
ordinary uncertainty of a minister's lot we kept at work. I look'd every
day, at the one thrifty plant- the Sweet Brier- and hope and courage liv'd
on together. One person told Mr. Nott-" if you tell people "a ton of hay
must be a ton of hay- a chord of wood must be a chord of woooh you wont
stay here two years." He didn't falter. If you accept the Gift of Re-
deeming love and Enter the Kingdom, you must obey the Laws of the King-
dom. You must"do justly love mercy and walk humbly". We saw the cloud
growing blacker- so the storm when it came didn't take us by surprise"
"(Preaching and Procedure tells the Story"). The tempest took the shape
of- Doctrine or Doctrines. It made a topic of conversation for the whole
town. I had nothing to say and gladly accepted the instruction of in-
spiration and was a "keeper at home". The garden was my safety-valve-
the woods and fields- where I walk'd, almost every fine day of the year,
with the three youngest children- were my pleasure grounds. At times I.
sat upon a moss-cover'd boulder and look'd at Maria gathering the wild-
flowers- the boys climbing the white-birches and bending them to the
ground. It was on stony-run hill- the pretty rattling brook was close
by us. Here I must pause again for lack of breath.

Cool morning- early Sept- Everything is cover'd with sunshine. I have
recovered my breath and I will pick up my closing recollections of Ware-
ham. By gift from some of the Proprietors and purchase from others Mr.
Nott became the owner of the house and the lot- now enlarged by another
lot of the same size and quality--the garden ground was over then one
acre. Our united industry turned this gravel-bank into a spot of beauty-
one friend said to me " a paradise". Here where " you can make nothing
grow" were fine fruit trees-small fruits- five forest trees grown from
the seed- one an oak- from an acorn planted by Elia D. Nye- flowering
shrubs of great beauty. The house was thoroughly repaired- the well
deepened- the loose rattling stones removed and re-placed and wall'd
with solid brick. It is a daily joy that we didn't leave the plaxe as deso-
late as we found it. Axhaxxxxxar (There for many years up to 1866, my
sister Harriet Newell Nott, with the cooperation of our father had a suc-
cessful Home School for boys and girls. S.M. May 7, 1866.)

A heavy sorrow came - too deep for words- Death is a silent messenger-
A combination of painful circumstances made it a necessity for us to
leave Wareham- to find a pleasant home- full of comfort in Hartford Conn.

15

Death came here and took home into rest- the Husband and the Father-
"He giveth His beloved sleep."

1874.

Hartford April 1st 1879

And "Death came here" and took home- into rest-"the aged mother Decem-
ber 11th 1876 in her 92nd year.

"He giveth His beloved Sleep. (M"N.)