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929.2 
H9?lh 

V.I 

llv?1884 


m.  1^ 


GENEALOGY  COLLECTICW 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  01333  6471 


JOHN    WALLACE   HUTCHINSON 


STORY 


OF 


THE  HUTCHINSONS 

(  TRIIU:  OF  JESSE) 
BY 

JOHN    WALLACE    HUTCHINSON 


Compiled  and  Edited  by 
CHARLES     E.    MANN 

U'if/i  (III  Introduction  bv 
FREDERICK    DOUGLASS 


VOLUME    I 


BOSTON 
LEE   AND    SHEPARD,   PUBLISHERS 

No.    lO    MrLK    Sl-REET 

1896 


CopvRir.HT,   1S96,  nv  Lfe  and  ShkpaRD 

All  ri^/iis  reserved 


Story  of  the   HuTrniNSfms 


TVPOGRAPHY     AND     PRESSWORK 

BY    S.    J.    PARKHILL   Jl    CO. 

BOSTON 


1131884 

PREFACE. 


At  the  request  of  the  famous  singer  wliose  autobioiirapliy  is 
contained  within  the  leaves  of  this  volume,  the  far  from  diffi- 
cult task  of  writing  the  preface  devolves  upon  me.  The  book 
is  the  result  of  our  joint  labors  for  many  pleasant  months. 
No  apology  is  needed  for  its  appearance.  For  nearly  two  dec- 
ades the  friends  of  reform  and  lovers  of  music  of  two  conti- 
nents—  in  the  great  centres  of  the  British  Isles,  the  leading 
cities  and  towns  of  the  North  and  West,  in  the  villages  of 
New  England,  the  hamlets  of  the  West  and  Northwest,  the 
cabins  of  emancipated  blacks  in  the  South  —  from  the  Atlan- 
tic to  the  Pacific  —  have  been  begging  for  the  memorial  narra- 
tive of  the  Hutchinsons. 

For  obvious  reasons  it  has  been  deemed  best  that  IJrother 
John  should  tell  his  own  story,  and  usually  in  liis  own  way. 
To  him  it  was  given,  more  than  any  other  member  of  the 
famous  family,  to  be  a  participant  in,  or  an  eye-witness  of,  the 
scenes  which  have  become  indissolubly  connected  with  the 
family  name.  The  other  tribes,  after  the  "  swarming,"  did 
good  service  in  the  concert-field,  and  never  faltered  in  tlie 
work  of  upholding  reform,  but  it  was  the  "  Tribe  of  John  " 
that  sang  in  the  camps  ;  that  preached  woman  suffrage  in  the 
wonderful  campaigns  in  Kansas  and  elsewhere  ;  that  talked 
and  sung  temperance  in  conventions  in  the  North,  South  and 
West;    and  John,  as   the  last  of    the   "Tribe  of  Jesse,"  has 


IV  PREFACE, 

stood  by  the  biers  of  nearl}'  all  the  eminent  reformers  with 
whom  the  famil}^  has  been  associated,  and  sung  his  requiem 
over  tlie  graves  of  all  the  members  of  his  gifted  family.  On 
taking  up  the  work  with  him  I  found  the  manuscript  of  the 
first  two  chapters  and  of  the  two  foreign  chapters  written,  and 
only  needing  editorial  revision.  We  immediately  began  the 
work  of  reading  diaries  and  correspondence  and  jnitting  in 
narrative  form  the  stories  as  told  there.  Our  plan  has  been  to 
read  the  diary  as  the  record  ajipears  from  day  to  day,  A  sin- 
gle sentence  has  often  been  all  necessary  to  produce  a  flow  of 
eloquent  reminiscence  from  the  historian,  which,  taken  down 
from  his  lips,  has  resulted  in  pages  of  manuscript  in  the  exact 
language,  emphasized  by  the  sensitiveness  to  odd  situations, 
the  irrepressible  Yankee  wit,  or  the  2)athetic  sorrow  of  the  last 
survivor  of  the  Ilutchinsons.  Page  after  page  has  poured 
from  his  lips,  while  his  eyes  danced  with  that  characteristic 
brightness  and  his  mobile  face  glowed  with  that  expression 
which  has  made  him  irresistibly  attractive  to  his  audiences  for 
nearly  six  decades.  Other  jiages  have  been  dictated  while 
tears  of  mingled  grief  and  joy  and  hope  coursed  down  the  fur- 
rows of  that  grand  old  face.  In  telling  tlie  story  of  later 
years,  the  diaries  of  the  lamented  Henry  have  been  of  great 
assistance  in  furnishing  additional  details.  The  files  of  the 
Liberator  have  been  freely  consulted.  As  a  general  practice, 
wherever  outside  authorities  have  been  used,  credit  is  given. 

Brother  John's  life-story  is  told ;  the  desire  of  years  is  ful- 
filled in  this  book.  May  the  reader  find  it  not  wholly  uninter- 
esting, nor  without  historic  value, 

CHARLES   E.   MANN. 


CONTENTS    OF   VOL.   T. 


Page 
INTRODUCTION xv 

CHAPTER  I.  — The  Tribe  of  Jesse *.       1 

Bernard  Hutcliinson  —  Genealogy  of  the  Hutchinson  Fiiniily 
in  America  —  Mary  Leavitt,  mother  of  theHutchinsons  —  "  Old 
Grandfather,"  the  Revolutionary  patriot — Tlie  sixteen  l>roth- 
ers  and  sisters  —  A  musical  mother  —  Milford,  the  home  of  the 
Hutchinsons — Early  days  in  the  old  town  —  A  suscei)tible 
schoolboy  and  his  adored  teacher  —  Match-making  and  hop- 
picking —  A  family  of  farmers  —  Coming  up  from  the  fields  — 
The  Milford  brass  band  —  Playing  in  the  "Tippecanoe  and 
Tyler  too"  campaign  —  Daniel  Webster  as  a  campaign  ora- 
tor—  The  drink  habit  in  Milford  —  Tiie  first  families. 

CHAPTER  n.  — Beginnings  OF  Song,  1839-1842  .         .  .35 

A  boy's  prophetic  dreams  —  The  Hutchinson  Family's  first 
concert,  in  1839  —  John  and  Asa  start  for  Lynn  —  First  con- 
cert in  Massachusetts  —  Dr.  Lowell  Mason  advises  —  Professor 
Webb's  opinion  —  John  as  a  bar-tender  —  Bids  good-by  to  the 
rum-traffic  —  Selling  stoves  and  groceries  —  An  embryo  express 
line —  Singing  in  the  Washingtonian  campaign  —  On  the  mus- 
ter field  —  John  afflicted  with  divers  diseases  —  A  week's  con- 
certs ;  profits,  one  dime  —  Better  luck  —  Back  to  the  farm  —  A 
community — Song  and  sentimentality — A  long  tour  —  The 
old  "John"  horse  and  carryall  —  A  dangerous  equine  ban- 
quet—  N.  P.  Rogers's  tribute —  In  Vermont  — New  York  turns 
a  deaf  ear — Saratoga  unsympatlietic  —  ^V  friend  in  need  in 
Albany  —  Success  at  last — A  move  upon  Boston  —  Anxious 
days  —  Abby  cannot  leave  mother  —  ^^.nother  start  —  Judson 
has  a  love-fit  —  A  dissolution. 

CHAPTER  IIL  — Singing  FOR  Freedom,  1842-1845      ...     70 
Frederick   Douglass,  the  fugitive  slave — (ieorge    Latimer  — 
Slave-hunting  in    Massachusetts — The    Hutchinsons    esjiouse 


VI  CONTEXTS    OF    VOL.    I. 

Page 
Abolition  —  Marriage  of  Jolin  —  The  great  disunion  conven- 
tion—  Faneuil  Hall  rings  with  cheers  for  the  brothers  —  Play- 
ing ball  with  James  Kussell  Lowell  —  The  Brook  Farm  experi- 
ment—  Colonel  Higginson  and  George  P.  Bradford  on  the 
Hutchinsons  —  Visit  to  Brook  Farm  —  In  New  York,  singing 
for  temperance  —  Introduced  by  Lyman  Beecher —  Dr.  Beach 
and  "Calomel"  —  Garrison  and  Jackson  visit  the  Milford  com- 
munity —  The  "  Tyler  Grip  "  —  Asa  loses  his  heart  —  Longfel- 
low and  "Excelsior" — Morris  and  Willis  and  the  Hutchin- 
sons —  Isaac  T.  Hopper  —  Rev.  Dr.  Cox  and  Abolition  — 
Henry  Ward  Beecher,  the  Hutchinsons'  true  friend  —  At 
PJiiladelphia  —  "Home,  Sweet  Home,"  on  a  sliding  scale  — 
Charles  C.  Burleigh  —  Mrs.  Burleigh's  "Gobble"  —  At  Balti- 
more—  Hope  Slatter  Prison — Disgust  with  "The  peculiar 
institution  "  —  No  boarding-house  for  Abolitionists  —  At  Wash- 
ington—  John  P.  Hale  and  the  vocalists  —  Levi  AVoodbury 
])a3's  his  respects  —  Meeting  with  Webster  —  Joshua  R.  Gid- 
dings  —  Taking  tea  with  President  Tyler  —  Webster  argues 
the  Girard  case  —  Back  to  Pliiladelphia  —  The  Second  Advent 
excitement  —  Father  Miller  bids  his  hearers  good-by  —  People 
with  axes  to  grind  —  A  big  New  York  concert  nets  a  half- 
bushel  of  money — Henry  C.  Bowen  as  a  manager  —  Rev. 
John  Pieri)ont,  a  family  friend  —  Pro-slavery  papers  attack 
the  Hutchinsons  —  At  tlie  Florence  Community  —  "  Get  off  the 
Track" — A  great  anti-slavery  picnic  —  Among  the  White 
Hills  —  Hannah  F.  Gould  —  Pleasant  times  with  Gough  —  Mob 
at  the  Portland  convention  —  Judson's  premonitions — Henry 
born  —  Death  of  Benjamin,  and  Isaac,  Rhoda's  husband  — 
Community  idea  abandoned  —  A  mob  at  a  New  York  concert — 
Lydia  Maria  Child  —The  Garrison-Rogers  controversy  —  Jesse 
buys  High  Rock. 

CHAPTER  IV.  — In  England,  1845-184(3 142 

The  start  with  Douglass  and  Buffum  —  Life  on  the  Cambria  — 
Slaveholders  seek  to  mob  Douglass  —  Captain  Judkins  calls 
for  the  irons  —  Land  at  last  —  De'but  in  Liverpool  —  Singing 
in  Dublin  witli  Douglass  —  Daniel  O'Connell  —  Father  Matthew 
speaks  on  temperance — Henry  Russell  makes  an  overture  — 
Rebecca  Moore,  the  friend  of  reform  —  At  Richard  Webb's, 
in  Dublin  ;  first  singing  of  the  "  Bridge  of  Sighs  "  —  George 
Thompson — His  introduction  of  tlie  quartet  —  Triumphs 
in  ^Manchester —  George  Dawson  —  London  —  An  evening  with 
Charlotte  Cuslunan  and  Eliza  Cook  —  An  evening  at  Charles 
Dickens's  with  Macready,  Douglas  Jerrold  and  Hon.  Mrs.  Nor- 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.    I.  vii 

Page 
ton — A  concert — Adverse  criticism  from  the  papers  —  Witli 
William  and  Mary  Howitt  —  Wellington's  speech  in  the  House 
of  Lords  —  Wheeling  gold  in  tlie  Bank  of  England  —  Mary 
Howitt  writes  the  family  history  —  "Band  of  Young  Apos- 
tles"—  Tea  witli  the  Duchess  of  Sutherland — At  Birming- 
liam  —  Guest  of  John  Bright  —  Kichard  Cobden  —  Visits  to 
■  Windsor  and  Kenilworth  —  Singing  the  "Bridge  of  Sighs  "  to 
Mrs.  Thomas  Hood. 

CHAPTER  v.  — In  Scotland,  1846 199 

Through  the  highlands  of  England  —  Visit  to  Harriet  Marti- 
neau  at  Ambleside  —  A  Scottish  picnic  —  A  concert  on  a  lawn  — 
Miss  Martineau's  story  of  the  visit  —  At  the  grave  of  Burns  — 
"  Scotch  Grab  "  —  A  snuffy  Scotch  kirk  — "  He  that  is  filthy  let 
him  be  filthy  still  " —  Concert  at  Glasgow  —  In  the  land  of  Rob 
Roy  —  Sailing  over  Loch  Lomond  —  At  Edinburgh  —  In  the 
Tower — Return  to  Liveri^ool  —  Farewell  to  English  friends  — 
The  voyage  home  —  Grandfather  Leavitt  dies — His  love  for 
the  quartet — Kisses  their  picture  and  prays  for  their  return 
from  over  the  sea  —  Jesse's  song,  "  Old  Grandfather"  —  The 
Leavitt  family. 

CHAPTER  VI.  —  A  Good  Time  Coming,  1846-1848  .  .  .221 
Dining  at  a  hotel  with  Douglass  —  (_)ther  guests  will  not  "  eat 
with  a  nigger  "  —  The  landlord  as  a  dentist  —  Brother  Jesse's 
celebrated  crow  —  At  New  York  — Pro-slavery  Philadelphia  — 
Robert  Purvis  —  A  dough-face  mayor  —  Colored  persons  must 
not  hear  music  — Concerts  given  up  —  "  We  can  earn  our  bread 
by  farming"  —  Lucretia  Mott's  tribute  —  Hard  work  at  rehear- 
sals—  Providence  halls  sliould  be  twice  as  big  —  Introducing 
rubber  foot-balls  at  Yale  —  Gough  again  —  "  Zephy's  "  dyspep- 
sia —  Viola  born  —  Seranaded  by  James  Fisk,  Jr.  —  Singing  to 
Henry  Clay  —  Clay  would  l)e  a  teetotaller  —  John  Quincy 
Adams'  funeral  —  Judsou  "  sadly  taken  in  !  "  —  Visiting  Presi- 
dent Polk —  77  slaves  escape  —  A  tempest  in  a  teapot  —  The 
"  Hutcliinsons'  repentance  "  —  AVendell  Phillips  and  the  Family 
— At  High  Rock  —  Going  West  —  John  Van  Buren  —  Chats  with 
Fillmore  —  An  Indian  funeral  —  At  Niagara  Falls  —  Free  Soil 
singing  —  In  Cincinnati  —  Abby  married  —  A  California  ven- 
ture —  John  sings  "  on  his  own  hook  "  —  Rejoined  by  the  broth- 
ers and  Abby  —  A  picturesque  serenade  —  Singing  for  Beecher 
—  "The  Good  Old  Days  of  Yore"  —  Judson's  "Standing  Col- 
lar"—  The  Rynders  mob — "Psalm-singing"  bad  for  riots  — 


Viil  CONTENTS    OF    VOL.    I. 

Pleasant  days  with  Greeley — The  "North  American  Pha- 
lanx"—  The  Hiitchinsons  as  sewing-machine  agents  —  Blue- 
fishing  —  Judson  as  a  seer  —  Pierpont  at  Milford  —  Singing  to 
Jenny  Lind  —  "  Wax  "Work  "  —  Mishaps  to  Asa's  viol. 

CHAPTER  VII.  — Lights  axd  Shadows,  1848-18.54  .  .  .271 
Among  the  spirits  —  The  Hutchinsons  and  Spiritualism  —  Jesse 
and  Dungeon  Rock  — John's  faith  in  the  future  life —  At  Roch- 
ester —  Good  and  bad  spirits  —  Judson's  excitement  —  Days  of 
watching  over  him  —  Sorrow  in  Syracuse  —  Concerts  imi^ossi- 
ble  —  Back  to  Milford  —  Recovery  of  Judson  —  George  Thomp- 
son mobbed  at  Faneuil  Hall  —  John  in  Concord  —  "Squire" 
Whipple  objects  to  Abolition  songs  —  "The  Bigot  Fire" — Jud- 
son's whimsicality  —  Hannah  F.  Gould  as  an  almoner  —  Death 
of  the  father  of  the  Hutchinsons  —  Tributes  to  "  Uncle  Jesse  " — 
A  humble  Christian  —  Singing  again  —  Judson  thinks  the 
tickets  too  high  —  Dividends  reduced  from  two  hundred  dol- 
lars to  one  dollar  each  —  At  seances  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greeley 
—  "Blows"  from  the  papers — Prof.  0.  S.  Fowler  —  At  St. 
Louis  —  Hall  refused  —  Mayor  declines  to  give  a  license,  with 
threats  —  No  concerts  there  —  Zephaniah's  Illinois  farm  —  Says 
Lincoln  is  the  coming  man  —  Cholera  scare  at  Alton  —  Fanny 
adopts  the  bloomer  costume  —  Brothers  sing  at  Salmon  P. 
Chase's  Democratic  anti-slavery  convention  —  Judson's  money 
stolen  —  Brothers  sing  to  the  thief  in  jail  —  T.  C.  Severence  — 
A  Fourth  of  July  riot  at  Painesville — The  music  quells  the 
mob  —  Guests  of  Joshua  R.  Giddings  —  "Sammy  " — Happy 
hours  with  John  G.  Saxe  —  Jenny  Lind  again  —  Jesse  joins  the 
AUeghanians — Joshua's  successful  concerts  —  Singing  at  Bal- 
timore—  Fifty  policemen  guard  the  hall  —  Meeting  Mann  and 
Sumner  —  Singing  in  a  dissecting-room — Singing  with  Neal 
Dow  and  E.  H.  Chapin  —  Mrs.  Stowe  and  the  Hutchinsons  — 
At  Whittier's  home  —  With  Lucy  Stone  —  Death  of  Zepha- 
*  niah  —  Jesse's  death  —  At  Martha's  Vineyard  — John  and  Asa 
buy  High  Rock  —  Frank  B.  Carpenter,  a  close  friend  —  His 
picture  of  Abby  — Death  of  Caleb  — The  "Ship  on  Fire"  — 
How  the  song  "  sold  "  audiences  everywhere  —  S.  F.  B.  Morse  — 
The  rendition  of  Burns  — Judge  Loring  hung  in  effigy  on  High 
Rock  —  "  Getting  to  be  Know  Nothings  "  —  Lloyd  Glover. 

CHAPTER  VIII.  —  In  the  Great  West,  1855-1858     .        .        .  336 
The  Kansas  excitement — History  of  the  Free  Soil  agitation  — 
The  free  colonization  scheme  —  Judson,  John  and  Asa  deter- 


CONTENTS    OF    VOL.    I.  IX 

Page 
mine  to  go  West  and  settle  —  A  ilisciissioii,  tlie  majority  rules 
and  a  new  decision  —  At  St.  Paul  —  Through  the  big  woods  of 
Minnesota  —  At  Fort  Snelling  —  at  Glencoe  —  On  the  banks  of 
the  Hassan  River  —  Town  of  Hutchinson  founded  —  John  cuts 
the  first  timber  and  builds  tlie  first  log  cabin  —  Judge  Flan- 
dreau  "  enters  "  the  town  —  Music's  power  to  lessen  fees  —  Mis- 
sissippi freezes  over  —  Down  the  river-banks  —  Kev.  Charles 
G.  Ames  —  A  ministerial  door-tender  —  Kebuking  a  dough- 
face—  Faithful  Blucher  —  Leaving  Lynn  "forever"  —  Pre- 
empting a  claim  —  Singing  again  —  Back  to  High  Rock  —  A 
winter's  concerts  —  Farming  in  ^Minnesota  —  Sunday  in  Hutch- 
inson—  John  as  both  precenter  and  preacher  —  Running  a 
saw-mill  —  The  Sioux  massacre  of  1862  —  Little  Crow — John 
warns  the  settlers  of  impending  trouble  —  Hutchinson  attacked 
and  burned  —  The  Indians  repulsed  —  The  death  of  Little 
Crow. 

CHAPTER  TX.  — The  Swarming,  1858-1860  ....  354 

Three  troupes  growing  up  —  John  returns  to  High  Rock  — 
Daisy  Cottage  built  —  "Tribe  of  Asa"  begins  to  sing  —  Judson 
and  John  together  —  "  Mrs.  Lofty  and  I "  —  Abby  singing 
again  —  "The  Tribe  of  John"  —  The  war  imminent  —  "The 
Tribe  of  Judson"  —  Judson's  poetic  programme — Judson  dis- 
couraged —  The  brothers'  last  concert  —  .Judson's  melancholy 
death  —  Joshua  and  John  sing  together  —  John  Brown's  raid 
on  Harper's  Ferry  —  The  bells  of  Barre  —  John  G.  Crawford  — 
Wilson  on  the  John  Brown  tragedy  —  Singing  at  Wilson's  elec- 
tion—  Singing  in  the  Lincoln  campaign  —  "Tribe  of  .John" 
and  Sister  Abby  together  —  The  Hutchinson  Family  Young 
Folks — Joshua's  many  concerts  —  Early  notices  of  the  "Tribe 
of  John." 

CHAPTER  X.  —  Ix  War  Time,  1861-1865 370 

The  pussilanimous  Buchanan — John  B.  Floyd  and  the  Spring- 
field armory  —  Working  for  "  Honest  Abe"  —  Singing  to  Lin- 
coln at  Jersey  City —  At  Lincoln's  inauguration  —  The  origin 
of  "Secesh"  —  Douglas  holds  Lincoln's  hat  —  The  "PlugUg- 
lies  "  —  "  Dixie  "  —  Star-spangled  banner  for  a  poster  —  Sum- 
ter attacked — Carl  Formes  —  Singing  for  recruits  —  Helping 
the  soldiers' aid  societies  —  Henry  Wilson  as  a  drill-master  — 
Singing  at  Theodore  Parker's  memorial  —  A  call  to  Washing- 
ton—Salmon P.  Chase  — Chaplain  Yard  — At  the  White 
House — The  lost  piano-key  —  No  music  in  the  Buchanan  ad- 


X  CONTENTS   OF    VOL.   I. 

Page 
ministration  —  President  Lincoln  calls  for  tlie  "  Ship  on  Fire  " 

—  Simon  Cameron  furnishes  a  pass  into  the  army  lines  —  Gen- 
eral Butler  —  In  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  —  At  Fairfax  semi- 
nary —  Two  regiments  attend  —  "  Hark  to  the  answer  :  Slav- 
ery !  " —  A  liiss  —  Major  Hatfield  —  Surgeon  Oakley  the 
culprii  —  Confusion  quelled  by  "  No  Tear  in  Heaven"  —  Gen- 
eral Birney  —  A  summons  from  General  Kearney  —  "A  rebel 
as  good  as  an  Abolitionist "  —  General  Franklin  takes  a  hand  — 
General  JMcClellan  orders  the  singers  removed  from  the  camps 

—  A  respite  —  Sunday  in  the  camp  —  Spilled  from  a  buggy  — 
At  Alexandria  —  Back  to  AVashington  —  Tlie  song  submitted  to 
the  Cabinet  —  Lincoln  says  Hutcliinsons  can  go  anywhere  — 
McClellan  requested  to  report  at  Trenton  —  More  concerts  m 
the  camps  —  General  Farnsworth  —  A  pro-slavery  church  trus- 
tee —  Mayor  of  Alexandria  could  not  stop  the  concert  —  Hor- 
ace Greeley  on  the  expulsion — What  the  correspondents 
thought  —  Colonel  Welling  describes  the  scene — Whittier 
compliments  the  Hutcliinsons  —  Singing  to  McClellan's  staff  — 
Churches  fear  the  Hutchinsons  —  A  cautious  Y.  M.  C.  A.  presi- 
dent—  Willis  and  the  Family  —  A  good  talk  with  Fremont  — 
Pleasant  hours  at  the  home  of  Secretary  Chase  —  "  No  concert 
hereto-night"  —  A  notable  reception  to  the  Tribe  of  John  — 
George  Burleigh's  poem  "Free  song  on  the  Potomac"  —  The 
fine  art  of  "  blowing  "  —  Experiences  with  pro-slavery  authori- 
ties—  The  year  of  jubilee  —  Back  to  Lynn  —  Mass  concerts 
on  High  Rock  —  First  singing  of  "Tenting  To-night"  —  Wai- 
ter Kittredge  —  Bernard  Covert  —  Posing  for  Carpenter's 
emancipation  i)icture — John  B.  Alley  —  "Cousin  Maud"  — 
INIoU  Pitcher's  portrait — Hotel  pie  —  A  welcome  in  St.  Louis 

—  Gough  again  —  Lincoln  assassinated  —  High  Rock  observa- 
tory destroyed. 

CHAPTER  XL  — Moral  Reform  Work,  1865-1869  .  .  .  4o0 
At  Washington — Schuyler  Colfax  —  Closing  of  the  United 
States  Cln-istian  Commission  —  Bancroft's  eulogy  on  Lincoln  — 
A  dream  of  finance  —  Among  Lake  Superior  mines — Stuck 
in  a  slough  —  John  gains  a  residence  in  Hutciiinson  — Pei-il  on 
floating  ice  —  ^Nlrs.  Bloomer  —  The  Kansas  woman-suffrage 
campaign  —  Shall  there  be  a  Hutchinson  in  Kansas  ? —  A  kick- 
ing horse  —  Viola  engaged  — A  duet  with  a  desj^ondent  bull  — 
Story  of  the  "Sweet  By-and-By  "  — J.  P.  Webster  — Linn  B. 
Porter  —  "Vote  it  Riglit  Along"  composed  —  "The  Father- 
hood of  God,  and  tlie  Brotherhood  of  Man"  and   its  history  — 


CONTENTS    OF   VOL.    I.  xi 

Page 
Address  to  Kansas  people — A  bee-line  across  Iowa  —  Miss 
Olympia  Brown  —  "  Susan  "  —  Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton  — 
Chief  Justice  Chase  bids  the  Hutchinsons  God-speed  —  Wen- 
dell Phillips  does  not  enthuse  —  Handy  Mr.  Whetstone  — 
Singing  at  the  polls  —  Hutchinson,  Kansas,  settled  —  Temper- 
ance work  in  the  State  —  "Beware  of  Vidders"  —  Five  dollars 
worth  of  life  insurance  —  "  Louisa  " —  Charles  Dickens  —  Viola 
married  —  Graziella  Ridgway  —  Richard  D.  Webb  —  Ex-Gov- 
ernor Robinson  and  John's  horses  —  John's  hat  confiscated  by 
a  hungry  sow — A  sad  scene  viewed  by  the  sympathetic  moon  — 
The  Grant  campaign  —  Zephaniah's  grave  visited  —  "  Dick  " 
Yates  —  Mother  of  the  Hutchinsons  dies  —  General  Logan  — 
"Grant,  our  Great  Commander"  —  Colonel  IngersoU  —  Joshua's 
letter  from  Minnesota  —  A  strange  Christmas  package  —  Mary 
A.  Livermore  and  woman  suffrage  —  The  Library  Hall  meet- 
ings —  Singing  for  Dwiglit  L.  Moody  —  "  Mary  at  the  Cross  "  — 
With  Camilla  XJrso  —  The  Peace  Jubilee  —  At  the  Vineyard  — 
A  choir  of  distinguished  men  —  S.  B.  Spinning  — Colonel  Hig- 
ginson's  tilt  with  Tilton  —  Rev.  H.  W.  Conant  —  The  literary 
bureau. 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

VOL.   I. 


