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929.2 
Sp2702s 
1845991 


GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LI 


3  1833  01432  2280 


ROYAL    GRAFTS     SPAWLDING. 


ERUSHA  BRYANT  SPAULDING. 


We  seek  not  yours, 
P)ut  you. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL  .SKETCH 

OF 

Rby.  R()i]al  Crafts  3pauldliig, 

AND        -^  p'-M.y  ino  _ 
Extracts  from  Letters  of  Himself, 

AND  OF  HIS   WIFE, 

Jeruslia  Brpnt  ,^paiilding. 

WITH    NOTES    AND    EXPLANATORY    TEXT. 


ARRANGED  AND  EDITED   BY 


rR?q/^GlS   B"^RyNCS. 


HouLTON,  Maine  : 

PRESS  OF  WILLIAM    11.   SMITH. 
1S9I. 


xo4bayi 


IMTRODUGTORY. 


In  the  evening  of  an  August  day  of  the  year  1S62,  a  young  man 
vvlio  had  been  stopping  at  the  Hotel  in  Houlton  for  a  short  time, 
asked  the  clerk  where  to  find  the  house  of  Rev.  R.  C.  Spaulding. 
The  necessary  information  having  been  given,  the  stranger  passed 
up  the  principal  street  of  the  village,  till  he  reached  the  gateway 
of  a  double  tenement,  one  storv  house,  which  he  recognized  as 
the  indicated  residence,  d'he  Western  half  was,  to  outward 
appearance,  without  inmates  tor  the  time  being,  for  the  windows 
were  closed  and  the  curtains  all  down  except  at  one  window  in 
the  back  part  of  the  house. 

The  caller  rapped  at  the  door,  and  waited  some  few  moments 
for  a  response,  but  none  came.  At  last,  just  as  he  was  at  the  point 
of  turning  awa^•,  the  front  door  was  slowly  opened  and  there 
presented  herself  to  view  a  slight  Iniilt,  rather  undersized,  elderly 
Woman,  whose  face  was  furrowed  with  wrinkles  of  age  and  care, 
but  whose  eyes  shown  with  the  undimmed  energy  of  youth. 

In  a  shrinking  manner  she  inquired  the  stranger's  wishes  as 
though  the  sooner  the  errand  were  done  the  better.  The  caller  had 
come  for  a  purpose,  and  was  not  to  be  discouraged.  He  told  his 
name,  Ids  purpose  to  settle  in  the  place,  and  of  his  standing  as  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  ''Oh,  1  am  so  glad  to  see  you  !" 
she  exclaimed,  and  extending  her  hand  grasped  the  hand  of  the 
other  most  warmly.  ''We  liave  just  got  home  from  one  of  our  trips, 
and  Mr.  Spaulding  is  at  tlie  barn  taking  care  of  the  horse.  I  had 
hardly  got  my  things  oil."  The  caller  said  he  would  not  intrude, 
but  would  call  again. 

Such  was  my  first  inler\  iew  with  the  heroic  wife,  mother,  anil 
missionary,  Jerusha  Brvant  Spaulding.  To  me  it  was  a  simple  act 
of  recognition  of  the   fa^t   of  their  residence   in   the   place,  and  of 


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me 

■  with 

their  work,  as  I  had  read  of  them.  Of  any  particular  result  I  did 
not  dream.  To  her  it  was  '^a  gleam  of  light  in  a  dark  place," 
and  in  the  quick  flashing  of  her  woman's  intuition  she  saw  the 
possibility  for  the  Baptist  Church  of  Houlton.  As  I  learned 
afterwards,  with  the  warm  grasp  of  the  hand  there  came  to  her 
mind  the  germ  of  the  new  and  forward  movement  of  the  Baptist 
Cause,  which  for  seventeen  years  her  husband  and  herself  had 
toiled,  sacrificed,  and  waited  for. 

From  that  moment  there  began 
myself,  on  their  part,  and  it  contii 
received  me  as  they  would  their  owi 
their  most  intimate  confidences. 

The  association  which  circumstances  thus  brought  about  between 
us  was  of  most  lasting  and  powerful  infiuence  upon  myself.  The}' 
lived  in  the  utmost  exercise  of  faith;  ''the  sul^stance  of  things 
hoped  for"  was  literally  theirs.  They  had  given  themselves  to 
God  and  His  work.      He  would  carry  them  througli  to  the  end. 

Thus  equipped  with  this  most  implicit,  yet  ardent  faith,  and 
fortified  by  a  wise  caution  and  an  exhaustless  patience  tliey  toiled 
and  waited;  "cast  the  bread  beside  all  waters,"  in  this  great 
region,  and,  "after  many  davs,"  the  abundant  harvest  was  before 
them. 

It  has  been  a  labor  of  love  to  me,  in  these  past  few  months,  to 
colled,  and  arrange,  as  well  as  I  could,  the  mementos  of  their 
priceless  toil  for  souls.  In  this  wxirk  I  have  been  greatly  aitled  by 
Mrs.  Annie  Spaulding  Bradbury,  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  who 
surrendered  to  me  the  letters  of  her  sainted  parents,  and  also  by 
the  friends  of  the  family  in  all  the  places  where  they  li\ed.  Truly 
"the  memory  of  the  just  is  l)lessed." 

To  all  who  have  aided  me  so  heartily  I  return  most  earnest 
thanks. 

FRANCIS  BARNES. 


?qUTO!3IOGR/lPMY.' 


I  WAS  born  in  PlainficUl,  Sullivan  Co.,  New  Hampshire,  July 
39th,  1800.  Mv  parents,  Joseph  and  Alarv  Elkins  Spaulding, 
were  of  English  descent  and  removed  to  Compton,  Upper  Canada, 
in  my  infancy,  and  lived  there  twelve  years.  In  1S13  thev  moved 
liack  to  the  States,  and  resided    in  Pomfret,  Connecticut. 

I  was  awakened,  when  quite  young,  to  a  sense  of  my  lost  condi- 
tion, but  was  nineteen  vears  of  age  before  I  obtained  a  hope  in 
Christ,  and  professed  religion.  I  was  then  serving  an  apprentice- 
ship at  the  saddle  and  harness-makers  tratic,  in  Pomfret,  and  was 
admitted  to  tlie  Congregational  Church  in  that  place;  but  soon 
began,  1)\  reading  of  the  New  Testament,  to  be  tried  in  my  mind 
on  the  subject  of  l)aptism,  and  about  one  \  ear  from  this  time,  hav- 
ing gone  to  Worcester,  Massachusetts  to  work  at  my  trade,  I 
attended  the  meeting  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Coing,  and  was  baptized 
and  united  with  the  Baptist  Cluircli  of  which  he  was  Pastor. 

I  now  began  to  feel  an  ardent  desire  to  become  useful  as  a 
Christian,  am!  supplied  m\self  with  some  books  to  read  and  study 
for  tlie  improvement  of  my  mimi,  which  had  1ieen  sadly  negle6ted 
from  m\  not  having  had  the  early  advantages  of  a  common  school 
education.  When  mv  apprenticeship  expired  I  went  into  my 
Pastor's  family  to  get  what  help  I  could  from  reading  and  stutly, 
where  I  spent  six  months. 

Then  I  worked  mv  wav  along,  and  spent  about  six  months  in 
Rev.  jNIr.  Fisher's  school  for  young  men  which  he  taught  in  his 
own  house  in  Bellingham,  Mass.  After  that  I  attended  two  or 
three  terms  at  Amherst  Academy,  antl  in  1824,  by  the  ad\  ice  and 
assistance  of  mv  good  Pastor,  Dr.  (ioing,  and  the  Church,  1  went 
to  Waterville,  and  was  there  about  two  \ears,  in  the  Theological 
Institute,  attending  to  such  branches  as  1  most  needed. 

In  1S26  the  OfHcers  of  the  College  received  a  letter  from  Levant 


«  AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 

(now  Kenduskeag)  requesting  them  to  send  a  student  to  spend  his 
winter  vacation  in  teaching  their  winter  school,  and  preaching  in 
their  phice  on  the  Sabbath.  There  was  no  church  of  any  Denom- 
ination in  the  town.  I  was  advised  by  my  teachers  to  go,  and 
availed  myself  of  the  opportunity,  expecting  to  return  to  Water- 
ville  again,  when  my  school  closed,  to  pursue  my  studies ;  but  the 
leading  men  of  the  town,  in  their  town  meeting,  chose  a  Committee 
of  five  to  invite  me  to  come  and  settle  there  as  their  minister,  and 
were  not  willing  for  me  to  spend  any  more  time  at  Waterville. 
After  closing  my  school  I  went  back,  and  made  known  to  the 
Officers  of  the  College  the  wishes  of  the  people  at  Levant,  and 
they  thought  it  was  a  call  which  ought  not  be  unheeded,  and  ad- 
vised me  by  all  means  to  comply.  Though  very  reluctant  to  give 
up  my  regular  studies  I  yielded  to  their  advice,  went  back  to 
Levant,  and  commenced  my  labors  there  for  the  people  of  the 
town.  On  the  second  day  of  May,  1826,  I  was  ordained  to  the 
work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry  ;  the  meeting  on  the  occasion  being- 
convened  in  a  large,  new  barn,  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  Dr. 
Chapin  came  from  Water^ille  to    preach    the    ordination  sermon.* 

Li  the  summerof  1828,  \\c  had  a  small  IJaptist  Churcli  organized, 
and,  on  Od:.  7,  same  year,  1  was  married  to  Miss  Jerusha 
Barstow  Bryant!  of  Bangor;  so  then  I  had  a  /)cwr.s7/V  home, 
and  an  ecclesiastical  home  in  the  little  town  of  Levant,  and  there 
we  continued  and  labored  until  1S34.  ^"^  small*  Congregational 
Church  was  organized,  and  they  united  with  the  Baptists  in  erect- 
ing a  nice  house  of  worship,  in  the  village,  to  be  occupied  al- 
ternately by  the  Bap.  and  Cong.  Societies.  In  Jan.  1834,  Ire- 
signed  my  charge  in  Levant,  and  became  Pastor  of  the  Baptist 
Chmxh  at  East  Corinth,  about  six  miles  from  Levant,  where  we 
labored  nine  years  with  that  tlear  people,  and  formed  precious 
friendship,  in  both  of  those  towns,  that  we  trust  will  be  perpetu- 
ated in  the  heavenly  world. 

In  the  summer  of  1844,  I  was  sent  by  the  Maine  Baptist  Mission- 
ary Board  to  Aroostook  County,  as  one  of  the  pioneer  Missionaries  ; 

*Rev.  Otis  Brig-gs  of  Hampden,  and  Mr.  Dexttrof  Corinth  aided  in  the  services.  (Mem- 
orial Discourse  by  Rev.  Isaiah  Record.) 

tjERU.SHA  Barstow  Bryant  was  born  at  Newcastle,  Lincoln  Co.,  Maine,  February  1, 
1801.  Her  parents,  Charles  and  Elizabeth  Louden  Biyant,  were  of  Irish  descent,  and  had  a 
family  of  one  son  and  eight  daughters.  When  Jerusha  was  quite  young-  the  family  removed 
to  Bangor,  where  she  became  a  constituent  member  of  the  First  Baptist  church,  and  lived 
until  her  marriage. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY.  V 

and  the  winter  following,  in  the  month  of  February,  I  moved  my 
family*  by  the  direction  of  the  Mission  Board  to  Houlton  village, 
where  we  have  remained  for  more  than  thirty  years  past ;  and 
what  we  have  done,  or  left  undone,  we  must  leave  altogether  with 
Divine  Providence,  not  without  many  regrets  that  we  have  accom- 
plished so  little. 

Still  I  wish  to  acknowledge,  with  gratitude  to  God,  that  He  has 
permitted  us  to  work  so  long  in  His  vineyard,  and  that  He  has 
been  pleased,  as  I  trust,  to  bless  my  poor  labors  with  some  success  ; 
and  now  I  am  laid  aside  from  Zion's  work,  yet  rejoice  and  thank 
God  that  His  blessed  cause  is  more  and  moie  precious  to  us  both, 
and  that  we  find  His  Holy  Word  a  great  comfort  and  support  to 
us  in  our  old  age,  with  its  infirmities. 

Our  earnest  prayer  shall  continue,  '■'■Thy  Kingdom  come.  Thy 
will  be  done  in  earth  as'it  is  in  Heaven." 

*Children  of  Royal  Crafts  and  Jerusha  Bryant  Spaulding : 

Henry  Martyn,  born  at  Levant,  Maine,  Nov.  15,  182i);  died  in  Hackensack.  N.  J., 
April  22,  1880.  Married  Isabella  Stephenson  Mould,  Aug.  20,  1867,  at  Lewisburg  Penn. 
Henry  served  in  the  army  during  the  war,  enlisting  from  Ohio.  He  followed  the  profession 
of  teaching  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.     He  left  a  family  of  four  children. 

Ann  Judson,  horn  at  Levant,  Dec.  1,  1833;  married  J.ames  Tyler  Bradbury,  A.  M.  W.  C. 
of  Waterville,  Me.,  Nov.  23,  18.55.     He  died  at  West  Liberty,  W.  Va.,  June  14,  1863. 

Mrs.  Bradbury  has  a  family  of  three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  She  resides  at 
Milwankee,  Wis. 

Howard  Clarkson,  born  at  Corinth,  Me.,  Feb.  25,  1838;  died  at  same  place,  Aug.  4, 1840. 

BoARDMAN  Carey,  born  at  Corinth,  Me.,  Sept.  "27,  1843;  married  Mary  Ann  McBrien  of 
Houlton,  Me.,  April  26,  1868.  Boardman  enlisted  in  the  17th  Regt.  U.  S.  Regular  Army, 
in  1862,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville.  He  was  afterwards  admitted  to 
the  Bar,  in  Aroostook  County,  Me.,  and  moved  to  the  West,  nearly  twenty  years  ago.  His 
children  are  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Under  date  of  March  23,  1891,  Mrs.  Bradbury  writes  thus  of  that  removal  of  the  family : 

"  The  most  vivid  impression  of  the  long  hard  journey,  in  winter,  from  Bangor  to  Houl- 
ton, in  a  single  sleigh,  is  snow  and  forest,  forest  and  snow, — interminable,  it  seems  ;  and  the 
strange  wild  music  of  the  winter  wind  in  the  tree-tops,  and  the  sharp  crackling  of  frosty 
hmbs  added  to  the  dreary  i  ide  of  days  —  how  many  I  do  not  know.  Then  there  was  a  con- 
tinued dread  of  meeting  another  team,  as  Mother  with  my  baby-brother  in  her  arms  and  I 
usually  had  to  get  out  into  the  narrow  road,  while  the  men  held  up  the  sleigh  as  the  horse 
plunged  through  the  deep  snow.  My  little  brother,  sixteen  month  old,  must  be  carefully 
coven-d  from  the  intense  cold,  as  he  lay  in  Mother's  arms,  and  carefully  watched  lest  he  be 
smothered. 

Onarri.alnt  Houlton,  February  1,  1845,  Mother's  birthday,  we  went  to  Mr.  Hussey's 
tav-rn,  standing  with  its  front  to  the  West,  where  now  stands  the  B.  H.  Putnam  block  ;  and 
thtn  came  the  reaftion  after  the  terrible  ride,  and  my  Mother  had  a  severe  illness.  After 
lur  recovery  we  moved  into  the  house,  which  my  Father  bought  in  1851,  the  only  one  we 
evt-r  lived  in,  in  Houlton. 

The  Garrison  Wiis  seeing  its  best  days  then, —  the  stars  and  stripes  always  flving  from  the 
t  ill  Hag-staff,  and  sunrise  and  sunset  regularly  registered  by  the  morning  and  evening  gun. 
The  1  came  a  time  when  the  little  village  was  made  sad,  as  the  troops  marched  down  through 
town  and  away  in  response  to  the  summons  to  Mexico." 


And  the  rrmnner  of  it. 


CORINTIi.* 


Glenburn,  Maine,  Nov.  6,  1S90. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  read  the  notice  in  the  Advocate  (;f  yonr  purpose  to  prepare  a 
memorial  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spaukhng-.  I  am  ghid  this  work  is  to 
be  done. 

Mr.  vSpaulding-  was  settled  in  Corinth,  my  native  place,  for  nine 
years,  and  amono-  my  earliest  and  pleasantest  recolleaions  are 
those  of  the  visits  which  he  and  his  wife  made,  at  my  Father's 
house.  Father,  Mother,  and  children  were  always  delighted  to 
see  them.  I  remember  well  how  he  used  to  come  in  and  shake 
liands  with  every  one  of  the  fnnily  ;  and  we,  very  little  children, 
all  felt  that  he  had  a  personal  interest  in  us.  Then  his  gentleness 
antl  gentlemanliness  won  us.  I  recall  both  his  and  Mrs.  Spauld- 
ing's  manner,  as  though  it  were  but  yesterday.  What  unaffectetl 
sympathy,  ami  what  warm  Christian  love  beamed  from  their 
countenances  and  dr')pped  from  their  lips! 

