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[Illustration: Richmond, Del. J. & J. Wilson, So.

H.B. Stowe]




LIFE OF

HARRIET BEECHER STOWE

    COMPILED FROM

    Her Letters and Journals

    BY HER SON

    CHARLES EDWARD STOWE


[Illustration]

    BOSTON AND NEW YORK
    HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
    The Riverside Press, Cambridge
    1890




    Copyright, 1889,
    BY CHARLES E. STOWE,

    _All rights reserved._


    _The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S.A._
    Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.


[Illustration: Handwritten letter]

It seems but fitting, that I should preface this story of my life with
a few notes of instruction.

The desire to leave behind me some recollections of my life, has
been cherished by me, for many years past; but failing strength or
increasing infirmities have prevented its accomplishment.

At my suggestion and with what assistance I have been able to render,
my son, Ross Charles Edward Stowe, has compiled from my letters and
journals, this biography. It is this true story of my life, told for
the most part, in my own words and has therefore all the force of an
autobiography.

It is perhaps much more accurate as to detail & impression than is
possible with any autobiography, written later in life.

If these pages, shall help those who read them to a firmer trust in God
& a deeper sense of His fatherly goodness throughout the days of our
earthly pilgrimage I can say with Valiant for Truth in the Pilgrim's
Progress!

I am going to my Father's & tho with great difficulty, I am got
thither, get now, I do not repent me of all the troubles I have been
at, to arrive where I am.

My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage & my
courage & skill to him that can get it.

    Hartford Sept 30
    1889

                                         Harriet Beecher Stowe




INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT


I DESIRE to express my thanks here to Harper & Brothers, of New York,
for permission to use letters already published in the "Autobiography
and Correspondence of Lyman Beecher." I have availed myself freely
of this permission in chapters i. and iii. In chapter xx. I have
given letters already published in the "Life of George Eliot," by Mr.
Cross; but in every instance I have copied from the original MSS. and
not from the published work. In conclusion, I desire to express my
indebtedness to Mr. Kirk Munroe, who has been my co-laborer in the work
of compilation.

                                                       CHARLES E. STOWE.
    HARTFORD, _September 30, 1889_.




CONTENTS


  CHAPTER I.

  CHILDHOOD 1811-1824.

  DEATH OF HER MOTHER.--FIRST JOURNEY FROM HOME.--LIFE AT NUT
  PLAINS.--SCHOOL DAYS AND HOURS WITH FAVORITE AUTHORS.--THE
  NEW MOTHER.--LITCHFIELD ACADEMY AND ITS INFLUENCE.--FIRST
  LITERARY EFFORTS.--A REMARKABLE COMPOSITION.--GOES TO HARTFORD    1


  CHAPTER II.

  SCHOOL DAYS IN HARTFORD, 1824-1832.

  MISS CATHERINE BEECHER.--PROFESSOR FISHER.--THE WRECK OF THE
  ALBION AND DEATH OF PROFESSOR FISHER.--"THE MINISTER'S
  WOOING."--MISS CATHERINE BEECHER'S SPIRITUAL HISTORY.--MRS.
  STOWE'S RECOLLECTIONS OF HER SCHOOL DAYS IN HARTFORD.--HER
  CONVERSION.--UNITES WITH THE FIRST CHURCH IN HARTFORD.--HER
  DOUBTS AND SUBSEQUENT RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT.--HER FINAL PEACE      22


  CHAPTER III.

  CINCINNATI, 1832-1836.

  DR. BEECHER CALLED TO CINCINNATI.--THE WESTWARD JOURNEY.--FIRST
  LETTER FROM HOME.--DESCRIPTION OF WALNUT HILLS.--STARTING A NEW
  SCHOOL.--INWARD GLIMPSES.--THE SEMI-COLON CLUB.--EARLY
  IMPRESSIONS OF SLAVERY.--A JOURNEY TO THE EAST.--THOUGHTS
  AROUSED BY FIRST VISIT TO NIAGARA.--MARRIAGE TO PROFESSOR STOWE    53


  CHAPTER IV.