John  Wallace  Hutchinson 

Frederick  Douglass 

Richard  Hutchinson's  Plow 

The  Birthplace  of  the  Hutc 

Coming  up  from  the  Fields 

The  Hop-pickers 

The  East  Wilton  Concert 

The  Old  Homestead 

On  the  Road     . 

John  A.  Collins 

Nathaniel  Peabody  Rogers 

Heralds  of  Freedom 

Get  off  the  Track  . 

Parker  Pillsbury     . 

Ten  of  the  Hutchinsons,  1844 

Hutchinson  Family  Quartet,  1840 

An  English  Souvenir 

The  Hutchinsons  at  Grasmere 

Wendell  Phillips    . 

Tribe  of  Jesse  at  High  Rock 

Judson's  "Standing  Collar"  Son 

The  Six  Brothers  . 

Freedom's  Champions 

The  Trio  of  Brothers    . 

Abby  Hutchinson     . 


Page 
Frontispiece 

XV 

2 

8 

20 

22 

44 

47 

50 

73 

76 

88 

117 

119 

137 

142 

156 

202 

239 

242 

261 

288 

298 

300 

324 


XIV 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


VOL.    I. 


John  in  the  Saw-mill 

Abraham  Lincoln     . 

High  Rock  in  1861  . 

Singing  to  Lincoln  . 

On  High  Rock  in  War  Time 

Closing  Exercises,  Christian  Commission 

Representative  Women 


Page 
346 
370 
378 
380 
416 
431 
437 


FKEDEKICK    LOUGLASS 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  no  light  task  to  write  an  iiitroductiou  to  this  book  of 
the  Hutchinsons.  They  were  a  unique  and  striking  family. 
In  23ersonal  appearance  and  in  moral  and  intellectual  qualities, 
they  were  in  the  strictest  sense,  of  the  best  New  England 
mould.  More  than  lifty  years  ago  they  were  introduced  to  the 
country  from  the  granite  hills  of  New  Hampshire,  through  the 
columns  of  The  Herald  of  Freedom,  by  Nathaniel  P.  Rogers, 
one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  gifted  writers  of  that  day.  He 
was  an  Abolitionist  of  the  Abolitionists,  and  in  thrilling  words 
and  at  the  very  top  of  his  sublime  enthusiasm  in  that  cause,  he 
hailed  with  welcome  the  Hutchinsons,  as  did  all  Abolitionists, 
regarding  them  as  a  splendid  acquisition  to  that  then  unpopular 
and  persecuted  cause. 

To  write  worthily  an  introduction  to  tliis  book,  the  record  of 
their  career,  one  should  have,  in  some  measure,  the  genius  of 
the  editor  of  The  Herald  of  Freedom,  for  the  Hutchinsons 
should  be  handed  down  to  future  generations  in  a  light  no  less 
glorious  at  the  sunset,  than  that  which  gilded  their  sky  in  the 
mornhig  of  their  advent.  The  Hutchinsons  were  indeed  an 
acquisition  to  the  anti-slavery  cause  and  to  all  other  good 
causes.  They  were,  when  in  England,  fittingly  called  liy  TVIary 
Howitt,  '•  a  band  of  young  apostles."  They  sang  for  free- 
dom, for   temperance,  for  peace,  for  moral  and  social  reform. 


Xvi  INTRODUCTION. 

Ill  their  earlier  days  they  were  well  described  as  a  "  nest  of 
brothers  with  a  sister  in  it."  Judson,  John,  Asa  and  Abby 
were  their  names.  They  brought  to  the  various  causes  which 
they  served,  the  divinest  gift  that  heaven  has  bestowed  upon 
man,  the  gift  of  music  —  the  superb  talent  to  touch  the  h  'arts 
and  stir  the  souls  of  men  to  noble  ends,  even  when  such  hearts 
were  encased  with  the  hardest  pride  and  selfishness. 

No  matter  how  high,  no  matter  how  low,  this  gift  of  music 
has,  like  the  all-pervading  love  of  God,  power  to  reach,  melt 
and  fuse  the  souls  of  men  into  a  sense  of  common  kinship, 
common  brotherhood  and  a  common  destiny.  While  it  is  of 
no  language,  it  is  of  all  languages,  and  speaks  to  the  souls  of 
men  of  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues  and  peoples,  and  like  the 
overhanging  firmament  ever  speaks  forth  the  glory  of  God. 
To  no  singers  whom  I  have  ever  heard  was  there  given  a 
larger  measure"  of  this  celestial  (quality.  Men  and  women  who, 
at  that  early  day,  heard  the  Hutchinsons  and  who  had  heard 
other  great  singers,  were  compelled  to  confess  that,  in  all  their 
experience,  they  had  never  heard  human  voices  blended  into  a 
concord  of  sounds  jjurer  or  sweeter  than  those  of  this  family. 

There  was  something  almost  miraculous  in  the  singing  of 
these  three  brothers  and  one  sister.  I  have  heard  them,  in  a 
time  of  gi-eat  excitement  on  the  slavery  question,  calm  to  silence 
and  order  a  turbulent  and  determined  mob  when  it  was  in  full 
blast  and  fiercely  bent  upon  breaking  up  an  anti-slavery  meet- 
ing. We  had.  in  the  old  Tabernacle  in  Broadway,  New  York, 
an  instance  of  this  power.  One  of  the  most  furious  mobs  that  I 
ever  saw,  confronted  the  American  Anti-Slavery  Society  and 
determined  that  its  speakers  should  not  be  heard.  It  stamped, 
shouted,  whistled,  howled,  hooted  and  pushed  and  swayed  the 
multitude  to  and  fro  in  confusion  and  dismay.     It  silenced  the 


INTRODUCTION.  XVll 

platform  and  threatened  the  s^ieakers  with  violence  ;  and  wlien 
neither  the  prophet-like  solemnity  of  Garrison  nor  tlie  sublime 
eloquence  of  Phillips  could  silence  that  tempest  of  rowdyism 
and  wrath,  the  voices  of  this  family  came  down  from  the  gallei-y 
of  the  old  Tabernacle,  like  a  message  from  the  sky,  and  in  an 
instant  all  was  hushed  and  silent.  Every  eye  was  raised  and 
every  ear  attent.  The  stillness  was  like  that  which  comes 
immediately  after  the  vivid  flash  of  forked  lightning  and  the 
crash  of  its  thunder. 

But  the  Hutchinsons  were  not  merely  a  family  of  singers 
and  sentimental  reformers  ;  they  were  actuated  and  guided  by 
high  moral  principle.  The  world  had  much  for  them  and 
courted  them.  It  had  wealth  and  popularity,  but  neither  could 
seduce  them  from  their  steadfast  convictions,  nor  could  persecu- 
tion drive  them  from  the  side  of  mii)opular  truth.  Tlieir  fine 
talent  for  music  could  have  secured  for  them  w^ealth  and  fame ; 
but,  like  Moses,  they  preferred  to  suffer  affliction  in  the  cause 
of  justice  and  liberty  than  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  a  concession  to 
slavery.  Jesse,  the  eldest  brother,  had  the  gift  of  verse  as 
well  as  that  of  music  ;  and  well  did  he  use  it.  He  wrote  on 
the  spur  of  the  moment  and  with  surprising  facility.  He  could 
frame  words  fitted  to  the  immediate  occasion  ;  and  these  were 
simg  with  telling  effect  by  the  rest  of  the  family.  In  answer 
to  pro-slavery  threats  they  sang 

"  Party  threats  are  not  alarming, 

For,  when  music  ceases  charming, 
We  can  earn  our  bread  In-  farming 
In  the  old  Granite  State." 

While  Jesse  made  no  literary  pretensions,  some  of  his  verses 
were  as  a,\)t  as  any  found  in  the  songs  of  Robert  Nicliol  or  of 
Robert  Burns. 


XVni  INTKODUCTIOX. 

Those  who  heard  Juclsoii,  John  and  Asa  and  their  angelic 
sister  Abby  sing,  heard  mnch,  but  heard  nothing  in  comparison 
to  what  I  heard  in  their  liome.  I  was  permitted  to  hear  the 
whole  "  Tribe  of  Jesse  "  sing  in  their  old  family  mansion,  where 
thirteen  of  the  family  poured  out  their  souls  together  in  pious 
song,  till  it  appeared  as  if  the  very  roof  were  rising  skyward, 
The  scene  of  that  hour  has  been  present  to  me  during  all  these 
fifty  years,  ahd  I  still  recall  it  as  one  of  the  most  sublime  and 
glorious  hours  I  ever  experienced. 

I  saw  this  family  in  all  the  vicissitudes  of  its  career,  covering 
a  period  of  more  than  half  a  century.  1  saw  it  in  times  that 
tried  men's  souls.  I  saw  it  in  jjeace  and  I  saw  it  in  war  ;  but  I 
never  saw  one  of  its  members  falter  or  flinch  before  any  duty, 
whether  social  or  patriotic  ;  and  it  is  a  source  of  more  satisfac- 
tion than  I  can  express,  to  have  lived,  as  I  have  now  done,  to 
bear  this  high  testimony  to  the  character  of  the  Hutchinsons, 
especially  now  that  only  one  of  them  has  survived  to  write  this 
book  in  j^erpetuation  of  their  precious  memory. 

FREDERICK   DOUGLASS. 


History  of  the  Hutchinson  Family 


CHAPTER   I. 


THE    TRIBE    OF    JESSE. 


"  Ever  hopeful,  never  doubting,  always  working  for  the  right, 
Loving,  waiting,  watching,  longing,  for  the  millennial  day  of  light." 

"  The  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man. 

The  cause  of  true  religion  is  spreading  through  the  laud. 
Oh,  the  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man, 
"We'll  talk  and  sing  while  on  the  wing,  and  ring  it  through  the  land." 

Ix  these  modern  times,  when  thinking  minds  are  not 
satisfied  to  take  people  as  they  are,  but  seek  for  the 
elements  tliat  have  contriljuted  to  success  in  state-craft, 
literature,  tlie  pulpit,  music  and  the  kindred  aiis  by  a 
study  of  heredity,  a  man  or  a  woman  is  fortunate  indeed 
if  he  or  she  can  point  to  a  line  of  ancestry  Avhich  repre- 
sents, as  in  the  case  of  tlie  Hutchinsons,  sturdy  worth, 
industry,  public  spirit  and  patriotism. 

As  the  reader  studies  the  biographical  references  that 
follow  this  paragraph,  and  notes  how  the  musical 
faculty  Avas  shoAvn  in  the  various  members  of  our  family 
on  the  side  of  both  my  father  and  mother,  he  will,  I  am 
sure,  find  no  reason  for  surprise  that  we,  their  children, 
should  have  had  such  success  in  singing  the  songs  of 
freedom  and  progress  on  two  continents.  I  Jut  before 
speaking  of  our  immediate  ancestry,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  go  back  a  few  centuries,  to  the  beginning  of  liistory, 
so  far  as  our  family  is  concerned. 


2  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Bernard  Hutchinson,  the  progenitor  of  the  English 
branch  of  the  famil}-,  Avas  horn  in  Cowhxn,  count}-  of 
York,  in  1282,  during  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  The 
English  records  show  the  line  of  descent  in  that  country 
to  have  been:  Bernard,  James,  James,  William,  An- 
thon}^  Thomas,  Lawrence,  Thomas,  Thomas,  Richard. 

The  family  is  entitled  to  bear  arms  described  in 
heraldic  language  thus  :  "•  Per  pale,  gules  and  azure, 
semee  of  cross-crosslets  oi',  a  lion  rampant,  argent. 
Crest,  out  of  a  ducal  coronet  or,  a  cockatrice  with  wings 
indorsed  azure;  beaked,  combed  and  mottled  gules.'' 

The  motto  is  "  Gerit  Crucem  Fortiter."  The  signifi- 
cation of  this  is  "  He  bears  the  cross  bravely." 

Richard  Hutchinson  with  his  wife  Alice  and  four 
children,  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1634,  and  settled 
in  Salem  Village,  now  Danvers,  INIass. 

Tlie  first  official  notice  made  of  him  is  in  the  town 
records,  when  it  is  stated  that  in  recognition  of  his  pub- 
lic spirit,  as  being  the  possessor  and  introducer  of  the 
first  plow  brought  into  this  country,  he  was  granted 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  by  the  town  author- 
ities. 

He  was  a  thorough  agriculturist,  and  by  assiduous 
devotion  to  his  occupation  and  economy  in  living,  he 
acquired  a  large  landed  estate,  which  on  liis  death  was 
divided  according  to  the  terms  of  his  will. 

He  and  his  wife  are  recorded  as  members  of  the  first 
church  in  Salem.  He  married  three  times,  the  last 
when  he  was  seventy-nine  years  of  age.  He  was  born 
in  1602  and  died  in  the  year  1682. 

His  son  Joseph,  and  three  succeeding  Josephs,  con- 
tinue the  line  to  Elisha,  who  was  born  at  Middleton, 
December  6,  1751.  He  was  of  the  sixth  generation. 
On  November  10,  1772,  he  married  Sarah  Buxton,  and 


KICHAKO    HU'l'CHIXSON'S  PlAiW- (p. -') 


THE    TIMBE    OF    JESSE.  3 

in  tlie  year  1779  left  MidJleton  (or  Salem)  Avith  his 
wife  and  eliilclreii,  and  removed  to,  and  settled  in  the 
beautiful  valley  of  the  Souhegan  River,  near  the  present 
site  of  Milford,  N.  H.,  fifty  miles  from  Boston,  the  town 
then  being  called  Amherst.  Here  he  took  up  land  and 
began  to  follow  on  his  own  account,  the  occupation  so 
long  engaged  in  and  made  honorable  by  his  ancestors, 
farminof.  lu  1782  he  Avas  living  in  the  soutliAvest 
parish  and  was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  Ijuilding 
the  first  meeting-house.  He  Avas  one  of  the  nineteen 
original  members  of  the  Congregational  Church,  Avliich 
Avas  organized  November  17,  1788,  and  Avas  the  first 
clerk  of  tlie  church,  an  office  he  held  for  scA^eral 
years.  He  Avas  one  of  the  first  to  answer  his  coun- 
try's call,  as  a  private,  in  Captain  Jeremiah  Page's 
company  of  militia,  at  DauA^ers,  Avhich  engaged  the 
British  at  Lexington,  on  the  memorable  19th  of  xVpril, 
1775. 

Grandfather  came  to  Milford  Avitli  liis  Avife  and  two 
sons  ;  subsequently  a  daughter  Avas  born.  He  Avas  one  of 
the  first  settlers,  the  place  being  then  a  howling  Avilder- 
ness,  and  the  cry  of  Avolves  Avas  frequently  heard  as  they 
passed  in  close  proximity  to  the  rude  settlement.  Once  a 
moose  made  his  appearance  ;  and  on  grandfather  giA'ing 
the  alarm  to  his  neighl)ors,  they  grasped  their  guns,  and 
Avith  a  merry  shout  gave  chase  to  the  huge  animal  as  he 
bounded  aAvay  through  the  Avoods  at  lightning  speed.  It 
Avas  a  long  and  tiresome  chase  ;  but,  Ijuoyed  up  b}-  their 
elated  hopes  and  the  novelty  of  the  affair,  the  animal 
Avas  at  last  driven  to  narrow  quarters  on  Long  Hill,  and 
then  he  was  quickly  dispatclied,  carried  home,  and 
equally  diA'ided  among  his  pursuers. 

In  addition  to  his  OAvn  estate,  he  received  from  his 
father,  by  Avill,  seventy-four  acres  joining  Avesterly  on 


4  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

his  OAvn  liounds.  From  a  rude  structure  wliicli  was  de- 
molished, he  built  the  large  house,  still  in  existence,  in 
Avhich  fourteen  of  the  "  Tribe  of  Jesse,  sons  of  ]\Iary," 
Avere  born.  He  died  in  Milford,  October  12,  1800,  at 
the  age  of  forty-nine  years. 

The  two  sons  of  Elisha,  Andrew  and  Jesse,  early- 
evinced  a  taste  and  love  for  music.  At  about  the  age 
of  fourteen  or  sixteen  they  purchased  a  violin  on  joint 
account,  and  often  furnished  the  music  at  the  farming 
and  husking  bees  of  the  surrounding  country;  but, 
after  some  years,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  these  per- 
formances, thinking  them  demoralizing,  they  resolved 
to  dissolve  partnership  in  the  musical  line  and  earn  an 
honest  living  on  the  farm.  Not  being  able  to  sell  the 
violin  so  as  to  divide  the  proceeds,  they  decided  to 
divide  the  instrument,  and  each  made  for  himself  a 
tobacco-l)ox  from  his  half.  No  comment  is  necessary 
on  the  moral  aspect  of  this  reform.  "  Consistency,  thou 
art  a  jewel !  " 

The  boys  grew  up  to  manhood  on  the  farm ;  and  An- 
drew, who  was  the  older  b}^  about  three  years,  married  a 
Miss  Raymond,  of  Mont  Vernon,  and  had  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  —  Natlianiel,  Elisha, 
Stillman,  Phoebe,  Mary  and  INIartha. 

Jesse,  who  Avas  born  February  3,  1778,  on  August  7, 
1800,  married  ]\Iary  Leavitt,  who  was  then  onl}^  fifteen 
years  old.  On  the  death  of  the  father,  Avhich  occurred 
October  12,  1800,  the  farm  was  divided  between  the 
two  boys,  Andrew  and  Jesse,  the  latter  securing  the 
house. 

Jesse  had  a  mechanical  cast  of  mind,  and  was  1)}^  turns 
a  farmer,  cooper,  shoemaker  and  carpenter,  as  circum- 
stances seemed  to  favor.  He  did  much  of  the  shoemak- 
ing  during  the  earlier  years  of  his  family.     His  expert 


THE   TRIBE   OF   JESSE.  5 

coopering  created  considerable  commerce  from  his  shop 
to  Boston.  On  the  morning  of  the  famous  "  shooting- 
stars  '*  he  was  packing  off  a  four-ox  load,  for  fifty  miles  to 
the  city  of  Boston. 

Mary,  commonly  called  Polly,  Leavitt,  Ijorn  June  25, 
1785,  was  the  daughter  of  Andrew  Leavitt,  a  master- 
carpenter  or  builder.  In  his  days  the  trade  of  master- 
carpenter  emljraced  all  the  parts  of  the  structure.  He 
must  go  to  the  forest,  cut  the  trees,  haul  the  timl)er 
wanted  for  the  structure,  take  it  to  the  lot,  frame  and 
raise  each  piece  to  its  position,  select  his  timl)ers  for 
shingles  and  clapboards,  split  and  shave  them  by  hand ; 
with  these  and  boards  he  must  cover  the  building,  make 
all  the  finish-work  on  doors  and  windows,  do  all  the 
joiner-work,  oversee  the  mason,  hang  the  doors  and  sash, 
paint  inside  and  out,  fix  the  doors,  locks,  etc.,  lock  the 
building  and  hand  the  key  to  the  owner. 

He  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Revolution,  serving  as 
a  faithful  soldier  during  the  seven  years'  struggle.  At 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  he  was  one  of  the  three  hun- 
dred that  kept  tlie  British  at  bay  ;  and  after  tlie  burning 
of  Charlestown,  he  was  detailed  as  master-mechanic  to 
aid  in  rebuilding  the  burned  district. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge and  a  pension,  awarded  by  a  grateful  countr}'  in 
attestation  of  the  high  regard  in  which  the  thirteen 
original  States  held  the  defenders  of  the  nation.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  ninety-four. 

Deacon  John  Leavitt,  the  American  progenitor  of  the 
family,  was  born  in  England  in  1620,  and  died  near 
Exeter,  N.  H.,  in  1650.  Grandfather  was  born  in  Strat- 
ham. 

The  issue  of  the  marriage  of  Jesse  Hutcliinson  and 
Polly  Leavitt  was  sixteen  children,  of  whom  thirteen 


b  THE    HUTCHIXSON    FAMILY. 

grew  up  to  manliood  and  womanhood.      Their  names 
were  — 

Jesse    .....    Born  February  25,  1802. 

David "     October  11,  1803. 

Noah    ....."    January  26,  1805. 
Polly,  or  Mary  .         .         "     June  7,  1806. 

Andreav  B.  ..."    August  19,  1808. 

Zephaniah  K.     .         .         .         "     January  6,  1810. 

,       '        r  twins  ..."     November  25,  1811. 
Joshua,  ^ 

Jesse,  Jr "  September  29,  1813. 

Benjamin  Pierce       .        .        "  October  3,  1815. 

Adoxiram  Judson  Joseph,       "  March  14,  1817. 

Sarah  Rhoda  Jane  .        .        "  March  14,  1819. 

John  "Wallace  ..."  January  4,  1821. 

Asa  Burnhaji    ..."  March  14,  1823. 

Elizabeth  .        .        .        .        "  November  14,  1824. 

Abigail  Jemima  (Abby)    .         "  August  29,  1829. 

jNIy  mother,  who,  in  early  maidenhood,  became  the 
wife  of  my  father  and  the  future  mother  of  four 
quartets  with  a  sister  in  each,  was  possessed  of  a  voice 
of  peculiar  sweetness,  and  instilled  into  her  children 
the  soul  of  melody,  so  that  from  infancy  they  imbibed 
this  boon,  a  love  of  music,  that  was  more  fully  devel- 
oped in  after  j'ears. 

At  the  time  of  the  death  of  Sister  Abby,  in  1892,  our 
dear  friend,  Frank  B.  Carpenter,  writing  in  the  JVew 
York  Home  Journal,  spoke  thus  of  the  musical  talent  of 
my  mother's  family : 

"  She  (Abby)  came  from  a  long  line  of  musical  ancestors.  Her  ma- 
ternal great-grandijarents,  "William  Hastings  and  his  wife,  were  noted 
singers  of  their  time.  One  of  tlie  Hastings  daughters  married  into  the 
Leavitt  family,  also  famous  for  musical  genius.  Thus,  of  the  union 
of  the  musical  talents  of  the  Hastings  and  Leavitts  came  the  musical 
mother  of  the  Hutchinson  family." 

In  1862,  Prof.  R.  D.  Muzzey,  of  Dartmouth  College, 
wrote  to  Rev.  Dr.  Davis,  of  Amherst,  N.  H.,  a  letter 


THE   TEIBE   OF   JESSE.  7 

containing  reminiscences  of  his  boyhood,  when  his 
father  was  a  worshipper  in  Rev.  Mr.  Bruce's  congre- 
gation at  Mont  Vernon,  then  the  North  Parish  of  Am- 
herst. He  speaks  thns  of  my  mother  and  lier  sister 
Sarah : 

"There  was  one  charm  which  was  peculiar  connected  with  the  wor- 
ship on  that  hill  —  it  was  the  singing.  There  was  a  good  choir;  but 
the  fascination  came  from  a  single  voice,  that  of  Miss  Leavitt,  an  elder 
sister  of  Miss  Leavitt  who  afterwards  became  the  mother  of  the  Iliitch- 
inson  family,  so  renowned  in  song.  The  choir  of  Mont  Vernon  churcii 
met  for  practice  on  Sabbath  morning  before  the  liour  of  worship. 
Miss  Leavitt  alwaj^s  sang  the  alto.  How  many  times,  as  we  striplings 
ascended  the  hill,  did  we  stop  to  drink  in  those  rich  and  unearthly  tones 
(oh,  I  can  hear  them  now!)  which  filled  the  whole  atmosphere,  and 
seemed  to  come  from  an  elevation  far  above  that  of  the  open  win- 
dows. 

"  My  dear  air,  pardon  my  enthusiasm.  I  have  since  heard  Madame 
^lalibran,  Madame  Sontag,  Jennj'  Lind,  and  an  oratorio  in  St.  Xavier's 
chapel  from  the  choir  of  Pope  Pius  IX  on  the  evening  of  his  corona- 
tion, and  I  have  not  yet  heard  a  voice  so  rich  and  inspiring  as  that 
of  Miss  Leavitt.  Does  such  a  voice  come  as  often  as  once  in  a  cen- 
tury ?  " 

Sarah  Leavitt  married  Chandler  Averill,  who  was  a 
fifer  in  the  War  of  1812. 

Milford  was  an  offshoot  of  Amherst.  The  viUage  is 
sitnated  about  two  miles  in  a  southwest  course  from 
the  old  town,  at  the  east  end  of  a  fertile  valley,  encir- 
cled around  Avith  sloping  hills  on  the  north  and  south, 
with  Peterboro  and  Lyndeboro  and  the  Greenfield 
Mountains  on  the  west,  where  the  Indian-named  Sou- 
hegan  River  takes  its  rise  —  a  fine,  rapid  stream,  flowing 
majestically  through  the  rich  valleys,  reaching  the  falls, 
where  a  dam  is  constructed  forming  a  pond  sufficiently 
large  to  supply  the  several  mills.  Here  w^as  built  one  of 
the  first  cotton  factories  in  this  country,  Avhich  has  been 
in  operation  for  more  than  two-thirds  of  a  century.  Saw- 
mills and  other  manufactories   were    dotted   along  its 


8  THE    HUTCHINSOIsr   FAINIILY. 

margin,  all  deriving  supply  and  running-power  from 
this  source ;  and  a  small  tributary  stream  wliicli  also 
supplies  power  for  several  mills,  empties  into  the  liver 
near  the  town,  and  flows  on  toward  the  Merrimac  and 
the  ocean. 

The  family  grew  to  such  proportions  at  the  old  home- 
stead that  it  was  thought  advisable  to  purchase  another 
place.  A  farm  was  for  sale  some  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  distant  from  the  homestead,  coming  down  upon  the 
meadow  adjacent  to  the  Souhegan  River.  Father  made 
a  purchase  of  this  place.  The  farm  contained  aljout  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  with  a  very  large  house  and 
convenient  outbuildings.  The  house  was  built  origi- 
nally for  a  hotel  by  Colonel  Joshua  Burnham,  and  w^as 
constructed  from  lumber  selected  from  the  old  growth 
in  the  pine  forests  upon  the  farm.  The  house  was 
fifty-three  by  forty-eight,  about  thirteen  feet  stud,  hip 
roof.  Thence  the  younger  portion  of  the  family  re- 
paired, leaving  the  older  members  at  the  original  home- 
stead. 

Brother  Joshua,  in  relating  the  incident  of  moving, 
says  he  was  detailed  to  carry  his  two  younger  brothers, 
John  and  Asa,  in  his  arms  across  lots :  they  were  very 
heav}',  one  being  three  years  and  the  other  one  year  old. 
Joshua  \vas  twelve.  He  conveyed  them  singlj^  at  the 
proper  distance,  and  laying  a  child  down  went  back  and 
brought  the  other,  and  so  alternately  he  reached  the 
new  home  in  safet3^ 

The  house  contained  eight  large  rooms,  sixteen  by 
eighteen  feet  in  length  and  width,  and  a  very  large 
cellar  under  the  whole. 