1  was  not  more  tlian  eight  years  old,  when  they  left  Corinth  for 
the  Aroostook,  yet  so  strongly  had  their  beautiful  Christian  lives 
impressed  my  mind  that  time  does  not  elface,  but  rather  deepens 
the  feeling.  It  was  a  great  grief  to  my  parents,  and  their  family, 
when  Mr.  Spaulding  felt  called  to  leave  us;  but  his  own  spirit  of 
self-sacriHce  had  been  measurably  imparted  to  them,  and  they 
were  led  to  acquiesce,  feeling  that  the  haml  of  God  was  in  it. 

Both   husband  and   wife    possessed   large    faith;    they   were   ad- 

*Thc  fust  IctU-ris  from  Mrs.  Abbi.-  Jones  Goodwin,  and  the  second  from  her  sister, 
Mrs,  Charlotte  Jones  Merwin,  now  resident  in  Conn.  Their  Father's  name  was  George  \V. 
Jones,  a  farmer  of  Corinth,  Me.,  and  an  earnest  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

.\  portion  of  a  letter  from  Mrs.  Spauldintr  to  their  Mother  follows. 


vanced  thinkers;  indeed,  were  almost  prophets,  and  they  were,  at 
Corinth,  "in  labors  more  abundant." 

The  parish  was  a  large  one,  but  every  part  was  eareiully  and 
tVeciuentlv  visited.  They  made  all  the  people  interested  in  Mis- 
sions ;  the  Macedonian  was  thorou<>hly  distributed  among  the 
members,  and  there  was  always  the  monthly  concert  of  prayer, 
with  colleftion  for  missions.  r2\  ery  .Sunday  exening,  ii;  the  meet- 
ing house,  at  five  o'clock,  or,  in  winter,  ''at  early  candlelight," 
was  held  the  prayer  meeting,  and,  on  Tuesday  and  Thursday 
evenings,  social  meetings  were  held  in  the  houses,  among  the 
neighl)<)rs.  Mrs.  Spaulding  instituted  the  maternal,  or  female 
prayer  meeting,  and  its  sessions  were  regularly  held  and  the  at- 
tendance large. 

Besides  these  stated  occasions,  Mr.  Spaulding  very  iVeciuently 
had  preaching  appointments  in  the  outlying  tlistrict.  The  Sun- 
day School  was  held  between  the  preaching  services,  followed  by 
the  choosing  of  books  from  the  well-filled  Library.  Many  of  the 
books  was  the  gift  of  Mr.  vSpaulding.  Their  nine  years  ol'  seed 
sowing,  in  Corinth,  laiil  the  ibundations  of  the  Church  strong, 
symmetrical,  and  sure.  These  memories  are  as  of  yesterday  to 
me,  deepened  too  by  subsequent  meetings  with  tlum,  when  they 
had  come  down,  in  their  wagon,  over  the  long  road,  to  attend  the 
yearly  sessions  of  the  Penobscot  Association.  The  pleasure  of 
going  to  the  Association  was  ahvax  s  enhanced  to  my  parents  by 
the  prospect  of  meeting  their  old  pastor  and  his  wife  :  and  as  olkn 
as  possible  they  secured  a  brief  visit  from  them.  To  our  lamily 
they  were  just  the  same  ;  we  could  see  no  change  exce]:)t  "a  going 
on  unto  perfection." 

New  Havex,  Feb.  6,  1S91. 
Dear  Sister  : 

I  enclose  a  letter  of  Mrs.  Spaulding's  to  Mother.  I  think  she 
must  have  sent  it  to  me  to  read.  1  can  testify  to  the  worth  of 
those  faithful  servants  of  (iod.  Their  devoted  piety  and  consistent 
living  impressed  me,  when  a  child,  of  the  reality  of  religion.  I 
think  Corinth  has  a  great  deal  to  thank  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spaulding 
for.  They  worked  for  the  elevation,  as  well  as  salvation  of  the 
people,  and  practical  what  they  preached.  They  tried  to  arouse 
a  missionarN-  interest  by  books  and  papers,  and  would  go  without 
their  own  tea  and  cofiee  to  give   to   the   cause.      They  strove  to  in- 


terest  tlic  vouiiy-,  and  procured  a  library  of  excellent  books,  all 
covered,  numbered,  and  catalogued,  which  proved  a  great  help  to 
both  old  and  youno-. 

Thev  were  ready  for  every  good  work,  earnest,  devoted,  faithful, 
sparing  not  themselves  ;  "living  exam[)les  known  and  read  of  all 
nun,"  and  "their  works  do  follow  them." 

IIoi'i.TON,  March  17,  1864. 
Mv  Dear  Sistkk  Joxks  : 

Mow  time  hies  I  \'()ur  interesting  letter  ought  to  have  been 
answered  long  ago,  —  but  if  \nu  knew  //cv/f  the  things  that  hinder 
m\'  writing  I  know  sou  would  willingh  excuse  me.  We  both  feel 
verv  grateful  to  \(iu  for  writing  to  us,  and  telling  us  so  much  about 
our  dear  Corinth  friends,  whose  welfare  is  always  interesting  to  us 
and  will  be,  as  long  as  we  live.  *  *  *  How  I  should  like  a 
photograph  album  with  all  the  pictures  of  our  dear  old  friends  of 
Corinth  anil  young  friends  too  !  I)ea.  Hunting*  gave  us  his  like- 
ness, last  Fall,  when  we  were  there,  and  we  can  hardly  look  at  it, 
since  you  told  us  of  liis  tieath,  without  bringing  the  tears  to  our 
eves, —  not  tears  of  sorrow,  because  he  has  gone  to  join  the  re- 
deemed family  above,  liut  of  tender  recollections  of  the  many 
ofiices  of  kin(hiess  that  we  rcc(.i\ed  iVom  him.  during  om^  residence 
in  tfat  favored  place:  and  of  his  earnest,  untiring  labors  for  the 
good  of  the  Church  and  the  cause  of  Christ.  *  *  *  J  would 
be  glad  to  write  to  your  dear  daughter,  if  I  only  had  time,  but 
our  labors  are  more  abundant  tiian  usual,  this  winter,  liaving  sick 
ones  to  visit  and  funerals  to  attend,  in  several  towns  around  ;  be- 
sides all  our  regular  meetings  in  diilerent  places,  our  children's 
correspondence  to  attend  to,  and  our  househould  concerns  to  keep 
in  order. 


1  jolin  nuntinij  was  a  miiler   by  trade,   and    inoprietor   of  Iluntiiifr's  Mill 
111"  tin-   strong-   men  of  that  stron.u-  cliurch,    and    died    sliortly  before  this  let 


THE"  /niSSION/IRY  SUMMER. 


Houston,  July  i6,  1S44. 
My  Dear  Wife  : 

I  stayed  at  Bro.  Robinson's,  the  night  after  I  left  home  ;  left 
there  early,  took  breakfast  with  Bro.  Staples,  dined  at  Oldtown, 
and  spent  that  night  at  Enfield.  Friday,  I  drove  fiftv-four  miles, 
and  stayed  at  the  Forks.  vSaturday,  drove  twentv-four  miles,  and 
stayed  at  Sister  Ingersol's  in  II()nltt)n.  I  preached  twice  on  the 
Sabbath,  two  miles  out  of  tlie  village,  shall  have  two  lectures;  this 
week,  and  preach  in  Liimeus  next  Sabbath.  Dined,  to-dav,  with 
Sister  Tupper,  wife  of  widow  Tupper's  son.  He  belongs  to  the 
Cong,  church  ;  she  is  a  very  decided  Baptist.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Deacon  Noah  Smith  of  Calais,  and  writes  for  The  Mother's 
Assistant  and  The  Young  Lady's  Friend.  Her  name  was  Ellen 
S.  Smith.  Her  Father  and  Mother  taught  the  first  Sabbath  school, 
in  the  United  States,  in  the  City  of  Providence.  Three  times  he 
has  seen  his  whole  class  converted  and  united  with  the  church. 

This  Sister  Tupper  has  two  Sabbath  schools  in  this  place,  one 
in  the  morning,  at  the  Cong.  Meeting  House,  of  thirty  scholars, 
which  she  has  collected  from  the  streets  herself,  and  another,  abont 
three  miles  distant  from  the  first,  at  foiu^  o'clock  p.  i\i.,  at  the  place 
where  I  preached,  last  Sabbath. 

The  Baptist  Church  in  this  place  exists  only  in  name.  When  I 
arrived  here,  there  was  no  appointment  made.  In  the  morning  I 
had  twenty,  in  the  afternoon,  some  more  than  thirty.  They  had 
received  my  letter,  but  did  not  know  what  to  do  as  they  have  no 
head  nor  anything  else  ;  yet  I  hope  to  do  some  good,  if  Christians 
prav  and  the  Lord  blesses. 

Wlien  I  become  settled  I  will  tell  yon  more  about  my  situation. 
*  *  *  Remember  me  aftectionatelv  to  I^rother  John,  tell  him 
there  is  a  great  field  of  lal)or  here. 

Yoiu-  husband,  ver\   sincereh   and  alTectionately, 

R.  C.  SPAULDING. 


THE    MISSIONARY    SUMMER.  17 

Belfast  Academy  Grant,  July  31,  1S44. 
My  Dearly  Beloved  Wife  and  Children  : 

This  is  the  third  day  that  it  has  rained,  and  I  do  not  go  out  much. 
I  am  at  the  house  of  Gen.  Cummings,*  the  uncle  of  Isaac  and 
Rebecca  Cummings  of  Bangor.  They  are  very  kind,  hospitable 
people.  He  and  his  wife  and  son's  wife  are  Baptist  professors. 
1  his  place  is  seven  miles  from  Houlton.  I  preached  here,  last 
Sabbath,  to  a  small,  crgwded  school-house.  Two  men  and  their 
wives  came  from  Limerick,  round  through  Houlton,  twelve  miles. 

The  next  day  after  I  wrote  to  you  last,  I  preached  a  lecture,  two 
miles  North  of  Houlton  village;  on  the  next  day  preached  again 
at  Hodgdon,  five  miles  South  of  H.  Saturday  I  went  to  Linneus, 
ten  miles  on  the  road  toward  Bangor,  and  stayed  at  the  house  of 
Bro.  Nickerson.|  Tlie  children  were  all  at  home.  In  the  even- 
ing, Edward  and  his  wife  came  in  and  we  had  a  prayer  meeting. 
In  the  morning  we  went  to  the  school-house  where  Elizabeth 
teaches,  four  miles,  antl  I  preached  to  more  than  a  house  full. 
Sister  N.  rode  with  us,  «and  carried  a  little  baby  four  or  five  weeks 
old.  Went  back  to  Bro.  N.'s  house,  and  stayed  all  night.  Next 
morning  he  handed  me  a  five  dollar  bill  and  wished  me  to  let  him 
have  some  books  for  it. 

I  then  returned  to  Houlton  ;  staved  at  Sister  Hussev's.  Her 
husband  is  an  innkeeper,  not  a  professor  but  a  verv  kind  and 
pleasant  man.  He  told  me  to  make  it  my  home  when  I  wishetl. 
Tucsda\-  afternoon,  1  c:uiie  to  this  place.  Wednesday  morning,  I 
left  my  lioise  at  Gen.  C's  and,  walking  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  1 
calleil  at  every  house.      Then  I  went  one  miU",  Nortli,  through  the 


*John  Cummings  ciime  to  the  plantation  of  New  Limerick,  some  little  time  prior 
year,  1S8«I.  He  h;,d  been  living  at  Winthrop,  Kennebec  Co.,  and  owed  his  title  of  G. 
to  position  in  the  State  Militia. 

By  deed  of  Aug.  'iSd,  lh30,  the  Trustees  of  Belfast  Academy  conveyed  to  him  sever: 
of  land  in  their  Grant,  which  lay  just  North  of  the  Limerick  Grant. 

He  soon  moved  his  f  imily  to  the  Belfast  land,  and  lived  there  till  the  time  of  his 
He  was  the  first  settler  on  the  Grant,  and  a  man  of  influence  through  the  commu 
about. 

fThomas  Nickerson  with  his  wife  and  quite  a  large  family  of  children,  moved 
Charleston,  Penobscot  Co.  to  Linneus,  in  March,  1842.  He  bought  out  some  p^rsoi 
had  begun  an  inprovement  on  the  lot,  and  received  his  deed  f.om  the  Propiietor, 
Hodgdon,  in  the  Fall  of  1843.  Mr.  Nickerson  had  the  title  of  Colonel  from  Militia  st 
and  was  acquainted  with  Mr.  Spaulding  and  his  family  while  the  latter  was  settled  ii 
inth.  Col.  Nickerson  was  a  pleasant  and  hospitable  man  in  his  home,  and  the  niinistc 
always  a  welcome  guest.     He  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the  Baptist  cause  during  his 


18  THE    MISSIONARY    SUMMER. 

woods  to  Bro.  Oilman's,  asked  them  for  some  bread  and  milk 
which  was  very  nice,  and  had  a  good  rest.  After  talking  and 
praying  with  the  family,  I  gave  them  a  bible  and  some  tracts.  I 
left  them  and  went  back  to  the  road  again.  South  of  this  town 
is  Limerick,  and  all  that  separates  it  from  Belfast  is  a  piece  of 
woods,  about  three  and  a  half  miles  wide.  We  cannot  go  through 
with  a  carriage.  I  then  entered  the  woods  by  a  foot-path,  and, 
finding  a  log  house,  called  and  gave  some  tracts.  I  asked  how  far 
it  was  to  the  next  house  and  was  told,  three  miles.  I  went  on, 
but  found  it  very  hard  and  slow  walking.  I  got  there  about  night, 
found  a  very  interesting  and  respectable  family  and  stayed  that 
night ;  appointed  a  lecture  there  the  next  day,  at  five  o'clock. 
Next  morning  visited  and  gave  notice  of  the  meeting.  Some  more 
than  twenty  present  at  the  meeting;  two  women  came  five  miles. 
I  spoke  of  God's  condescending  love  to  His  people. 

Friday  morning,  went  back  towards  Belfast.  Took  another 
path,  worse  than  the  first,  that  I  might  call  upon  some  other 
families,  got  through  the  woods  about  noon  ;  to  this  place  where  I 
now  am,  about  four,  and  at  five  o'clock,  preached  a  lecture  in  the 
school-house  close  by.  I  tried  to  show  weak  and  doubting  Chris- 
tians that  the  word  and  promises  of  God  will  never  fail.  One 
sickly  but  pious  woman  walked  more  than  two  miles.  She  came 
from  the  house  where  I  gave  the  l)iblc. 

vSaturday  morning,  I  thought  I  would  rest  for  the  Sabbath.  But 
I  looketl  toward  Iloulton,  (for  where  I  am  now  writing,  in  mv 
chamber,  I  can  see  Hoidton  \illage,  seven  miles  East  of  ns,  and 
on  a  hill  beyond  it  the  Garrison,  in  full  view.  It  looks  like  an- 
other small  village;  and  a  little  Irom  that  I  can  see  the  Parish  of 
Richmond,  in  the  British  Province,)  and  I  so  longed  for  a  letter 
that  I  got  my  horse  and  went  down.  Called  at  the  Office  and,  to 
my  joy,  I  found  one.  I  knew  the  handwriting,  I  walked  very  last 
to  my  room.  When  I  opened  the  letter  and  saw  how  full  it  was 
I  laughed  out  aloud.  I  began  to  read  it,  and  sometimes  I  would 
laugh  and  cry  together.  I  thank  n  ou  a  tliousand  times  for  your 
good  letter.  After  I  read  it  I  tried  to  pray  for  you  all.  I  kissed 
the  letter  and  also  little  B.  C.'s  marks.  In  the  afternoon,  I  came 
back  to  this  place  where  I  preaclied,  last  Sabbath,  as  I  l)efore  said. 

Next  Sabbath,  I  preach  in  Limerick.  The  people  are  poor  in 
these  towns.      In  this,  the  children  have  no  schools  of  an\-  kind  to 


THE    MISSIONARY    SUMMER.  19 

attend.  Our  clear  favored  children  do  not  know  anything  of 
poverty  and  want.  I  want  the  children  to  learn  as  fast  as  they 
can.  I  want  to  know  how  tast  they  are  getting  along.  Is  Ann's 
Botany  the  right  edition  ?  Ask  Mr.  Thurston  ;  show  it  to  him  and 
if  it  is  not,  ask  him  to  get  one  for  her.  Ask  for  the  tuition  bill, 
before  the  term  expires,  and  show  it  to  Bro.  Brownson.  I  want 
you  to  have  some  coal.  Mr.  Goodwin  can  tell  you  where  to  get 
some,  six  cents  a  bushel.  I  want  you  to  get  some  ripe  currants. 
Let  H.  and  Ann  go  some  where  and  pick  you  some ;  carry  the 
money  and  ofler  to  pay  for  them.  You  need  them  for  your  health, 
I  want  you  to  have  some  fresh  lamb  or  beef.  Ask  Mr.  Norcross 
who  has  it  to  sell.  I  will  pay  for  it  when  I  come  home.  It  will 
grieve  me  to  think  that  you  are  doing  without  anything  tliat  you 
need.  1  want  the  children  to  write  loiiger  letters,  and  vtni  to 
write  )io  sJiortcr  ones. 

