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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 J