Right  in  the  vicinity  of  these  premises  was  Colonel 
Bui'nham,  living  in  the  little  red  house  on  the  hill,  which 
had  been  selected  by  his  children  as  a  home  for  his  de- 


THE   TRIBE   OF   JESSE.  9 

dining  years,  and  situated  where  he  could  overlook  the 
surrounding  landscape,  including  a  good  view  of  the 
farm  tliat  was  once  the  home  of  his  family  and  ^^•hich 
he  had  lost  by  unpaid  debts.  He  was  a  frequent  visitor 
to  the  place ;  and  when  the  fruits  were  ripe,  lie  would 
have  free  access  offered  by  my  father  and  the  privilege 
of  obtaining  what  fruit  he  desired.  There  was  one  very 
favorite  apple,  the  flavor  of  which  was  delicious ;  and 
when  the  apples  were  ripe,  this  honorable  old  gentleman 
would  be  seen  going  and  coming  with  his  pockets  full, 
and  they  were  pockets!  They  were  like  bags,  and  he 
could  carry  almost  half  a  peck  in  each  one.  He  would 
come  over,  fill  his  pockets,  and  then  trudge  along  towards 
home.  He  was  occasionally  visited  by  officers  of  tlie 
armies  of  the  Revolution ;  and  it  was  said  that  one  of 
the  staff  of  "Washington  was  among  them.  My  parents 
honored  him  by  naming  Joshua  after  him.  He  would 
frequently  show  his  regard  for  his  namesake  l)y  some 
token,  and  before  passing  into  his  dotage  he  called  him 
to  his  house  and  presented  him  with  a  sash  worn  by  him 
on  parade  while  he  was  under  George  Washington's 
command.  Tliis  article  was  carefully  preserved,  and  is 
still,  after  the  decease  of  ])otli  giver  and  receiver,  an 
heirloom  in  the  family. 

In  those  early  days  among  the  pioneers,  education 
was  sometimes  neglected.  The  colonel,  though  passing- 
through  seven  3'ears  of  renown  as  a  discreet  oificer,  could 
not  write  his  own  name,  and  while  in  business  kept  his 
accounts  by  characters.  For  instance,  having  sold 
cheese  to  a  person,  he  would  make  a  mark  of  that 
portion  of  cheese  that  that  man  received.  His  fun- 
eral Avas  the  first  that  I  liad  ever  witnessed,  and  tlie 
impression  was  depressingly  suggestive.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  ninety-three ;    and  engraved  as  an  epitaph 


10  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

upon  his  tonil)stone,    were    these  words    composed   by 
Brother  Joshua : 

"  Colonel  Joshua  Burnham, 

Soldier  of  the  revolution, 
Zealous  in  his  country's  cause, 

Faitliful  to  tlie  constitution 
And  obedient  to  its  laws." 

Our  farm-house  was  sparsely  furnished,  and  embar- 
rassment in  debt  prevented  any  immediate  change.  One 
day  a  neig'hbor  came  into  the  house  and  looked  about : 
no  carpet  on  the  floor ;  dining-table  and  a  few  wooden 
chairs ;  no  pictures  for  the  walls.  She  remarked, 
"  Where  is  your  furniture  ?  "  Mother  pointed  to  the 
growing  family  about  her  and  said,  ''  These  represent 
my  furniture."  There  were  ten  children;  and  there 
was  also  room  for  expansion  of  the  lungs,  and  music 
from  father  and  mother  and  the  older  brothers  went 
ringing  up  and  down  the  hall-ways,  with  the  broad  open 
stairways  extending  up  and  down  from  the  entrance. 
These  quarters  proved  very  advantageous  to  the  har- 
monious development  of  our  voices. 

A  spring  of  soft  water  was  near,  to  supply  the  l)arn 
and  a  public  water-trough,  while  a  well  of  soft  water 
supplied  the  house. 

"  How  dear  to  my  heart  are  tlie  scenes  of  my  childhood, 

When  fond  recollection  presents  them  to  view  ! 
The  orchard,  the  meadow,  the  deep  tangled  vvildwood, 

And  every  loved  spot  which  my  infancy  knew  ; 
The  wide  spreading  pond  and  the  mill  which  stood  by  it, 

The  bridge  and  the  rock  where  the  cataract  fell. 
The  cot  of  my  father,  the  dairy-house  nigh  it, 

And  e'en  the  rude  bucket  that  hung  in  the  well." 

The  village  of  Milford  grew  to  such  proportions  that 
it  soon  out-rivalled  and  challenged  the  competition  and 


THE    TEIBE    OF    JESSE.  11 

excited  the  envy  of  the  town  from  which  it  sprang, 
though  Amherst  Phxin  held  for  many  years  the  ad- 
vantage, being  the  county-seat  of  Hillshoro  County. 
We  M-ere  a  well-reguhited  town  and  a  thrifty  com- 
munity, with  all  necessary  requirements  for  a  healthy 
growth. 

The  first  Congregational  Church  was  presided  over 
for  many  years  by  a  worthy  pastor,  Humphrey  ^Nloore, 
who  was  supported  by  the  levying  of  a  tax  on  all  the 
people.  He  was  a  very  industrious,  economical  man, 
displaying  genius  in  the  cultivation  of  his  farm  —  for  he 
was  a  practical  agriculturalist  —  and  prepared  many  of 
his  sermons  while  in  the  field,  he  believing  in  the 
efficacy  of  out-door  exercise  and  study  from  nature. 
There  could  be  but  one  "  Priest  ]\Ioore."  His  wit  mani- 
fested itself  while  at  the  divinity  school,  and  it  some- 
times took  a  mischievous  turn.  One  day  he  was  caught 
tying  a  small  tree  or  bush  to  the  tail  of  a  colt.  When 
questioned  by  a  meml^er  of  the  faculty,  who  said,  "  Mr. 
Moore,  I  thought  you  had  sowed  all  your  wild  oats," 
he  replied,  in  his  peculiar  lisping  way,  "  Yeth,  thir,  I 
have,  and  now  I'm  going  to  brush  them  in.''  The  pro- 
fessor said  no  more,  but  passed  on.  It  is  told  of  him, 
and  the  story  is  vouched  for,  that  on  one  occasion  he 
was  asked  to  officiate  at  a  Masonic  celebration  where  a 
prayer  was  considered  germane  to  the  proceedings.  All 
his  denomination  were  opposed  to  the  mystic  order,  and 
at  first  he  hesitated,  Ijut  hnally  complied,  and  at  the  ap- 
pointed time  and  place  made  his  aj^pearance,  and  offered 
tlie  following  prayer,  "  O  Lord,  we  pray  for  we  know 
not  what ;  if  it  is  good,  bless  it ;  if  it  is  bad,  cuss  it. 
World  without  end.     Amen." 

On  one  occasion  he  was  addressing  the  Legislature  of 
New  Hampshire  ;    extolling  the  thrift  and  productive- 


12  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

ness  of  his  people  and  town :  he  said  there  was  one 
worthy  gentleman  in  his  town,  Uncle  Jesse  Hutchinson, 
who  was  making  money  in  raising  a  family  of  boys. 

"  Well,  Brother  Moore,  how  is  your  health  ? "  said 
Joshua  to  him  on  one  occasion.  '^  I  am  perfectly  thound 
above  my  knees,"  he  replied. 

Rev.  Mr.  Elliott  came  to  Mason  when  father  and 
mother  were  young  people,  and  preached  the  Baptist 
doctrine.  Father  had  no  carriage,  but  being  interested 
in  the  faith,  he  would  put  his  saddle  on  his  horse,  and 
putting  mother  with  a  babe  in  her  arms  on  a  pillion 
behind,  would  trot  over  the  Mont  Vernon  hills  to  Mason. 
As  they  passed  Priest  Moore's  church  from  which  they 
had  withdrawn,  the  boys  would  hoot  at  them.  Later 
Mr.  Elliott  was  invited  by  father  to  come  over  and 
preach  in  the  North  School-house  near  the  farm  —  from 
which  father  was  afterwards  buried.  Soon  father  and 
Uncle  Andrew  built  a  Baptist  Church,  in  which  a  Rev. 
Mr.  Evans  first  preached.  Rev.  Adoniram  Judson,  the 
great  missionary,  was  a  friend  of  Mr.  Evans,  and  would 
sometimes  come  and  preach  for  him.  My  brother  Jud- 
son M'as  named  for  him.  A  Mr.  Bowles,  and  later  Rev. 
Samuel  Everett,  preached  there. 

As  time  passed  on  and  the  children  grew  to  the  age 
of  discretion,  one  after  the  other  was  advised  to  select 
a  congenial  employment.  Most  of  the  boys  remained 
on  their  farms  adjoining  the  homestead. 

Jesse,  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen,  repaired  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Amherst,  and  took  a  position  as  a  "  printer's 
devil '"  in  the  office  of  the  Farmers'  Cabinet,  a  paper 
edited  by  Richard  Boylston,  and  there  continued  until 
he  was  proficient  in  the  art  and  an  expert  at  typesetting. 
Boys  that  serve  as  printers'  apprentices  often  tire  of  the 
menial  service,  when  in  fact  it  is  the  best  school  that 


THE   TRIBE   OF   JESSE.  13 

could  be  established  as  far  as  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
grammar,  orthography,  etymology,  syntax  and  prosody 
are  concerned. 

He  was  allowed  once  a  week,  and  that  on  Saturda}-, 
to  go  home,  a  distance  of  two-and-a-half  miles.  His 
reception  was  an  occasion  of  joyous  enthusiasm  as  his 
shrill  voice  pealed  forth  in  a  shout  or  a  song  to  an- 
nounce his  coming.  The  very  famil}'  dog  would  scamper 
over  the  fields  to  meet  him,  his  quick,  instinctive  ear 
catching  the  sound  of  his  voice  before  any  one  in  the 
house ;  and .  this  signal  would  first  announce  Jesse's 
coming.  Then  all  the  youngsters  would  rush  out  to 
greet  him  as  he  came  bounding  across  the  fields.  Some 
pleasing  reports  he  w^ould  Ijring  us  from  our  relatives 
who  resided  in  Amherst.  He  would  have  a  word  about 
the  Leavitts  and  how  old  OTandfather  was  o-ettincr  alonsf. 
After  he  returned  to  the  house  would  come  the  usual 
congratulations  and  a  variety  of  sports,  plays  and  recre- 
ations. On  the  day  following,  Sunday,  he  re^niired  to 
church  with  our  parents,  and  on  Monday  morning  early 
we  would  bid  him  farewell  as  he  took  Ins  departure 
back  to  his  trade. 

Andrew,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  went  to  Boston  and 
embarked  in  a  mercantile  business,  becoming  very  suc- 
cessful. 

Zephaniah  went  West,  taking  up  lands  for  his  farm 
in  Illinois. 

Joshua  was  a  clothier,  carding,  dyeing,  and  Aveaving 
wool  into  cloth  fabrics. 

I,  never  supposing  I  was  committing  an  unpardonable 
sin  by  letting  my  affections  go  out  to  lovable  objects, 
early  formed  an  attachment  for  a  young  lady  schoolmate 
of  my  own  age  ;  and,  learning  wluit  it  was  to  have  tlie 
intensity  of  a  boy's  love  and  devotion,  I  was  perfcctl}- 


14  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

contented  whenever  in  her  presence  ;  and,  whenever  an 
oj^portunity  offered,  presented  her  with  little  tokens 
such  as  I  might  acquire,  of  affection  and  regard. 

The  pleasures  of  the  district  school  were  greatly  en- 
hanced by  the  attention  and  cooperation  of  this  3'oung 
lady  in  my  studies.  She  was  the  best  scholar  in  the 
school,  and  could  spell  them  all  down.  At  one  time, 
noticing  my  timiditj^  at  reading  my  own  composition, 
she  generousl}^  volunteered  to  read  it  herself;  and  by 
her  pleasant  intonations  and  inflections  added  double 
interest  to  it,  so  that  it  was  pronounced  a  worthy  pro- 
duction, which  made  me  very  proud  and  grateful. 

For  years,  as  soon  as  I  had  entered  the  church  and 
choir,  T  would  first  look  down  to  her  pcAV,  Avould  be 
cheered  to  know  that  she  was  present,  and  could  there- 
after sing  with  more  spirit,  for  Ave  were  in  fellowship 
and  full  sympathy,  belonging  to  the  same  church. 

Buoyed  up  under  all  discouraging  circumstances,  I 
built  castles  in  the  air  and  dreamed  of  a  future  and 
closer  alliance.  How  often  it  is  that  we,  by  brush  or 
pen,  place  before  our  gaze  the  name  of  our  spouse ! 
Caroline  Bartlett  was  written  one  hundred  times  on  the 
wooden  walls  that  surrounded  the  old  wash-room,  where, 
being  detailed  by  my  parents  to  help  do  the  washing  for 
a  family  of  ten,  as  we  had  many  boys  and  few  girls,  I 
would  immortalize  her  name  in  clialk.  But,  alas !  at 
the  mature  age  of  fourteen  my  dream  faded,  for  my 
presents  were  retui-ned,  and  the  incident  closed. 

The  Baptist  preacher,  Samuel  Everett,  was  quite  dog- 
matic and  very  severe  in  all  his  utterances ;  and  we 
were  led  to  believe  it  very  wrong  to  decide  contrary  to 
his  mature  judgment,  as  we  felt  we  were  the  subjects 
of  his  watchful  supervision.  The  school-committee  en- 
gaged him  to  teach  in  the  North  District,  and  his  stern- 


THE   TRIBE   OF    JESSE.  15 

ness  was  very  depressing  to  the  pupils.  He  had  a  gen- 
ius for  corporal  punishment.  One  of  the  boys  was 
caught  one  day  playing  with  a  spring  of  an  old  tin  can- 
dlestick. As  c[uick  as  he  discovered  the  device  lie 
snapped  it  on  the  nose  of  the  boy,  standing  him  up  near 
his  desk  as  a  laughing-stock,  and  those  who  could  not 
restrain  their  laughter  were  called  up  and  awaited  their 
turn  to  wear  the  badge.  Of  course  he  read  the  Bible 
and  prayed,  and  so  did  all  the  adults  in  the  school,  but 
the  discipline  did  not  conduce  to  much  spiritual  growth. 
Compared  with  those  masters  who  follow,  he  was  kindly 
remembered.  Fifty  years  subsequent  I  met  him  in 
Iowa  City,  where  he  had  come  to  visit  me  and  attend 
my  concert  from  his  liome  in  the  country ;  Ave  found 
our  experiences  in  varied  paths  led  us  in  sympathy  to 
broader  views,  and  we  spent  one  long  and  joyous  day 
Avith  each  other. 

We  had  some  good  teachers  and  some  very  bad  ones. 
One  in  particular  Avas  quite  offensiA^e  to  the  scholars ; 
he  generally  Avould  punish  the  older  ones  over  tlie  l)acks 
of  the  younger.  This  gave  rise  to  revolt,  Avhich  culmin- 
ated in  dissolution  and  dismissal.  The  facts  AA'ere  these  : 
it  came  nw  turn  to  build  the  fire  in  the  school-house, 
and  I  Avas  on  hand  bright  and  early  in  the  morning  Avith 
my  kindlings  and  started  a  blaze,  putting  on  some  large 
sticks  as  usual.  Soon  the  smoke  stopped  ascending  the 
chimney  and  began  coming  into  the  room.  The  teacher 
arrived  and  tried  to  stem  the  tide  of  smoke,  but  the 
place  was  soon  filled,  so  that  aa^o  were  all  obliged  to  seek 
the  open  air  for  breath.  The  teacher  Avas  then  con- 
A^nced  that  the  chimney  must  be  stopped  up  ;  a  ladder 
was  1)rought,  and  the  "  master  so  cruel  and  grim,"'  as- 
cending, discoA'ered  a  board  had  been  closely  fitted  on 
the  top,  Avith  the  intention  of  smoking  him  out.     There 


16  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

was  no  more  scliool  that  day.  The  news  went  abroad, 
and  in  the  eveningc  the  whole  neio-hborhood  was  brouo-ht 
to  judgment.  The  schohxrs  (all  the  male  portion)  were 
arrayed  in  single  file,  and  the  committee  gave  all  a 
chance  to  tell  what  they  knew  abont  the  affair.  No  one 
knew  anytliing  abont  it.^ 

It  was  thought  best  for  the  teacher  to  beat  a  retreat, 
and  not  stop  to  beat  the  little  ones  any  more ;  and  away 
he  went,  promising  never  to  retnrn.  Everybody  said, 
'*  Let  him  off  too  easy."  About  that  time  we  played 
the  "Rogue's  March,"  in  remembrance  of  the  tyrant's 
departure.  The  work  of  repairing  the  school-house  was 
soon  finished,  and  a  new  teacher  was  engaged. 

I  well  remember  one  gentle  schoolmarm,  who  taught 
by  love,  and  thus  induced  us  all  to  respect  her.  Slie  was 
only  seventeen  years  of  age.  I  was  between  seven  and 
eight,  and  my  affections  were  very  tender ;  she  attracted 
my  whole  soul  and  attention.  I  loved  to  obey  her  rules, 
and  needed  no  chastisement.  Oh,  how  precious  those 
few  weeks  of  summer  tuition !  Her  example  served  to 
convince  the  people  in  later  times ;  corporal  punishment 
was  abolished,  and  the  principle  of  love  was  substituted. 
Then  true  progress  was  made,  the  best  promptings  of  our 
nature  were  cultivated,  and  we  stored  up,  -with  sweet 
affection  and  sympathy,  the  knowledge  of  our  books, 
for  we  were  guided  b}^  some  magic  spell,  and  our  attach- 
ment grew  stronger  as  the  days  passed  by. 

How  sad  were  we  all  when  we  were  told  by  the 
teacher  to  close  up  and  pack  our  books,  for  tlie  term  was 
over  !    How  we  wept  as  we  kissed  her  and  said  good-by, 

1  INIarch  13,  1895.  Attending  a  funeral  in  the  neighborhood,  I  met 
an  old  school  comrade.  Captain  Tim  Curtis,  who  reminded  me  of  tliis 
and  similar  incidents,  as  we  conversed  of  our  boyliood  days  —  almost 
seventy  years  ago. 


THE   TRIBE   OF    JESSE.  17 

and  watched  lier  steps  as  she  ascended  the  hill  leading 
to  her  hoarding-place  !  Oh,  that  I  could  go  with  her 
and  live  and  love  forever !  Sobbing  myself  to  sleep 
that  night,  I  awoke  very  early,  dressed,  and  stole  out 
from  the  company  of  my  three  brothers,  who  still  slept 
in  the  great  square  chamber,  into  the  sweet,  clear  sum- 
mer air.  The  song  of  the  birds  greeted  me  as  I  sped  on, 
and  my  heart  beat  fast,  and  my  spirits  Avere  buoyant, 
for  I  was  soon  to  meet  once  more  the  dear  love  I  longed 
for.  How  quickly  I  ran,  and  how  short  the  distance 
between  us !  Soon  I  was  standing  outside  the  door 
waiting.  Farmer  Wallace  coming  out,  surmised  my 
errand,  and  said,  "  You  want  to  see  the  schoolmarm, 
I  guess."  "  Yes,  sir,  I  do,"  1  replied,  with  a  tear  in  my 
eye.  She  was  called,  and  we  met  once  more,  and  then 
she  kissed  me  a  long  farewell.  She  was  leaving  for  a 
land  far  away.  A\^hen  the  frosts  of  autumn  came,  her 
delicate  constitution  yielded  to  pulmonary  disease,  and 
her  spirit  took  its  flight.  But  the  joy  of  sweet  remem- 
brance will  cluster  around  that  angelic  form  while  all 
else  of  earth  shall  vanish;  and  in  the  "sweet  bye-and- 
bye,"  I  trust  I  shall  be  again  blessed. 

"  I  heard  a  voice  long  years  ago, 
A  voice  so  wondrous  sweet  and  low : 
Oh,  my  love,  I  loved  her  so!  — 
My  love  that  loved  me  long  ago." 

Father  was  an  early-riser :  not  much  sleep  after  four 
o'clock  for  him.  No  astronomer  loved  more  to  bask 
in  the  glory  of  the  heavenly  bodies  on  a  summer's  night. 
He  also  delighted  in  witnessing  the  sun's  first  rays,  for 
his  well-laid  plans  for  the  farm  work  formed  a  stimulus 
to  healthy  action.  The  older  boys  were  detailed  for  spe- 
cialties, and  the  younger  ones  had  to  obey  their  com- 


18  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

mands  —  for  "  father  said  so  "  ;  and  we  all  clieerfully 
fell  into  line  and  vied  with  each  other  to  do  our  duty  — 
to  work  M'ell  and  fast.  The  short  term  of  school  in 
winter  over,  we  hied  to  the  woods  to  do  some  logging, 
cutting  and  hauling  the  season's  supply  of  fuel ;  the 
best  clear  butts  of  hemlock,  chestnut  and  pine  were 
taken  to  the  old  saw-mill — -still  in  existence  near  the 
Hardscrabble  station  built  by  grandfather  —  and  con- 
verted into  lumber,  boards,  shingles,  clapboards,  fence- 
posts,  etc.  This  work  was  done  while  the  sledding  was 
good,  and  large  piles  of  sled-length  wood  wei'e  heaped 
up  near  the  liouse.  Then  followed  the  lal)or  of  cutting 
it  into  shorter  lengths  for  the  open  fire-place  and  stove, 
splitting  and  piling  it  up  in  a  loose  manner  till  it  tow- 
ered to  the  height  of  eight  or  ten  feet.  Here  it  was  al- 
lowed to  remain  for  the  sun  and  wind  to  dry  it  before 
it  was  piled  up  in  the  shed  for  future  use. 

]\Iost  of  the  people  in  our  region  not  having  funds  to 
purchase  whale  oil  for  illuminating  purposes,  resorted 
to  the  dipping  of  candles.  At  the  close  of  the  butclier- 
ing  in  autumn,  the  tallow  was  tried  out  and  placed  in 
an  iron  pot  or  kettle,  and  was  kept  warm  by  pouring 
boiling  water  into  it,  the  tallow  rising  to  the  top ;  a 
dozen  or  more  cotton  strings,  which  were  to  serve  as 
the  wicks,  Avere  placed  on  a  stick  in  order,  al)out  one- 
and-a-half  inches  apart,  and  all  were  let  down  into  the 
liquid  and  held  for  a  moment,  then  hung  out  to  cool. 
This  process  was  repeated  about  twenty  times  until 
tlie  lot  were  considered  of  sufficient  size  for  real  tallow 
caudles,  and  it  was  tlien  ready  for  burning. 

Notices  were  read  in  church,  of  prayer  and  conference 
meetings  which  Avould  be  held  at  the  North  School- 
house  and  commence  at  "  early  candle  lighting." 

But  at   times  even  this  luxury  of  candle-light  was 


THE    TRIBE    OF    JESSE.  19 

denied  us,  and  we  youngsters  therefore  sought  and  ob- 
tained from  the  ground,  the  roots  of  some  piteh-pine 
stumps,  whose  trunks  had  been  utilized  long  since  for 
lumber.  These  tieasures  were  put  to  good  use  during 
the  long  winter  evenings  while  reading  over  our  school 
lessons.  At  one  time  Brother  IJen  and  I  had  brought 
from  pasture  to  our  door-yard  a  wheelbarrow-load  of  the 
roots  —  the  result  of  an  afternoon's  struggle.  Brother 
Asa  claiming  some  interest,  said  as  he  placed  his  finger 
upon  the  log  under  the  uplifted  axe,  "  Cut  right  there." 
It  was  done,  and  away  went  a  portion  of  the  index 
finger.  Oh,  then  there  was  music  that  could  not  lind 
room  in  the  gamut !  This  was  a  mark  for  life,  wliich  in 
after  years  much  inconvenienced  him  in  playing  his 
'cello. 

Brother  David  returning  from  a  visit  to  Boston  at  one 
time,  on  the  road  learned  the  trick  or  secret  of  manu- 
facturing "  Loco-foco "  matches.  Space  w^as  soon 
cleared  in  the  old  shop;  proper  tools  for  cutting  the 
maple  timber  into  strips  Avere  made ;  and  wlien  ready 
Brother  Ben  was  given  a  chance  in  this  "  trust."  I  felt 
glad  to  help,  so  dipped  into  the  brimstone  as  first  process. 
Then  came  the  dip  into  the  composition,  a  black  sul> 
stance  covering  the  end  of  the  stick  ;  after  that,  the 
trial  of  igniting  on  a  piece  of  doubled-over  sand-paper, 
wdiich  proved  a  match  for  the  match,  and  fire  flew.  I 
thought,  ''  No  more  trouble  with  covering  up  the  coals 
at  niofht ;  no  more  runnino'  to  the  neio-hliors  l)ecause 
our  fire  is  out ;  no  more  snapping  the  flint  over  lint." 
A  mighty  revolution  was  at  hand.  There  was  a  hidden 
million  in  it,  and  why  the  brothers  did  not  continue  in 
the  new  calling  I  never  knew.  They  miglit  not  have 
been  monopolists  or  Ijloated  bondliolders.  l)ut  they  cer- 
tainly were  the  leading  match-makers  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. 


20  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

I  think  all  our  brothers  were  good  mechanics  and 
quite  ingenious  inventors.  They  could  do  all  repairing 
on  the  farming  implements,  could  build  a  house,  walled- 
in  the  farms ;  and  as  farmers  they  were  experts  in  fruit- 
raising,  and  always  kept  the  lands  in  as  high  a  state  of 
cultivation  as  was  possible  on  the  sterile  soil  of  New 
Hampshire. 

Almost  all  boj^s  have  a  mark  of  some  sharp  tool  on 
their  hands  or  limbs,  some  scratch,  as  a  result  of  im- 
prudences. I  have  the  scar  of  a  hatchet  and  a  sliave 
near  together,  on  my  left  forelinger.  So  we  are  taught 
by  experience  to  avoid  trouble.  If  in  the  moral  Avorld 
we  are  as  foi'tunate,  we  may  escape  some  flagrant  l)lun- 
cler ;  but  the  healing  may  be  a  part  of  God's  economy, 
and  we  escape  as  by  the  skin  of  our  teeth,  so  that  if  we 
become  angels  in  the  ages  to  come  we  may  be  allowed 
to  look  with  gratitude  on  our  condition. 

Spring,  summer,  autumn  and  winter,  in  season  and 
out,  we  continued  the  work  on  the  farm  —  ploughing, 
sowing,  mowing,  hoeing,  reaping  and  harvesting  the 
crops  as  they  ripened,  keeping  up  our  rehearsals  all  the 
time. 