Saturday  mnr)iii/g^  I /on/ ton  ^  Ai/o-.  J:  To-morrow  I  preach 
in  Linneus.  There  are  no  prayer  meetings  among  the  Baptists,  in 
anv  of  the  towns,  where  1  go  to  preach,  I  am  trying  to  arrange 
for  some  female  prayer  meetings.  Next  week  I  hope  to  have 
some  commenced,  one  in  Belfast  and  another  in  Iloulton.  I  wish 
you  would  write  a  circular  letter  to  the  Baptist  sisters,  in  Lin- 
neus, in  Belfast,  in  Limerick,  anel  Houlton.  I  think  it  would  do 
good.  I  feel  a  deep  and  growing  interest  in  this  region.  I  want 
the  chiklren  to  get  an  editcation  and  come  and  instruct  schools. 

I  long  to  see  you  all,  but  I  must  be  patient.  I  am  willing  to 
stay  here,  if  I  can  do  good  to  \\\\  fell()\v-men,  and  also  be  earning 
something  to  educate  my  dear  children.  I  look  toward  Charleston 
very  often.  If  1  coulil  tiy  1  would  be  there,  once  a  week.  My 
health  is  :vv-i'^-'V.rV. 

Yovn-s,  most  aliectionatelv, 

R.  C.  SPAULDING. 

P.  S.— .SVr/.  uigJit.  This  afiernoon,  we  have  appointed  a 
female  prayer  meeting,  at  Sister  i'lippei's,  lor  next  Frida\-,  at  two 
o'clock.      "  '  R.'  C.  S. 

Houlton,  Aug.  27,  1844. 
My  Dearly  Bkloaed  Wife  : 

I  have  just  returned   to   Iloulton,    after    an   absence    of  a  week. 


20  THE    MISSIONARY    SUMMER. 

during  which  time  I  visited  Hodgdon,   Belfast,   Smyrna,  and  the 
Foxcroft  settlement,  and  preached  five  sermons. 

The  interest  of  our  meetings,  I  think  increases  *  *  *  The 
Sabbath  that  it  rained  and  you  went  to  meeting,  only  half  a  day, 
I  preached  in  Limerick,  and  Bro.  Nickerson  and  his  wife  came 
from  Linneus,  thirteen  miles,  and  brought  a  babe,  seven  weeks  old. 

God  blessed  that  day  to  one  man,  who  had  not  spoken  of  re- 
ligion, or  prayed  in  secret,  for  thirteen  years ;  he  commenced 
praying  in  his  family,  that  night.  Next  Sabbath  after,  I  preached 
at  Linneus,  with  a  very  full  house,  had  a  third  service  in  a  school- 
house  near  Bro.  N.'s;  he  confessed  and  wept,  and  four  of  his 
children  did  the  same.  We  went  from  this  place  to  his  house, 
and  had   a  prayer  meeting,    himself  and  four  of  his  sons  prayed. 

We  have  begun  regular  prayer  meetings  at  his  house,  for  each 
Tuesday  evening.  Two  persons  rose  for  pravers  during  the  day 
time. 

Next  Sabbath,  I  preach,  two  miles  out  of  the  village,  in 
Houlton.  Last  Sabbath,  in  Belfast,  then  came  back,  seven  miles, 
to  tea ;  then  three  miles  further,  to  an  early  service,  at  Foxcroft, 
where  I  preached,  in  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Keen. 

Next  Sabbath,  which  will  be  the  first  day  of  Sept.,  I  shall 
preach,  also,  in  Houlton  village,  in  a  new  school-house,  just  fin- 
ished, near  the  Unitarian  Meeting  H  )use.  We  have  had  no  place 
here  before;  hereafter  I  shall  preach  half  the  time,  in  this  placi\ 
so  you  will  know  when  I  preach  in  Houlton,  as  it  will  be  once  in 
two  weeks.  I  have  been  here  seven  vSabbaths,  and  I  liaxe  (  nlv 
eight  more  to  stay  ;  then  I  do  hope  to  see  my  dear  wife  and  chil- 
dren again. 

Elder  Kendall  has  been  here  and  called  at  the  places,  where  I 
have  preached  ;  and  he  told  me  that  I  was  very  well  received,  and 
he  wanted  to  engage  me  to  spend  the  winter  here.  He  sa^  s  the 
Society  would  be  glad  to  appoint  me,  and  that  it  would  l)e  l)est  to 
remove  my  family  here;  but  I  shall  do  as  my  wife  and  cliiUlren 
think  best  about  it.  I  want  you  to  attend  the  ^Vssociation  at  Ban- 
gor.     *      *      * 

Your  sincere  and  afiectionate  husband, 

R.  C.  SPAULDING. 

P.  S.  Please  direct  the  letter  which  you  will  write  to  the 
Sisters  to  me,  in  Houlton;    write  a   whole  sheet.      There  is  an  in- 


THK    MISSIONARY    SUMMER.  21 

teresting  female  prayer  meeting  in  Belfast,  and  in  Houlton. 

R.  C.  S. 

The  next  letter  is  from  Sister  Spaulding  to  her  husband,  and 
evidently  crossed  the  preceding  one,  as  it  was  on  its  way.  The 
letter  is  a  most  interesting  one,  as  it  gives  evidence  of  the  full 
development  of  the  spirit  of  self-denial  and  consecration  which  so 
strongly  marked  all  her  subsequent  life.  It  cost  something  of  a 
struggle  to  turn  from  a  call  to  Boston  to  the  woods  of  the  North- 
east. 

Charleston,  Me.,  Aug.  30,  1S44. 
My  Dear  Husband  : 

Bro.  Nickerson  has  just  called  to  see  us,  and  has  given  me  a  few 
moments  to  write,  while  he  calls  upon  Mr.  Thurston  ;  and  now  I 
do  not  know  wliat  to  say  first,  my  mind  is  so  confused  in  hearing 
from  you  so  suddenlv.  We  have  lieen  looking  very  anxiously  for 
a  letter  from  you,  and  began  to  have  some  fears  that  vou  were 
sick,  because  no  letter  came,  this  week;  and  when  Henry  Martyn 
saw  Mr.  Nickerson  ride  up  to  the  door  he  was  somewhat  alarmed, 
and  came  running  in  saying  that  Mr.  Nickerson  had  come,  and  he 
was  afraid  he  had  come  to  tell  us  that  Pa  was  dead  ;  but  we  soon 
had  our  mintls  relieved  by  hearing  that  you  were  well  when  he 
left  home. 

W'c  liegin  now  to  count  tlie  weeks  witli  more  courage  than  we 
did  when  \ ou  went  awav.  i  he  children  inquired,  this  morning, 
how  many  weeks  longer  P.i  ^vould  stay.  I  tokl  them  he  would 
sta}-  four  weeks  after  next  Wednesday.  They  thought  tliey  should 
be  glad  when  thev  could  count  da   s  instead  of  weeks. 

Bro.  N.  thinks  vou  would  cons.'ut  to  stay  four  weeks  longer,  if 
it  was  thought  best.  I  suppose  he  meant,  if  tlie  Missionarv  Soci- 
et\-  would  continue  to  employ  you.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  you 
feel  so  much  interest,  and  encouragement  in  your  labors,  but,  my 
dear  huslxuid,  I  hope  you  will  not  forget  the  Bost(Ui  folks.  I  am 
afraid  thev  will  feel  very  badly,  if  they  do  not  hear  from  you,  at  the 
end  of  three  months,  as  that  is  the  time  vou  asked  them  to  wait. 

Bro.  N.  wishes  to  know  if  /  am  willing  to  go  antl  live  in  that 
region.      I     answer,    '•'•\cs,    I   am   willing    to  go  anywhere,    if  I 

Mr.  Thurston's  l>ill  for  last  term  is  paid  ;    it  was  just  six  dollars. 


22  THE    MISSIONARY    SUMMER. 

The  fall  term*  commences  next  Monday.  We  are  expecting  a  very 
full  school ;  there  will  be  no  school,  at  Corinth,  before  next 
Spring,  and  quite  a  number  are  coming  up  from  there,  this  Fall. 
Henry  Dexter  and  Gideon  Smith  called  on  me  last  week.  They 
came  to  engage  houseroom  for  Gideon  and  Lydia  Ann,  and  Oreb 
and  Almira  Dexter.  Bro.  Jackson  and  wife,  and  Bro.  Haines  and 
wife,  were  up,  last  week,  and  made  me  a  good  visit. 

Bro.  N.  has  just  come  back,  and  I  must  close.  O  how  I  want 
to  see  you  !  My  heart  says,  "  Come  home  as  soon  as  you  can," 
but  my  Missionary  spirit  says,  "Stay  as  long  as  you  agreed  to." 

We  all  join  in  much  love. 

Yours,  most  affectionately, 

J.  SPAULDING. 

*of  the  Charleston  Academy  which,  after  a  long  and  honorable  career,  has  recently  become 
the  Higgins  Classical  Institute,  under  the  control  and  oversight  of  Colby  University. 


IIoDGDON,  Jan.  4,  185^. 
My  Very  Dear  Daughter  : 

In  my  last  I  told  you  I  was  going  to  Ilodgdon,  and  would 
write  you  from  there.  So  here  I  am, —  it  is  just  one  week  this 
evening  since  we  came  here.  I  am  now  sitting  at  the  little  stand 
by  the  sitting  room  fire.  Mrs.  Bradbury  sits  at  my  left  hand  in 
the  large  arm  chair  reading  the  Maccdojiiaii^  which  was 
brought  up  from  the  Post  Oificc,  a  little  while  ago.  Dea.  Brad- 
bury has  gone  to  the  Club  meeting  this  evening,  *  *  *  and 
Boardy  is  capering  round  in  the  kitchen  with  the  cat  and  dog,  I 
suppose,  bv  the  noise  he  is  making. 

We  are  all  in  usual  health  and  comfortable  circumstances. 
Don't  you  wish  vou  wfre  here  with  us?  We  do;  but  trusting  in 
a  kind  Preserver  that  v<ni  are  well  we  will  not  murmer  because 
you  are  not  with  us.  Oiu"  (Quarterly  Meeting  commenced  Friday 
evening,  and,  after  spending  two  tlays  and  evenings  in  session, 
our  meetings  were  so  interesting  that  we  concluded  to  continue 
them  evenings  for  a  while,  so  we  have  met  every  evening  since, 
till  this  evening  the  Temperance  folks  occupy  the  house  and  we 
have  a  meeting  appointed  for  tomorrow  evening.  The  church 
members*  are  considerably  revived  in  tlieir  minds,  and  \\'e  think 
there  are   some   indications  of  a   revixal  of  religion.      (),  pray   for 

*"Thc  Calvinist  Baptist  Church  of  Ilodgdon  and  NumbcT  10"  was  organized  on  Jan.  l."., 
is;?;i,  at  a  meeting  of  those  friendly  to  such  a  movement,  which  was  held  in  the  Yellow 
School-house,  so-called,  the  first  building  for  such  a  purpose  erected  in  the  town.  It  stood 
on  the  County  Road,  about  three  and  one-half  miles  from  Houlton  village. 

There  were  present  for  the  services,  besides  the  people  of  the  town.  Rev.  Elisha  Bedell  of 
Deer  Island,  Kev.  Gilbert  Spurr  of   Brighton,  Rev.  Lotbrop  Hammond  of    Prince  William, 


24  IN    LABORS    ABUNDANT. 

US  that  it  may  be  even  so  !  We  have  had  no  ministers  but  Pa  and 
Mr.  Emerson. t  Last  evening  Mr.  Emerson  preached,  and  thir- 
teen of  the  church  members  spoke  after  the  sermon. 

To-day,  Pa  has  gone  to  the  Lake,  where  he  spends  the  Sabbath, 
and  I  stay  here  to  attend  the  meetings  and  visit  the  Hodgdon  folks 
a  little.  I  have  not  been  on  the  hill  yet  but  expect  to  before  I  go 
home.  We  have  had  very  favorable  weather  and  good  sleighing 
since  our  meetings  began,  bvit  it  looks  now  very  much  like  rain. 

We  all  join  together  here  in  wishing  you  "happy  New  Year." 
Ever,  your  atlectionate  Mother. 

Dea.  J.  Foster  oi"  Douglas,  and  Bro.  Abraham  Nuwcomb  of  Richmond,  all  of  the  Province 
of  New  Brunswick  except  Mr.  Bedell. 

Rev.  Mr.  Spurr  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Bedell,  Clerk.  Fourteen  men  and 
fifteen  women  were  found  ready  to  unite  themselves  together  in  the  bonds  of  church  fellow. 
ship.  It  was  voted  to  proceed  with  the  organization  of  the  church.  James  Johnson  and  J. 
N.  Foster  were  chosen  Deacons,  and  Howard  P.  Towne,  Clerk. 

The  young-  church  soon  widened  its  field  of  activity,  and  with  Rev.  E.  Bedell  as  Pastor, 
began  to  gather  in  recruits  in  other    towns  and  plantations. 

During  the  next  spring  Columbus  Dunn  of  No.  JO  experienced  religion,  and  joining  the 
church  was  elected  an  additional  Deacon  on  May  30,  of  same  year. 

Of  the  constituent  members  of  this  Mother  Church  of  all  the  Baptist  Churches  of  this 
section  only  two  now  survive  :  Sarah  Ann  Towne,  youngest  child  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary 
Pettingill  Towne,  born  at  Maugerville,  N.  B.,  Dec.  5,  181.5;  came  with  her  parents  to  Hodg- 
don in  1S2.'5,  and  was  converted  in  a  revival  among  the  Free  Will  Baptists,  who  held  meetings 
in  the  house  of  Dr.  Chesley  Drew,  in  the  Spring  of  1830;  she  married  Daniel  Outhouse 
April  19,  1833,  and  he  died  in  Ludlow,  Me.,  Oct.  8,  1878;  also,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Snow  Dunn, 
wife  of  Columbus  Dunn  of  Number  10.  Sister  Dunn  was  born  in  Orrington,  Me.,  in  the 
year  1808,  was  married  in   1827,   and   moved   immediately   to  their   home,    now   the  town  of 

She  was  converted  in  the  meetings  held  by  Mr.  Bjdell,  in  the  early  part  of  the  winter  of 
1834-3.'5,  and  was  baptised  by  him,  with  others,  in  the  Eastern  p.irt  of  the  town  of  Hodgdon. 
Dea.  Dunn  died  suddenly  in  November,  1878. 

Deacon  Bradbury,  alluded  to  in  the  first  lines  of  the  letter,  was  Christopher  Columbus 
Bradbury,  originally  of  Limerick,  York  Co.,  Me.,  who  with  his  brother,  True  Bradbury  and 
Jonathan  Hayes  of  the  same  town  bought  the  legislative  Grant  made  to  the  Limerick  Acade- 
my. This  tract  became  known  as  New  Limerick,  and  Mr.  Spaulding  refers  to  it,  at  times, 
as  merely  Limerick.  Prior  to  this  purchase  Christopher  had  gone  to  Prince  William, 
York  Co.,  N.  B.,  to  work  at  his  trade  of  v\  rol-carder  and  cloth-dresser. 

There  he  married  Miss  Mary  Joscelyn,  and  they  had  one  child,  James  Tyler  Bradbury, 
subsequently  the  husband  of  Annie  Spaulding. 

In  1828  he  moved  to  the  New  Limerick  Plantation,  and  in  1835,  with  a  cousin,  Jabez  Bi  ad- 
bury,  he  bought  the  mill  privilege  in  Hodgdon  and  made  that  place  his  home.  May  12,  1838, 
Mr.  Bradbury  and  his  wife  were  received  to  the  church,  and  on  May  30,  they  were  baptised 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Murray,  at  that  time.  Pastor  of  the  church.  Bro.  Bradbury  was  chosen 
and  ordained  Deacon,  Feb.  17,  183!1. 

James  Tyler  Bradbury  was  received  into  the  church  March  2,  1843,  and  was  chosen  Clerk. 

June7,  184fi,  wasthe  first  baptism  administered  by  Bro.  Spaulding.  Aug.  29,  of  same 
year,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spaulding  joined  the  Hodgdon  Church. 