  EARLY MARRIED LIFE, 1836-1840.

  PROFESSOR STOWE'S INTEREST IN POPULAR EDUCATION.--HIS DEPARTURE
   FOR EUROPE.--SLAVERY RIOTS IN CINCINNATI.--BIRTH OF TWIN
  DAUGHTERS.--PROFESSOR STOWE'S RETURN AND VISIT TO
  COLUMBUS.--DOMESTIC TRIALS.--AIDING A FUGITIVE
  SLAVE.--AUTHORSHIP UNDER DIFFICULTIES.--A BEECHER ROUND ROBIN      78


  CHAPTER V.

  POVERTY AND SICKNESS, 1840-1850.

  FAMINE IN CINCINNATI.--SUMMER AT THE EAST.--PLANS FOR LITERARY
  WORK.--EXPERIENCE ON A RAILROAD.--DEATH OF HER BROTHER
  GEORGE.--SICKNESS AND DESPAIR.--A JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF
  HEALTH.--GOES TO BRATTLEBORO' WATER-CURE.--TROUBLES AT LANE
  SEMINARY.--CHOLERA IN CINCINNATI.--DEATH OF YOUNGEST
  CHILD.--DETERMINED TO LEAVE THE WEST                              100


  CHAPTER VI.

  REMOVAL TO BRUNSWICK, 1850-1852.

  MRS. STOWE'S REMARKS ON WRITING AND UNDERSTANDING
  BIOGRAPHY.--THEIR APPROPRIATENESS TO HER OWN BIOGRAPHY.--REASONS
  FOR PROFESSOR STOWE'S LEAVING CINCINNATI.--MRS. STOWE'S JOURNEY
  TO BROOKLYN.--HER BROTHER'S SUCCESS AS A MINISTER.--LETTERS
  FROM HARTFORD AND BOSTON.--ARRIVES IN BRUNSWICK.--HISTORY OF THE
  SLAVERY AGITATION.--PRACTICAL WORKING OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVE
  LAW.--MRS. EDWARD BEECHER'S LETTER TO MRS. STOWE AND ITS
  EFFECT.--DOMESTIC TRIALS.--BEGINS TO WRITE "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN"
  AS A SERIAL FOR THE "NATIONAL ERA."--LETTER TO FREDERICK
  DOUGLASS.--"UNCLE TOM'S CABIN" A WORK OF RELIGIOUS EMOTION        126


  CHAPTER VII.

  UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, 1852.

  "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN" AS A SERIAL IN THE "NATIONAL ERA."--AN
  OFFER FOR ITS PUBLICATION IN BOOK FORM.--WILL IT BE A
  SUCCESS?--AN UNPRECEDENTED CIRCULATION.--CONGRATULATORY
  MESSAGES.--KIND WORDS FROM ABROAD.--MRS. STOWE TO THE EARL OF
  CARLISLE.--LETTERS FROM AND TO LORD SHAFTESBURY.--CORRESPONDENCE
  WITH ARTHUR HELPS                                                 156


  CHAPTER VIII.

  FIRST TRIP TO EUROPE, 1853.

  THE EDMONDSONS.--BUYING SLAVES TO SET THEM FREE.--JENNY
  LIND.--PROFESSOR STOWE IS CALLED TO ANDOVER.--FITTING UP THE NEW
  HOME.--THE "KEY TO UNCLE TOM'S CABIN."--"UNCLE TOM" ABROAD.--HOW
  IT WAS PUBLISHED IN ENGLAND.--PREFACE TO THE EUROPEAN
  EDITION.--THE BOOK IN FRANCE.--IN GERMANY.--A GREETING FROM
  CHARLES KINGSLEY.--PREPARING TO VISIT SCOTLAND.--LETTER TO MRS.
  FOLLEN                                                            178


  CHAPTER IX.

  SUNNY MEMORIES, 1853.