Jacob  of  old  could  not  have  been  more  proud  of 
his  numerous  household,  than  our  dear  father,  kno\vn 
throughout  the  town  as  "  Uncle  Jesse."  All  the  boys 
were  obedient  and  interested  in  the  enterprises  of  the 
farm.  The  members  who  were  not  away  from  home 
were  gathered  after  the  meal  in  the  morning  to  listen  to 
the  reading  of  the  Bible  and  prayers.  He  was  a  devout 
man,  and  the  whole  world  came  in  for  a  sliare  of  his 
petition,  all  classes  being  recommended  to  the  Merci- 
ful. Then  we  hied  to  our  allotted  task.  "With  some 
pressing  job  on  liand  we  would  Avork  in  gangs  of  six 
or  eight  or  ten,  and  vie  with  each  other  to  do  a  smart 


THE   TRIBE    OF   JESSE.  21 

job,  so  tliat  we  coiikl  secure  father's  appi'oval.  To  him 
six  faithful  days  work  was  enough  to  merit  a  day  of 
rest ;  and,  therefore,  though  Sunday  dawned  on  tired 
bodies,  all  gladly  repaired  to  the  worsliip  in  the  Baptist 
Church. 

We  had  three  large  pews  Ijesides  one  hundred  free 
seats  on  the  sides  of  the  gallery,  which  father  and  Uncle 
Andrew  retained  when  they  sold  the  remaining  pews ; 
but  we  boys  found  places  in  the  choir  seats  and  with 
one  of  the  brothers,  Joshua,  as  chorister,  sang  to  tlie 
acceptance  of  the  visible  if  not  the  invisible  spirits. 
Brother  Asa  was  too  young,  or  rather  his  voice  was  so 
low  that  he  could  not  sing  the  common  boy's  voice,  the 
alto,  so  being  in  the  pew  Avith  father  and  motiier,  he 
found  a  vent  for  his  desire  for  music  by  rubbing  his 
forehead  on  the  back  of  the  pew,  causing  it  to  vibrate, 
which,  mingled  in  with  the  other  iiistruments,  as  the 
double  bass,  caused  a  quite  noticeable  effect,  producing 
cheerful  remarks  from  the  hearers. 

At  the  age  of  seven  I  had  learned  many  hymns  of  my 
mother,  and  at  the  church  I  took  my  phxce  in  the  choir, 
and  carried  my  part,  the  alto,  ere  I  could  read  a  note  of 
music.  At  the  rehearsals  my  voice  was  quite  conspicu- 
ous for  clearness,  and  older  singers  would  add  a  word  of 
praise,  as  I  would  sound  out  above  the  loudest  person, 
the  hymns  of  Watts  and  other  poets. 

As  I  have  said,  3-ears  before  fatlier  and  Uncle  Andrew 
had  built  a  Baptist  Church,  so  all  of  the  family  were 
early  indoctrinated  with  the  tenets  of  that  persuasion, 
and  when  but  ten  years  old  I  was  labored  with  by  the 
proselyters  of  that  faith  and  was  induced  to  connect 
myself  with  the  church.  I  w^as  enrolled  as  a,  member 
in  good  standing.  This  was  in  1831.  I  had  then  been 
a  singer  in  the  choir  for  three  years. 


22  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

My  mother,  feeling  an  impulse,  acknowledged  that 
there  was  the  same  good  class  in  all  denominations,  and 
cheerfully  remarked  to  her  son  at  one  time  that  she  felt 
that  she  was  an  Orthodox,  Presbyterian,  Congregation- 
alist,  Methodist,  Universalist,  Quaker,  Baptist. 

For  many  years  hop-raising  was  followed  on  the  farm. 
Each  spring  poles  were  to  be  selected  throughout  the 
forest,  of  a  suitable  size  for  that  purpose.  Shaving  these 
long,  small  sticks  occupied  our  spare  days  during  the 
spring  wliile  the  sun  was  getting  higher  in  the  heavens. 
As  soon  as  the  frost  was  out  of  tlie  ground,  in  witli  the 
plow,  prepare  the  earth,  open  up  the  last  year's  hills, 
prune  the  superfluous  vines  or  roots,  apply  tlie  fertili- 
zers, then  re-cover  with  earth  to  wait  the  time  when  the 
poles  should  be  set,  two  to  a  hill.  When  this  was  done, 
the  Avhole  field  presented  the  appearance  of  an  army 
with  fixed  bayonets  awaiting  a  charge.  This  proved  a 
lucrative  business,  but  throughout  the  long  summer 
until  the  last  of  August,  when  the  crop  was  gathered, 
required  much  hard  work.  Some  love  and  poetry  clus- 
tered around  the  picking  and  drying;  the  girls,  in  a 
merry,  social  mood,  stood  around  Avith  us ;  clutching 
the  vines  and  stripping  the  hops  into  large  heaps  in  the 
well-filled  boxes.  Then  would  come  the  merry  song 
and  march  to  the  house,  as  the  bell  or  horn  would  sound 
the  signal  for  dinner.  The  menu  was  very  simple  — 
corned-beef,  cabbage,  brown -bread,  vegetables,  some- 
times pudding,  and  plenty  of  baked  sweet-apples  and 
milk  for  supper,  with  now  and  then  a  piece  of  white-oak 
cheese. 

My  oldest  brother,  David,  succeeded  in  getting  the 
contract  of  working  the  large  three-acre  hop-field  for 
one  season  ;  and  the  time  for  gathering  the  crojD  having 
come,  I,  though  quite  young,  inquired  of  David  what  he 


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THE    TRIBE    OF    JESSE.  23 

would  pay  for  the  services  of  a  big  bo}-  like  me,  being 
anxious  to  take  part  in  the  good-cheer  of  the  occasion. 
He  replied,  "•  I  will  board  you  for  what  you  can  do,  or  I 
will  give  you  one  cent  for  the  term  and  you  board  3'our- 
self.''  I  was  on  liand  when  the  morning  came,  and  told 
him  I  woidd  take  him  up  on  his  first  offer,  reasoning 
that  it  would  save  father  that  much  if  I  could  earn  my 
board.  For  more  than  two  weeks  I  labored  on,  realiz- 
ing that  boys  must  have  their  promotion  very  slow,  and 
then  only  when  they  grow  or  strike  for  it;  but  I  made 
sure  of  a  good  time.  In  the  evenings  we  sang  our 
hymns  and  psalms  together.  Among  the  pickers  was 
one  quite  talented  girl,  Lorena  Smith,  who  amused  the 
rest  by  playing  her  violin,  one  of  her  favorite  pieces 
being,  "  The  Old  Hen  Calling  her  Chickens  over  tlie 
Wall "  ;  and  the  illustration  she  gave  was  a  good  imita- 
tion.    These  exercises  made  our  joy  complete. 

The  time  passed  merrily  away,  and  we  Avere  sorry 
when  the  pickers  left  for  their  several  homes.  The  hops 
were  finally  dried,  baled  and  sold,  and  as  David  Ijrought 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  and  exposed  them  to  view  in  a 
quart  tin  basin  —  fully  a  hundred  dollars  in  silver  halves 
and  quarters  —  I  suppose  I  manifested  a  rather  covetous 
spirit  as  he  withdrew  the  tempting  sight,  following  him 
with  my  eyes.  He  soon  stepped  forward,  and,  holding 
an  old-fashioned  copper  cent  between  his  thumb  and 
finger,  requested  me  to  accept  this  as  a  gratuity  in  con- 
sideration of  my  faithful  two  weeks'  labor.  What  was 
accepted  as  a  perquisite  then  with  gratitude,  would  later 
have  been  spurued  ;  but  in  our  youth  we  learned  not  to 
despise  the  day  of  small  things. 

"  Oh,  the  merry  days,  the  merry  clays  when  we  were  young. 
Where  the  boy's  will  is  the  wind's  will,  and  the  thoughts  of  youth 
are  long,  long  thoughts." 


24  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

A  respected  citizen,  the  fisherman  or  angler  of  the 
neighborhood,  Avith  his  rod  and  line,  would  pass  our 
house,  and,  by  instinct  or  sympathy  with  the  finny  tribe, 
was  sure  to  have  success  in  the  brook,  lake  or  river. 
He  seemed  to  know  the  holes  where  to  drop  a  line,  and 
at  evening  Avould  delight  to  show  his  luck  to  those  who 
were  compelled  to  stay  behind.  "When  he  laughed  the 
welkin  rang,  and  through  the  neighborhood  around  the 
people  were  refreshed.  At  first  the  dread  that  some 
wild  beast  had  broken  loose  from  a  menagerie  and  was 
roaring  for  its  mate  would  possess  the  minds  of  the 
hearers ;  1)ut  as  the  tone  died  away  after  a  prolonged 
"  Ha-a-a-a,"  out-rivalling  anything  of  the  four-footed 
kind,  then  we  all  took  a  Ijreath,  and  would  shake  his 
hand  as  we  would  ask  him  where  he  was  going  to  fish 
next  time,  and  if  he  would  take  us  for  luck. 

Sometimes  we  coveted  the  leisure  of  our  poorer  neigh- 
bors. Generally  they  had  patient,  hard-working  wives, 
who  did  more  than  their  part  in  the  support  of  the  fam- 
ilies. We,  however,  could  get  off  sometimes  for  the 
sport  of  fishing  after  our  stints  were  done.  What  en- 
joyment it  was  for  me,  alone  or  in  company !  One  day 
I  watched  one  of  the  neighbor's  boys  on  the  bank  of  the 
river  at  the  mouth  of  the  brook,  sitting  in  a  catching 
mopd  with  his  fish-pole  and  line,  and  I  said  to  myself, 
"  O  dear,  he  will  catch  all  the  suckers  and  chubs,  and  I 
must  wait  till  my  rows  are  hoed  !  "  The  labor  finished, 
how  fast  I  leaped  over  the  intervening  meadow,  stop- 
ping long  enough  by  the  low  ground  to  get  fresh  worms, 
and,  in  a  bound  up  the  river  bank,  I  was  by  the  side  of' 
the  fisher.  I  saw  nothing  had  been  caught ;  and  lo,  in 
the  deep  hole  were  daintily  swimming  aj'ound  the  hook 
of  this  boy  (''  Rid,"  as  we  called  him)  a  school  of  fish. 
In  went    mv   freshlv-l>aited    hook,   cautiouslv    moving 


THE    TRIBE    OF    JESSE.  ZO 

toward  the  largest  one  ;  the  mouth  opened,  and  I  had 
him,  first  dangling  at  the  end  of  my  line  and  then  upon 
the  ground,  safe.  How  proud  1  felt  I  In  again,  and  out 
came  another.  Not  a  word  was  s^)oken  between  us  ;  my 
luck  was  a  mystery  to  him.  In  the  space  of  tAventy 
minutes  I  had  secured  eight  of  the  hungry  ones,  Avhen 
up  got  the  boy  and  walked  sullenly  away  liome  ;  and  I 
could  onl)'  say  in  condolence,  "  Fisherman's  luck ! " 
Moral,  stick  to  your  promised  task  and  bide  your  time, 
but  use  fresh  bait  when  you  fish.  Later,  we  Hutchin- 
sons  were  made  fishers  of  men,  and  made  successes  in 
proselyting. 

Judson,  four  years  my  senior,  purchased  for  three 
dollars  a  violin  o'f  a  neighbor,  Dimond  Pearsons,  and 
paid  for  the  same  by  raising  vegetables.  This  was  when 
he  was  about  sixteen  years  old.  Encouraged  hy  him,  I 
followed  suit,  bought  one,  and  paid  for  it  in  beans  of 
my  own  raising ;  and  Ave  began  playing  duets.  Some 
time  subsequently,  Asa,  our  younger  brother,  had  the 
gift  of  a  violincello  from  AndrcAV,  Avhich  was  once 
played  in  the  Old  South  Church  in  Boston. 

We  Avere  discouraged  from  practising  our  instruments 
in  the  house,  and  so  sought  the  field ;  and  many  a  good 
rehearsal  Ave  had  by  the  side  of  the  large  granite  1)Oul- 
der  about  one  hundred  rods  from  the  hoase.  Those 
rock  concerts  can  never  be  forgotten.  Ph(snix-like  tlie 
once  despised  viol  of  our  ancestors  came  up  from  the 
ashes  as  it  Avere,  and  Avas  restored  to  favor,  so  Avinning 
the  respect  of  our  stern  parent  that  we  Avere  permitted 
to  come  l)ack  to  the  house. 

Later,  Brother  Judson  and  I  joined  the  brass  l)and ; 
he  chose  the  tenor  and  I  the  bass  trombone,  and  our 
playing  was  much  approved.  I  never  Avas  moi-e  elated 
in  singing  before  tlie  most  popular  audiences  than  liead- 


i. 

26  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

ing  witli  this  band  of  twelve  chosen  musicians  a  com- 
pany of  infantry  on  the  march.  How  everybody  sprang 
to  the  doors  and  windoAvs  !  the  small  boys  rnshing  into 
the  streets,  following  the  trail.  How  the  music  "  en- 
thused "  all  in  the  towns  where  we  played !  '*  Tippi- 
canoe  and  Tyler  too,"  "  Hard  Cider,"  "  Log  Caljin,"  etc., 
all  made  up  the  campaign  of  1840 ;  and  the  Whigs 
elected  William  Henry  Harrison  in  opposition  to  Van 
Buren.  How  the  speakers  worked  !  "  Long  Tall  "  Wil- 
son, for  instance,  with  coat  and  scarf  off,  sounding  his 
stentorian  voice  as  he  faced  the  Avind  and  his  hearers 
for  three  long  hours. 

Daniel  Wel)ster,  also,  was  active  in  this  campaign.  I 
well  recall  my  hrst  sight  of  him,  at  a  gathering  in 
Francestown.  He  was  tlien  in  his  prime,  tall,  Avith  mag- 
nificent presence  and  noble  face,  his  form  clad  in  a  l)lue 
coat  and  brass  buttons,  and  a  resplendent  vest  of  buff 
material.  The  speakers  in  this  campaign  Avere  fully  as 
eloquent  as  those  in  tlie  campaign  for  Harrison's  grand- 
son, a  half-century  later.  The  processions,  especially 
those  of  the  Whigs,  Avere  great  affairs,  Avith  the  log- 
cabins  on  AA'heels,  and  barrels  of  hard  cider  for  free  dis- 
tribution to  all  Avlio  came,  and  veterans  of  tlie  Kevolu- 
tion  seated  on  the  team. 

In  our  l)and  Ave  had,  of  course,  to  play  for  both  politi- 
cal i^arties,  first  for  the  Whigs  and  then  for  the  Demo- 
crats. As  the  music  Avas  purely  national,  Ave  considered 
that  good  taste  was  not  violated  in  so  doing.  At  one 
time  Ave  serenaded  General  James  Wilson  in  his  tent  at 
Concord.  He  acknoAvledged  the  compliment  by  offering 
us  brandy  in  tin  dippers.  To  me  it  seemed  rank  and 
disagreeable  stuff,  and  I  simply  smelled  and  tasted  of  it, 
and  then  threw  it  aAvay.  Some  of  the  boys,  I  grieve  to 
say,  seemed  used  to  it.     To  my  unsophisticated  political 


THE    TEIUE    OF    JESSE.  27 

mind,  there  seemed  a  good  deal  of  unnecessary  fuss  in 
all  this  speaking-  and  parade. 

At  a  convention  at  Wilton,  Colonel  Stephen  Peabody, 
a  prominent  man  of  our  town,  and  for  a  long  time 
inspector  of  hops  for  our  neighborliood,  presided. 
Colonel  Peabody  was  prominent  in  all  the  intellectual 
activities  of  our  region.  At  this  particular  meeting  in 
Wilton,  he  rose  to  introduce  a  Revolutionary  veteran, 
and  in  most  glowing  terms  referred  to  the  services  ren- 
dered the  young  nation  by  the  men  of  seventy -six,  one 
of  whom  he  was  glad  to  present  to  them  — "  What's 
your  name,  sir?  "  he  added,  abruptly  turning  to  the  old 
soldier.  His  memory  had  failed  him  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  make  his  peroration  appear  laughable  enough. 

Drunkenness,  or  the  drink  habit,  constantly  infested 
every  town,  village,  hamlet,  neighborhood  with  which 
we  were  conversant.  No  station  or  condition  was  ex- 
empt from  its  blighting  influence.  Summing  up  the 
injury  that  has  befallen  the  human  race,  and  after  long 
personal  experience  and  observation,  I  am  persuaded 
that  the  better  portion  of  the  body  politic  who  have 
had  their  patience  tried  to  the  highest  tension,  may 
now  demand  of  law-abiding  communities  what  lias  been 
refused  for  centuries  —  an  improved  state  of  affairs, 
making  peace  triumph,  and  order  to  replace  disquiet, 
drunkenness,  confusion  and  anarchy.  I  believe  it  the 
duty  of  the  present  generation  to  diligently  labor  to 
so  improve  conditions  that  coming  generations  shall  not 
inherit  this  incumbrance  ;  and  I  abjure  all  the  clergy  of 
the  land  to  fail  not  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  with 
precept  and  example,  to  help  establish  man  again  in 
his  primitive  condition  —  not  that  they  shall  advise  men 
to  love  and  heed  their  spiritual  well-ljeing  the  less,  but 
to  work  in  the  present  vineyard  the  more,  and  emphasize 


28  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

the  sentiment,  "  Tliy  kingdom  come,  Thy  will  be  done 
on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven."  • 

I  recall  one  man,  who  gave  instructions  on  the  violin, 
or  professed  to.  My  brother  and  myself  were  induced 
to  become  his  pupils  ;  but  after  a  lesson  or  two  his  love 
of  the  art  and  occupation  were  well-nigh  sacrihced  and 
bartered  away  for  the  pleasure  of  the  dram-shop.  He 
so  neglected  his  duty  that  we  tired  of  the  effort  to  excel 
under  his  tuition  of  bow  and  brandy.  The  bar  of  Bux- 
ton's Tavern  was  too  interesting  to  this  person  of  loose 
habits,  whose  will  had  become  an  easy  prey  to  appetite 
and  waywardness.  His  relatives  were  thrifty  and  in- 
dustrious people.  One  was  a  banker,  and  was  trusted 
and  honored  by  all  to  the  end.  "  Some  for  honor  and 
some  for  dishonor."  Both  men  were  exposed  to  the 
same  temptation,  but  one  resisted.  So  I  claim  this  habit 
becomes  criminal  and  the  indulger  should  be  dealt  with 
accordingly,  and  should  not  cumber  the  ground  upright 
citizens  should  occupy. 

The  drink  habit  was  almost  universal  in  our  neigh- 
borhood and  town.  Old  New  England  rum  was  the 
white-faced  devil  that  tickled  the  palate  of  more  or  less 
of  the  careless  individuals  comprising  the  population. 
It  was  considered  a  deplorable  scourge  by  the  better 
part  of  the  community. 

"  Deep  curse  of  mankind, 
How  remorseless  the  blast." 

Scenes  of  squalor  characterized  the  drunkard's  home, 
as  they  have  from  time  immemorial  —  a  lack  of  thrift, 
and  total  neglect;  rags  and  old  hats  taking  the  place  of 
the  panes  of  glass  that  had  been  rudely  dashed  out ; 
together  with  the  sad  countenances  of  wife,  mother  and 
half-clad  children. 


THE    TRIBE    OF    JESSE.  29 

"  How  often,  oh,  how  often  in  the  daj's  that  have 
gone  by,"  was  I  sent  on  an  errand  of  mercy,  taking  ahns 
to  one  poor  afflicted  family  whose  father  had  ceased  to 
provide  and  was  a  notorious  sot.  Sometimes  I  would 
meet  him  on  the  road,  staggering  to  or  from  his  old 
board  house.  At  other  times  I  would  lind  him  in  a 
corner  upon  the  floor. 

The  family,  one  by  one,  were  put  out  to  be  brought 
up  by  strangers  ;  and,  strange  to  rehite,  only  one  of 
this  family  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father,  while 
the  others  grew  to  manhood,  and  proved  to  be  men  of 
energy,  capability,  thrift  and  reliability. 

When  sober  this  head  of  the  family  was  considered  a 
most  capable  mechanic  and  expert  blacksmith  and 
pleasant  companion.  Oftentimes  did  we  refuse  to  give 
answer  to  his  pleadings  for  a  drink  of  cider. 

He  chanced  to  come  into  the  mowing-tield  one  day ; 
and  it  Avas  suggested  that  he  was  in  a  right  condition  to 
take  up  a  bumble-bee's  nest  that  was  located  in  a  little 
patch  of  grass  which  was  still  standing  in  the  field  that 
had  been  mowed.  With  reckless  courage  he  volun- 
teered at  once  to  encounter  the  stiiig.  Dropping  on  his 
knees  in  the  presence  of  the  nest,  and  thrusting  his 
hands  down,  he  began  rubbing  the  bees  between  liis 
fingers,  to  the  amusement  of  the  lookers-on.  One 
moment  up  would  go  one  'hand  to  the  side  of  his  face  or 
to  the  top  of  his  head,  wherever  there  was  exposure,  for 
the  bees  were  flying  in  every  direction.  The  rum  that 
was  in  him  ceased  to  be  of  sufficient  potency  to  answer 
as  an  antidote  to  the  sting  of  the  bee  ;  he  rose  and 
rushed  away  in  a  very  excited  state,  grasping  hold  of 
some  hay  which  he  swung  aliout  him  until  the}^  were 
dispersed.  In  spite  of  the  misery  he  was  in,  he  seemed 
to  enjoy  the  feat,  and  regretted  that  there  was  not 
another  nest  to  break  ud. 


30  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

"  No  drunkard  can  inherit  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 
"  Look  not  tliou  upon  the  wine  when  it  is  red,  when  it 
giveth  its  color  in  the  cup." 

"0  Rum,  what  hast  thou  done  f 
lluined  mother,  daughter,  father,  son." 

Who  is  there  that,  taking  a  retrospective  view  of 
tlie  calamities  that  have  befallen  the  race  of  human 
beings  for  more  than  half  a  century,  could,  with  anj'  de- 
gree of  propriety  and  excuse,  say  that  the  cause  of  pro- 
hibition of  this  terrible  traffic  and  the  closing  of  the 
dram-shops  of  the  country  should  not  prevail  ?  And  to 
be  consistent  with  our  common  love  and  estimation  of 
the  race  of  good  citizens  and  true  philanthropists,  we 
should  put  forth  strenuous  efforts  to  relieve  humanity 
from  this  deep  curse  of  mankind. 

"I've  met  with  a  beggar  in  rags. 
Who  asked  for  a  trifling -sura ; 
I  will  tell  you  the  cause  why  he  begs, 
He  once  was  a  lover  of  rum. 

"Ask  prisons  and  gallows  and  all 

AVhence  most  of  their  customers  come. 
From  whom  they  have  most  of  their  call ; 
They  will  tell  you  from  lovers  of  rum." 

"  But,  0  Eum,  the  time  will  come. 
When  the  nation  shall  shout,  'Thy  day  is  done!'" 

An  interesting  character  was  Phenias  Stimpson ;  a 
man  whose  principle  was,  "  Live  and  let  live  "  ;  disposed 
to  treat  everybody  with  civility,  he  served  a  useful  part 
in  his  occupation  and  trade  as  a  shoemaker  and  cobbler. 
He  was  at  one  time  the  town  clerk.  With  a  degree  of 
culture  in  music,  a  lover  of  harmony  and  psalmody,  he 
taught  many  singing-schools  in  our  little  hamlet.     How 


THE    TRIBE    OF    JESSE.  31 

well  I  remember  tlie  in.structions  that  lie  gave,  and 
taught  with  few  of  the  rudiments,  "  Fa,  sol,  la,  fa,  sol, 
la,  me,  fa."  He  was  noted  for  his  good  cheer  and  kind 
spirit,  and  was  ever  ready  to  second  any  occasion  of  fun 
and  amusement. 

I  have  sat  Avith  a  degree  of  satisfaction  in  the  little 
shop  by  the  bridge  waiting  for  some  small  job  of  cobbling 
that  he  was  doing  for  me,  and  listening  to  his  1mm  and 
whistle  as  he  used  the  awl  and  drew  the  waxed-end 
through  the  sole  of  the  shoe.  The  tune  was  ahvays  a 
merry  and  cheerful  one. 

A  little  misfit  in  the  pair  of  calfskin  boots  which  he 
had  taken  great  pains  to  make  and  deliver  to  me  the 
day  before  my  marriage  caused  me  great  inconvenience. 
The  right  foot  was  quite  cramped,  but  having  no  other 
foot-gear,  I  was  oliliged  to  wear  them  on  my  wedding 
tour,  and  from  that  cause  I  have  worn  a  swollen  joint 
on  my  right  foot  for  fifty  years.  Few  men  who  on  their 
honeymoon  have  got  in  as  tight  a  place  can  boast  of  as 
little  inconvenience  during  half  a  century  of  married 
life. 

Milford  had  one  citizen  who,  though  a  "  real  live  Yan- 
kee "  in  his  ancestry  and  lialnts,  was  a  thorough  Ililjer- 
nian  in  some  of  his  remarks.  "I  have  been  sick,"  said 
he  one  day,  "and  had  the  brain  fever  in  my  head  —  the 
worst  place  I  could  have  had  it."  He  bought  a  barrel 
of  crackers,  so  he  could  have  some  when  he  got  out. 
He  also  said  he  liked  to  have  bells  on  his  sleigh,  so  he 
could  see  in  a  dark  night.  Said  he,  "I  mean  to  be 
buried  in  the  ncAV  buiying-gronnd,  if  I  live."  "  I  saw 
a  lot  of  muskrats,"  said  he  one  day,  "  swimming  n'l/ht 
in  the  water." 

]Master  Knight  taught  a  country  school  not  far  dis- 
tant from  our  locality.     He  AA'as  a  very  amial)le,  appre- 


32  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

ciative  and  capable  teacher.  He  once  related  a  circum- 
stance that  took  place  during  the  reading  of  the  Scriptr 
ure  one  mornino-.  It  was  the  rule  of  the  school  that  it 
should  be  read  by  what  is  termed  the  "•  first  class," 
which  comprised  usually  the  older  boys  and  girls,  and 
those  who  could  read  readily  the  language  of  the  Bible. 
An  ambitious  youth,  who  considered  himself  competent 
because  of  his  large  size,  kept  in  the  first  class,  and  hav- 
ing little  knowledge  of  letters,  secured  a  bright  little 
lad  that  belonged  in  anotlier  class  to  assist  and  prompt 
him  while  the  Scripture  was  being  read.  The  class  was 
requested  to  turn  to  the  Book  of  Job,  chapter  two.  The 
scholars  who  preceded  tins  ignoramus  read  correctly 
and  properly  until  it  came  liis  turn.  The  young  prompter 
was  crouched  right  at  hand  where  he  could  plainly  see 
the  words,  and  in  a  whisper  he  said,  ''  And  the  Lord  "  ; 
and  the  brave  avoirdupois  student  repeated  the  words 
in  a  loud  voice,  "  And  the  Lord  "  ;  then  in  a  soft  voice 
again,  "  smote  Job  with  sore  boils  "  ;  then  came  the  con- 
fident voice  attempting  to  repeat  the  words,  "  And  the 
Lord  shot  Job  with  four  great  balls."  The  lad,  profanely 
witty,  replied  to  himself  in  a  soft  tone,  ''  H — 1  of  a 
charge,  wan' t  it ! "  And  again  the  voice  sounded  out 
through  the  school-room,  ''  Hell  of  a  charge  wanted." 
This  was  enough ;  the  whole  school  was  in  a  roar  of 
laughter ;  the  teacher,  closing  the  book,  said,  "  The  fur- 
ther reading  of  the  Scripture  this  morning  will  be  de- 
ferred," while  in  a  short  conclusive  prayer  he  said,  "■  Oh 
Lord,  we  thank  thee  for  everything.     Amen." 