Aug.  17,  18.i7,  Dea.  Bradbury  and  his  wife  were  dismissed  to  join  thj  Baptist  Church  in 
Wutcrville,  where  they  had  gone  to  live  with  thtir  son. 

fMr.  Emerson  was  a  Congregational  Mi  li-iter,  who  li>'ed  at  Spring. ield,  Penobs  oc  Co  , 
.ajj.d  was  on  a  visit  to  his  friends  in  Houllon  and  Hodgdon. 


IN    LABORS    ABUNDANT.  25 

HouLTON,  Feb.  i,  1855. 
My  Dearest  Daughter  : 

We  received  your  letter,  Tuesday  evening,  requesting  us  to  send 
your  book  of  Sketches.  We  took  it  from  the  Post  Office  as  we 
returned  from  Limerick,  where  we  had  been  four  days.  Pa 
preached  there,  last  Sabbath,  in  the  day  time,  and  out  to  Mr. 
Berry's  in  the  evening.  We  spent  the  night  there,  and  the  next 
morning,  Mr.  Berry  invited  us  in  to  his  store  and  gave  me  a  nice 
calico  dress-pattern,  (I  wish  you  could  run  home  and  make,  it  for 
me)  and  a  capital  pair  of  shoes,  and  some  other  things.  We  vis- 
ited all  da}  ,  Monday  and  Tuesday,  in  Limerick,  and  I  was  so  tired 
when  we  got  home  that  I  had  to  rest  all  day  yesterday — that  is,  I 
could'nt  do  anything  but  m\-  housework.  I  wanted  to  write  to 
you  and  send  xour  bot)k  tliis  morning,  but  I  had'nt  courage  enough 
to  touch  a  pen.  To-day  I  have  done  a  large  zvash^  and  feel  better 
this  evening,  so  I  will  try  and  get  a  short  letter  ready  to  mail  for 
you  to-morrow  evening  with  the  book. 

We  rejoice  that  \()ur  health  continues  good,  and  we  hope  it  will 
l)e  so  that  ^■()u  can  stay  and  take  lessons  another  term  ;  tell  us  all 
about  it  when  you  write  again.*  Hannah  and  Angelia  are  mak- 
ing all  preparations  to  go  to  Aul)urndale  ;  they  expect  to  go  in  a 
fortnight,  I  believe.  Perhaps  they  will  call  on  you.  Clara  Inger- 
sol  is  spending  her  vacation  with    her  Aunt  Louisa  in  Dorchester. 

Boardy  stayed  with  Mrs.  Pierce  while  we  were  gone  to  Limerick  ; 
she  will  not  let  him  go  away  if  she  can  help  it.  He  carried  his 
melodeon  in  there  and  played  for  them,  a  number  of  times,  each 
day,  and  they  carried  it  up  to  the  Meeting  House,  Sunday,  and  he 
played  for  them,  in  the  forenoon  and  afternoon.  Mrs.  Pierce  told 
me  that  he  played  beautihilly,  and  they  sung  so  well  that  she  felt 
peilcctly  satisi.ed.  Mrs.  Ingersol  called  upon  us  yesterday, —  she 
.said  tlie  melodeon  sounded  so  sweetly  that  it  made  her  cry.     *      *     * 

Do  you  know  this  is  my  birthday?  Yes,  I  have  lived  in  this 
world  fifty-four  years.  It  is  but  a  short  space  of  time,  and  yet  it 
seems  a  great   while  to   me.      Long  before  the    same   numlter    of 

*The  letters  of  this  chapter  are  all  by  Mrs.  Spauldinf?  to  her  daughter,  Ann  Judson,  who 
luul  ajone  to  Waterviile  to  study  music.  In  November  she  returned  home,  and  was  married 
;it  her  Father's  house.  Thence  forward  she  assisted  her  husband  in  the  Waterviile  Academy, 
and  again  at  West  Liberty,  West  ^"irginia,  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  until  her  hus- 
band's death. 

Soon  after  her  marriage  Mrs.  Bradbury  took  her  younger  brother,  Boardman  Carey,  to 
Waterviile,  and  cared  for  him  till  he  passed  through  the  Academy  and  was  titled  for  College. 


26  IN    LABORS    ABUNDANT. 

years  rolls  on  I  shall  be  far  away  in  the  spirit  zvorld.     And  what 
will  be  my  destiny? 

"  When  Thou,  my  Righteous  Judge,  shall  come, 
To  take  Thy  ransome  people  home. 
Shall  I  among  them  stand?" 

It  is  just  ten  years,  to-day,  since  we  came  to  Houlton  to  live. 
Then  you  were  just  as  old  as  Boardy  now  is.  How  quickly  it  has 
passed  away,  and  how  many  changes  have  taken  place  in  that  time  ! 

I  must  close  for  I  have  got  to  write  to  Mrs.  Clark,  Editor  of  the 
Mother's  Journal^  this  evening,  and  the  clock  is  just  striking  ten, 
now  —  so  good-night,  my  precious  child.  May  you  "abide  under 
the  shadow  of  the  Almighty"  is  the  prayer  of 

Your  aflectionate  Mother. 

HoDGDON,  Feb.  I,  1S56. 
My  Dearest  Daughter  : 

You  will  see  by  1113-  date  that  I  am  again  in  Hodgdon.  Yes,  I 
am  sitting  here,  in  your  Hodgdon  home,  with  the  little  light  stand 
drawn  up  by  the  fire,  and  no  one  else  present  but  your  Mother 
Bradbury  who  sits  in  the  rocking  chair  before  the  fire  reclining 
her  head  on  her  hand  while  I  am  writing.  Pa  has  gone  to  Orient 
to  spend  the  Sabbath,  and  your  Father  Bradbury  has  gone  in  to 
Bro.  Outhouse's*  to  see  poor  old  Mr.  Towncf  who  lies  very  low, 
and  will  soon  probably  leave  the  shores  of  time  for  the  boundless 
ocean  of  eternity. 

Have  you  thought,  dear  Annie,  that  this  is  your  Mother's  birth- 

*Daniel  Outhouse  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  and  came  with  his  parents,  at  twenty 
years  of  age,  to  Hodgdon.  His  Father,  John  Outhouse,  bought  land  in  the  South  half  of 
the  town,  which  subsequently  came  in  to  Daniel's  possession,  and  remained  his  home  till 
his  death  in  1878. 

He  experienced  religion  and  was  baptised  soon  after  the  coming  to  Hodirdon,  having  no 
thought  at  the  time  to  be  other  than  a  farmer.  Eventually  he  felt  that  he  was  called  to  preiich 
the  gospel,  and  had  a  hard  struggle  to  reconcile  himself  and  his  wife  both  to  the  conviction 
of  duty.  At  length  light  came  and  he  was  ordained  at  Hodgdon,  March  4,  1841.  He  served 
that  Church  as  Pastor  for  one  year,  then  went  to  I.ubec,  Washington  Co.,  where  he  labored 
nine  years.  At  the  close  of  that  service  he  came  back  to  his  Hodgdon  home,  and  became  an 
itinerant  preacher  in  this  County  and  the  Province.  He  was  an  earnest,  selfdenyinjf,  suc- 
cessful preacher  of  the  gospel,  univfersally  liked,  an.l  respect.'d  everywhere  hj  wjnt  he  wis 
a  tower  of  strength  in  all  the  communities.  He  was  a  modest,  unassuming  man,  and  declined 
to  become  connected  with  the  Missionary  Board,  on  the  ground  that  he  was  not  worthy  of 
such  a  position.  But  he  was  a  sterling  man,  a  safe  counsellor;  and  for  the  forty-five  years 
of  his  Christian  living  among  our  people  his  name  was  the  synonym  for  all  that  makes  up  a 
robust,  consecrated  Christian  manliness.  He  was  stricken  with  the  fatal  disease  on  Sunday 
he  was  on  the  road  to  his  appointment  in  Ludlow,  was  carried  into  a  house 
died  there  on  the  next  Tuesday. 
Ebene/.er  Towne  was  one  of  the   Second   P'ive   Settlers   of  Hodgdon.     H 


•  ( 


IN    LABORS    ABUNDANT.  2/ 

day?  Only  think!  I  am  fifty-five  years  old.  Just  eleven  years 
ago,  to-day,  we  moved  into  Iloulton  village ;  you  were  then  a 
little  girl  eleven  years  old.  *  *  *  Now,  you  are  a  married 
woman,  and  have  left  your  childhood  home,  and  with  your  own 
chosen  friend  have  gone  to  make  another  happy  home  for  your- 
selves.     O,  may 

"  Heavenly  blessiiig-s,  without  number, 
Gently  fall  upon  your  heads!" 

We  came  to  Hodgdon,  last  Sabbath  morning,  and  I  have  not 
been  home  since.  Pa  went  down,  Tuesday,  on  business,  and  re- 
tinned  Wednesday.  We  went  up  to  Bro.  Foster's  Monday,  and  I 
stopped  up  on  the  Hill  till  Thursday  evening,  when  we  came 
down  to  meeting.  Pa  preached  in  Houlton  Tuesday  evening,  and 
on  W^estford  Hill  Wednesday  eve,  and  in  the  Meeting  House 
Thursdav  evening,  so  von  see  his  health  must  be  prettv  good  or  he 
could  not  tlo  it.  I  liavc  been  about  with  liim  nearly  all  the  time 
since  v(ni  went  away,  and  he  felt  quite  lonely  to  go  ofi",  alone, 
(k:)wn  to  the  Lake  but  I  was  too  tired  to  go  with  him.  My  health 
is  very  good,  this  winter,  but  I  fiiul  it  rather  too  hard  to  go  all  the 
time  as  poor  Pa  has  to.  I  had  a  very  good  visit  on  the  Hill,  spent 
one  whole  da\  at  Mr.  Adams's.  He  remains  about  the  same  as 
he  has  been,  lor  months  past,  can  only  get  up  to  have  his  bed 
made.  *  *  *  {  couul  not  ihiish  my  letter  last  evening,  antl 
liave  just  set  myself  down  to  ihiish  it  and  to  write  one  to  my  dear 
Boartlie,  but  Charles  'I  arbell  l;as  just  ridden  up,  and  I  have  re- 
quested him  to  wait  a  few  moments  till  I  close,  so  that  he  can  take 
it  to  the  Post  Ofiice  for  me,  as  it  storms  this  morning,  and  I  fear 
that  1  shall  not  have  another  chance  to  send  it,  to-day,  if  I  miss 
this  one.  Mis.  Whitney  lies  there  just  as  she  did  a  year  ago. 
The\  all  send  love  to  \()U.  I  cannot  keep  Charlie  waiting  so  I 
shall  haye  to  close.  Tell  Poardie  not  to  be  disappointed,  I  vyill 
write  him  first,  next  time.  Kiss  him  hard  for  his  Mother,  and  tell 
iiim  I  am  happ\   to  tliink  he  is  learning  so  well. 

As  ever,  your  ailectionate  Mother. 

born  ill  Topsfield,  Essex  Co.,  Mass  ,  June  -IH,  1773.  His  wife  Mary  PettingiU  was  born  in 
Bridtfewater,  Plymouth  Co  ,  Mass.,  May  13,  1774. 

He  got  his  title  i.i  the  old  militia  strvic  ,  and  moved  his  family  to  the  Province  of  New 
Brunswick  in  181  '.  His  trade  was  that  of  a  mill  wiight  and  carpenter.  In  1S2.'J  he  came  to 
Hodgdon,  and  built  the  house  on  the  lot  of  Joseph  Kendall,  a  settlor  of  the  First  Five.  He 
soon  built  a  house  on  his  own  lot  near  by,  and  livid  there  till  his  liter  years.  His  oldest 
son,  Howard  P.,  was  the  first  ckrk  of  the  Hodgdon  Church,  and  his  youngest  daughter  was 
the  wife-  of  Rev.  D.  Outhouse,  at  whose  house  he  was  si.k,  and  wh.re  he  died.  I-Vb.  •_>•.'.  l.-.-^C. 


28  "  IN    LABORS    ABUNDANT. 

HouLTON,  May  i,  1S56. 
My  Beloved  Daughter  : 

We  have  just  returned  from  Hodgdon  (after  sunset)  where  we 
have  been  ahTiost  two  weeks. 

We  sent  down  last  week  and  got  our  mail  —  a  letter  from  you 
and  Boardy — and  to-night  we  called  at  the  P.  O.  as  we  came 
along  and  found  a  letter  from  you  and  also  one  from  Henry.  O 
how  good  it  is  to  hear  from  all  our  loved  ones  at  once.      *       *     * 

I  shall  not  have  time,  dear  Annie,  to  answer  any  of  your  letter 
this  evening,  but  cannot  think  of  going  to  bed  till  I  have  told  you 
what  we  have  been  doing  at  Hodgdon  to-day.  We  have  had  the 
pleasantest  "May  Day"  that  I  ever  enjoyed.  A  number  of  men 
and  boys  met  at  the  meeting  house,*  this  foi-enoon,  and  built  a 
very  pretty  fence  around  the  land  belongmg  to  the  house,  which 
you  know  is  quite  a  large  piece.  About  one  o'clock  they  were 
joined  by  quite  a  company  of  females,  old  and  young,  with  three 
or  four  wagon  loads  of  trees  of  different  kinds,  and  rose  bushes 
and  some  other  shrubbery,  and  we  have  all  been  at  work  as  busy 
and  cheerful  as  bees,  setting  them  out,  all  the  afternoon.  It 
seemed  like  magic  wdien  wc  closcil,  about  five,  to  look  at  our 
work  and  see  what  a  change  had  taken  place  since  morning. 

The  trees  are  all  put  out  for  different  individuals,  some  were  set 
out  for  departed  friends  and  some  for  absent  ones.  You  and 
James  and  Boardy  have  each  a  beauty  ;  yours  stands  next  to  mine, 
and  Pa's  and  James's  stands  right  opposite,  Boardy's  stands  next  to 
yours,  and  your  father  and  mother  Bradbury's  stand  together  not 
far  from  ours.  It  was  delightful  to  see  each  one  claiming  their 
tree,  and  pointing  out  those  they  had  set  for  absent  frientls.      Od- 

*At  a  business  meeting  of  the  Hodgdon  Church,  held  July  8,  1841,  Dea.  Bradbury  was 
chosen  Moderator.  On  motion  it  was  voted  to  build  a  Meeting  House,  twenty-six  by  forty- 
two  leet,  with  posts  twelve  feet  in  height.  Deas.  Bradbury  and  Jno.  White  with  H.  P. 
Towne  were  chosen  a  Building  Committee. 

The  work  of  construction  went  forward  slowly,  for  the  means  at  command  were  not 
very  abundant,  and  after  a  year  and  a  half  occurs  this  entry  on  the  records,  "Jan.  7,  184.i, 
met  for  the  first  time  in  the  new  Meeting  House." 

The  house  was  finished  on  the  outside,  as  shown  in  the  engraving,  but  no  work  at  all  had 
been  done  on  the  inside  except  to  lay  a  rough  floor,  and  put  up  planks  on  blocks  of  wood 

No  more  was  accomplished  until  after  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Spaulding  and  family,  and 
through  their  successful  cflForts  and  intercessions  the  work  was  brought  down  to  the  point 
of  completion  to  which  Mrs.  Spaulding  makes  allusion  in  this  same  letter. 

Until  the  completion  of  the  Houlton  Meeting  House  in  1867  this  building  was  the  only 
distinctive  Baptist  House  in  the  County.  In  Linneus  the  Baptists  had  a  third  interest  in  a 
Union  House  l"or  some  years  after  18(i(). 


IN    LABORS    ABUNDANT.  29 

ber  Foster  and  Zemro  Smith  and  Charley  Whitney  assisted  Pa 
(or  did  the  most)  in  setting  out  yours  and  mine  and  Boai^dy's. 

The  outside  of  the  meeting  house  is  painted  over  again,  and  the 
inside  is  ahnost  done.  I  wish  you  could  see  it.  It  looks  really 
neat.  The  females  of  our  society  are  deeply  interested  in  making 
a  carpet  for  it.  I  have  been  helping  them  spin  and  double  and 
twist  the  warp,  and  we  are  going  to  have  the  filling  made  of  nicely 
cut  rags.  We  expect  it  will  be  a  very  pretty  one,  and  then  it  will 
be  our  own  manufacture,  which  will  add  to  the  interest  of  it, — 
especially  as  we  have  no  money  to  purchase  one. 

Pa  wishes  me  to  ask  you  if  you  have  in  your  library  "Aids  to 
Devotion,"  containing  Dr.  Watts'  and  Bickersteith's  Guide  to 
Prayer,  etc.,  and  another  book,  "  Heart  Treasures,  or  the  Furniture 
of  a  Holy  Soul,"  by  Rev.  Oliver  Heywood.  He  has  just  got 
some  new  books,*  and  if  these  two  are  not  in  your  library  he 
wants  to  send  them  to  you  in  the  box. 