  CROSSING THE ATLANTIC.--ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.--RECEPTION IN
  LIVERPOOL.--WELCOME TO SCOTLAND.--A GLASGOW TEA-PARTY.--EDINBURGH
  HOSPITALITY.--ABERDEEN.--DUNDEE AND BIRMINGHAM.--JOSEPH
  STURGE.--ELIHU BURRITT.--LONDON.--THE LORD MAYOR'S
  DINNER.--CHARLES DICKENS AND HIS WIFE                             205


  CHAPTER X.

  FROM OVER THE SEA, 1853.

  THE EARL OF CARLISLE.--ARTHUR HELPS.--THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF
  ARGYLL.--MARTIN FARQUHAR TUPPER.--A MEMORABLE MEETING AT
  STAFFORD HOUSE.--MACAULAY AND DEAN MILMAN.--WINDSOR
  CASTLE.--PROFESSOR STOWE RETURNS TO AMERICA.--MRS. STOWE ON THE
  CONTINENT.--IMPRESSIONS OF PARIS.--EN ROUTE TO SWITZERLAND AND
  GERMANY.--BACK TO ENGLAND.--HOMEWARD BOUND                        228


  CHAPTER XI.

  HOME AGAIN, 1853-1856.

  ANTI-SLAVERY WORK.--STIRRING TIMES IN THE UNITED
  STATES.--ADDRESS TO THE LADIES OF GLASGOW.--APPEAL TO THE WOMEN
  OF AMERICA.--CORRESPONDENCE WITH WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON.--THE
  WRITING OF "DRED."--FAREWELL LETTER FROM GEORGIANA MAY.--SECOND
  VOYAGE TO ENGLAND                                                 250

  CHAPTER XII.

  DRED, 1856.

  SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND.--A GLIMPSE AT THE QUEEN.--THE DUKE OF
  ARGYLL AND INVERARY.--EARLY CORRESPONDENCE WITH LADY
  BYRON.--DUNROBIN CASTLE AND ITS INMATES.--A VISIT TO STOKE
  PARK.--LORD DUFFERIN.--CHARLES KINGSLEY AT HOME.--PARIS
  REVISITED.--MADAME MOHL'S RECEPTIONS                              270

  CHAPTER XIII.

  OLD SCENES REVISITED, 1856.

  EN ROUTE TO ROME.--TRIALS OF TRAVEL.--A MIDNIGHT ARRIVAL AND
  AN INHOSPITABLE RECEPTION.--GLORIES OF THE ETERNAL CITY.--NAPLES
  AND VESUVIUS.--VENICE.--HOLY WEEK IN ROME.--RETURN TO
  ENGLAND.--LETTER FROM HARRIET MARTINEAU ON "DRED."--A WORD FROM
  MR. PRESCOTT ON "DRED."--FAREWELL TO LADY BYRON                   294


  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE MINISTER'S WOOING, 1857-1859.

  DEATH OF MRS. STOWE'S OLDEST SON.--LETTER TO THE DUCHESS OF
  SUTHERLAND.--LETTER TO HER DAUGHTERS IN PARIS.--LETTER TO HER
  SISTER CATHERINE.--VISIT TO BRUNSWICK AND ORR'S ISLAND.--WRITES
  "THE MINISTER'S WOOING" AND "THE PEARL OF ORR'S ISLAND."--MR.
  WHITTIER'S COMMENTS.--MR. LOWELL ON "THE MINISTER'S
  WOOING."--LETTER TO MRS. STOWE FROM MR. LOWELL.--JOHN RUSKIN
  ON "THE MINISTER'S WOOING."--A YEAR OF SADNESS.--LETTER TO LADY
  BYRON.--LETTER TO HER DAUGHTER.--DEPARTURE FOR EUROPE             315


  CHAPTER XV.

  THE THIRD TRIP TO EUROPE, 1859.

  THIRD VISIT TO EUROPE.--LADY BYRON ON "THE MINISTER'S
  WOOING."--SOME