Black  as  the  ace  of  spades,  a  tall,  welhproportioned, 
athletic,  uneducated  but  witty  African,  came  early  into 
the  neighborhood,  at  the  abandonment  of  the  slave  sys- 
tem in  Massachusetts,  and  was  a  convenient  neighbor 
and  servant,  working  among  the  different  agricultural 


THE   TRIBE    OF   JESSE.  33 

districts  of  Amherst  and  Milford.  He  was  quite  con- 
spicuous on  public  occasions,  like  trainings,  musters  and 
holidays,  with  the  '•'  b-hoys  "  who  were  fond  of  scuftling 
and  wrestling.  He  was  always  brought  into  the  ring- 
under  the  influence  of  a  glass  or  two,  which  was  freely 
furnislied  him,  was  sufficiently  bold  and  sprightly,  and 
could  bring  down  to  tlie  amusement  of  all,  almost  any 
of  those  selected  to  scuffle  or  wrestle. 

Some  wag  had  learned  of  a  resolution  made  by  some 
woman  in  a  family  not  far  away,  who  had  been  dis- 
carded by  her  lover.  She  vowed  in  her  madness  at 
being  jilted,  ''  I'll  marry  the  first  man  that  proposes." 
This  individual  hastened  down  to  inform  the  black  man 
of  the  matter,  saying  "  Miss  So  and  So  is  very  fond  of 
you,  and  if  you  hasten  before  any  one  else  and  make  a 
proposition  for  marriage  —  you  will  find  her  a  white 
woman  —  she  will  accept."  Consequently,  this  colored 
man  dressed  himself  in  his  best  overalls,  repaired  to  the 
house,  and  boldly  made  his  proposition ;  and  to  his 
great  delight  the  lady  agreed  that  he  should  be  her 
suitor.  Subsequently  they  married,  and  the  result  was 
that  instead  of  one  black  man  in  our  neighborhood, 
there  soon  grew  up  five  boys  and  two  girls  of  a  ligliter 
hue.  They  lived  in  comparative  isolation  ;  and  although 
the  inhabitants  treated  them  with  proper  consideration 
and  courtesy,  still  they  considered  the  match  a  ques- 
tionable one. 

Some  of  the  boys  learned  trades,  others  were  put  to 
work,  and  in  the  district  schools  were  allowed  to  come 
in  with  the  other  scholars,  yet  there  was  observable  a 
notal)le  reservation  and  withdrawing  from  the  common 
plaj's  and  sports  of  the  children.  One  day,  one  of  the 
sons,  who  was  a  very  agreeable,  pleasant  man,  speaking 
familiarlv  of  his  relation  and  his  condition,  said  he  would 


34  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

suffer  to  be  skinned  alive  if  he  could  rid  himself  of  his 
color. 

Each  one  of  the  boys  was  athletic  and  dexterous, 
whenever  they  were  put  in  competition  with  an  antago- 
nist. They  were  fond  of  music.  One  played  a  'cello  or 
bass  viol,  and  was  accepted  as  a  musician  throughout 
the  surrounding  villages. 

The  father  would  trap  for  fur.  Some  individual  up 
to  tricks,  desiring  to  surprise  him  with  good  luck, 
learned  where  he  had  set  his  "figure-four"  along 
the  banks  of  the  brook,  and  placed  a  dead  cat  in  his 
trap,  leaving  most  of  the  body  in  plain  view.  Early  in 
the  morning  he  observed  the  trapper  heading  for  the 
bank.  He  spied  the  animal  at  a  distance,  and  making  a 
standstill,  uttered  these  sentiments  in  the  hearing  of 
the  detective,  supposing  that  he  liad  a  valuable  fur  in 
his  trap.  He  halted,  threw  up  liis  hands  in  expression 
of  awe  and  delight,  and  he  said,  "  Now  CcCsar'U  have 
some  spending  money  ;  now  Coesar'll  go  to  muster  ;  now 
Csesar'll  get  drunk  if  he's  a  mind  to,  and  if  he  ain't  a 
mind  to  he'll  get  drunk."  He  passed  on,  and  to  his 
consternation  found  only  the  bod}-  of  a  house  cat. 

"  Fond  memory  brings  the  light  of  other  days  around  me." 

Friends  and  neighbors  I  loved,  who  dwelt  on  either 
side  of  the  Souhegan,  made  the  margin  dear  with  friend- 
ships and  loving  associations.  On  the  north  and  south 
of  this  stream  once  lived  the  Haywards,  Hutchinsons, 
Pearsons,  Burns,  Bartletts,  Wallaces,  Averills,  Pea- 
bodys,  Crosbys  ;  the  Lovejoys,  Ramsdells,  Fullers,  Simp- 
sons, Buxtons,  Knowltons,  Gosses,  Holts,  Kings,  Tur- 
ners, Captain  Kain,  Dunklins,  Fosters,  Putnams,  ]\Iillses 
and  Knio-hts. 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  35 

1131884 

CHAPTER   II. 

BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG 

"  We  have  come  from  the  mountains, 
We've  come  down  from  the  mountains, 
Ho,  we've  come  from  the  movintains 
Of  the  okl  Granite  State  ! 

We're  a  band  of  brothers, 

We're  a  band  of  brothers, 

We're  a  band  of  brothers  ! 

And  we  live  among  the  hills." 

All  through  my  bo^-hood,  while  engaged  in  labors  on 
the  farm,  I  had  prophetic  dreams  or  visions  of  scenes 
representing  experiences,  which  in  after  years  proved 
real.  I  saw  our  company  standing  and  singing  to 
numerous  audiences,  heard  the  plaudits  and  compliments 
as  they  dispersed,  and  witnessed  the  gathering-in  of 
piles  of  money  —  gold,  silver  and  quantities  of  paper. 

We  early  manifested  dramatic  talent,  and  readily 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  elocution.  The  old  North 
school-house  entertainments  became  so  popular  that  we 
soon  had  requests  to  exhibit  in  the  village  academy. 
We  could  sing  our  songs,  play  our  several  instruments, 
act  as  prompters,  stage  managers,  costumers. 

On  Thanksgiving  Day,  1839,  the  Hutchinson  Family 
appeared  together  in  public  for  the  lirst  time.  Jesse 
had  come  up  fi'om  Lynn,  and  Andrew  from  Boston,  to 
celebrate  the  day.  The  plan  of  a  free  concert  in  the 
Baptist  Church  originated  with  Joshua  and  Jesse,  each 
a  choir-leader  and  music-teacher.      Andrew  demurred, 


36  THE    HUTCHINSON   rA:MILY. 

on  tlie  ground  that  he  could  not  spare  the  time  from  his 
business,  but  was  tokl  by  Joshua  that  he  tmist  stay,  and 
rehearsing  immediately  commenced.  The  advertising 
consisted  of  two  slips  of  paj)er,  one  posted  on  the  old 
Town  House,  and  the  other  at  the  bridge  : 

The  eleven  sons  and  two  daughters  of  the  "  Tribe  of  Jesse  " 
will  sing  at  the  Baptist  Meeting- House  on  Thanksgiving  even- 
ing (it  seven  o'clock. 

It  was  an  anxious  time  for  us  all,  but  the  older 
brothers  secured  "  Squire  "  S.  K.  Livermore  to  speak  on 
"  ]\[usic,**  and  the  minister,  Rev.  J.  G.  Richardson,  so 
that  the  concert  might  be  interspersed  Avith  speakers 
and  not  fall  through.  Grandfather  Leavitt,  with 
father  and  mother  were  present,  and  sang  with  us  on  the 
old  chorals.  The  church  was  packed  with  s^anpathetic 
listeners,  and  our  hymns,  anthems  and  glees  were  enthu- 
siastically received.  The  next  day  Brother  Joshua 
went  to  Ezekiel  Mills,  the  sexton,  to  pay  for  the  use  of 
the  church.  He  pushed  him  away,  saying,  ••'  The 
people  of  IMilford  owe  ^o?i."  The  minister  wrote  the 
concert  up  for  the  Fanner's  Cabinet,  and  after  father's 
decease,  the  notice  was  found  carefully  preserved  among 
his  choice  papers. 

After  our  band  was  organized  we  began  to  dis- 
cuss with  earnestness  the  plan  of  giving  public  con- 
certs, and  by  the  time  the  school  term  of  that  year, 
1841,  closed,  our  plans  were  all  made.  Previous  to  this 
we  had  heard  words  from  father  tliat  never  were  spoken 
to  us  before.  Asa  and  I  were  the  two  youngest  boys, 
and  not  Ijeing  able  t(^  do  our  usual  chores  al^out  the 
farm,  owing  to  our  attention  to  studies,  he  said,  •■'  After 
the  school  term  closes,  I  want  you  boys  to  provide  for 
3"ourselves  "  ;  which  acted  as  a  spur  toward  independent 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  ^i 

action.  We  notified  fatlier  of  our  intention  to  leave 
the  work  on  the  farm  and  seek  our  fortunes  in  some 
other  vocation.  Getting  his  consent,  he  giving  us  our 
time,  we  packed  the  sparse Ly-hlled  trunks  and  bags  of 
clothing  in  the  one-horse  sleigh,  and  he  drove  Asa  and 
me  to  Lynn,  where  we  arrived  after  a  fifteen-hours'  drive 
of  fifty  miles. 

Arriving  in  Lynn,  we  met  three  of  our  brothers  who 
had  preceded  us.  Jesse,  who  had  left  home  several 
years  before,  was  established  there,  manufacturing  and 
selling  stoves,  and  doing  a  successful  business  in  tin  and 
liardware.  He  was  also  the  inventor  of  improvements 
in  the  manufacture  of  air-tight  stoves.  Joshua  had 
come  from  jNIilford,  and  Judson  from  Boston. 

On  consultation  with  our  brothers,  we  decided  to  give 
a  public  concert,  and  the  old  Sagamore  Hall  was  secured. 
(This  Avas  one  of  the  old  landmarks  of  the  city,  and  re- 
mained standinof  until  buitied  in  the  o-reat  fire  which 
desolated  Lynn,  November  26, 1889.) 

With  a  degree  of  timidity  and  embarrassment  we 
started  in  on  our  first  number,  before  a  respectable  audi- 
ence, which  had  asseml)led  to  see  what  Jesse's  brothers 
could  do  as  singers,  Jesse  Avas  very  solicitous  for  our 
success.  We  were  comparative  strangers,  while  he  had 
mingled  with  them  all  and  was  well  acquainted.  The 
concert  was  a  great  success,  as  evinced  by  the  frequent 
applause  throughout  the  programme  to  the  final  strains. 

I  said  to  my  brotliers,  "  We  need  more  discipline  and 
more  culture."  We  therefore  went  to  Boston,  feeling 
that  if  we  were  to  follow  the  business  of  ofivinof  concerts, 
we  nuist  have  more  practice,  and  that  if  we  could  get 
into  some  good  business  to  earn  our  living,  and  still 
practice  at  the  same  tiine,  we  should  be  better  able  to 
please  the  public  and  ourselves. 


38  THE    HUTCHINSOX    FAMILY. 

We  made  a  call  on  Dr.  Lowell  Mason,  the  great  musi- 
cal composer  and  teaclier,  then  in  tlie  height  of  his  fame. 
He  hurriedl}^  gave  us,  in  reply  to  our  request  for  advice 
in  regard  to  vocal  culture,  a  recommendation  to  use  his 
recent  publication,  a  new  singing-book  called  the 
"  Academy  of  Music,"  and  expressing  no  further  interest 
in  our  welfare,  resumed  his  labors  writing  nuisic.  Say- 
ing no  more,  we  departed  with  no  material  satisfaction. 
The  urgent  necessity  he  was  under  to  fulfil  the  great 
obligation  to  the  public  resting  upon  him  ^e  deemed 
sufficient  excuse  for  his  action.  Since  then  we  have 
had  our  own  experience  with  intruders.  As  time  ])assed 
on.  Dr.  ]\Iason  spoke  before  his  class  in  higli  terms  of 
the  Hutchinson  Family's  manner  of  singing,  the  great 
harmony  they  made,  and  the  best  manner  of  proceeding 
with  pul)lic  concerting,  style  of  music,  etc.,  as  illus- 
trated by  our  career. 

We  then  waited  upon  Prof.  George  James  Webb, 
who  received  us  most  courteously ;  and  when  the  sug- 
gestion was  made  of  our  joining  the  Handel  and  Haydn 
Society,  he  desired  to  hear  us  sing.  He  selected  a  new 
piece  of  music  and  sat  at  the  piano  to  accompany  us 
while  we  sang,  each  taking  his  diiferent  part  according 
to  the  rule.  At  the  conclusion  he  arose  and  approv- 
ingly said,  *••  I  should  be  pleased  to  propose  3'ou  to  the 
society."  He  gave  us  a  notice  of  a  meeting  they  were  to 
have  the  next  week.  My  brother  Judson  and  I  accepted 
the  invitation  and  were  present  at  one  evening's  re- 
hearsal. We  retired  from  the  meeting  with  a  feelinsf 
that  it  would  not  be  to  our  advantage  to  join  them. 
Subsequently,  after  an  absence  from  our  boarding-house 
on  Purchase  Street,  we  learned  that  Mr.  Webb  had 
called  and  inquired  for  us,  with  the  expressed  purpose  of 
soliciting  our  patronage  as  members  of  the  society.     We 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  39 

debated  some  time  l)efore  giving  an  answer,  but  linalh' 
considered  that  by  becoming  members  we  should  lose 
our  identity  (as  we  had  somewhat  light  voices,  which 
would  be  drowned  by  their  style  of  chorus  singing),  und 
declined  the  offer. 

We  hired  a  capacious  room  on  Purchase  Street,  Boston, 
where  we  did  our  own  cooking  and  kept  a  bachelor's 
hall. 

Jesse  was  engaged  as  a  compositor  in  the  Advertiser 
office  on  Court  Street ;  and  thinking  I  might  like  the 
business,  I  went  with  him  to  look  for  a  job.  Jesse  still 
kept  his  store  in  Lynn,  but  came  to  Boston  to  keep  us 
company.  The  Advertiser  office  was  up  in  the  top  of  a 
five-story  building,  and  to  reach  it  we  had  to  climb  the 
long  stairs  (tlie  luxury  of  elevators  was  not  then 
known),  through  dark  hall-ways.  Before  we  reached 
the  top,  I  said  I  guessed  I  \A-ould  not  go  any  farther, 
turned  around,  and  so  retired  and  left  him  in  his  glory. 
I  then  tried  sawing  wood  and  peddling,  but  felt  all  the 
time  that  I  was  out  of  my  element.  One  young  cox- 
comb offered  to  loan  me  twenty  dollars  to  buy  a  hand- 
cart. 

I  finally  engaged  myself  to  a  grocer  for  eight  dollars 
a  month  and  board.  Part  of  my  duty  was  to  tend  bar 
and  sell  liquor  by  the  glass,  which  was  very  repugnant 
to  me.  This  was  immediately  before  the  Temperance 
Reformation,  and  it  was  customary  to  keep  a  bar  in  all 
grocery  stores. 

All  this  time  we  kept  up  our  practising  and  rehears- 
ing, meeting  each  week  in  a  hall  at  the  corner  of  Pearl 
and  Purchase  Streets,  over  the  store  of  Brother  Andrew, 
who  had  been  in  Boston  ten  years  or  more.  Here  the 
Universalist  Society  held  their  services,  and  Judson  Avas 
leader  of  the  choir.     Rev.  Mr.  Spier  supplied  the  pulpit. 


40  THE   HUTCHINSON  FAMILY. 

Across  on  the  opposite  corner,  the  Rev.  George  Rip- 
ley preached  Unitarianism,  advocated  the  doctrine  of 
Fourierism,  and  taught  the  brotherliood  of  man.  He 
later  established  the  Brook  Farm  experiment,  and  was 
afterwards  for  maiiy  years  literary  editor  of  the  Neiv 
York  Trilnme. 

Finding,  as  we  thought,  that  we  could  not  make  any 
further  progress  in  Boston,  we  decided  to  retreat  to 
Lynn.  How  glad  I  was  to  escape  that  fiendish  liquor 
business,  as  it  looked  to  me  I  Availing  myself  of  an 
honorable  discharge  from  my  employer,  I  felt  light- 
hearted  and  encouraged,  believing  that  I  could  once 
more  enjoy  freedom  of  conscience,  dancing  and  shouting 
for  joy  tliat  I  was  out  of  rum-selling. 

Asa  joined  Jesse  in  his  stove  business,  tin  and  plumb- 
ing, and  Judson  and  I  started  a  small  grocery  store  of 
our  own.  Tlie  stores  of  the  four  brothers  M'ere  side  by 
side,  where  the  Sagamore*  Hotel  now  stands  on  Union 
Street,  in  Lynn,  and  we  went  on  with  success,  for  the 
business  Avas  not  then  overdone.  The  little  grocer}^ 
store  that  we  occupied  is  still  in  existence,  having  been 
moved  to  Pearl  Street;  and  as  I  recently  purchased 
some  goods  at  this  store  of  the  grocer,  I  reminded  him 
that  fifty  3^ears  had  elapsed  since  my  brother  and  myself 
kept  that  store,  occupying  the  room  above  as  our  sleep- 
ing and  singing  apartment.  We  still  continued  our 
economical  habits,  cooking  our  own  food  and  retiring 
aloft  to  partake  of  the  menu. 

To  facilitate  our  business,  I  purchased  a  horse  for 
seven  dollars,  a  superannuated  liarness  and  Avagon  for 
seven  dollars,  and  with  my  fourteen-dollar  team  started 
an  express  route  in  conjunction  with  the  grocery 
store.  Several  times  a  week  we  brought  goods  from 
Boston  from  the  store  of  Brother  Andrew,  who  kept  a 
wholesale  concern. 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  41 

Tliougli  we  labored  diligently  at  our  lousiness,  we  still 
kept  up  our  musical  practice,  and  chartered  a  hall  at 
the  corner  of  Union  and  Silsbee  Streets,  where  we  went 
into  sj'stematic  training. 

We  provided  ourselves  with  the  best  music  published 
in  Boston  —  "The  Kingsley  Social  Choir,"  "The  ^o- 
lian  Lyre '' ;  and  I  sent  by  express  the  last  dollar  I 
had  to  Oliver  Ditson's  pul)lishing  house  in  Boston,  for 
the  cantata,  "  The  Maniac,"  paying  twelve  and  a  half 
cents  express. 

On  Sunday  we  joined  our  voices  Avitli  the  choir  of  the 
First  Universalist  church,  Avliere  Jesse  was  chorister ;  and 
with  instrumental  music,  two  violins  and  a  'cello,  we 
made  the  welkin  ring,  and  enjoyed  it  as  much  as  tlie 
listeners.  Some  slight  momentary  altercation  occun-ed 
between  the  brothers,  and  to  Jesse's  criticism  we  took 
exception ;  and  as  some  singers  have  been  known  to  do 
before,  we  absented  ourselves  one  Sunday  from  the  or- 
chestra. 

Sitting  in  the  body  of  tlie  church,  I  was  dee^dy  im- 
pressed with  the  singing  of  the  choir.  Toweling  above 
the  noise  of  the  instruments,  their  voices  pealed  forth 
clarion  notes  that  thrilled  me,  as  it  did  the  congregation, 
with  delightful  surprise.  I  was  especially  charmed  with 
the  sweet  trumpet  voice  of  my  brother  Jesse.  It  was 
most  captivating  to  hear,  and  I  felt  proud  of  him.  I 
said  in  my  heart,  "No  feud  shall  more  disturb  us." 
Union  and  harmon}^  Avas  restored,  and  the  brothers  Jud- 
son,  Asa  and  I,  were  again  invited  to  take  our  positions 
in  the  choir  on  the  following  Sunday. 

During  this  period,  Hawkins,  the  reformed  druidc- 
ard,  came  to  Boston  and  inaugurated  the  great  Wash- 
ingtonian  movement.  We  at  once  allied  ourselves 
with  tlie   temperance    cause,  took  the  pledge,  and  on 


42  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

all  public  occasions  we  sang,  ^  We   are  all   Wasliing- 
tonians." 

During  the  early  stages  of  the  reform,  the  Old  Deacon 
Giles  distillery,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  ^yas  converted  into  a 
temperance  hall,  and  here,  at  a  grand  temperance  rally, 
we  first  sang  the  trio  composed  by  Brother  Jesse, 
called  — 

KING  ALCOHOL. 

King  Alcohol  has  many  forms 

By  which  he  catches  men  ; 
He  is  a  beast  of  many  horns, 

And  ever  thus  has  been. 
There  is  rum  and  gin,  and  beer  and  wine. 

And  brandy  of  logwood  hue ; 
And  these,  with  other  fiends  combined, 

Will  make  any  man  look  blue. 

CHORUS. 

He  says,  "  Be  merry,  for  here's  your  cherry. 

And  Tom-and-Jerry  and  port  and  sherr}-. 

And  spirits  of  every  hue." 

Oh,  are  not  these  a  fiendish  crew. 

As  ever  a  mortal  knew  ? 

Then  came  into  the  arena  the  immortal  John  B. 
Gough,  with  whom  we  fully  sympathized.  Such  advo- 
cates as  Hawkins  and  Gough  in  the  field  of  battle  against 
rum  should  have  gained  a  great  victory.  Half  a  cen- 
tury has  elapsed,  and  the  great  doctrines  of  tempei-ance 
have  been  promulgated  and  advocated  by  thousands  of 
reformers.  Still  the  driidc  habit  continues  the  deep 
curse  of  mankind. 

In  the  autumn  af  1841  I  hired  a  suitable  carriage, 
packed  it  full  of  sucli  wares  as  I  thought  would  be  sal- 
able — ■  confectionery,  gingerbread  and  other  eatables  — 
and  invited  two  of  the  members  of  tlie  Lynn  Band,  Mr. 
Fisher,  cornet,  and  Frank  Lydston,  portrait  painter  and 


BEGIXNIXGS    OF    SOXG.  43 

trombone  player,  to  go  with  me.  We  left  Lynn  for  Xew 
Hampshire,  fearless  of  the  consequences.  AVe  drove  all 
night,  reaching  the  homestead  in  New  Hampshire  the 
next  noon,  where  I  had  the  congratulations  of  parents 
and  neighbors.  jNIy  sister  Rhoda,  Avho  was  noted  for 
her  palatable  apple  pies,  supplied  us  with  a  dozen  or 
two  of  this  delicious  food  and  packed  us  off.  Vie  started 
for  the  muster-field  at  Goffstown,  N.  H.  Here  my  com- 
rades sought  for  an  engagement  to  l)lay  with  the  mili- 
tary band,  and  were  successful  in  obtainino^  a  small  one 
enough  to  pay  their  M'ay. 

I  made  a  display  of  my  wares,  and  hung  a  sign  over 
my  carriage  which  read  tlius  :  ''  Walk  up,  gentlemen  ! 
Here  is  your  fine  gingerbread  and  apple  pies,  mead  and 
other  palatable  drinks."  I  secured  a  sufficient  amount 
to  pay  my  expenses.  In  addition  to  my  confectioner}-, 
etc.,  I  had  a  portfolio  of  prints,  which  I  endeavored  to 
peddle  around  the  grounds.  One  was  a  picture  of  the 
steamer  Elections^  the  first  on  the  Sound.  Some  fellows 
came  up  pretending  to  purchase,  and  one  took  hold  of 
the  side  of  the  portfolio  and  suddenly  let  go,  and  my 
pictures  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  wind  Avhile  they  hur- 
ried away,  and  I  had  the  mortification  of  picking  the 
prints  out  of  the  dust. 

Fully  disgusted  Avith  such  experiences,  I  was  con- 
vinced that  my  forte  Avas  something  other  than 
catering  to  a  promiscuous  crowd,  and  after  one  unsuc- 
cessful attempt  at  Woburn,  a  week  later,  I  returned  to 
Lynn. 

Owing  to  our  irregularities  of  living,  lack  of  proper 
diet  and  exposures  over  the  marshes,  driving  a  slow 
team  from  Boston  to  Lynn,  I  took  a  severe  cold  and 
was  obliged  to  go  to  Ijed,  having  been  pronounced  hx 
the  doctor,  sick  with  a  bilious  fever.     I  was  fortunate 


44  THE    HUTCHINSOlSr   FAMILY. 

in  securing-  an  interesting  and  syrapatliizing  nurse,  who 
with  magnetic  tact  and  wisdom,  diligently  watched 
over  me  for  three  weeks,  until  I  was  fully  restored. 
This  gentleman,  now  threescore  years  and  ten,  or  more, 
still  survives,  and  is  no  less  a  man  than  the  Lynn 
caterer,  Mr.  Warwick  Palfray. 

Settling  his  bill,  which  was  two  dollars  a  day  —  and 
that  for  twenty-four  hours  daily  —  and  paying  the  doc- 
tor, who  was  a  proficient  and  expert  practitioner,  I  had 
left  out  of  my  earnings  and  savings  but  seventy-five 
cents  with  Avhich  to  commence  business  anew. 

Tins  was  a  season  of  misfortunes,  and  having  passed 
through  the  whooping-cough,  measles  and  bilious  fever, 
I  beo-an  to  think  tliat  I  was  a  sinner  above  all  others. 

During  my  most  dangerous  condition  father,  being 
solicitous  on  account  of  my  sickness,  came  down  from 
New  Hampshire  to  see  me  and  pray  with  me ;  but 
Avhether  it  was  the  prayer,  or  tlie  laying  on  oi  hands,  or 
the  nurse  that  cured  me,  the  spirits  of  the  air  may  de- 
cide. 

Autumn  came,  and  we  returned  to  Milford  and  gave 
our  first  concert  in  East  Wilton.  Deacon  Bales,  an  old 
friend  of  the  early  years  of  the  Hutchinson  Family,  made 
arrangements  for  our  convenience  and  was  present  at 
the  concert.  The  arrangements  for  a  stage  were  the 
bare  floor  on  a  level  with  the  audience,  with  a  wide, 
rough  pine  board  laid  across  on  the  heads  of  three  bar- 
rels. On  this  board  were  six  half-candles  supposed  to 
last  till  the  end  of  the  concert,  and  they  stood  in  their 
own  grease. 

The  deacon  was  considered  an  old-fashioned-mannered 
man,  enjoying  psalmody,  playing  his  'cello  or  bass-viol 
in  a  S3'stematic  manner.  In  directing  and  pitching  the 
tune   for   the    choir,  he  would   place  his  fingers  upon 


BEGINNINGS   OF    SONG.  45 

his  nose,  press  the  tone  up  into  the  nasal  organ  to  first 
take  tlie  pitch  of  the  tune  which  he  was  to  sing  "'  hx  fawd 
Lx  I  "  Tliis  man  spoke  approving  words  of  our  concert, 
as  we  were  bidding  him  good-by.  In  this  and  subse- 
quent concerts  for  some  time,  we  adopted  the  name  of 
the  "yEolian  Vocalists."  This  concert  netted  six  and  a 
quarter  cents  after  paying  expenses. 