We  are  so  happy  to  think  our  dear  little  boy  is  doing  so  well  in 
his  music  and  studies,  and  is  a  help  and  comfort  to  you. 

Do  kiss  him  very  hard  for  his  father  and  mother.  I  can't  stop 
now  to  sa\  nn\-  more  al)out  ai/y  thing,  but  will  send  nou  another 
letter  l>y  Monday's  mail. 

In  much  love  to  all,  I  remain, 

^'our  own  atlectionate  Mother. 

HouLTON,  June  23,  1S56. 
Mv  Deaukst  Dai'Ghter  : 

We  had  a  good  conference  Saturday,  and  an  interesting  Sabbath 
at  Hodgdon,  and  returned  last  evening  so  as  to  wash  to-day  and 

*One  of  the  most  important  services  which  Bro.  Spaulding  rendered  to  the  people  of  this 
section,  and  the  full  value  of  which  is  above  estimation,  was  constant  attention  to  the  work 
of  cii'culuting;  ^ooA.  reading  in  the  families  wherever  he  went. 

As  we  call  back  to  mind  the  familiar  forms  of  the  beloved  man  and  his  wife,  in  the  little 
Concord  wagon  in  summer,  in  the  old  fashioned  blue  sleigh  in  the  winter,  both  drawn  with 
becoming  gravity  by  "Old  Billy,"  for  it  did  not  seem  possible  that  the  little  gray  horse 
could  ever  have  been  young,  we  remember  the  small  trunk  which  was  constantly  with  them. 
Fiom  this  he  drew  books  for  young  and  old.  That  trunk  was  an  exhaustless  fountain  of 
intLlLctual  and  moral  nourishment  for  almost  a  generation  of  people.  Nothing  like  a 
book-store  was  kept  here  till  twenty  years  after  he  began  to  work.  Over  all  this  region,  in 
hamlet  and  lonely-cabin  in  the  woods,  the  tracts.  Bibles,  and  devotional,  historical  and 
biographical  books  out  of  ihis  wonderful  trunk  were  spread  with  a  generous  hand.  It  was 
not  for  the  money  returned  that  the  work  was  done.  His  own  craving  for  mental  food,  and 
the  widespread  needs  of  the  people  prompted  the  faithful  and  assiduous  devotion  to  this 
br.inchof  work. 

Thousands  of  dollars'  worth  of  the  b-st  of  books  were  put  out  by  him  in  the  years  of  his 


;30  IN    LABORS    Ar.lTNDAXT. 

g'et  rcadv  to  start,  earlv  to-morrow  morning,  for  Presque  Isle.  Pa 
lias  a  lecture  appointed  for  to-morrow  afternoon  about  twenty 
miles  from  here  on  the  \va}-.  Mrs.  Claik  has  l)een  washing  for 
me,  and  we  have  had  a  real  party  from  Hodgdon  liesidcs,  and  a 
ver\   sociable  and  agreeable  visit. 

We  went  up  on  Westford  Hill,  last  Friday,  and  called  all  round 
among  the  folks  and  spent  the  night  at  I>ro.  Foster's. 

Mr.  Adams  continues  to  lie  upon  his  bed  of  languishing  yet. 
All  the  folks  on  the  Hill  send  more  love  to  you  than  I  can  put  in 
this  letter.  I  don't  think  of  an\  more  Hodgdon  news,  and  I 
hardly  know  what  is  going  on  in  Hoult.  n.  Eliphalet  Ward  died 
and  was  buried  last  week.  I  wish  1  was  not  so  tired,  I  would 
write  to  mv  dear  little  boy,  but  V\c  had  a  great  deal  to  tlo  since 
mv  company  \vent  away  l)etween  four  and  five  o'clock,  and  I  can 
hardly  hold  my  head  up.  Tell  him  1  thank  him  for  his  large  pile 
of  loye,  and  hope  it  will  grow /(?';;.;,'vv-  inst.-ad  of  .s-w7/Av.  1  must 
now  say  good-night  and  retire,  so  that  I  can  rise  earh'  in  the 
morning  and  fix  oft  again. 

Be  assured,  dear  children,  nou  are  all  remembered  daih  ,  in  the 
prayers  of  your  aftectionate. 

Father  and  Mother. 

Hori,TO\,  July  9,  1856. 
Bei.o\'ed  Children  : 

The  long  looked  for  miniatures  came  tliis  afternoon.  Pa  went  to 
the  Post  Office  just  before  tea  time  and  returned  in  a  few  minutes 
with  the  precious  package.  We  gazetl  upon  your  likcr.esses  with 
joyful  hearts  and  tearful  eyes  for  a  long,  long  time.  They  look 
perfectly  natiu'al  and  we  ca/////>/  tell  how  glad  we  are  to  get 
them.      *      *      * 

It  was  a  week  last  evening  since  we  returned  from  Presque 
Isle.  We  stayed  at  home  the  next  week,  but  were  too  tired  to 
write,  and  we  had  tnough  to  ilobesidtsto  keep  us  quite  busy,  and 
the  next  i/aw  Thmsda\ ,  we  went  down  to  the  Henderson  neigh- 
borhood, where  Pa  had  a  lecture  ap]:)ointed.  We  had  an  interest- 
ing meeting  and  returned  home  about  dark,  when  Augusta  Prince 
came  in  and  told  us  that  poor  little  Tonnn\  Plancliard  was  dead, 
and  that  Mrs.  B.  had  sent  up  for  Pa  to  perform  the  funeral  services 
on  Saturday  afternoon.  It  was  our  (Quarterly  Meeting  at  Hodg- 
(lf)n,  vSaturday.      So  we  went  up  Frida\ .  and  attended  the  forenoon 


IN    LABORS    ABUNDANT.  •  31 

mcetins^  vSaturday,  then  came  down  and  attended  the  funeral,  went 
back  again  that  night,  and  had  a  very  good  meeting  Sunday. 

We  came  home  I'rom  Hodgdon,  early  Monday  morning,  and 
went  right  up  into  the  Niles  neighborhood,  where  old  Mr.  Oakes 
lives,  and  spent  the  da}-  in  calling  upon  all  the  families  there  ; 
and  when  we  came  home  we  found  a  man  waiting  to  see  Pa  to  get 
him  to  go  to  Hodgdon  the  next  day  to  officiate  at  Mrs.  Pollard's 
funeral.  So  we  went  to  Hodgdon  again  yesterday,  and  returned 
last  evening,  and  to-day,  I  have  been  making  me  a  cap  and  getting 
ready  to  start  early  in  the  morning  to  go  over  to  Woodstock  to  see 
Uncle  Joseph's  folks.  W"e  must  return  to-morrow  night,  and  go 
to  the  Lake  Friday.  So  you  see  how  we  fly  around,  and  you  can 
imagine  how  much  time  I  have  to  write.  I  could'nt  begin  this  till 
nearly  nine  o'clock,  and  now  it  is  alniost  ten,  and  I  must  get  up 
at  fo/ir^  to-m  )rro\v  morning.  *  *  *  We  send  abundance  of 
love  to  each  and  all  of  }(>u. 

Your  affectionate  Mother. 


■* 

HouLTON,  April  S,  1S62. 
My  Very  Dear  Daughter  : 

Your  welcome  letter  came  to  us  this  cveuing,  and  its  contents 
would  have  surprised  us  very  much  if  we  had'nt  been  apprised 
sooner  by  Henry  of  your  intentions  of  going  back  to  West 
Liberty.*  Perhaps  we  may  go  some  dav  to  visit  you  in  your 
distant  home.  We  should  be  happy,  indeed,  to  do  so,  if  our 
Heavenly  P^ather  should  see  fit  to  bless  us  with  Jiealth^  stroigth, 
and  means  sufficient  for  so  great  a  journey  :  but  if  tliis  privelege 
is  denied  us,  we  have  the  hope,  the  glorious  hope  of  meeting  in 
the  Heavenly  Home,  to  be  separated  no  more  forever. 

Pa's  face  is  almost  well  and  his  health  is  tolerably  good,  but  he 
has  not  regained  his  strength  ;  he  finds  his  arduous  duties  very 
tiresome,  yet  we  trust  he  will  be  gaining  in  strength  and  energy. 
We  know,  however,  that  our  youthful  vigor  has  passed  away  and 
that  old  age  is  creeping  on  :  still  we  hope  to  live  and  labor,  a  little 
longer,  in  God's  blessed  vineyard,  for  we  long  to  see  many  souls 
gathered  into  the  fold  of  the  great  and  good  Sliepherd  before  we 
go  hence  to  be  no  more.  We  had  a  letter  from  dear  Boardman 
last  week  telling  us  of  his  safe  arrival  at  Fort  Prelile. 

Now,  dear  Annie,  don't  you  grieve  at  all  about  us.  If  we  were 
sitting  down  here,  in  our  desolate  home,  and  mourning  over  our 
loneliness  you  would  have  some  reason  to  be  unhappy  about  us; 
but  that  is  not  the  case.  We  go  from  place  to  place  about  our 
missionarv  labors  just  as  cheerfidlv  as  we  e\er  did,   and  when  we 


se  letters  Mr.  James  T.  Bradbury  w  iih  his  f:.mily  and  his   parents  was 
ty,  West  Virginia.     They  moved  there  in  1S51),  and  he  was  Principal  of 


THE    MID-DAY    HEAT.  33 

come  home  we  call  at  the  Post  Office  and  most  always  find  a  letter 
or  tw^o  from  dear  children  or  other  friends :  and  then  our  home 
is  so  comfortable  we  have  every  thing  that  heart  could  wish,  and 
sweet  books  to  read  besides  the  precious  Bible.  So  when  we  can 
have  a  few  days  at  home  we  find  it  a  place  of  rest  and  sweet  re- 
freshment to  both  body  and  mind.  Our  good  old  Zion's  Advo- 
cate comes  every  week  to  cheer  us,  and  also  the  N'ew  Tork 
Chro7iicle^  a  good  religious  paper.  Dr.  Watson  of  Bangor  or- 
dered it  sent  to  us  and  kindly  pays  for  it  himself. 

As  long  as  we  are  able  to  labor  in  the  vineyard  and  are  as  com- 
fortably situated  as  we  are  we  shall  feel  it  our  duty  to  remain  at 
our  post.  *  *  *  The  Christian  people  of  our  village  are  hold- 
ing a  union  protracted  meeting,  every  afternoon  and  evening. 
They  commenced  more  than  a  week  ago.  Pa  has  attended  them 
all  except  on  the  Sabbath  when  he  had  to  be  away,  and  I  have  at- 
tended all  I  could,  but  I  do  not  go  much,  evenings,  I  get  so  tired. 
To-morrow  is  our  State  Fast  and  we  have  our  meeting  appointed 
at  the  Gilkey  neighborhood,  and  we  have  promised  to  spend  the 
night  there. 

The  people  want  to  do  something  for  us,  as  Pa  preaches  there 
on  the  Sabbath,  once  in  four  weeks  :  so  they  have  proposed  a 
donation  visit  for  us  at  Mr.  Bray's.  *  *  *  J  -^111  add  a  line 
about  the  donation  after  it  is  over. 

Friday^  P.  M.  We  had  a  good  meeting  at  Mr.  Bray's  yester- 
day, and  the  people  all  seemed  very  kind.  They  brought  in  what 
they  could,  but  it  is  a  poor  time  with  them  this  Spring,  and  they 
were  not  able  to  do  much,  and  we  were  not  expecting  them  to. 
But  one  brought  a  bunch  of  stocking  yarn,  another  a  pair  of  stock- 
ings for  me  and  a  pair  for  Pa;  another  a  piece  of  good  home- 
made flannel  to  make  me  a  skirt.  Others  brought  some  potatoes 
and  oats,  or  buckwheat  meal,  meat,  butter,  etc.  This  forenoon 
Mr.  Daniel  Bray  came  and  brought  it  up  with  his  double  team  and 
a  good  lot  of  beautiful  straw  to  fill  my  beds.  The  things  are  such 
as  we  needed  and  will  be  a  great  help  to  us,  so  we  are  not  lacking 
any  good  thing.  When  I  see  Angelia  and  Clara  I  will  do  your 
errand  to  them. 

Millie  will  find  another  little  picture,  and  tell  him  that  grand- 
pa's and  grandma's  love  comes  with  it  to  him,  also  to  little  Jimmie 
and  vourself.  Your  loving  Mother. 


34  THE    MID-DAY    HEAT. 

HouLTON,  March  9,  1S63. 
Dearest  Daughter  : 

We  got  your  letter  of  the  ist  of  Feb.,  and  I  believe  I  answered 
it  the  same  evening,  while  we  were  at  Thomas  Bradbury's ;  so 
I  suppose  it  has  reached  you  before  this  time.  I  think  I  told  you 
in  that  that  Boardman  has  gone  South  to  join  his  regiment.  We 
got  a  letter  from  him,  last  Thursday,  dated  "Camp  near  Fal- 
mouth, Va.,  Feb.  24th."  He  says  it  is  about  three  milesfrom  Fred- 
ericksburg. He  says  "I  am  well,  but  rather  tired,  as  I  have  no 
tent,  and  am  obliged  to  carry  logs  for  mv  hut,  about  one  and  one- 
half  miles,  on  my  back  ;    also  my  wood  for  a  fire." 

Dear  Boy!  it  is  quite  doubtful  if  we  ever  see  him  again  in  this 
world.  Qiiite  a  ninnl)er  of  young  men  who  went  into  the  army 
from  this  \\a\  will  never  return,  having  died  of  sickness,  or  been 
killed  in  battle,  but  we  do  not  despair  of  seeing  our  dear  boy 
again.  We  give  him  up  entirely  to  the  providence  of  God,  know- 
ing that  whatever  He  does  with  him  w  ill  be  right.  *  *  *  .  1 
have  the  palpitation  of  the  heart,  occasionally,  and  presume  I 
always  shall,  wliile  I  live,  l)ut  you  know  1  liave  got  so  used  to  it 
that  1  don't  mind  it  much.  AJy  health  lias  l)een  very  good  since  1 
got  over  my  illness,  the  first  of  the  winter,  but  Fa  and  I  both,  get 
tiretl  very  easily,  whicli  we  nuist  expect  at  our  age.  \'ou  may 
know  that  I  am  well.  /r^-(/(n',  as  1  Ikuc  done  my  washing,  (true 
it  was  not  very  large)  and  washed  my  fioors,  and  shall  ha\  e  three 
letters  read\  lor  the  mail  in  the  morning,  besides  doing  my  liouse- 
work,  and  had  a  gentleman  to  tea  in  the  bargain.  Our  meeting, 
yesterdaw  was  in  Houlton,  in  the  Niles  and  Bray  Districts,  so  we 
were  at  home  last  night,  and  w  hen  we  are  I  can  have  the  privilege 
of  washing,  A/ondav.  Last  Sunday,  helbre  yesterday,  we  had 
our  Qiiarterly  Meeting  at  Hotlgdcai,  commencing  the  Friday  pre- 
vious. Oiu^  meetings  were  all  \  ^in  interesting,  and  tlie  blessing 
of  God  atteniled  them.  They  have  I  ad  meetings  every  evening 
since.      Bro.  Mavo*  sent  down  to-night,  for  Pa  to  go  up  again  and 

*Kev.  L  onanl  Mayo  with  his  family  came  from  I.incolnville,  Waldo  Co.,  to  Aroostook  Co. 
in  the  summer  of  Isri".  This  movement  on  his  part  was  suggested  to  him  by  Rev.  Chas.  G. 
Porter  of  Bangor,  who  had  been  up  to  Patten,  and  setlkments  in  the  Western  part  of  this 
Co.     Qiiite  a  revival  had  begun,  and  Bro.  Mayo  was  looked  to  to  carry  on  the  work  in  that 

Wlun  P>ro.  Sjiaulding  heard  of  the  matter  he  wrote  Bro.  Mayo  at  once,  suggesting  that  he 
come  to  lIo(li;iloii  as  a  more  promising  held.  This  letter  by  some  means  miscarritd  and 
Bro.    Mayo  firsl  went  lo  Sherman,  but  in  December  ISCO  he  decided  to  lemove  to  Hodgdon, 


THE    MID-DAY    HEAT.  35 

help  him,  so  I  think  we  shall  go,  Wednesday,  if  we  are  well. 

We  are  hoping  to  form  a  little  Baptist  Church  here  in  Houlton, 
this  Spring.*  If  we  succeed  I  will  write  you  about  it.  *  *  * 
I  must  say  good  night,  with  ever  so  much  love  from  us  both  to 
you  all. 

Your  ever  aftectionate  Father  and  Mother. 