In  these  first  concerts,  we  sang  from  note  and  not  by 
rote,  having  all  our  pieces  arranged  according  to  the 
programme  m  sheet  music.  In  after  years  we  found  this 
Avas  distracting  to  us  ;  so  we  committed  to  memory  all 
the  songs  we  were  to  sing,  and  sang  tliem  with  perfect 
freedom. 

Being  somewhat  affected  with  hoarseness  for  several 
days,  learning  that  pickles  were  good,  at  the  next  con- 
cert we  procured  some,  about  six  or  eight  inches  long ; 
and  between  the  songs  we  would  stoop  down  and  take 
a  bite  and  pass  it  to  the  next.  On  one  occasion  we 
came  pretty  near  strangling  with  the  vinegar. 

We  gave  concerts  at  East  Wilton,  West  Wilton,  Wil- 
ton, Wilton  Centre,  New  Ipswich,  Hancock  and  Peter- 
borough. Returning,  we  found  that  the  expenses  had 
taken  all  except  a  dime,  not  leaving  us  enough  to  pay 
for  the  sleigh  that  we  had  hired  at  twenty  cents  a  week 
of  Brother  Ben.  Tliis  made  Judson  blue,  and  he  said, 
"  If  we  don't  do  better  than  this  next  Aveek,  I'll  relin- 
quish it,  and  give  up  the  whole  thing  as  a  failure." 
"  Better  luck  next  week,"  said  I,  "  in  a  better  neighl)or- 
hood." 

Then  came  a  week's  concert  tour  through  several  of 
the  towns  in  Hillsborough  County.  Small  profits,  Ijut 
lots  of  praise.  We  divided  some  tAvelve  or  fifteen  dol- 
lars. 

Returning   to   Lynn,   Ave   took   Avith   us  our  youngest 


46  THE   HUTCHINSOX   FAMILY. 

sister,  Abby,  then  eleven  years  of  age,  and  hired  Lyceum 
Hall,  on  Market  Street,  for  a  concert.  Friends  gathered 
around  and  arrayed  her  in  a  peculiar  style,  Avith  a  Swiss 
bodice  or  Tyrolean  costume,  giving  her  rather  a  foreign 
air,  and  she  took  her  parts  with  the  rest  of  us  and  sang 
songs  at  some  of  our  country  exhibitions.  Thus  far  we 
had  done  very  little  singing  as  a  quartet,  Ijut  Ave  soon 
found  tliat  adding  her  as  making  up  the  quartet,  served 
to  help  in  Avinning  our  Avay,  and  perfected  the  picture 
as  Ave  stood  before  the  public.  In  the  New  York  Home 
Journal  in  after  years,  N.  P.  Willis  spoke  of  us  as  ''  a 
nest  of  l)rothers  with  a  sister  in  it."  The  Lynn  concert 
proA^ed  a  grand  success. 

Then  Ave  Avent  East,  stopping  at  the  towns  of  Leverl}^, 
Salem,  Ipswich,  Newburyport,  Portsmouth,  Kennel^unk 
and  Saco. 

We  headed  our  programmes  Avitli  these  lines,  by 
Judsbn : 

"  AVhen  foreigners  approach  your  shores 

You  welcome  them  with  open  doors. 

Now  we  have  come,  to  seek  our  lot, 

Shall  native  talent  be  forgot  ?  " 

In  all  of  these  places  a  liA^ely  interest  Avas  aAvakened 
in  our  favor.  In  Portsmouth  Ave  held  three  concerts, 
audiences  increasing  on  each  occasion.  We  sang  in  the 
hall  attached  to  the  American  Hotel,  kept  b}^  Iiarnabee, 
tlie  home  of  Heniy  C.  Barnabee,  the  singer,  son  of  the 
landlord,  Avhose  musical  laui'els  Avere  Avon  in  after  years. 

Arriving  in  Saco  AA^e  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  musi- 
cal person,  Mr.  Priest,  Avho  Avas  considered  then  a  leader 
among  the  singers  of  the  town.  He  attended  our  con- 
certs and  spoke  in  complimentary  Avords  of  them.  We 
stopped  at  the  Temperance  Hotel,  kept  by  Mr.  Tufts. 
A  grand  temperance  rally  Avas  held  during  our  stay  at 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  47 

this  hotel,  and  we  joined  with  the  people.  It  awoke 
considerable  interest  among  them.  Fifty-three  years 
later,  at  a  banquet  of  the  board  of  trade  in  Portland 
where  I  sang,  the  mayor  remarked  that  lie  was  a  son-in- 
law  of  jNIr.  Priest,  whose  daughter,  his  wife,  well  remem- 
bered our  singing  at  the  time  of  which  I  speak. 

Many  friendships  Avere  made  during  this  doAvn-east 
campaign,  which  Avere  lasting  and  renewed  often  in 
after  visits  with  gi'eat  pleasure.  In  each  town  was  a 
cluster  of  sympathizing  hearts,  almost  all  3'oung  in 
years,  who  served  to  awake  sweet  memories  in  later 
days. 

We  repeated  our  concerts  in  the  several  towns  on  our 
return  back  to  Lynn,  starting  late  in  Decemljer.  Re- 
turning to  Lynn  in  February,  singing  about  in  tlie  re- 
gion for  awhile,  Ave  received  a  beseeching  letter  from 
our  father,  expressing  an  earnest  solicitude  for  our  aa'cI- 
fare,  and  desiring  that  Ave  relinquish  our  interests  in 
pul)lic  life.  He  expressed  a  longing  for  us  to  return 
home  and  help  him  on  the  farm,  promising  to  give  a 
deed  of  the  home  farm  to  the  six  youngest  children. 
The  deed  Avas  Avritten,  the  conditions,  that  Ave  Avere  to 
give  up  our  itinerant  life,  take  care  and  provide  for  the 
Avants  of  our  mother  as  long  as  she  liA^ed,  and  continne 
a  peaceful  mode  of  li\ang.  He  advised  us  to  abandon 
aspirations  for  a  matrimonial  life,  Avliich  advice  Ave  ac- 
cepted Avitli  mental  reservations,  and  entered  into  our 
vineyard  of  labor. 

For  some  time  AA^e  lived  together,  sharing  all  things  in 
common,  and  father  looked  on  Avith  a  degree  of  satisfac- 
tion. Many  improA-ements  Avere  inaugurated.  Pudd- 
ings were  moA'ed,  and  some  Avere  torn  doAA'u.  The  old 
hop-house,  AAdiere  Ave  used  to  dry  our  hundreds  of 
AA'eight  of  hops  annually,  had  become  obsolete,  and  was 


48  THE   HUTCHINSOX   FAMILY. 

also  moved  away  ;  that  business  had  been  abandoned  on 
account  of  our  temperance  principles  j'ears  before.  The 
old  homestead  and  farm  was  put  in  thorough  repair; 
new  fertilizers  were  brought  into  requisition  ;■  and  our 
laljors  were  delightful,  as  all  our  interests  were  merged 
into  one  harmonious  relation.  The  goods  from  the 
grocery  store  in  Lynn  we  had  freighted  to  a  store  on  the 
farm. 

It  was  a  pleasure  indeed  to  liave  our  father  so  relieved 
from  the  burden  of  his  great  cares.  That  year  he  cele- 
brated his  golden  wedding,  simply  by  giving  mother  an 
outing.  But  the  musical  charm  was  by  no  means 
Ijroken.  Happy  as  was  that  spring  with  us  young 
bachelors,  and  strong  as  our  domestic  feelings  naturally 
were,  we  determined  to  try  once  again  music  as  a  means 
of  living.  Perhaps  our  musical  impulses  were  a  little 
excited  by  a  circumstance  which  occurred  aliout  this 
time.  Three  young  ladies  of  great  personal  loveliness 
came  to  our  village  from  Lyndeboro  and  Bedford,  for 
the  purpose  of  attending  the  Female  Academy.  Being 
invited,  they  willingly  became  meml^ers  of  the  choir, 
and  very  probably  inspired  the  sensitive  vocalists,  for 
the  music  of  the  sanctuary  so  vastly  improved  that 
crowds  flocked  to  hear  it,  and  the  minister.  Rev.  Abner 
B.  Warner,  exclaimed,  "  How  much  better  I  can  preach 
now : " 

How  well  I  remember  the  singing  of  these  girls ! 
Our  hearts  and  souls  were  kindled  witli  a  flame  of  sacred 
love  ;  Ave  worshipped  at  these  shrines,  and  the  asso- 
ciations ripened  into  harmony.  At  last  we  unitedly 
resolved  to  make  propositions  for  engagement;  and  on 
Saturday  night  each  repaired  to  the  home  of  his  sweet- 
heart, and  asked  the  question,  '•'■  Will  3'ou  be  mine  ?  " 
Tlie  answers  were  to  be  announced  at  our  meetino-  the 


BEGINNINGS   OF    SONG.  -49 

following-  day ;  but  as  the  course  of  true  love  never 
does  run  smooth,  the  order  was  put  in  abeyance,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  abide  on  probation  : 

"  Better,  sorne  adviser  raid, 
To  always  court  and  never  wed." 

So  affairs  went  on,  — -  now  giving  a  concert,  now  get- 
ting in  a  crop.  While  thus  unsettled,  a  gentleman  vis- 
ited us,  and  observed,  after  hearing  us  sing,  ''  Why,  if 
3^ou  managed  rightly,  you  miglit  make  as  much  in  some 
places  in  one  night  as  you  do  here  in  a  year."  This 
stimulated  us  anew,  and,  as  soon  as  the  summer  came, 
once  more  we  commenced  preparations  for  a  new  tour. 

Judson  went  to  Boston,  where  he  purchased  a  second- 
hand family  carryall.  From  Brother  Ben  we  secured  a 
white  mare  which  he  had  taken  in  part-payment  of  a 
debt.  This,  with  the  seven-dollar  bay  horse  which  I 
bought  in  Lynn,  put  us  in  a  good  condition  for  our 
venture.  Judson  took  my  horse  —  which  we  always 
called  our  "-Old  John"  horse — -to  Boston  to  bring  the 
carryall.  In  the  excess  of  his  enthusiasm,  anxiety  and 
humanity,  he  almost  entailed  upon  himself  and  brothers 
a  consideral)le  loss.  Of  a  warm  and  generous  dis[)Osi- 
tion  and  possessed  of  much  feeling  for  animals,  he  de- 
termined to  treat  the  old  horse  in  magnificent  style. 
Arriving  at  a  hotel  some  miles  out  of  Boston  on  the 
road  to  New  Hampshire,  and  imagining  a  hearty  feed 
would  put  him  in  good  condition  and  enal)le  him  to  get 
home  all  the  faster,  Judson  gave  the  steed  a  half-ljushel 
of  oats,  a  peck  of  Indian  meal  and  a  large  cribf ul  of  hay, 
all  in  one  repast.  The  horse,  unaccustomed  to  such 
plenty,  devoured  it  all,  and,  of  course,  suffered  from  the 
banquet.  The  result  was  tliat  Judson  had  to  leave  the 
animal  behind  to  digest  the  monstrous  meal,  and  pro- 


50  THE    HUTCHINSOJf    FAMILY. 

cure  another  horse  to  take  the  carryall  from  Boston  to 
Milf ord.  Prior  to  the  grand  start,  we  —  Judson,  Asa, 
Abby  and  myself  —  gave  a  Fourth-of-July  concert  at 
Nashua,  which  was  very  successful,  in  connection  with 
Mr.  Lyman  Heath,  from  whom  we  received  some  admir- 
able songs  of  his  own  composition.  The  friendly  advice 
of  this  gentleman  was  of  much  service.  After  this  we 
set  out  on  our  northern  tour,  "  sublime  of  hope  and  con- 
fident of  fame." 

As  Ave  passed  on  our  way,  David  happened  to  l)e 
working  in  his  fields,  and  hearing  us,  he  paused,  leaned 
over  his  fence  and  shouted,  "•  Remember,  boys,  noise  is 
not  music  !  " 

Having  no  travelling  agent,  we  sent  our  bills  by  mail 
or  by  friends. 

Our  personal  property  was  thus  disposed  of  :  a  bag 
with  our  clothing  Avas  placed  in  the  carryall ;  the  violins, 
without  cases,  were  hung  inside  ;  and  the  bass-viol  was 
strapped  on  the  top ;  the  little  liair  trunk,  containing 
Abby's  simple  wardrobe,  was  on  the  rack. 

Many  a  night  did  we  travel  to  meet  engagements  — 
often  sleepy  and  cold,  and  longing  for  the  luxury  of  a 
bed.  Nor  were  we  exem[)t  from  })erils  during  some  of 
these  midnight  excursions.  The  roads  were  strange, 
and  whenever  a  guide-post  was  found,  Judson,  the  tall- 
est of  the  party,  was  deputed  to  examine  and  report 
thereon.  Once  we  had  a  narrow  escape.  During  a  very 
dark  night  the  horses  stopped  all  of  a  sudden.  Judson, 
who  was  ever  on  the  watch,  instantly  jumped  from  the 
carriage ;  Ave  AA^ere  on  the  verge  of  a  precipice  ;  and  had 
not  the  animals  instinctively  stopped,  our  progress  might 
have  ended  in  a  "  Dead  March." 

Arriving  at  Concord,  Ave  gave  concerts  and  Avere  A^ery 
favorably  receiA^ed.     Here  Ave  became  acquainted  Avith 


BEGINNINGS   OF    SONG.  51 

X.  p.  Rogers,  editor  of  the  Herald  of  Freedom^  ^vllo  in 
his  journal  devoted  a  column  to  a  criticism  of  our  per- 
formances. jMr.  Rogers  was  always  a^  warm  and  judi- 
cious friend  of  the  Hutchinsons.  He  wrote  admirable 
critiques  on  our  performances,  and  repeatedl}-  urged  us 
to  sing  the  thrilling  songs  of  liberty  and  humanity ; 
some  of  Burns'  patriotic  songs  he  also  recommended.  It 
was  his  ardent  desire  that  we  should  not  be  mere  birds 
of  passage,  but  that  we  should  ever  cultivate  home  affec- 
tions. At  the  time  when  this  good  friend  was  lyiug  on 
his  death-bed  the  Hutchinsons,  then  popular,  happened 
to  be  in  Concord.  Mr.  Rogers  sent  for  us  to  sing  him 
to  sleep.  One  of  us  immediately  repaired  to  the  liouse, 
but  while  waiting  for  admittance  to  his  room  the  last 
sleep  had  commenced.  This  was  October  16,  1846. 
One  of  the  daughters,  by  his  request,  sang  the  ''  Angel's 
Invitation."  All  of  Mr.  Rogers'  family  evinced  great 
musical  talent,  and  Avere  excellent  teachers  of  the  art. 

I  insert  one  of  his  notices  as  copied  from  the  Herald 
of  Freedom,  December  9,  1842. 

THE    HUTCHINSON   SINGERS. 

These  Canary  birds  have  been  here  again,  charming  the  ear  of  our 
Northern  winter  with  their  wood-note  melody.  Four  of  them  are  liere 
out  of  a  nest  of  fourteen.  All  of  them,  I  imderstand,  are  to  fiock  to- 
gether to  warble  at  Nashua  at  our  coming  Thanksgiving,  though  one 
has  to  come  from  Illinois.  The  concert  will  be  worth  the  long  tliglit, 
and  well  worth  a  journey  from  here  there  to  listen  to.  I  had  rather 
keep  Thanksgiving  (if  at  all)  on  the  melody  of  these  birds  than  on  a 
whole  poultry-yard  full  of  dead  turkeys  and  goslins,  wliich  make  up 
the  usual  Thanksgiving  feast,  as  well  as  the  usual  gratitude. 

These  "New  Hampshire  Rainers  "  sung  here  two  evenings  to  rather 
small  audiences.  One  night  they  were  at  an  out-of-the-way  hall,  and 
the  other  night  there  was  a  sharp  snow-storm.  It  would  not  have  kept 
the  people  from  the  Baptist  meeting  to  hear  the  brimstone  melody  of 
Jacob  Knapp,  but  it  kept  them  from  hearing  tlie  simple,  heart-touching 
strains  of  the  "  ^Eolian  Vocalists." 


52  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Perhaps  I  am  partial  to  the  Hutchinsons,  for  they  are  abolitionists. 
It  need  not  affright  them  to  have  it  announced.  It  won't  —  if  it  would 
scare  away  tlieir  listeners  it  would  not  scare  away  themselves.  But  it 
■won't.  Human  nature  will  go  and  hearken  and  be  charmed  at  their 
lays ;  and  the  time  is  coming,  if  it  has  not  come  already,  Mdien  the 
public  conscience  will  feel  quieted  at  the  thought  of  having  heard 
music  from  the  friends  of  the  slave  and  having  patronized  it.  How 
natural  for  music  as  well  as  poetry  to  be  on  the  side  of  humanity  and 
the  captive.  And  how  gloriously  employed  it  would  be  in  humanity's 
special  service.  I  wish  the  Hutcliinsons  had  a  series  of  anti-slavery 
melodies  to  sing  at  their  concerts.  "A  jMarseilles  Anti-Slavery  Hymn," 
for  instance,  with  a  Swiss  "Hans  de  Vasche";  an  English  "Rule  Brit- 
annia " ;  a  Scotch  "  Scots  wha  ha'e  " ;  an  Irish  "  Battle  of  the  Boyne  "; 
or  a  poor  American  anti-slavery  "Yankee  Doodle." 

"Give  me  a  ballad-making  for  a  revolution,"  said  som9  one  of  the 
sages, "  and  you  may  have  all  the  law-making."  What  an  agitation  might 
the  fourteen  Hutchinsons  sing  up  in  the  land  with  all  their  voices  and 
instruments  strung  to  tlic  deliverance  of  the  bondman  !  Would  the 
South  send  on  for  our  General  Court  to  have  them  belieaded  ?  The 
General  Court  would  not  touch  a  feather  in  their  crests  if  they  could 
only  hear  one  of  their  strains, 

A  word  of  the  music  here  the  other  night.  Among  the  songs  sung 
was  "  The  ^Maniac."  I  have  heard  it  recited  with  great  talent,  but  I 
was  ncjt  prepared  to  hear  it  sung.  The  younger  of  the  brothers,  John, 
performed  it  with  appalling  power.  It  was  made  to  be  sung,  I  think, 
rather  than  be  recited  or  acted.  Music  alone  seems  capable  of  giving 
it  its  wild  and  maniac  exjiression.  A  poor  maniac  is  imprisoned,  and 
starts  the  song  at  the  glance  of  the  jailer's  light  entering  his  cell.  The 
despairing  lament  and  the  hopeless  implorations  for  release,  accompa- 
nied with  the  protestations  that  he  is  not  mad,  are  enough  to  break  the 
heart.  It  ought  to  have  been  heard  by  every  asylum  sujierintendent, 
though  they  have  grown  less  of  the  jailer  than  formerly. 

The  airs  were  modern,  most  or  all  of  them  ;  and  though  very  sweet, 
were  less  interesting  to  me  than  if  they  had  been  songs  I  knew.  If 
they  had  had  some  of  tlie  old  songs  intermingled,  I  think  it  would 
better  please  everybody  —  some  of  Burns'  "  Bonny  Doon  "  or  "  Iligli- 
land  Mary,"  for  instance.  Few  professed  vocalists,  however,  could 
touch  either  of  these  without  profanation.  I  think  the  Hutchinsons 
might,  for  they  are  simple  and  natural  in  their  music.  I  should  love  to 
hear  them  warble  : 

"Ye  hanks  and  braes  and  streams 
Around  the  Castle  of  Montgomery." 

Their  woodland  tone,  their  clear  emmciation  and  their  fine  ajiprecia- 
tion  of  the  poetry,  together  with  their  perfect  freedom  from  all  aft'ec- 


BEGIXXIXGS    OF    SONCx,  53 

tation  and  stage  grimace,  would  enable  them  to  do  justice  to  the  great 
Scottish  songster ;  and  it  would  do  the  people  good  to  hear  them  sing 
him. 

"Will  they  take  the  suggestion,  and  when  they  sing  next,  at  least  as 
far  north  as  here,  will  they  sprinkle  their  catalogue  (in  the  singing,  if 
not  in  the  handbill)  with  a  strain  or  two  from  the  glens  of  the  Scotch 
Highlands  1  And  "  Rans  de  Vasche,"  too ;  I  would  venture  to  mention 
to  them  the  "Battle  Chorus";  "The  Lowing  of  the  Cows  upon  the 
Alps,"  that  makes  the  Swiss  exile  mad  when  he  hears  it  in  a  foreign 
land.     Their  spirited  imitation  would  tell  in  that  in  grand  effect. 

( »h,  this  music  is  one  of  God's  dearest  gifts  !  I  do  wish  men  would 
make  more  of  it.  How  humanizing  it  is  ;  and  how  purifying,  elevating 
and  ennobling  to  the  spirit.  And  how  it  has  been  prostituted  and  per- 
verted. That  accursed  drum  and  fife,  how  they  have  maddened  man- 
kind !  And  the  deep  bass  boom  of  the  cannon,  chiming  in,  in  the  cho- 
rus of  the  battle ;  that  trumpet  and  wild,  charging  bugle,  how  they  set 
the  military  devil  into  a  man  and  make  him  into  a  soldier!  Think  of 
the  human  family  falling  upon  one  another  at  the  insjiiration  of  music ! 
How  must  God  feel  at  it,  to  see  those  hari>strings  he  meant  should  be 
waked  to  a  love  bordering  on  divine,  strung  and  swept  to  mortal  hate 
and  butchery  !  And  the  perversion  is  scarcel}^  less  when  music  is  pro- 
faned to  the  superstitious  service  of  sect  —  its  bloodj'-minded  worship, 
its  mercenary  and  bigot  offerings.  How  horribly  it  echoes  from  the 
heartless  and  priest-led  meeting-house  !  But  it  will  all  come  right  by- 
and-by.  The  world  is  out  of  tune  now ;  but  it  will  be  tuned  again,  and 
all  discord  become  liarmony.  When  slavery  and  war  are  abolished, 
and  hanging  and  imprisoning,  and  all  hatred  and  distrust;  when  the 
strife  of  humanity  shall  be  who  will  love  most  and  help  the  readiest ; 
M'hen  the  tyrant  steeple  shall  no  longer  tower  in  sky,  inspiring  con- 
tempt of  humanities,  covering  dwellings  about  its  base ;  when  pulpits 
and  hangmen  and  generals,  gibbets  and  jails,  shall  have  vanished  from 
the  surface  of  the  delivered  earth,  —  then  shall  be  heard  music  here 
where  they  used  to  stand.  The  hills  shall  then  break  forth  into  sing- 
ing, and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  clap  their  hands. 

Other  papers  now  noticed  us  in  most  flattering  terms, 
and  the  sun  of  prosperity  seemed  about  to  ghxiklen  us, 
for  we  did  Avell  and  had  some  little  money  in  liaiid  ;  but 
funds  are  apt  to  fluctuate  and  clouds  obscure  the  sun. 
A  change  came,  and  Ave  were  compelled  for  economy's 
sake  to  make  more  meals  of  codilsh  and  crackers  tlian 
was  altogether  agreeable.     Like  the  babes  in  the  wood, 


54  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

we  sometimes  picked  berries  from  the  hedge-rows,  and 
fancied  we  had  eaten  a  plentiful  dinner.  Imagination 
thus  supplied  the  place  of  fact. 

Little  daunted,  however,  we  went  to  Hanover,  where 
we  were  well  patronized  by  the  Faculty  and  senior  stu- 
dents of  Dartmouth  College.  The  ladies  of  Hanover, 
it  would  seem,  were  a  little  cautious,  for  at  the  first  con- 
cert there  was,  Avonderful  to  say,  not  a  single  bonnet  in 
the  building,  somewhat  to  the  embarrassment  of  the  lady 
vocalist.  But  at  the  second  they  flocked  in  large  num- 
bers, for  all  voices  had  joined  in  the  praise  of  the  Hutch- 
insons. 

Leaving  Hanover,  we  now  ventured  into  Vermont,  in 
order  to  give  the  Green-Mountain  State  a  taste  of  our 
quality  ;  but  fortune  did  not  greatly  befriend  us.  The 
tolls  of  the  roads  were  very  heavy  and  numerous,  and 
in  conse({uence  of  this  and  other  causes,  the  exchequer 
began  to  assume  an  alarmingly  small  appearance.  This 
caused  us  not  a  little  uneasiness. 

We  were  always  glad  when  enough  money  was  re- 
ceived at  the  door  of  our  concert  to  meet  the  daily 
expenditures ;  and  if  a  dollar  or  two  Avere  made  over, 
we  declared  it  a  success.  With  the  kind  wishes  of 
friendship  won,  more  was  in  store  for  us,  for  we  be- 
lieved with  Solomon,  "  A  good  name  is  rather  to  be 
chosen  than  silver  or  gold." 

We  succeeded  in  establishing  a  record  which  rose  up 
to  comfort  in  subsequent  visits.  Kind,  encouraging 
words,  printed  in  the  papers  at  Rutland,  helped  us  and 
partially  established  confidence  among  the  curious, 
doubting  ones  on  our  way. 

Whitehall,  N.  Y.,  was  the  next  town  where  we  at- 
tempted to  hold  forth.  As  we  were  not  heralded,  the 
audience  was  a  motley  crowd,  made  up  of  town  boys  and 


BEGINNINGS   OF    SONG.  55 

men  -who  catch  a  liaiulbill  and  take  a  man  as  tliey  find  him. 
A  few  musicians  and  one  quite  intelligent  colored  man 
were  there.  The  barber  of  the  village,  Brown  .by  name, 
seemed  to  be  the  oracle  of  the  music  circle.  He  boldly 
proffered  his  influence  to  assist  us,  and  advised  anotlier 
concert ;  but  the  inhabitants  heeded  not  the  call,  and  did 
not  come  in  to  swell  our  receipts.  Expenses  at  the 
hotels  were  just  as  exorbitant,  regarding  not  the  least 
the  diminishing  condition  of  our  purse.  This  Mas  a 
blue  season  for  us,  six  weeks  from  home,  and  faith 
growing  weaker.  We  walked  to  the  top  of  the  hill  and 
thought  of  the  martyrs  and  those  Avho  had  suffered, 
hoping  to  gain  consolation ;  but  tlie  present  trouble  was 
our  own,  to  be  realized  and  not  to  leave  us.  To  return 
home  without  accomplishing  our  ol)ject  was  a  disgrace  ; 
to  send  to  friends  for  relief  was  mortifying ;  so  we  re- 
solved to  "  go  forward." 

Just  then  we  came  across  an  old  friend,  a  fellow- 
townsman,  who  some  years  before  had  left  ]\Iilford, 
and  was  on  a  vacation  from  his  Academy  in  Bethlehem, 
N.  Y.,  over  which  he  had  presided  for  some  five  terms. 
This  kind  man,  Mr.  Josiah  Fuller,  gave  us  a  word  of 
cheer  and  invited  us  to  his  town,  and  the  hospitalities 
of  his  Dutch  settlement. 