Conclusion  of  the  letter  to  Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Jones  of  March  17, 
1S64: 

Yestcrtlav  we  went  thirteen  miles  up  on  the  Aroostook  road  to 
\isit  a  dear.  Christian  sister,  who  is  fading  away  with  consump- 
tion :    she  had  sent  for  us,  two   or  three   tiiues,    and   we  were  very 

new  comers  more  heartily  than  Bro.  and  Sister  Spaulding.  The  Hodgdon  Church  gave  a 
donation  soon  after  Bro.  Mayo's  arrival,  and  at  that  gathering  they  first  met.  The  Baptist 
cause  was  very  much  strengthened  by  this  new  arrangement.  The  field  had  outgrown  the 
possibility  of  being  cared  for  longer  by  so  limited  a  ministerial  force. 

The  revival  alluded  to  in  this  letter  was  the  first  of  many  tliat  have  constantly  attended 
upon  Bro.  Mayo's  ministry.  The  ministers  present  were  Uros.  Mayo,  Spaulding  and  a 
licentiate,  Bro.  Peter  McLeod.  '  The  meetings  continued  about  three  weeks,  and  fifteen  or 
twenty  persons  were  baptised  and  joined  the  church,  and  among  them  were  the  two  oldest 
children  of  Bro.  Mayo. 

Bro.  Mayo  has  continued  to  live  in  the  same  home,  wliere  tluy  first  settled  wlien  coming 
to  Hodgdon.  He  has  had  a  long  and  useful  career  as  a  I'astor  in  all  the  towns  in  this  part 
of  the  County,  and  supplemented  the  work  of  Bro.  SpauUliug  in  a  most  successful  manner. 

His  six  children  all  experienced  religion  in  the  Hod-don  meetings,  and  are  doing  useful 
work  in  their  several  places  of  abode,  to-day. 

The  Baptist  Denomination  has  been  most  signally  blessed  by  the  life  work  and  example 
of  three  such  men  as  Bros.  Outhouse,  Spaulding  and  Mayo,  who  have  lived  so  long  in  these 

*A  Baptist  Church  existed  "  only  in  name,"  as  Bro.  .Spaulding  wrote  to  his  wife  when  he 
first  came  into  the  County,  so  far  as  Houlton  was  concerned.  An  attempt  had  been  made, 
a  few  years  before,  by  a  few  persons,  to  withdraw  from  Hodgdon,  and  make  a  separate  or- 
ganization for  Houlton,  but  the  movement  was  not  endorsed  by  some  of  the  best  members 
living  in  the  place,  and  consequently  the  undertaking  soon  failed. 

No  further  effort  looking  to  a  new  cent.e  at  Houlton  was  undertaken  until  the  -Spring  of 
ISCS. 

A  sufficient  number  of  new  comers  were  ready  to  rally  to  the  support  of  a  Baptist  Church, 
and  it  was  found  ihat  thirteen  persons  could  be  enrolled  ;is  the  constituent  membership. 

Eight  members  of  the  Hodgdon  Chu.ch  petitioned  for  dismission  to  form  the  new  body, 
and  for  a  council  to  recognize  themselves  and  associates  :is  the  new  Church.  The  church  in 
Einneus  was  invited  to  join  by  its  delegates. 

In  accovd.mce  with  these  requests  a  Council  met  in  the  front  room  of  Bro.  Spaulding's 
house  on  the  afternoon  of  March  -i.i,  and  organized  with  choice  of  Rev.  L.  Mayo  as  Moder- 
ator, and  Dea.  Charles  Ti.rbell,  Clerk.  Rev.  Daniel  Oulhou.-e  was  present,  and  was  invited 
to  sit  in  the  Council. 

Rev.  11.  C.  Spaulding  and  wife  presented  the  Claims  of  the  petitioners  and  after  considera- 
tion the  Council  voted  to  proceed  with  services  of  recognition  of  them  as  the  First  Baptist 
Chuich  of  Houlton.  The  services  were— Singing,  Reading  of  Articles  of  Faith  by  Bro. 
Outhouse,  Singing,  Pra)'er  by  Bro.  Outhouse,  Address  and  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship  by 
the  Moderator  to  Rev.  R.  C.  Spaulding  for  the  new  Church. 

Francis  Barnes  was  then  chosen  Cierk  and  Deacon  of  the  Church,  af.eiwliioh  the  Council 
dissolved. 


36  THE    MID-DAY    HEAT. 

glad  to  get  a  convenient  day  to  go.  We  found  her  in  a  very  com- 
fortable and  reconciled,  frame  of  mind,  and  so  grateful  for  our 
visit  that  we  felt  truly  paid  for  the  tedious  ride,  the  roads  being 
very  rough  at  the  present  time.  To-morrow  morning  we  must 
start  oft'  in  an  opposite  direction  and  travel  thirteen  miles,  South, 
on  the  Calais  road,  to  attend  our  regular  monthly  appointments  at 
No.  II,  R.  I,  and  Amity.  A  conference  to-morrow  afternoon  at 
No.  II,  and  one  on  Sat.  afternoon  at  Amity.  Sabbath  morning 
our  meeting  is  at  Amity,  and  in  the  afternoon  at  No.  ii,  about 
five  miles  apart.  Monday  we  hope  to  come  home  again,  if  noth- 
ing in  Providence  prevents.  There  are  three  or  four  sick  ones 
now,  in  different  towns  (one  of  them  twenty-five  miles  from  here) 
that  we  expect,  every  day,  to  be  called  upon  to  attend  the  funeral 
of  one  or  the  other.      *      *      * 

You  and  your  husband  are  situated  as  we  are  in  regard  to  our 
children^  left  all  alone.  The  places  that  our  dear  ones  used  to  oc- 
cupy in  our  own  home,  all  so  desolate  now,  but  when  we  hear 
that  any  of  them  are  sick  or  in  trouble  of  any  kind  we  feel  it, —  it 
is  our  trouble,  but  blessed  be  God  !  He  does  not  leave  us  to  bear 
our  troubles  alone.  He  sustains  us  and  grants  us  His  supporting 
and  comforting  grace.      *     *      * 

Henry  Martyn  belongs  to  the  ist  Regt.  Ohio  Vol.  Heavy  Artil- 
lery. They  have  been  stationed  at  Covington,  Ky.,  but  were 
ordered  to  Knoxville,  and  are  probablv  there  by  this  time.  Board- 
man  was  at  Fort  Preble  in  Portland  for  some  time  this  winter,  but 
has  been  sent  to  Buflalo,  N.  Y.,  on  recruiting  service  :  how  long 
he  will  stay  there  we  do  not  know. 

We  hope  you  will  continue  to  pray  for  us,  dear  Brother  and 
Sister  Jones,  and  may  God  ever  bless  and  prosper  you  and  yours 
is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your  affectionate 

Brother  and  Sister  Spaulding. 

HouLTON,  Oct.  13,  1S65. 
Dear  Bro.  and  Sister  Bradbitry  : 

You  have  no  doubt  been  looking  for  a  letter  from  us  telling  you 
about  our  Qiiarterly  Meeting,  as  we  promised  in  our  last  letter  to 
Annie  that  w^e  would  do  so.  This  is  the  first  opportunity  we  liave 
had  since  our  meeting  closed  to  fulfil  our  promise,  and  no-iv  we 
shall  have  to  be  brief  as  possilile.  because  we  must  go  to  Beliast, 
this  afternoon. 


THE    MID-DAY    HEAT.  37 

Well,  ill  the  first  place,  on  the  morning  our  meeting  began,  our 
good  sister,  Mary  Whitney,  came  down  from  Hodgdon  to  stop 
with  us  during  the  meetings  so  that  she  could  have  a  good  chance 
to  attend  them.  That  afternoon  (Friday)  the  minister's  meeting 
was  at  our  house,  and  in  the  evening  the  introductory  sermon  was 
preached  by  Bro.  Besse  of  Presque  Isle,  from  John  i6  :  7.  Sat- 
urday morning,  met  at  10  o'clock.  Sermon  by  Bro.  Rigby  of 
Fort  Fairfield,  text  Isaiah  45  :  22.  At  the  close,  attended  to  the 
business  of  the  Qiiarterly  Meeting.  In  the  evening  a  sermon  by 
Bro.  Powell  of  Topsfield.  Text  ist  John  3  :  23.  Sabbath 
morning,  met  at  nine  o'clock  for  prayer.  Sermon  at  half  past  ten 
by  Bro.  Besse,  from  Matt.  1 1  :  28-30,  then  collection  was  taken 
for  Domestic  Missions  amounting  to  nine  dollars. 

In  the  afternoon,  sermon  by  Bro.  Mayo  from  ist  Samuel  30  :  6. 
Evening,  a  prayer  meeting  one  hour,  and  then  preaching  by  Bro. 
Rigby,  text.  Numbers  10:   29. 

We  occupied  the  Cong.  Meeting  House  and  our  meetings  were 
all  interesting  and  we  hope  profitable.  The  churches  were  pretty 
well  represented  and  we  had  quite  a  good  attendance.  Our  next 
Q.  M.  will  meet  with  the  Bap.  Church  at  Presque  Isle,  on  Sat. 
bef(n-e  the  3d  Sunday  in  Dec.      «      *      * 

We  have  a  meeting  once  in  four  weeks,  on  the  Sabbath,  at 
Littleton,  and  next  week  we  expeft  a  baptism  there,  a  Mrs.  Briggs. 
She  is  an  interesting  Christian,  and  a  good  wife  and  mother,  has  a 
very  pleasant  family.  Our  little  church  here  in  Houlton  is  gradu- 
ally increasing :  we  have  the  conference  once  in  fovn-  weeks  here 
at  our  house,  and  we  have  a  prayer  meeting  every  Friday  evening 
at  the  Cong,  vestry.  The  female  prayer  meeting  comes  on  each 
W^ednesday  afternoon. 

We  have  not  commenced  the  work  of  building  our  Meeting 
House  vet,  but  hope  to  be  able  to  make  a  beginning  next  Spring. 

I  must  now  close  as  it  is  time  to  get  ready  to  go  to  Belfast.  O, 
may  vt)u  daily  enjoy  the  comforts  of  the  precious  promises,  and 
feel  an  assurance  that  you  are  growing  fit  for  the  blessed  and 
glorious  mansions  above !  We  think  of  you,  every  day,  and 
pra\  for  you,  and  hope  to  meet  vou,  b\-  and  bv.  and  spentl  a 
whole  eternity  together. 

With  much  1()\  e  we  remain  \ our  afi'ectionate  Bro.  and  Sister, 

R.  C.  &  J.  SPAULDING. 


38  THE    MID-DAY    HEAT. 

It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  the  story  of  the  crowning  work  of 
their  lives,  the  building  of  the  Houlton  Meeting  House,  cannot  be 
told  in  the  graphic  words  of  Mrs.  Spaulding  ;  but  the  most  careful 
inquiry  has  failed  to  bring  to  light  any  letters  of  that  interesting 
period.  Doubtless  some  were  written,  though  various  circvun- 
stances  tended  to  hinder  as  full  a  measure  of  correspondence  as 
she  had  carried  on  before. 

On  the  one  hand  Mrs.  Bradbury  was  preparing  to  leave  Virginia, 
and  return  home  again,  and  also  the  arduous  labors,  with  exposures 
in  the  past  twenty  years,  were  beginning  to  tell  upon  them  both, 
but  to  a  greater  degree  upon  Mr.  Spaulding  than  upon  his  wife. 

This  made  additional  care  and  labor  for  her  in  order  that  they 
might  still  keep  all  their  appointments,  and,  again,  the  extra  strain 
upon  them  to  carry  out  what  they  had  undertaken  for  the  Houlton 
Church  so  absorbed  her  energies,  that  she  could  not  write,  from 
the  physical  inability  to  keep  up  the  incessant  work. 

As  soon  as  a  church  organization  became  a  fact  in  Houlton  the 
need  of  a  house  of  worship  was  most  apparent,  and  they  set  about 
devising  the  adequate  method  to  meet  that  need. 

The}'  took  Council  together,  but  chose  to  say  nothing  in  pulilic 
about  it.  After  much  of  deliberation  and  prayer  thev  formed  their 
plans  and  went  down  to  the  meetings  of  the  Penobscot  Association, 
in  September,  1863,  to  make  a  begitming  in  the  way  of  soliciting 
funds. 

After  the  meetings  they  went  in  to  Bangor  and  visited  Mr.  Gid- 
dings*  and  his  family  for  a  few  days.  While  there  Mrs.  Spauld- 
ing opened  up  to  him  the  subject  which  lay  so  closely  to  their 
hearts,  and  plead  for  help.  He  lieard  the  story  with  attention, 
thought  carefully  upon  it,  consulted  with  a  few  of  the  brethren, 
some  of  whom  had  a  personal  knowledge  of  the  situation,  and  as 
the  result,  before  thev  left   Bangor,    the   sum   of  $4^0.00  was  paiil 

*\Vliile  Miss  Jtrusha  Bryant  t:iuj<ht  in  the  Sunday  and  wetk  day  schools  in  Bangor  a  littk- 
hoy,  Moses  Giddings,  was  one-  of  her  pupils. 

Bftwten  teacher  and  scholar,  thi  re  grew  up  a  mutual  esteem  and  regard.  The  lad  eaily 
gave  to  his  tiaclier  good  evidence  that  a  work  of  converting  grr.ce  had  been  wrought  upon 
him,  anil  when  he  was  but  eleven  years  of  age  she  declared  him  worthy  to  be  received  by  the 

was  older,  to  tlie  great  disappointment  of  them  both. 

Change  of  place  and  condition  of  life  did  not  interrupt  their  well  grounded  friend.-hip, 
which,  in  its  steady  continuance  and  ab.undant  fruits,  was  as  hononible  to  the  gifted,  mis 
sionary  wife  and  the  successful  business  man  as  it  has  been  conducive  to  the  present  .success 
of  the  Bapti.st  cause  in  this  section. 


HOULTON     MEETING     HOUSE. 


THE    MID-DAY    HEAT.  39 

by  the  four  men,   Arad  Thompson,  J.   C.   White,   Chapin  Hum- 
phrey, and  Moses  Giddings  toward  the  building  of  the  house. 

As  soon  as  they  reached  home  they  came  out  to  see  me,  and 
with  delight  yet  with  most  serious  purpose  told  the  story  of  their 
success.  "Now  we  can  have  a-^  meeting  house.  Now  we  must 
get  about  the  work  just  as  soon  as  possible." 

I  was  surprised  at  what  they  had  accomplished,  but  the  more  so 
at  the  unfolding  of  their  absolute,  unquestioning  faith  in  the 
speedy  accomplishment  of  what  they  longed  for.  The  hour  had 
come,  the  instruments  had  been  raised  up,  and  there  was  money 
enough  to  begin  with. 

In  the  month  of  February  following,  the  lot  of  land  was  bought 
lor  $250.00,  and  the  balance  was  deposited  in  Bangor.  Despite 
the  earnest  fiiith  of  the  good  man  and  his  wife  the  prospect,  to  or- 
dinary persons,  for  immediate  success  in  the  entei-prise  was  not 
very  promising.  The  church  was  small  in  numbers,  weak  in 
a  money  point  of  ^iew,  and  had  no  large  body  of  sympathizers  in 
the  community. 

A  whole  year  went  by  without  further  opportunity  for  progress, 
and  their  only  encouragement  rested  in  their  unwavering  confidence 
of  ultimate  success.  In  March,  iS6^,  a  small  brow  of  choice 
lumber,  at  No.  11,  was  bought  at  a  fair  price  with  the  balance  of 
the  money  on  hand. 

These  logs  were  driven  to  the  Hodgdon  millpond,  and  remained 
there  till  the  next  Fall.  The  door  to  further  advancement  did  not 
open.  It  did  not  seem  expedient  to  seek  further  aid  until  the 
word  had  come  to  go  forward  at  Iloulton.  Bro.  vSpaulding  and 
his  wife  were  narrowed  up  to  prayer  and  waiting,  for  month  after 
month. 

As  wc  now  recall  those  days,  the  manner  of  life  of  that  godly 
couple,  in  their  home,  comes  back  most  forcibly  to  view.  The 
conference  meetings  and  all  the  more  formal  interviews  were  held 
in  the  front  room,  but  the  closet  of  prayer  in  that  house,  really, 
was  the  kitchen,  in  its  spotless  concliticMi  of  neatness  and  exact 
arrangement. 

.:V  person  might  call  many  times  and  think  that  nothing  was  ever 
moved  out  of  place  in  that  room.  The  talilc  always  stood  between 
tlie  window  s  with  a  chair  at  each  end,  the  istove  was  opposite, 
well  l)ack  in  tlie  old  fashioned  fireplace,  and  two  or  three  other 
chairs  for  callers  were  near  bv. 


40  THE    MID-DAY    HEAT. 

They  invariably  sat  in  the  same  places,  he  to  rest  his  right  arm 
on  the  table,  and  she  her  left,  as  they  talked,  counselled  and  ad- 
vised with  their  visitors.  Here  was  the  seat  of  the  wonderous 
power  which  worked  through  them.  No  one  who  entered  that 
closet  of  devotion  bnt  felt  its  influence  upon  them.  Would  that 
the  faithful  camera  could  reproduce  that  scene  ! 

It  was  my  privilege  and  duty  to  enter  that  inner  shrine,  many 
times,  under  all  kinds  of  conditions  of  church  exigencies,  and  in- 
^'ariable  the  accompaniment  on  their  part  was  earnest  praver  on 
bended  knee. 

In  the  winter  of  1S65-66  an  aftectual  door  for  advancement  was 
opened,  and  to  the  inexpressible  satisfaction  of  these  watchmen 
on  the  walls  we  all  felt  that  the  word  had  come,  "•Go  forward." 

When  the  design  for  the  house  had  been  settled  upon  the  esti- 
mated cost  of  the  structure  exceeded  the  \alue  of  unincumbered 
property  which  was  in  the  possession  of  the  members  of  the 
church. 

The  contracts  were  let  for  the  various  parts  of  the  work  earlv 
in  the  season  of  1S66.  Fledges  of  aid  had  been  obtained  in  Ban- 
gor, Portland,  and  other  places.  While  the  work  of  construction 
went  on  from  week  to  week,  prayer  and  planning  about  ways  and 
means  went  on  in  that  closet  kitchen.  On  one  occasion,  as  I 
called  there,  Mrs.  Spaulding  said  to  me,  "We  will  get  all  the 
shingles  you  will  need  without  the  use  of  any  money."  They 
went  to  their  friends  in  the  Niles  neighborhood  and  vicinity,  and 
coaxed  and  urged  the  men  there  to  help  to  that  extent.  Such 
pleading  could  not  be  withstood,  and  right  in  the  month  of  June 
the  brethren  and  their  friends  went  into  the  swamps,  and  cut  and 
carried  out  on  their  shoulders  the  liolts  of  cedar  which  they  then 
made  into  the  shingles. 

By  such  eflbrts  the  roof  was  covered,  and  so  well  that  the  same 
shingles  are  doing  dutv  on  that  roof  to-day. 

The  Fourtli  of  July  l^rought  the  severest  test  <,f  faith  and  works 
whicli  was  met  with  in  that  year.  The  two  Portland  churclies 
had  subscribed  liberally  in  our  aid,  and  payments  from  them  were 
relied  upon  to  meet  the  mitlsunnner  bills  of  wages  and  supplies. 
The  great  tire  which  so  cruelly  ravaged  that  city,  on  that  day, 
destrovcd  the  possibility  of  a   single  dollar  reaching  us  from  the 


THE    MID-DAV     HEAT.  41 

P^irst  Church,  and  a  feeling  of  bhuik  dismay  settled  down  upon  all 
of  us  except  two. 

Utterly  at  my  wits  ends  to  devise  a  method  of  extrication  for  us, 
and  fearing  a  complete  stoppage  of  the  work,  I  went  almost  in- 
stinctively up  the  street  to  call  at  that  little  inner  room.  While  I 
could  well  know  there  was  not  money  in  any  amoimt,  there,  vet 
the  way  of  relief  would  he  devised  by  them  if  it  were  to  come  at 
all.  Bro.  Spaulding  and  his  wife  were  sitting  in  their  accustomed 
seats  when  I  entered  the  room,  and  they  told  me  they  had  btjen 
praying  for  the  needed  wisdom  to  guide  them  aright  in  this  crisis. 

After  we  had  talked  over  the  situation  in  all  its  bearings  they 
said  with  earnestness  and  with  the  most  complete  self-abnegation, 
"•  The  work  on  the  Meeting  House  must  not  stop.  We  will  mort- 
gage our  house,  and  give  you  the  monev  to  pay  the  men." 

It  seemed  best  to  let  the  brethren  in  Bangor  kncnv  what  they 
purposed  to  do,  and  they  sent  word  back  immediate}}  not  t<j  allow- 
that  home  to  be  mortgaged,  and  they  would  find  a  way  to  keep 
the  work  along. 

After  that  experience  it  was  a  needless  thing  to  question  the  ul- 
timate issue  of  the  undertaking.  As  the  work  neared  completion 
the  pressure  for  means  followed  hard  after  us.  We  had  enough 
to  go  on  with,  but  nothing  in  advance.  It  became  a  scricnis  ques- 
tion how  to  provide  for  the  purchase  of  the  pulpit  furniture.  But 
Mrs.  Spaulding  was  ready  for  the  emergency. 

•'\\'e  women  will  find  that  furniture,"  and  when  needed  the 
pieces  were  all  in  place  and  paid  for.  The  pulpit  Bible  was  a 
gift  from  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Spaulding. 

With  a  pulpit  prepared,  who  should  occupy  it,  was  a  question 
which  was  not  lost  sight  of.  Mr.  Spaulding  had  said,  ''  It  is  not 
m\  pl;;ce  and  I  shall  not  go  into  it."  His  was  the  place  of  the 
foreiunncr.  and  his  pra\er  was,  day  by  day,  "  Se-nd  us  a  man  of 
'1  hine  <iwn  choosing,  O  Lord."  The  prayer  was  answered  in  a 
manner  we  did  not  look  for.  Rev.  Chas.  G.  Porter  had  been  the 
l)el(>\ed  and  successful  ]xistor  of  the  Second  Baptist  Chufth  in 
Bangor  for  more  than  tweiitv  vears,  when  his  health  began  to  fail, 
and  it  seemed  to  all  appearance  that  his  days  of  active  labor  were 
al)out  over.  He  resigned  his  charge,  another  man  stepped  into 
that  place  and  it  was  very  uncertain  whether  he  would  take  up 
work  again.  The  Penobscot  Association  met  in  1866  at  Oldtown, 
where  Bro.  Porter   was  present,   and  entered  into  the  discussions, 


42  THE    MID-DAV    HEAT. 

and  learned  of  the  prospects  in  Houlton.  The  next  day,  I  met 
him  in  the  store  of  B.  F.  Bradbnry,  in  Bangor,  and  grasping  my 
hand  with  earnestness  he  said,  "Barnes,  when  you  get  that  Meet- 
ing House  ready,  I  am  coming  up  to  preach  the  dedication  sermon 
for  you." 

With  the  hour  came  the  man,  to  renew  his  health  in  a  measure, 
and  do  great  and  lasting  work  in  his  Master's  vineyard. 

In  the  last  days  of  January  1S67,  in  the  midst  of  drifting  snows, 
which  caused  the  stage  to  upset  twice  in  the  ride  of  the  first  day, 
Bro.  Porter  and  liis  wife  came  to  Houlton.  It  is  to  be  doubted  if, 
in  all  the  Baptist  ministry  of  the  State  at  that  time,  there  was 
another  man  so  yyell  fitted  for  the  yvork  before  him  as  Mr.  Porter 
was.  He  was  to  take  the  yvork  from  the  hands  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Spaukling,  with  care  that  there  should  be  no  backward  movement, 
to  l)uild  up  the  Houlton  interest,  and  to  strengthen  the  Denomina- 
tion in  the  County  at  large. 

The  last  significant  scene  now  transpireil  in  the  ck^set  kitchen 
of  the  vSpaulding  home. 

It  was  known  on  what  day  Bro.  Porter  expected  to  arrive  in 
Houlton,  antl  they  agreed  to  be  at  home  to  meet  him.  After  the 
arrival  of  the  stage,  and  the  travelers  had  got  warmed,  I  said  to 
iiim  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spaukling  were  anxious  to  see  him.  We 
soon  reached  the  house,  entered  the  door  without  stopping  to 
knock,  and  passed  through  the  long  passageway  to  the  kitchen 
into  yvhich  Bro.  Porter  stepped  first.  With  his  quick  nervous 
step,  and  with  a  genial  smile  upon  his  face,  he  passed  over  to 
where  Mr.  Spaukling  stood,  and  shook  his  hand  sa\  ing,  "  Bro. 
Spaukling,  I  am  glad  to  see  you  here."  "■  Bro.  Porter,  I  am 
tliankful  to  greet  you  here  in  my  home,"  was  the  response.  Then 
he  turned  and  saluted  Mrs.  Spaukling,  but  her  feelings  were  too 
deep  for  words.  The  tears  filled  her  eves  as  she  looked  upon  the 
man  before  her,  realized  how  much  had  been  accomplished,  and 
saw  in  IJro.  Poitcr,  the  Denomination  come  to  take  up  the  work 
to  which  their  lives  had  luen  devoted. 


/Iftertb^  w/ork. 


THE  SUNSET  HOUR. 


Bro.  Spaukling  was  laid  aside  from  the  sphere  of  active  life  for 
quite  a  number  of  3'ears  before  he  was  simimoned  to  his  reward. 
He  was  tenderly  cared  for  by  his  devoted  wife,  and  the  circle  of 
ministering  friends. 

On  Wednesday,  Sept.  rst,  iSSo,  the  end  came,  and  it  was  a 
peaceful  close  to  a  long  life.  On  Friday  following,  the  funeral 
services  were  held  at  his  house,  and  were  conducted  by  Rev. 
Isaiah  Record,*  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

On  the  following  Sunday  Evening,  to  a  large  audience  which 
tilled  the  Meeting  House  to  overflowing,  Bro.  Record  delivered 
the  memorial  discourse,  which  was  afterward  repeated  before  the 
Penobscot  Association,  at  Bangor,  then  printed  in  the  Advocate^ 
and  an  alxstract  is  also  found  in  the  Convention  Minutes  for  that 
year. 

Although  Bro.  Record  had  known  him,  personally,  only  four 
\  cars,  and  in  all  of  this  time  he  was  a  confirmed  invalid,  never- 
theless, owing  to  a  peculiar  identity  of  spiritual  endowment. 
Pastor  Record  hatl  fully  appreciated  the  work  and  self-sacrifice  of 
this  pioneer  who  had  preceeded  him;  and  his  discourse  was  filled 
with  most  tender  and  heartfelt  tributes  to  the  worth   of  the  Father 

I'he  text  chosen  was  Acts,  13  :  36,  ''  For  David,  after  he  had 
ser\  ed  his  own  generation  by  the  will  of  God,  fell  on  sleep." 

The  earlier  portion  of  the  discourse  was  a  statement  of  the  facts 
of    j\lr.     ^pauhling's    career,    as    found    in    the    autobiographical 

*Isai;ih  Record,  born  in  I. ivermore,  Androscoggin  County,  Me.,  1S35.  W.  C.  lS(i2.  Degree 
of  A.  M.,  ISTO.  Newton  Theolog.  Stmin:iry,  lJ^(i9.  Pastor,  Turner,  Me.,  186S)-7(>.  Houlton, 
ls,ti-N}.     Trustee  Houlton  Ac  ideniy,  1S7S-S3.     Died,  Houlton,  Me.,  March  U,  1883. 


46  THE    SUNSET    HOUR. 

sketch.      The  speaker  then  summed  up  in  the  followhig  forcible 
words  : 

'•'He  gathered  out  the  stones,  prepared  the  way  for  the  victor- 
ious coming  of  the  Lord,  strengthened  the  weak,  and  organized 
the  scattered  children  of  our  King  into  churches.  And  then  he 
nourished  these  churches  with  all  the  care  and  patience  which  the 
fondest  parents  exercise  toward  their  children." 

After  this  came  the  lessons  to  be  drawn  from  his  life,  and  as  we 
now  read  the  touching  and  graceful  words  of  the  preacher,  who 
so  soon  followed  his  subject  into  the  silent  land,  we  realize  that, 
all  unconsciously,  he  narrated  those  very  qualities  of  manliness, 
humility,  self-sacrifice,  consecration,  and  trust,  which  although 
displayed  under  the  changed  conditions  yet  make  the  name  and 
memor}'  of  Isaiah  Record  most  tenderly  cherishetl  by  the  people 
of  Houlton. 

'■'■  Now  what  was  it  that  enabled  Bro.  Spaulding  to  accomplish 
so  much?  First,  he  was  a  true  man.  No  one  ever  distrusted  him, 
or  had  cause  to  do  so.  He  was  just  what  he  professed  to  be,  a 
man  of  God,  walking  in  all  His  commandments  blamjljss.  D  )es 
any  one  think  this  is  a  small  matter,  or  one  so  common  as  not  to 
deserve  attention.?  Doubtless  there  are  many  good  men,  many 
godly.  But  there  are  not  so  many  as  we  could  wish  whose  good- 
ness and  piety  are  so  transparent  as  were  Bro.  Spaulding's.  Men 
of  all  beliefs,  and  no  beliefs,  took  it  for  granted  that  he  was  a  good 
and  pious  man  ;  that  he  was  worthy  of  their  confidence  and 
esteem.  He  was  able,  therefore,  to  work  with  ease  and  power 
that  could  not  have  been  possible  had  it  been  otherwise. 

He  often  felt  his  own  unworthiness  ver}'  deeply  in  the  sight  of 
God,  but  he  never  had  cause  to  doubt  that  he  was  trusted  and 
loved  by  his  brethren,  and  by  the  people  generally  w  ho  knew  him. 
His  correct  and  devout  life  gave  great  force  to  his  sernK.ns  and 
exhortations. 

It  is  also  true  that  few  men  have  devoted  themselves  more  en- 
tirely to  the  work  of  the  gospel.  He  was  not  al)le,  situated  as  he 
was,  to  spend  st)  nnich  lalior  on  pulpit  preparations  as  he  desired. 
But  still  his  work  was  always  connected,  in  some  way,  with  the 
furtherance  of  the  gospel. 

He  gave  but  little  time  or  thouglit  to  secular  enployments.      He 


THE    SUNSET    HOUR.  47 

was  too  much  filled  and  possessed  by  the  theme,  Jesus  Christ  and 
Him  crucified,  ever  to  be  turned  aside  from  his  life's  work.  I  do 
not  mean  by  this  that  Bro.  Spaulding  was  only  anxious  for  the 
conversion  of  men,  or  that  he  considered  it  his  only  mission  to 
gather  them  into  churches.  Perhaps  there  are  very  few  preachers 
who  are  wiser  than  he  was  in  building  men  up  in  righteousness. 

Again  few  men  ever  denied  themselves  more  for  Christ's  sake 
than  he  did.  If  he  had  followed  his  natural  taste  he  would  have 
sought  a  field  of  labor  where  he  would  have  time  for  reading  and 
studv  instead  of  coming  into  a  new  country,  and  engaging  in 
pioneer  work. 

He  \o\cd  l)o()ks  and  accumulated  a  large  library,  hoping  some 
time,  perhaps  in  the  debilitv  of  old  age,  to  have  time  to  learn 
\y\rdt  it  contained.  But  his  employment  afforded  him  little  leisure 
for  reading.  lie  could  <Mily  snatch  an  occasional  hour  from  his 
acti\'e  duties  for  reading.  But  he  submitted  cheerfullv  to  such 
pri\ations  in  order  that  he  might  do  his  Master's  work. 

He  ne\er  allowed  personal  considerations  to  stand  In  the  way 
of  usefulness.  This  would  be  verv  apparent  to  all,  if  we  knew 
how  little  nionev  he  received  during  the  period  of  his  active 
labors,  and  how  much  he  gave  away.  Our  brother  stated,  in  a 
letter  to  the  Penobscot  Association,  after  he  had  been  here  twenty- 
one  \ears,  that  he  had  put  in  circulation  $2800  worth  of  religious 
reading.  Of  course  not  all  this  amount  came  out  of  his  own 
pocket.  Some  of  the  books  were  paid  for  bv  those  who  received 
them.  But  many  of  them  he  furnished  gratis.  The  Missionary 
Board  gave  him  a  stipulated  sum  of  money  each  year.  But  be- 
vond  this  his  support  was  fragmentary  and  precarious.  Some  of  it 
he  received  in  produce,  and  a  little  he  received  in  money  from 
those  w  ho  were  able  to  paw  He  was  compelled  to  practice  the 
strictest  econonu  in  order  to  meet  the  expenses  of  his  family,  yet 
he  al\\a\s  found  something  to  give  to  the  need}-,  and  to  all  our 
benevolent  organizations.  He  frequently  took  from  his  own  house 
a  portion  of  what  he  hatl  laid  by  for  his  family  and  carried  it 
away  to  those  whom  he  thought  needed  it  more.  He  could  not 
look  upon  the  hungry  and  distressed  without  doing  what  he  could 
for  their  lelief,    no  matter  how  great  the  sacrifice  to  himself. 

Again  his  trust  In  God  was  full  and  entire.  However  dark  the 
wa\  appeared  he  ne^■er  seemed  to  doubt  for  a  moment  the  ultimate 


48  THE    SUNSET    HOUR. 

success  of  the  gospel.  He  fully  believed  that  it  was  the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation. 

He  labored  as  a  pioneer,  when  there  were  few  to  help  him,  and 
little  that  could  be  seen  afibrding  hope  save  to  the  eye  of  faith. 
And  his  faith  resulted  in  victory. 