Bidding  Whitehall  and  the  kind  musical  ones  good- 
by,  we  put  out  for  the  harljors  of  Sandy  Hill  and  Glens 
Falls.  Here  many  friends  were  made,  but  there  were 
small  additions  to  our  sinking  funds.  Leaving  Judson 
and  Abby  and  the  heavy  carriage,  Asa  and  I,  with  a 
lio-ht  vehicle  and  the  old  wldte  mare,  rode  twentv  miles 
to  investigate  our  chances  in  the  land  of  the  medicinal 
waters,  Saratoga  Springs.  It  was  over  a  difiicult,  sandy 
road.  After  several  unsuccessful  attempts  Ave  arranged 
to  hold  entertainments  at  a  pavilion  near  the  recently 


56  THE    HUTCHINSON"    FAMILY. 

discovered  sjjrings.     The  conditions  were  one-lialf  net 
receipts. 

We  hastened  back  to  Glens  Falls  through  the  sand, 
the  most  tedious  road  we  encountered  in  all  the  summer 
route,  fulfilled  our  engagements,  hitched  up  the  team 
and  came  to  the  famous  resort  of  fashion,  frivolity  and 
frizzles,  to  say  nothing  of  frailties.  Twenty-five  jesivs, 
after  I  published  this  song,  presented  to  me  hy  John  Go 
Saxe  : 

WHAT   DO   TIIF.Y  DO   AT  THE   SPRINGS'? 

"Praj,  what  do  they  do  at  the  Springs  ?  " 

The  question  is  easy  to  ask, 
But  to  answer  it  fully,  my  dear. 

Will  be  rather  a  difficult  task. 


Inspiring,  my  darling,  the  drink, 

The  water  so  sjiarkling  and  clear ; 
Though  the  flavor  is  none  of  the  best, 

And  the  odor  exceedingly  queer. 
But  the  fluid  is  mighty,  you  know. 

With  wholesome  medicinal  things. 
So  they  drink,  and  they  drink,  and  thej^  drink, 

And  that's  what  they  do  at  the  Springs. 

In  short,  as  it  goes  in  this  Avorld, 

They  eat  and  they  drink  and  they  sleep  ; 
They  talk  and  they  walk  and  they  woo ; 

They  sigh,  they  laugh  and  they  weep  ; 
They  read,  they  ride  and  they  dance 

(With  other  imspeakable  things)  ; 
They  pray,  they  play  and  they  pay, 

And  that's  what  they  do  at  the  Springs. 

Expecting  to  prolong  our  stay,  we  unloaded,  and 
turned  the  horses  out  to  grass.  Though  sanguine  of 
success  in  the  enterprise,  we  soon  discovered  we  were  a 
side-show,  as  the  pavilion  and  springs  were  then  little 
known  and  the  management  unpopular.      Small  audi- 


BEGIXXINGS   OF    SONG.  57 

ences  assembled,  and  onl}-  a  sprinkling  of  the  moneyed 
class  from  whom  we  had  by  the  novelty  of  our  manners 
and  song,  hoped  to  replenish  our  waning  spirits  and 
wasted  purse.  First  three  nights,  no  dividend  ;  third, 
fourth  and  last,  some  three  dollars  and  seventy-five 
cents  were  handed  us  by  the  doorkeeper  as  compensa- 
tion. We  drank  of  the  bitter  salina  bubbling  from 
the  sparkling  fountain,  as  the  servant  politely  raised  the 
cups  in  the  reservoir  when  we  stood  by  Congress 
Springs  (as  also  at  the  several  others  in  the  vicinity), 
and  saw  from  early  morn  till  late  at  eve  the  throng  of 
invalids  come  and  go,  leaving  a  little  perquisite  for  the 
attendant,  as  they  listened  to  Frank  Johnson's  Philadel- 
phia Band,  discoursing  sweet  music  with  hearty  good 
cheer,  while  anon  a  good  laugh  from  that  inspiring  son 
of  Africa,  came  swelling  up  like  a  refreshing  gust  of 
pure  air  on  a  hot,  sultry  day.  As  the  music  from  his 
bugle  and  1)and  had  suspended  for  a  respite  and  the 
light  gabbering  compliments  were  spontaneously  be- 
stowed upon  this  merry  master  of  music,  Orplieus  must 
have  shook  his  sides  to  see  so  musical  a  soul  flourishing 
amidst  so  shallow  and  heartless  surroundings. 

'Twas  noAV  we  first  observed  our  slave-holdincr  neioh- 
bors,  clothed  in  their  wealth,  displaying  the  elegance  of 
their  equipages,  as  they  rolled  in  extravagance  and 
splendor  on  the  avenues,  while  we  remembered  this 
show  was  the  product  of  the  blood  and  SAveat  of  the 
slave,  who  being  forced  could  do  no  less  than  obey  his 
master  and  submit  to  his  fate.  It  seemed  as  though 
such  inconsistency  could  not  long  survive  in  the  re- 
public. 

Well,  we  looked  and  listened,  and  Ave  also  enjoyed, 
Avhen  Ave  could  forget  our  OAvn  deplorable  misfortunes. 
But  we  had  to  drink  the  bitter  cup  almost  to  the  dregs; 


58  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

for  when  fate  declared  we  must  move  away  to  other 
climes,  when  onr  bills  Avere  adjusted  at  the  lioarding- 
house,  the  old  red  and  wliite  horses  once  more  in  the 
carriage  by  the  door,  Sister  Abby's  little  hair  trunk 
lashed  on  the  back,  the  bass-viol  on  the  top,  the  bag 
with  the  entire  Avardrobe  of  Judson,  Asa  and  nwself  in 
it-!  place  in  the  carriage,  and  we  were  seated  in  it,  up 
eame  an  officer  with  a  charge  that  our  horses  had 
broken  into  his  field,  and  had  committed  sundry  and 
divers  damages.  This  was  a  demand  that  must  Ije  met 
at  once ;  so  groaning  in  spirit,  we  drew  forth  the  only 
money  we  had  and  gave  it  to  him,  and  he  went  off  sat- 
isfied. 

I  Avas  no  Methodist,  but  I  felt  like  taking  off  my  hat 
and  asking  for  a  collection.  Still  a  little  plucky,  yet 
dreadfully  disappointed,  off  we  Avent,  rather  glad  that 
our  case  AA^as  no  worse,  for  Ave  liad  joy  in  our  hearts  in 
the  fact  that  Ave  Avere  together  in  misfortune,  and 
sweet  sympathy  strengthened  us.  These  trials  could 
but  knit  us  closer  together. 

Schenectad}'  Avas  our  next  halting-place,  and  securing 
the  co-operation  of  a  New  England  man,  ^Ir.  Stevens, 
Ave  were  persuaded  to  announce  a  concert  in  the  public 
hall,  to  be  given  free.  Quite  a  large  number  of  men 
and  l)oys  assembled.  We  sang  Avith  considerable  spirit 
and  freedom.  The  hat  Avas  passed  around,  and  the  sum 
of  three  dollars  Avas  collected,  but  on  examination  Ave 
found  one  of  the  bills  Avas  counterfeit.  Availing  our- 
selves of  a  chance  to  earn  a  little  more,  Ave  went  serenad- 
ing with  a  party  of  young  men ;  so  Avith  the  collection 
given  us  we  settled  our  hotel  bill  next  morning,  and 
leaving  valued  friends  behind  Ave  travelled  toward 
Albany.  Arriving  there,  Ave  took  quarters  at  the  old 
DelaA'an  House,  then,  and  for  many  years,  a  famous  re- 
sort of  tra\'ellers. 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  59 

Earnest  for  another  trial,  Ave  contracted  Avitli  the 
polite  Alban}'  caterer,  Mr,  B,  F.  Brier,  to  hold  a  series 
of  concerts  in  his  beautiful  hall. 

During  the  period  in  which  the  series  of  concerts 
were  being  advertised,  we  went  to  Bethlehem  to  spend 
a  few  days  with  our  friend,  Professor  Fuller.  While 
en  route  at  night,  we  came  on  a  strange  road  and  were 
forced  to  inquire  our  way.  Judson,  then  the  pilot,  test- 
ing the  surroundings,  nearly  committed  an  unintentional 
assault  and  battery  on  an  innocent  villager.  With  whip 
in  hand  he  was  about  to  knock  at  the  half-open  door  of 
a  house ;  he  i-aised  the  stick,  but  discovering  a  man 
standing  in  the  doorway  modestly  AvithdrcAV  it,  and 
learning  the  way  passed  on  to  the  home  of  the  Yankee 
school-teacher. 

While  in  Bethlehem  we  joined  in  a  temperance  gath- 
ering and  witnessed  the  destruction  of  the  remnant  of 
a  bar-room.  A  procession  was  formed  at  the  tavern,  and 
we  marched  to  a  hill,  where  the  liquor  was  poured  out 
of  a  demijohn,  and  tire  set  to  it.  We  sang  some  tem- 
perance songs,  and  had  a  jubilee  over  the  downfall  of 
this  potent  instrument  of  Satan  ;  for  we  still  adhered  to 
our  temperance  principles.  A  melanchol}'  mishap 
occurred  here  ;  an  insane  woman  climbed  into  our  car- 
riage in  the  barn,  and  busied  herself  by  tearing  our 
blank  posters  and  programmes  into  little  bits,  leaving 
them  as  rats  or  mice  would  do,  pulverized  for  their 
nests.     We  could  but  pity  and  not  blame. 

These  Dutch  settlers  fed  on  what  they  called  ''  Albany 
beef,"  alias  sturgeon,  a  kind  of  coarse  lish  caught  in  the 
Hudson  River.  We  were  very  lonesome,  for  in  front 
of  the  house  in  the  adjoining  field,  was  the  family  bury- 
ing-ground,  where  were  interred  the  members  of  three 
generations  —  a  solemn  reminder. 


60  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

"  The  marble  doors  are  always  shut; 
You  cannot  enter  in  hall  or  hut. 
Never  in  dreams  to  moan  or  sigh, 
Silent  and  idle,  alone  they  lie." 

And  the  people  seemed  to  glory  in  rolling  o'er  our 
hearts  a  stone,  by  this  burial-ground  always  in  sight. 

Bidding  adieu  to  our  Dutch  and  Yankee  friends,  we 
returned  to  till  our  engagements  in  Albany.  As  before, 
the  effort  as  far  as  finances  were  concerned,  proved  un- 
successful ;  a  small  surplus  at  the  end  of  the  week  was 
handed  us  for  our  labor.  We  found  a  relative  in  the 
city  Avho  extended  us  some  courtesy.  Settling  the  hotel 
bill  we  had  one  shilling  remaining,  when  up  came  the 
ever-importunate  porter  who  pleaded  for  his  usual  per- 
quisite. One  of  the  brothers  handed  him  our  last 
shilling. 

For  a  night  or  two  we  took  cheaper  quarters,  twelve- 
and-a-half-cent  lodgings  on  Broad  Street,  getting  trusted 
for  it,  of  course,  and  obtaining  our  food  as  best  we 
might.  Poverty  stared  us  in  the  face.  We  seriously 
contemplated  disbandment.  A  plan  was  devised  to  sell 
the  team  and  take  money  enough  to  go  home  with  Abby, 
for  we  had  already  kept  her  away  from  mother  beyond 
the  promised  time.  The  lot  fell  upon  me  to  go  with 
her  to  New  Hampshire,  and  leave  Judson  and  Asa,  who 
were  to  put  off  into  the  country  and  work  their  board 
until  my  return. 

In  the  midst  of  these  unsettled  plans,  there  was  a  rap 
at  the  door  and  in  stepped  a  tall  gentleman,  who  intro- 
ducing himself  stated  his  errand.  "  Can  you  remain 
in  the  city  till  next  ^Monday  evening,"  said  he  ;  "  I  will 
give  you  a  hundred  dollars  if  you  will  sing  for  me  that 
evening."  A  simultaneous  smile  passed  around,  and 
was  equally  shared  by  the  brothers  and   sister.     "  A 


BEGINXIXGS    OF    SONG.  61 

liimdred  dollars  all  to  1)e  ours  I  "  "•  Who  can  this  gentle- 
man be?"'  '■•  What  good  spirit  has  been  laljoring  with 
his  OAvn  and  led  him  to  this  place?"  We  had  wit- 
nessed a  kindly-looking  person  at  our  little  concerts,  who 
seemed  very  delighted,  and  the  hearty  cheers  that  came 
from  his  vicinity  were  noticeable.  ''  I  may  be  a  stranger 
to  }'0U,  but  you  are  not  strangers  to  me  ;  I  have  heard  you 
sing,  and  am  very  anxious  our  Albany  people  should 
have  the  same  privilege."  We  consented  to  stay  "very 
muchly,"  and  our  hearts  —  though  our  thanks  Avere 
modestly  expressed  —  were  jul^ilant.  The  dark  cloud 
was  SAvept  away ;  for  this  noble  Scotchman,  Luke  F. 
Newland,  by  his  kind  interposition  at  the  nick  of  time 
had  lifted  our  hopes  into  a  realm  of  joy. 

He  arranged  that  Ave  should  sing  on  the  Sunday  fol- 
loAving  in  three  of  the  principal  churches  in  the  city. 
The  Evening  Journal^  edited  then  by  TliurloAV  Weed, 
announced  the  fact,  Avhile  tAveh^e  prominent  business 
men  allowed  their  names  to  appear  as  high  compli- 
mentary indorsers  of  the  plan,  Avhich  meant  business. 
We  took  the  hint  thus  furnished,  and  ever  after  sang  in 
churches  whercATr  opportunity  Avas  offered. 

In  acknowledgment  of  these  kind  offices,  Ave  were 
iuA'ited  by  an  acquaintance  to  call  around  on  some  of  his 
friends.  He  therefore  took  us  on  a  serenading  expedi- 
tion, and  among  other  calls  we  Aasited  the  liouse  of 
Thurlow  Weed.  Surprising  him  Avith  our  songs  in  tlie 
open  air,  he  iuA'ited  us  into  his  parlor  and  treated  us 
with  the  greatest  courtesy.  After  a  collation,  Ave  bade 
him  good-night  and  departed  Avith  his  blessing,  fully 
satisfied  that  Ave  had  been  introduced  into  the  presence 
of  a  great  and  good  man,  Avhose  principles  and  patriotism 
were  universally  acknoAvledged,  and  sure  that  Ave  had 
made  the  acquaintance  of  one  Avho  at  all  oursul:»sequent 


62  THE    HUTCHINSOX    FAMILY. 

visits  to  Albany,  as  the  sequel  proved,  would  be  fore- 
most in  extending  to  tis  the  freedom  of  the  city,  by 
giving  us  the  influence  and  patronage  of  his  valuable 
pajDer.  Through  the  long  vista  of  years  that  elapsed, 
we  watched  with  intense  interest  his  great  political 
career  —  though  politic,  yet  always  advocating  the  best 
interests  of  his  native  land  and  people.  From  time  to 
time  we  met  and  held  pleasant  converse  with  him,  and 
on  one  occasion  during  his  riper  years,  in  company  with 
my  little  family  and  my  sister  Abb}',  we  visited  him  in 
his  home  in  New  York  City.  We  sang  him  the  old 
song  "  Good  Old  Days  of  Yore."  Though  very  aged 
his  memory  was  good  and  lie  referred  to  this  visit  to 
Albany  long  ago. 

Sunday  morning,  accompanied  Ijy  our  new  sponsor, 
we  were  escorted  to  the  church  of  Rev.  Dr.  Sprague. 
The  house  was  packed,  and  we  sang  our  new  sacred 
songs  with  spirit  and  understanding,  the  congregation, 
in  respectful  acknowledgment,  rising  at  the  conclusion. 
The  pastor  gave  a  notice  of  the  concert,  advising  his 
people  to  go  and  hear  tlie  singers  again.  In  the  after- 
noon we  Avere  taken  to  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church, 
Avhere  a  similar  effect  was  produced,  the  plan  being  in- 
dorsed and  highly  recommended.  At  our  evening 
appearance  the  songs  were  most  enthusiastically  re- 
ceived, and  Rev.  Mr.  Stillman,  a  Methodist  Episcopal 
clergyman,  complimented  the  singing  and  the  singers, 
and  like  the  rest  advised  patronage.  How  gratified 
Avere  we  to  be  thus  received  hy  the  cultured  and 
Christian  citizens  of  the  "  West"  as  we  deemed  it  then. 
The  large  congregation  gazed  with  seeming  admiration 
as  they  lingeringly  passed  l)y  the  orchestra  into  the 
street.  The  duty  of  the  day  was  done,  and  all  were 
satisfied. 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  63 

The  neat,  acceptable  hall  of  the  Albany  Female 
Academy  was  the  scene  of  much  interest  the  night  of 
the  concert,  August  29,  18^2.  Tlie  wealth  and  the  fas]  i- 
ion  of  that  town  were  there,  it  being  advertised  as  a  com- 
plimentary concert.  We  were  introduced  to  as  large  an 
audience  as  could  be  convened,  while  hundreds  were 
crowded  out.  We  were  cheered,  and  every  selection 
sang  elicited  an  encore.  The  evening  passed  swiftly 
away,  and  at  the  conclusion  we  received  inspiring  con- 
gratulations for  our  brilliant  success.  "  God  bless  and 
prosper  you,  my  young  friends,"  came  from  many  of  the 
leading  citizens,  as  they  warmly  shook  our  hands. 

The  programme  consisted  of  selected  and  original 
songs  and  ballads,  with  humorous  ditties,  quartets,  trios, 
duets,  etc.  "  The  Cot  where  we  were  Born,"  "  The 
Grave  of  Bonaparte,"  "  Snow-Storm,"  "  The  Irish  Emi- 
grant's Lament,"  "  Crows  in  a  Cornfield,"  "■  Indian  Hun- 
ter," "  Matrimonial  Sweets,"  "  The  Land  of  Canaan," 
"  The  AngeFs  Invitation  to  the  Pilgrim,"'  "  Alpine 
Hunter's  Song,"  from  the  Swiss,  "  The  Maniac,"  etc. 

We  did  not  attempt  any  pei'formance  that  Ave  could 
not  master.  At  the  suggestion  of  our  amiable  friend, 
Mr.  Newland,  we  doffed  the  assumed  name  which  we 
had  sailed  under,  and  resumed  our  own  family  name. 
"  The  iEolian  Vocalists "  were  no  more,  and  the 
"  Hutchinson  Family  "  thereafter  took  all  responsibility 
of  praise  and  blame.  He  also  suggested  our  giving  up 
instrumental  performances  as  a  prominent  feature  in  the 
programme,  and  only  using  the  stringed  instruments  as 
an  accompaniment  to  the  songs,  thus  making  the 
instrumental  music  subordinate  to  the  voices. 

The  leading  characteristic  in  the  "  Hutchinson  Fam- 
ily's "  singing  was  then,  as  it  always  has  been  since,  the 
exact   balance    of  parts   in  their   harmonies,   each   one 


64  THE   HUTCHIXSOK   FAMILY. 

striving  to  merge  himself  in  the  interest  of  tlie  whole, 
forming  a  perfect  quartet,  which  was  rare  in  those  early 
days.  How  often  have  we  been  questioned,  "  Which  of 
you  l)oys  sings  bass,  tenor  or  the  air?  "  So  united  were 
we  in  our  movements  there  could  be  no  strife  and 
neither's  voice  could  be  distinguished  until  he  arose  and 
sang  a  solo ;  then  the  characteristic  features  of  each 
voice  could  be  identified.  Judson  took  the  melody,  John 
the  tenor,  Abby  sang  a  rich  contralto,  while  Asa  gave 
deep  bass ;  each  being  adapted  by  nature  to  the  part 
necessary  for  perfect  harmony. 

Judson  accompanied  his  own  ballads  with  his  violin, 
while  Asa  with  'cello  and  I  with  violin,  played  accom- 
paniments for  him  also.  Abby  played  no  instrument, 
and  sang  as  did  I,  with  Judson's  and  Asa's  playing. 
The  latter  up  to  this  time  had  not  ventured  any  bass 
solos.  Here  we  left  our  first  original  song  to  be  pub- 
lished ;  and,  not  long  after,  we  saw  the  "  Vulture  of  the 
xVlps,"  a  descriptive  song,  issued  in  sheet  form,  displayed 
at  the  music-store  of  our  ever-to-be-remembered  friend, 
who,  it  should  be  added,  extended  us  as  the  result  of  the 
concert  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars,  more  being  sent 
us  after  we  reached  our  home  in  New  Hampshire.  So 
we  bade  adieu  to  the  precious  friendship  so  pleasantly 
formed,  to  seek  other  climes  and  new  relations.  "  Come 
home,"  said  father  in  his  letters,  and  all  the  household 
repeated  the  same  beseeching  words.  So  we  started  for 
New  England  once  more. 

We  stopped  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  where  we  gave  a 
concert  that  had  heen  arranged  in  advance  by  an  uncle. 
Colonel  Nathaniel  Leavitt,  Avho  had  come  to  our  assist- 
ance, and  was  our  agent  until  we  reached  Boston,  where 
in  due  time  we  arrived,  singing  in  Springfield  and 
Worcester  on  our  way. 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  65 

We  boldly  entered  Boston,  and  advertised  a  grand 
concert  in  the  Melodeon,  at  tifty  cents  a  ticket.  In 
this  concert  we  made  little  money. 

"  How  dare  3^011  come  to  Boston  and  take  that  great 
room  to  sing  in,  and  at  snch  a  price  too  ?  "  asked  that 
hearty,  prepossessing  old  basso  profoundo,  Mr.  Kichard- 
son,  of  the  Handel  and  Haydn  Society,  as  he  accosted 
us  in  rather  a  Jolm  Bull  stj'le  in  the  anteroom,  at  the 
close  of  the  concert.  He  was  literally  the  "  heaviest  *' 
bass  singer  in  the  country,  his  weight  being  upwards  of 
three  hundred  pounds.  I  love  to  see  size  and  sound 
correspond.  (I  sang  tenor  but  admired  bass.)  The 
Handel  and  Haydn  Society  could  boast  of  their  "  La- 
blache,"  as  Avell  as  London ;  and  the  play  was  well  cast 
when  he  sang  in  liis  chosen  part  "  Goliath  of  Gath  "  in 
the  oratorio  of  "  David,"  "  The  youth  as  a  feeble  antag- 
onist,*' "  Come  unto  me  and  I  will  give  thy  flesh  to  the 
fowls  of  the  air  and  the  beasts  of  the  field.'"  Mr. 
Richardson  never  appeared  to  a  better  advantage  ;  still 
the  current  of  sympathy  centred  the  more  on  the  ver- 
dant country  stripling  with  his  sling. 

So  when  we  had  declared  ourselves  and  broken  the 
ice  by  the  first  public  concert  in  the  Athens  of  Amer- 
ica, and,  by  the  novelty  of  our  performance  and  varie- 
gated programme  won  the  commendation  of  the  lovers 
of  music,  our  future  coast  seemed  clear  and  success 
certain.  The  receipts  at  this  effort  reached  very  little 
above  the  expenses,  but  many  valualjle  friends  were 
secured,  among'  whom  was  the  notable  Jacob  Cliicker- 
ing,  the  eminent  pianoforte-maker,  and  Prof.  Benjamin 
F.  Baker,  who  always  expressed  themselves  friends  of 
the  "  Hutchinsons  "  and  of  tlieir  efforts  for  musical  im- 
provement. 

Meeting  Professor  "Webb,  a  man  of  great  culture,  we 


66  THE  HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

solicited  criticism ;  and  to  the  qneiy,  "•  "What  is  3'our 
advice  to  us?"  he  answered,  "Please  yourselves,  my 
boys,  and  you  will  please  the  public." 

By  this  favorable  debut  in  the  most  cultured  city  of 
America,  we  felt  our  efforts  were  well  repaid  and  \\q 
were  ready  for  new  conquests.  The  press  was  in  our 
favor,  and  Ave  felt  true  aspirations  to  devote  our  lives 
to  the  o-reatest  usefulness  in  the  divine  art. 

We  resolved  on  a  visit  to  the  southern  country,  but 
first  we  must  fulfil  our  duty  to  our  parents  and  go  home 
to  New  Hampshire.  After  singing  in  several  of  the 
largest  places  east  of  Boston,  where  we  liad  a  fair  at- 
tendance, we  came  to  Portsmouth  and  found  the  people 
ready  to  greet  their  old  friends  of  a  3'ear's  standing. 
"We  were  pleasantly  entertained  for  a  time  at  the  house 
of  ex-Governor  Levi  Woodbury,  he  riding  ahead  of  us 
on  horseback  as  we  entered  his  grounds.  He  was  then 
a  member  of  Congress  with  a  strong  Granite  State 
Democratic  constituency.  He  worshipped  at  the  shrine 
of  "  Old  Hickory  "  ;  and  while  in  the  mansion,  we  were 
shown  a  lock  of  gray  hair  that  some  Southern  friend 
had  sent  to  the  ex-governor  as  a  memento,  it  having 
been  cut  from  the  head  of  the  hero,  recently  deceased. 
This,  no  doubt,  is  still  cherished  as  an  heirloom  in  the 
Woodbury  family. 

The  Woodbur}-  household  patronized  our  concert 
and  with  most  encouraging  words  advised  us  to  come  to 
the  capital,  Washington,  Avhich  invitation  we  subse- 
quently accepted.  We  were  very  well  received  by 
popular  audiences  at  the  Camenium,  an  amphitheatre- 
shaped  building  which  made,  a  very  pleasant  concert- 
room. 

To  the  ancient  town  of  Portsmouth  we  l)ade  farewell, 
and  takino-  the  citv  of  LoA^ell  in  on  our  route,  gave  two 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  67 

concerts  to  sympathizing  listeners  ;  and  tliis  place  ever 
afterwards  gave  us  a  warm  welcome. 

At  Nashua  we  halted  for  the  last  effort  previous  to 
reaching  our  mountain  home,  for  it  was  now  November, 
1842.  Then  we  sang  once  more  the  precious  "  Sweet 
Home  "  to  and  among  our  own,  while  tlie  old  mansion 
rang  with  shouts  of  "  welcome  home  again,"  all  being- 
gratified  at  tlie  reunion.  Mother  seized  hold  of  her 
darling  child  Abby,  with  a  grasp  that  meant  "  Hence- 
forth you  are  to  stay  Avith  me  forever."  She  had  been 
apprised  of  our  intention  to  go  again  into  the  held  of 
concerting  labor,  to  the  far-off  South.  Dread  seemed  at 
the  thought  to  paralyze  her  usual  sympathies,  and  con- 
gratulations and  her  wonted  courtesies  were  dispensed 
with  toward  the  sons  and  her  brother  Nathaniel,  who 
had  been  long  absent  in  the  West,  but  had  returned 
with  us. 