When  he  came  to  this  county  the  only  Baptist  Church  was  in 
Hodgdon.  But  before  he  was  laid  aside  by  infirmities,  he  assisted 
in  organizing  churches  in  Linneus,  in  Houlton,  in  Amity  and 
Gary,  in  Smyrna,  in  Ludlow,  in  Orient,  and  in  New  Limerick. 
His  labors  and  prayers  have  materially  aided  in  whatever  has  been 
accomplished  by  Baptists  in  this  whole  region. 

There  was  a  strong,  yet  tcntlcr.  tie  of  sympathy  which  drew 
him  toward  others  and  drew  others  toward  him.  Men  felt  the 
power  of  his  generous  and  loving  heart  which  always  beat  so  true 
toward  them,  and  hence  they  heeded  his  \\ords  and  advice. 

It  should  be  added  that  he  had  an  abounding  charity.  He  saw 
the  good  side  of  every  person  he  met  instead  of  the  bad.  If  he 
saw  anything  that  was  not  right  in  others  it  never  seemed  to  im- 
press itself  on  his  mind.  Only  the  good  traits  remained  in  his 
memory.  It  may  also  be  truly  said  that  he  never  harbored  a  feel- 
ing of  jealousy  toward  any  of  his  brethren.  Indeed,  I  doubt, 
whether  such  a  feeling  ever  entered  his  heart. 

Another  trait  in  his  character,  closely  connected  with  that  which 
has  just  been  mentioned  was  his  appreciation  of  benefits  received. 
He  and  his  wife  ha\e  always  felt  just  as  grateful  for  every  favor 
receixed  as  if  tlie\  had  ne\  er  done  anything  for  their  fellow 
creatures.  Thex  liave  never  for  a  moment  thought  that  the  world 
owed  them  a  li\  ing,  and  hence  was  under  ol)ligation  to  su]Dport 
tliem. 

Brother  .Spaukling  bore  the  heavy  cross  laid  upon  him,  in  his 
last  \e;irs,  without  murmuring  and  with  true  Gin-istian  resignation. 
At  times,  too,  joy  tilleil  his  heart,  and  light  from  the  New  Jerusa- 
lem shone  upon  him.  And  at  last  lie  fell  peacefully  asleep  in 
Jesus. 

He  served  his  generation,  antl  he  has  he;,rd  the  welcome  plaudit 
from    the    lips    oi    the    Master,     A\  ell    tioiK,    good    and   faithlul 


bscot  Association  met   with    the   First    I'aptist  Ghurch 
)n  the   Tuesday   following   the   death   of  Iho.  Spauld-  ' 


THE    SUNSET    HOUR- 


49 


ing,  and  yielding  to  the  urgent  wishes  of  her  friends,  Mrs. 
Spauldiiig  went  once  anore,  and  for  the  last  time,  to  the  meetings, 
of  which,  for  so  many  years,  she  and  her  husband  had  been  a  large 
part.  The  Minutes  of  that  year  contain  touching  allusions  to  the 
presence  of  this  aged  servant  of  God.  Rev.  F.  T.  Hazlewood 
offered  the  following:  "Whereas,  God  in  His  love  has  removed 
from  our  care  our  beloved  Bro.  Spaulding,  and  in  place  of  the 
annual  letter  from  him  and  his  devoted  wife  has  given  us  the 
presence  of  the  widowed  companion  ;  therefore  this  Association 
by  rising  vote  does  now  express  its  sense  of  loss  in  the  death  of 
our  Brother,  and  its  delight  still  to  reverence  and  care  for  the  liv- 
ing." Mrs.  Spaulding  briefly  responded,  expressing  her  gratitude 
for  the  respect  and  esteem  manifested  for  her  husband  and  herself, 
indicated  by  the  vote  just  passed,  and  also  for  the  kind  personal 
attention  and  sympathy  received  from  the  brothers  and  sisters  dur- 
ing the  session.  The  final  line  of  the  record  is,  "the  presence  of 
Sister  Spaulding,  so  recently  bereaved,  added  much  to  the  interest 
of  the  occasion." 

After  her  return  she  continued  to  live  in  the  old  home 
with  her  daughter,  and  in  the  enjovment  of  a  fair  degree  of  health 
was  able  to  attend  the  .Sunday  services  until  almost  the  time  of 
her  last  sickness. 

HouLTON,  June  30,  1S81. 
Dear  Bro.  Giddings  : 

Your  kind  letter  with  your  picture  was  very  welcome  and 
acceptable,  and  you  will  please  accept  my  warmest  thanks.  It  is 
very  pleasing  and  gratifying  to  be  so  long  and  so  kindly  remem- 
bered by  one  who,  in  his  boyhood,  was  a  loved  pupil  in  my 
school,  and  I  can  truly  say  that  your  friendship  and  beneficence 
have  been  like  an  unfiling  spring  to  me  in  all  these  years  that  I 
have  livetl  in  Aroostook  County.      *      *      * 

I  should  have  made  a  longer  visit  in  Bangor  but  my  physical 
strength  was  failing  me  so  much  tliat  I  thought  it  best  to  come 
home  while  I  could,  and  I  have  now  got  nicely  restetl  and  am 
feeling  that  my  journey  was  a  l^^nefit  to  my  health  after  all.  lam 
now  enjoying,  in  retrospect,  the  very  interesting  visits  with  my 
friends  wherever  I  went. 

Our  Church  iierc  are  looking  forward  with  great  interest  to  our 
Association    and    hope    to    see    a    large    delegation    from   all    the 


50  THE    SUNSET    HOUR. 

churches.  I  trust  we  shall  all  be  praying  that  the  Lord  will  meet 
with  us  of  a  truth  and  pour  us  out  a  blessing  so  that  we  shall  re- 
ceive a  spiritual  refreshing  from  His  presence,  and  be  prepared 
and  strengthened  for  more  earnest  self-sacrificing  work  in  His 
vineyard. 

Hoping  at  that  time  to  see  you  and  Mrs.   Giddings,  and  a  good 
many  more  of  our  Bangor  friends,   I  am,  with  kindest  regards, 
Yours  very  sincerely, 

J.  SPAULDING. 

HouLTON,  April  29,  1SS3. 
My  Dear  Nieces  : 

Since  your  dear  Mother  died  I  have  been  waiting  to  feel  well 
enough  to  write  you  a  letter,  not  to  mourn  with  you,  for  I  can 
truly  say  I  feel  more  like  rejoicing  that  she  lias  been  called,  after 
her  long  and  eventful  life  here  below,  to  enter  upon  that  eternal 
life  of  joy  and  blessedness  which  Jesus  promised  to  His  believing 
followers,  and  O,  how  sweet  must  be  her  rest  in  the  presence  cf 
the  dear  Saviour,  where  sin  and  sorrow  can  no  more  molest  or 
make  her  afraid  !  She  was  called  to  pass  through  many  afflictions 
here  which  sometimes  seemed  heavier  than  she  could  bear,  but 
how  different  they  will  look  to  her  now.  When  they  come  to 
her  memory,  she  will  feel  that  they  were  ''light  afflictions"  and 
were  blessings  to  bring  her  nearer  to  Jesus  and  His  love. 

My  health  has  been  so  poor  the  past  winter  that  I  have  often 
thought  I  should  be  the  first  one  of  us  four  sisters  to  leave  the 
scenes  of  earth  ;  but  for  some  wise  purpose  God  is  sparing  my 
poor  life  a  little  longer,  and  O,  that  the  remnant  of  my  days 
may  be  spent  to  His  honor  and  glory  !  My  health  now  is  much 
better,  but  still  I  am  so  weak  that  every  little  efibrt  tires  me. 
This  has  been  a  beautiful  day,  and  I  had  the  privilege  of  going  to 
church,  this  forenoon,  by  leaning  on  Jimmie's  arm  as  I  cannot 
walk  verv  straight  alone.  A  Presbyterian  minister  preached  for 
us  to-dav,  but  not  being  used  to  his  voice,  and  being  so  hard  of 
hearing,  I  did  not  untlerstand  much  of  the  sermon.  We  sadly 
miss  our  dear  good  minister,  luit  we  hope  and  pray  that  God  may 
not  leave  us,  but  in  His  good  time  send  us  one  ai'tcr  His  oyvn  heart 
to  break  unto  us  the  bread  of  life. 

Monday^  A.  M.  Having  my  morning's  work  done  up  and  my 
pen  in  liand  I  thought    to    write    a    little    more,    but   I  have  some 


THE    SUNSET    HOUR.  51 

business  to  attend  to,  that  must  not  be  put  oft",  in  regard  to  my 
good  paper  the  Zio7i's  Advocate  which  will  take  the  rest  of  the 
day.  I  shall  have  to  say  good  by  for  this  time,  with  ever  so  much 
love  from  us  all  to  each  of  you,  and  to  any  good  friends  who  may 
inquire  for  us. 

Your  loving  Aunt, 

J.  SPAULDING. 

HouLTON,  Jan.  i,  1SS4. 
My  Dear  Mrs.  Giddings  : 

Your  kind  letter  with  the  generous  present  enclosed  was  most 
gratefully  received  by  me  last  night,  and  will  you  and  each  of  the 
kind  donors  please  accept  my  earnest  thanks  for  the  same,  and  also 
for  the  good  wishes  expressed.  May  God  abundantly  bless  and 
reward  !  Truly  the  Lord's  mercies  to  me  are  wonderful,  and  in 
view  of  my  great  unworthiness  to  receive  them  mv  spirit  is  hum- 
bled within  me.  Bless  the  Lord,  Oh,  mv  soul  and  forget  not  all 
his  benefits  ! 

I  congratulate  you  and  your  husband  on  the  addition  of  two 
beautiful  grandchildren  to  your  number  of  dear  ones ;  but  above 
all  for  the  conversion  of  your  precious  younger  daughter.  May 
she  prove  to  be  a  shining  light  to  all  around  her,  living  daily  to 
the  honor  and  glory  of  God  and  doing  good. 

I  ha\  e  no  doubt  but  that  our  church  and  societv  had  the  svm- 
pathy  antl  prayers  of  all  the  churches  in  our  Association  in  our 
great  sorrow  at  tlie  loss  to  us  of  oin^  good  Pastor  Record.      *      *      * 

It  is  growing  dark  and  I  must  close  with  much  love  and  manv 
good  wishes  for  your  dear  family,  the  church,  and  the  Sabliath 
school  of  which  vou  are  all  mcml)ers;  and  may  God  bless  von  all 
is  the  earnest  pra\er  of  vour  sister  in  Christ, 

JERUSHA  SPAULDING. 

The  above  letter  was  nearly  the  last  one  which  Mrs.  Spaulding 
ever  wrote,  lor  in  April  following  her  strength  entirelv  lailed,  and 
after  a  short  periotl  of  sickness,  on  May  3,  1SS4,  she  passed  on  to 
her  reward. 

No  more  fitting  eulogy  on  tlie  blended  lives  of  these  dear  persons 
could  be  given  tiian  is  contained  in  the  following  reminiscences  of 
two  of  their  -children  in  the  Lord,"  Miss  Hattie  T.  Mayo  of 
Hodgdon,  antl  Mrs.  Jennv  K.  Seamans  of  Carv. 


52  THE    SUNSET    HOUR. 

Miss  Mayo  writes  : 

I  remember  many  times  in  my  childhood  when  we  had  the 
pleasure  of  having  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spaulding  in  our  home,  a  pleas- 
ure that  was  anticipated  for  hours  before  they  came. 

Saturday  morning,  my  brothers  would  say,  "  We  will  watch  for 
their  team,  and  invite  them  to  stay  to  dinner,"  a  proposal  to  which 
all  the  family  were  agreed,  and  if  some  parts  of  the  Saturday's 
work  which  fell  to  my  hands  were  a  little  irksome  the  task  was 
suddenly  lightened  when  my  Mother  said,  "Mrs.  Spaulding  would 
like  to  see  the  work  nicely  done":  that  was  sure  to  have  the 
desired  effect. 

When  they  came  they  always  seemed  glad  to  see  every  member 
of  the  family,  no  one  being  overlooked  in  their  kindly  greeting. 

Mrs.  Spaulding  always  noticed  what  we  were  doing  and  would 
say  to  my  sisters,  "Well  I  should  enjoy  that  work,"  or,  "I  should 
like  to  read"  such  a  book  referring  to  something  they  bad  been 
I'eading. 

In  speaking  of  others,  she  invariably  referred  to  their  virtues 
and  seemed  quite  unconscious  of  their  faults.  "I  always  loved 
them"  often  fell  from  her  lips  and  "thinketh  no  evil"  is  in  my 
mind  closely  connected  with  her  memory. 

I  cannot  remember  that  Mrs.  vSpaulding  ever  spoke  to  me  per- 
sonally on  the  subject  of  religion,  but  her  life  spoke  cnusta)itly 
for  Christ,  and  in  no  wav  was  it  more  manifest  to  me  than  in  her 
loving  thoughtfulness  and  interest  in  all  classes  of  people. 

Once  a  year  Mr.  Spaulding  brought  to  us  "The  Baptist  Alma- 
nac," which  was  to  me  a  library  in  itself:  there  1  hrst  read  of 
Judson  and  Bunyan  and  other  noted  men. 

I  have  in  my  possession  a  book  entitled  "Ihe  Lighted  Way  "given 
to  me  when  a  child  by  Mr.  Spaulding.  I  appreciated  Jthe  pretty 
red  cover  before  I  opened  it,  then  was  pleased  with  it  because  of 
the  giver,  and  afterward  learned  to  prize  it  because  of  its  lessons. 

Mrs.  Seamans  writes  : 

I  well  remenber  how  pleased  vvc  used  to  be  when  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Spaulding  came  to  this  neighborho(Kl,  once  in  four  weeks,  during 
the  first  years  that  we  lived  in  the  place.  Iheir  coming  was  like 
"sunshine  in  a  dark  place"  to  us.  Ihcir  manner  of  living  their 
religion  was  such  that  children  liad  no  fear  of  them,  but  looked 
upf)n  their  visits  as  the  greatest  possible  cause  for  enjoyment. 


THE    SUNSET    HOUR.  53 

They  were  watchful  lor  opportunities  to  do  good,  in  speaking  a 
word  to  a  child,  by  reading  some  interesting  story,  or  relating 
some  incident  of  interest  or  profit. 

Mrs.  Spaulding  knew  just  how  to  adapt  herself  to  any  circum- 
stance in  which  she  might  be  placed,  and  make  it  a  chance  to  do 
good.  She  would  visit  the  poorest  homes  and  by  her  pleasant 
manner  make  herself  so  welcome  that  those  whom  she  visited 
would  feel  at  ease  and  could  thoroughly  enjoy  her  visit. 

Her  memory  remains  a  constant  benediction.  How  well  I  re- 
call when,  as  I  returned  to  my  desolate  home  after  the  burial  of 
my  husband  she  took  me  in  her  arms  and  whispered  to  me,  "Jenny, 
you  must  lean  hard  upon  Jesus."  How  those  words  comforted 
and  helped  me  !  She  did  not  tell  me  it  was  wrong  to  mourn  and 
that  I  must  become  reconciled  to  the  will  of  God.  She  knew  I 
was  not  unreconciled,  even  though  I  mourned,  and  she  knew  just 
what  was  the  needed  word  of  comfort. 

Dear  precious  saint !  my  eyes  fill  with  tears  as  I  write  of  her  ! 
Eternity  alone  will  reveal  the  good  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spaulding 
did  in  their  lives.  Their  labors  in  the  cause  of  Christ  were  self- 
tie  nying  and  faithful.  The  watch  care  they  exercised  over  these 
little  churches,  was  vigilant  and  unremitting.  They  cherished 
them  as  their  own  children,  and  loved  them  unto  death. 

In  the  long  years  of  pain  and  helplessness  through  which  Mr. 
Spaulding  was  called  to  pass,  how  faithful  and  constant  was  the 
care  which  Mrs.  Spaulding  gave  to  him,  never  seeming  to  think  of 
herself,   if  she  could  only  be  spared  to  minister  to  him  ! 

I  never  shall  forget  how  deeply  impressed  I  was  with  the  exhi- 
bition of  the  love  which  everybody  felt  toward  her,  as  I  tarried 
in  her  home  din-ing  the  days  between  her  death  and  burial. 

So  many  came  to  the  house  to  look  at  her  as  she  lay  in  her  last 
sleep.  Little  children  rapped  at  the  door,  and  when  I  opened  it, 
would  say,  ''We  want  to  see  Mrs.  Spaulding."  Colored  people 
whom  she  had  befriended,  poor  people  whom  she  had  helped, 
came  and  looked  at  her  with  tears  in  their  eyes.  More  than  one 
exclaimed  "  She  was  alwavs  so  good  to  me."