I  was  more  anxious  than  I  have  ever  been  since.  We 
had  struggled  to  reach  this  point  of  success  and 
would  not  consider  being  disappointed  in  our  aspira- 
tions. Our  agent.  Uncle  Nat,  was  dispatched  in  ad- 
vance, for  the  long  autumn  evenings,  favorable  to  con- 
certs, were  upon  us.  Father  tried  to  be  reconciled,  for 
he  saw  the  union  of  our  harmonies  had  resulted  in  suc- 
cess. Mother  was  fearful,  and  could  not  consent  Avill- 
ingly  that  Abl)y  should  again  go  away  from  liome  — 
she,  the  youngest  of  sixteen,  tlie  baby,  only  thirteen 
years  of  age !  We  were  very  sorry  to  entreat  her  in 
this  way,  but  could  not  retui'u  to  the  cities  where  we 
had  just  given  such  successful  entertainments  without 
Abby,  so  with  a  '^  (lod  bless  you,"  though  grief  was  in 
the  heart,  we  again  launched  our  bark  with  ho[)es  of 
luck. 

At  Nashua,  early  on  tlie  morning  after  we  had  given 


68  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

our  first  concert  in  the  Town  Hall,  I  observed  a 
team  coming  down  the  street.  I  soon  recognized  the 
old  white  horse,  and  my  father  sat  in  the  carriage. 
"  What's  tlie  matter?  sometliing  is  up  or  father  would 
not  have  driven  fourteen  miles  this  early  in  our  di- 
rection." My  apprehension  was  soon  verified.  Father 
alighted,  tied  the  horse  to  a  post,  and  requested  a 
private  interview.  The  family  were  all  summoned  to 
our  room,  and  the  errand  stated.  "  I  have  come,"  said 
father,  "to  take  Abby  home  with  me.  Your  motlier 
has  not  slept  all  night,  and  is  almost  crazy."  This  was 
a  tr^-ing  hour ;  we  felt  it  would  be  wrong  to  disap})oint 
the  public,  and  equally  so  to  lacerate  the  heart  so  filled 
witli  grief.  80  a  compromise  was  effected ;  we  prom- 
ised with  a  solemn  attest  to  see  Abby  home  in  three 
weeks ;  so  father  believing  us,  bade  us  good-by,  and  we 
passed  on  towards  our  destination.  I  confess  my  name 
was  not  given  on  the  document  without  some  misgiv- 
ings. However,  Ave  trusted  in  Providence,  knowing 
"  He  doeth  all  tlnno-s  well."  We  were  frustrated  in 
arrangements,  and  our  Southern  tour  was  very  doubt- 
ful. We  next  visited  Lowell,  wliere  a  concert  was 
given.  Here  I  met  the  3'oung  lady  whom  I  suljse- 
quently  mariied.  With  some  reluctance  we  passed 
next  day  to  Boston,  and  gave  a  popular  concert  in  the 
Melodeon. 

While  many  dear  friends  gathered  to  bid  us  a  long 
farewell,  as  they  supposed  we  were  bound  far  away, 
Judson,  who  seemed  before  anxious  to  return  with  Sister 
Abby,  acted  f^t  times  unusually  pleased,  and  a  smile 
would  play  over  his  face  when  he  was  unconsciously 
oblivious  to  the  subject  and  the  audience  before  him. 
Judson  was  noticed  by  the  clerk  in  the  old  Marlboro' 
House  to  go  out  quite  early.     He  was  missed  from  his 


BEGINNINGS    OF    SONG.  69 

room  and  from  the  breakfast  table,  but  nothing  more 
could  be  told  of  his  whereabouts.  Finally,  some  one 
discovered  on  the  table  of  the  public  reading-room  a 
note  to  the  "  Hutchinson  Family."  Being  opened,  in 
it  Avas  found  hurriedly  written  these  AA'ords : 

"  John,  Asa,  Abby,  you  go  home  —  I  go  to  Texas.  Judson." 

Remembering  Judson's  sometimes  desponding  mood, 
the  greatest  alarm  was  excited  among  us.  Suicide 
occurred  to  our  thoughts.  Search  was  vainly  insti- 
tuted and  every  probable  place  visited.  Depots,  and 
other  points  of  the  city,  including  the  wharves,  were 
scanned  by  the  friendly  ones.  We  examined  many 
places  where  we  hoped  not  to  find  him.  Abby  and  I 
put  off  for  Lynn  hoping  Judson  might  be  there  with 
Jesse.  Asa  made  a  forced  march  to  Milford,  whicli 
place  he  reached  by  express  from  Nashua,  at  ten  o'clock 
at  night.  With  a  nervous  hand  he  rapped  at  the  door, 
Avhich  after  a  tedious  wait  was  opened  by  Brother  Ben- 
jamin. Asa's  first  anxious  question  was,  "  Have  j'ou 
seen  Judson  ?  "  Benjamin,  smiling,  said,  "  Where  are 
John  and  Abby  ? "  Then  he  said,  "  Come  in  ;  he  is 
safe.  He  has  gone  to  Bedford  to  see  his  Sally."  The 
fact  was  Judson  had  been  seized  with  a  love-fit  and  had 
gone  a-wooing.  Meanwhile  Abby  and  I  were  in  Lynn 
in  suspense,  till  the  news  of  the  safety  of  our  brother 
was  seht  us  the  next  morning. 


70  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 


CHAPTER   III. 

SINGING   FOR   FREEDOM. 

"  We're  the  friends  of  emancipation. 
And  we'll  sing  tlie  proclamation 
Till  it  echoes  through  the  nation 
From  the  old  Granite  State  — 
That  the  tribe  of  Jesse 
Are  the  friends  of  equal  rights." 

While  we  brothers  were  keeping  our  grocery  and 
stove  stores  on  Union  Street  in  Lynn,  a  few  rods 
farther  down  the  street,  in  a  modest  buikling,  dwelt 
Frederick  Douglass.  A  short  time  before  he  had  come 
panting  up  from  the  South  with  bloodhounds  baying 
upon  his  track.  My  brother  Jesse  was  identified  with 
the  very  beginnings  of  the  anti-slavery  agitation,  was 
in  the  fullest  sympathy  with  the  leaders  and  cognizant 
of  all  the  thrilling  details  of  the  work  going  on  through 
public  meetings,  in  the  Liberator^  the  H&rald  of  Free- 
dom and  similar  publications,  to  make  sentiment  in 
favor  of  the  Ulceration  of  the  bondmen.  Through  him 
we  became  familiar  with  the  great  agitation,  which  had 
our  fullest  approbation.  We  heard  Douglass's  story, 
and  the  result  was  an  earnest  desire  to  aid  him  in  his 
work.  It  was  not  long  before  we  joined  him  in  many 
meetings,  he  telling  his  story,  while  we  emphasized  it 
with  sonof. 

In  the  preceding  chapter  the  fact  is  stated  that  in  the 
autumn  of  1842,  Sister  Abby  and  I  went  to  Lynn  from 


SIXGIXG   FOR   FREEDOM.  71 

Boston,  while  Asa  proceeded  to  Milford  to  seek  for 
tidings  of  Judson. 

The  next  morning  the  news  was  spread  ahout  the 
streets  of  that  town  that  a  flying  fngitive  from  the 
South  was  pursued  hy  a  slave-hokler  and  had  been 
arrested  in  Boston.  A  company  of  about  forty  or  fifty 
men  resolved  to  make  an  effort  towards  rescuing  this 
person.  Brother  Jesse  and  I  joined  them  and  Avere 
soon  at  the  head  of  the  delegation,  marching  through 
Washington  Street,  Boston,  to  Marlboro'  Chapel,  sing- 
ing as  we  entered  the  large  church,  "  Oh,  liberate 
the  bondman."  I  still  recall  my  impression  of  the  contrast 
between  singing  before  a  popular  audience  two  nights 
before  and  the  somewhat  unpopular  mission  in  which  I 
was  now  engaged.  A  crowd  was  in  readiness  to  greet 
us.  While  cogitating  over  plans  of  action,  a  man  came 
through  the  aisle  of  the  chapel,  and  mounting  the  plat- 
form, shouted  out  to  the  crowd,  "  He"s  free  I  he's  free  I "' 
I  can  never  forget  the  expression  of  joy  on  the  face  of 
every  citizen  present.  The  slave-holder  was  induced  to 
manumit  his  slave,  setting  the  price  for  his  ransom  at 
the  low  figure  of  four  hundred  dollars,  which  amount 
was  paid  over  to  him  by  the  Rev.  vSamuel  Caldwell, 
who  acted  in  behalf  of  some  meml^ers  of  the  Tremont 
Temple  Baptist  Society;  and  George  Latimer,  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life,  was  a  free  man. 

If  the  nation  could  have  followed  up  this  scheme  of 
purchase,  like  our  English  cousins,  it  would  have  saved 
a  million  lives  and  billions  of  treasure. 

After  that  Latimer  went  with  us  to  many  anti-slavery 
meetings  in  Essex  County.  George  has  been  a  worthy, 
industrious  citizen  of  Lynn  for  over  fifty  years. 

After  the  Latimer  incident  Sister  Abby  and  T  returned 
to    Milford.     We    found    Judson    obdurate.     No   more 


72  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

concerting  for  him  at  present;  and  so  our  Southern 
trip  was  given  up. 

Kejoiced  at  finding  our  family  in  circumstances  of 
comparative  health  and  prosperity,  again  surrounded  by 
the  familiar  scenes  of  home  and  the  general  beauty  of 
our  mountain  situation,  yet  saddened  by  the  great  dis- 
appointment of  having  to  relinquish  the  mighty  work 
that  we  had  laid  out,  suited  as  it  was  to  our  ambitions 
and  aspirations,  it  seemed  to  me  doleful  and  wearisome 
in  the  quietude  of  our  isolated  home,  for  I  disregarded 
the  comforts  and  allurements  of  love  and  the  warnings 
of  experience.  My  soul  pressed  forward  and  longed  to 
tread  that  path  that  was  sure  to  lead  to  success,  and 
still  clung  to  the  idea  '•'Excelsior."  But  through  the 
long,  cold  winter,  being  snow-bound  in  our  New  England 
home,  I  seemed  to  feel  as  Longfellow  later  expressed  it 
in  his  great  song,  and  could  imagine  that  like  the 
character  represented  in  his  immortal  verse,  even  in 
death  I  would  cling  to  this  device  and  proclaim  the 
progress  of  such  aspirations  of  the  soul  in  a  higher 
s^^here. 

We  held  frequent  meetings  with  our  whole  family 
gathered  at  the  old  homestead.  A  plan  was  suggested 
of  giving  some  mass  concerts  in  the  region,  and  for  a 
double  purpose  I  went  to  Lowell,  having  in  mind  the 
3'oung  lady  spoken  of  previously,  and  also  arranging  for 
some  concerts. 

Effecting  engagements  in  Lowell,  Nashua  and  Man- 
chester, we  went  down  at  the  appointed  time  with  our 
doulile-sleigh  team,  thirteen  of  the  family,  including  the 
quartet  which  had  been  giving  concerts,  and  met  Avith 
grand  success  in  all  of  the  three  places,  taking  in  with 
us  the  lady.  Miss  Fannie  B.  Patch,  who,  in  the  course 
of  four  weeks  I  married,  intendino-  to  continue  in  the 


JOHX    A.  COLLINS— (p.  73; 


SINGIXG   FOE,    FREEDOM.  73 

pursuit  of  agriculture.  Slie  had  been  tlie  leading 
contralto  singer  in  the  Freewill  Baptist  Church  of 
Lowell  for  many  years.  Rev.  Mr.  Davis  was  the 
pastor. 

We  were  importuned  by  an  agent  of  the  anti-slavery 
society,  Mr.  John  A.  Collins,  to  be  present  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  organization  to  be  held  in  Faneuil 
Hall,  Boston. 

Consenting  to  this  proposition,  the  quartet,  with 
Jesse,  accordingly  were  present  at  the  opening  of  the 
meeting  which  continued  three  days,  January  25,  2*3  and 
27,  1843.  The  first  song  we  sung  was  "  Blow  ye  the 
Trumpet,  Blow !  " 

We  were  inspired  with  the  greatness  of  the  issue, 
finding  our  hearts  in  sympathy  with  those  struggling 
and  earnest  people.  We  fully  resolved  to  buckle  on 
the  armor,  feeling  proud  to  be  engaged  in  such  a  great 
work  for  humanity.  We  were  ready  at  any  time  to  take 
up  the  cross  and  serve  the  Master,  sympathizing  with 
those  in  bonds  as  bound  with  them,  and  Ave  sang  for 
the  emancipation  of  the  millions  of  slaves  in  bondage. 
"The  Negro's  Lament,"  was  one  of  the  selections: 

"  Forced  from  home  and  all  its  pleasures, 

Africa's  coast  I  left  forlorn, 
To  increase  a  stranger's  treasures, 

O'er  the  raging  billows  borne. 
Men  from  England  bought  and  sold  me, 

Paid  my  price  in  paltry  gold  ; 
But  though  slave  they  have  enrolled  me. 

Minds  are  never  to  be  sold." 

As  an  illustration  of  the  use  made  of  the  Hutchinson 
Family  in  the  anti-slavery  conventions  of  nearly  two 
decades  it  may  l)e  well  to  quote  extracts  from  tlie  Lih- 
erator''s  report  of  this  famous  Faneuil  Hall  convention  of 


(4  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILr. 

IS-iS,  where  tlie  Abolitionists  first  committed  themselves 
to  the  doctrine  of  ^  peaceful  disunion."  It  is  from  the 
issue  of  February  3,  1843.  Without  quoting  unimpor- 
tant details,  the  report  says  : 

"  The  eleventh  annual  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Anti-Slavery 
Society  oi^ened  at  Taneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday,  January  25th,  Francis 
Jackson  ijresiding.  A  song  was  sung  by  the  Hutchinson  Family,  the 
celebrated  vocalists  from  New  Hampshire.  Discussion  immediately 
commenced  on  a  resolution  offered  by  Wendell  Phillips :  '  Resolved, 
Tliat  no  Abolitionist  can  consistently  demand  less  than  a  dissolution  of 
the  union  between  Northern  union  and  Southern  slavery  as  essential 
to  the  preservation  of  the  one  and  the  abolition  of  the  other.'  This 
was  advocated  by  Phillips  in  a  stirring  speech.  At  the  evening  session 
the  Hutchinsons  sang  again,  and  then  the  discussion  on  the  resolution 
relative  to  the  dissolution  was  continued  by  Messrs.  Jevvett  of  Provi- 
dence, Douglass  of  Lynn,  and  C.  L.  Remond  of  Salem.  Another  song 
by  the  Hutchinsons  closed  the  meeting. 

"  On  Thursday,  after  a  most  inspiring  song  by  the  Hutchinsons,  the 
discussion  of  the  resolution  was  continued  by  William  Lloyd  Garrison, 
Henry  C.  Wright  of  England,  J.  A.  Collins  and  others.  At  the  after- 
noon session  a  letter  M'as  read  by  John  M.  Spear  of  Weymouth,  from 
Hon.  John  Quincy  Adams.  The  discussion  was  continued,  interspersed 
by  two  ai^proiiriate  songs  by  the  Hutchinsons.  The  resolution  was 
amended,  on  motion  of  John  A.  Collins,  so  as  to  insert  the  Avords, 
'between  Free  States  and  Slave  States,'  after  '  Southern  slavery,'  and 
passed.  On  Thursday  evening  there  was  a  meeting  in  the  chamber 
of  the  House  of  Representatives  at  the  State  Hoiise,  with  President 
Jackson  in  the  chair.  It  was  opened  by  a  heart-stirring  song  by  the 
Hutchinsons,  after  which  Edmund  Quincy  moved  the  following  resolu- 
tion :  '  So  long  as  Massacliusetts  pledges  the  physical  force  of  her 
sons  to  protect  her  sister  slave-holiling  States  against  domestic  vio- 
lence, she  is  practically  a  slave  State;  so  long  as  she  throws  open  her 
soil  as  free  hunting-ground  for  the  master  in  pursuit  of  his  fugitive, 
she  is  practically  a  slave  State  —  also  when  she  sends  back  fugitives 
and  requires  her  executive  and  legislative  oiRcers  to  swear  to  support  a 
constitution  which  in  some  parts  protects  the  slave  system.'  This  was 
supported  by  Mr.  Quincy,  who  was  followed  by  Mr.  Treadwell  against 
it,  and  by  Frederick  Douglass  —  '  a  chattel  personal '  —  in  its  favor. 
Then  came  another  song  by  the  '  New  Hampshire  Rainers,'  to  the 
great  gratification  of  the  audience.  C.  L.  Remond,  William  Lloyd 
Garrison  and  N.  P.  Rogers  then  spoke,  and  the  discussion  was  closed 
by  Wendell  Phillips  in  a  strain  of  thrilling  eloquence.     The  resolu- 


SINGING   FOR   rREEDO:M.  75 

tion  was  adopted,  and  after  another  song  by  tlie  Ilutchiusons,  the 
meethig  adjourned. 

"Friday's  meetmg  at  Faneuil  Hall  was  opened  with  a  most  inspiring 
song  by  the  Hutchinsons.  Rev.  Samuel  May  moved  a  reconsideration 
of  the  resolution  on  disunion  adojjted  the  day  before,  and  the  discus- 
sion was  continued  by  Seth  Sprague,  J.  A.  Collins  and  the  IMessrs. 
Hutchinson  (in  an  appropriate  song  on  the  subject).  ]Mr.  Garrison 
then  moved  a  substitute  [which  afterward  became  famous],  and  it  was 
adopted:  'Resolved,  That  the  compact  which  exists  between  the  North 
and  the  South  is  a  covenant  witli  death  and  an  agreement  with  hell  — 
involving  both  parties  in  atrocious  criminality,  and  should  be  immedi- 
ately annulled.' 

"  The  evening  meeting  opened  with  a  song  from  the  gifted  sons  of 
New  Hampshire,  which  was  received  with  thunders  of  applause,  calling 
for  its  repetition,  and  another  song  was  sung  to  the  great  gratification 
of  the  immense  number  assembled.  "William  Lloyd  Garrison  presented 
and  ably  advocated  this  resolution,  which  was  adopted  by  acclamation; 
'liesolred,  That  anti-slavery  has  rejoiced,  from  the  beginning,  in  the 
aid  of  Poetry,  which  is  naturally  and  instinctively  on  the  side  of  lib- 
erty, it  being  impossible,  in  the  providence  of  God,  that  Poetry  should 
ever  sloop  her  wing  to  the  accursed  service  of  slavery  ;  and  Humanity 
exults  and  rejoices  in  her  other  natural  ally.  Music,  so  gloriously  rep- 
resented here,  in  the  old  Liberty  Cradle,  by  tlie  "New  Hampshire 
Rainers,"  whom  INIassacliusetts  abolitionism  welcomes  here  from  their 
White  IMovintains  and  thanks  them  for  their  free  strains,  in  the  name 
of  down-trodden  humanity.'  During  the  evening's  exercises  the 
Hutchinsons  sang  three  other  songs  " 

On  Fel)ruary  24th  of  the  same  year  the  Liberator 
said : 

"  The  powerful  description  of  the  singing  of  the  wonderfully  gifted 
Hutchinsons  at  the  late  anniversary  of  the  Massachusetts  Anti-Slavery 
Society  in  Faneuil  Hall,  which  we  have  copied  from  the  Herald  of 
Freedom,  does  not  surpass  the  reality  of  their  charming  melodies.  The 
effect  on  the  thousands  wlio  listened  to  them  was,  in  fact,  indescrib- 
able. They  added  immensely  to  the  interest  of  the  occasion  ;  and  the 
manner  in  which  they  adapted  their  spirited  songs  (nearh-  all  of  which 
were  original  and  impromptu)  to  the  subjects  that  were  under  discus- 
sion displayed  equal  talent  and  genius." 

The  Herald  of  Freedom's  account  Avas,  of  course, 
written  by  N.  P.  Rogers,  \\\\o  prided  himself  not  a  little 


76  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

on  his  success  in  enlisting  our  services  for  this  and  sim- 
ilar gatherings.     He  wrote  as  follows  : 

"  The  distinguishing  incident  of  the  anniversary  was  the  co-opera- 
tion of  the  New  Hampshire  Hutchinsons,  aided  by  their  brother  from 
Lynn.  These  singers  I  liave  several  times  spoken  of,  and,  as  has  been 
thought  by  those  who  liad  not  heard  them,  with  exaggeration.  None, 
however,  of  those  who  heard  their  matchless  strains  at  Faneuil  Hall 
would  have  thought  any  degree  of  panegyric  exaggeration,  that  lan- 
guage could  bestow  upon  them.  All  those  who  have  heard  their 
modest  concerts,  in  suitable  sized  rooms,  and  in  tolerably  clear  atmos- 
phere, would  liave  said  the  people  could  get  no  idea  of  their  enchant- 
ing powers  amid  the  tumult  and  depraved  air  of  that  great,  overgrown 
hall.  But  even  there,  it  was  a  triumph  for  these  'New  Hampshire 
Rainers,'  as  I  have  styled  these  unassuming  young  brothers,  though 
the  celebrated  Swiss  minstrels^  who  wear  tiiat  family  name  and  have 
made  it  so  famous  in  this  country  and  in  Europe,  have  more  occasion 
to  covet  for  themselves  the  name  of  these  singers  from  New  Hamp- 
shire's Alps.  They  are  not  mere  vocalists.  They  have  hearts  and 
minds  as  well  as  tuneful  voices.  They  are  not  wandering,  mercenary 
troubadors,  who  go  about  selling  their  strains  for  bread  or  for  brandy. 
The}'  are  young  farmers.  They  work,  indoors  as  well  as  out,  in  the 
noble  kitchen  as  well  as  on  the  farm,  and  get  a  sound  and  substantial 
living  by  their  useful  industry.  The  more  entitled  are  they  to  the 
most  generous  encouragement  of  their  countrymen  when  they  go  forth 
occasionally  to  charm  the  community  by  their  music.  That  they  are 
Abolitionists  may  engender  prejudice  against  them  in  the  pro-slavery 
breast,  but  their  lays  will  banish  the  demon  from  the  meanest  heart, 
as  David's  iiarp  played  the  devil  out  of  King  Saul. 

"  The  Hutchinsons  were  present  throughout  the  meetings,  and  it  is 
probable  contributed  considerably  to  keeping  up  the  unparalleled  at- 
tendance that  thronged  the  hall.  They  were  not  there  as  mercenaries 
in  an  orchestra.  They  were  not  hired  performers.  They  were  there 
as  Garrison  and  Boyle  were  ;  as  Douglass  and  Phillips,  and  the  rest  of 
us  all, 'To  help  the  cause  along';  and  they  helped  it.  They  were 
always  in  order,  too,  when  they  spoke ;  and  it  was  what  they  said,  as 
well  as  how  they  said  it,  that  sent  anti-slavery  like  electricity  to  every 
heart.  I  never  saw  such  effect  on  human  assemblies  as  these  ajipeals 
produced.  They  made  the  vast  multitudes  toss  and  heave  and  clamor 
like  the  roaring  ocean.  Orpheus  is  said  to  have  made  the  trees  dance 
at  his  playing.  The  Hutchinsons  made  the  thousands  at  Faneuil  Hall 
spring  to  their  feet  simultaneously,  '  as  if  in  a  dance,'  and  echo  the 
anti-slavery  appeal  with  a  cheering  that  almost  moved  the  old  Revolu- 


XATHAXIKL   PKAIioDV    KOGEKS-  (p   76) 


SINGING   FOR    FREEDOM.  77 

tionists  from  their  stations  on  the  wall.  On  one  occasion  it  was  abso- 
lutely amazing  and  sublime.  Phillips  had  been  speaking  in  his  happi- 
est vein.-  It  was  towards  night.  The  old  hall  was  sombre  in  the 
gloaming.  It  was  thronged  to  its  vast  extremities,  riiillips  closed  his 
speech  at  the  highest  pitch  of  his  fine  genius,  and  retired  from  the 
platform,  when  the  four  brothers  rushed  to  his  place,  and  took  up  the 
argument  where  he  had  left  it,  on  the  very  heights  of  poetic  declama- 
tion, and  carried  it  off  heavenwards  on  one  of  their  boldest  fiiglits. 
Jesse  had  framed  a  series  of  stanzas  on  the  spot,  while  Phillips  was 
speaking,  embodying  the  leading  arguments,  and  enforcing  them,  as 
mere  oratory  cannot,  as  music  and  poetry  only  can,  and  they  poured 
them  forth  with  amazing  spirit,  in  one  of  the  maddening  Second  Ad- 
vent tunes.  The  vast  multitude  sprang  to  their  feet,  as  one  man,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  first  strain,  gave  vent  to  their  enthusiasm  in  a 
thunder  of  unrestrained  cheering.  Three  cheers,  and  three  times  three, 
and  ever  so  many  more  —  for  they  could  not  count  —  they  sent  out, 
full-hearted  and  full-toned,  till  the  old  roof  rang  again.  And  tlirough- 
out  the  whole  succeeding  strains  they  rej^eated  it,  not  allowing  the 
singers  to  complete  half  the  stanza  before  breaking  out  upon  them  in 
uncontrollable  emotion.     Oh,  it  was  glorious! 

"And  it  was  not  the  rude  mobocratic  shouting  of  the  blind  partisan, 
or  the  unearthly  glee  of  the  religious  maniac ;  it  was  Humanity's 
jubilee  cry.  And  there  was  music  in  it.  The  multitude  had  caught 
the  spirit  and  tone  of  the  orator  and  the  minstrel  bards,  and  they  ex- 
emplified it  in  their  humanized  slioutings.  There  is  grand  music  in 
this  natural,  generous  uproar  of  the  mighty  multitude,  when  it  goes 
out  spontaneously,  as  God  made  it  to  do.  '  The  sound  of  many 
waters  '  is  not  more  harmonious,  nor  a  millionth  part  so  expressive  — 
for  there  is  not  a  soul  in  the  unconscious  waters.  But  I  am  exceeding 
my  limits.  I  wisli  the  whole  city,  and  the  entire  country  could  have 
been  there  —  even  all  the  people.  Slavery  would  have  died  of  that 
music  and  the  response  of  the  multitude.  If  politics  had  been  dis- 
countenanced altogether  at  the  meetings  —  or  suffered  only  to  have 
their  proportional  attention  —  the  whole  tide  of  the  proceedings  would 
have  been  as  overwhelming  as  the  bugle  cries  of  the  Ilutchinsons." 

The  verses  of  which  the  writer  speaks  were  impro- 
vised by  Jesse,  as  Rogers  says,  to  enforce  the  oratory  of 
Pliillips.  They  were  sung  to  the  tune  of  "■  The  Okl 
Granite  State."     I  cannot  now  reproduce  tlie  words. 

A  word  regarding  the  noble,  earnest  agitators. 
Among   those  present  were    William    Lloyd  Garrison, 


78  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Jolm  A.  Collins,  Rev.  Jolm  Pierpont,  Wendell  Phillips, 
Frederick  Douglass,  Mrs.  Chapman,  Charles  Lenox 
Remond,  N.  P.  Rogers,  Parker  Pillsbuiy,  Stephen 
Foster,  Theodore  Parker,  Francis  Jackson,  chairman  of 
the  meeting,  and  his  lovely  daughter  Harriet.  A  noble 
gathering  of  pioneers ! 

Such  a  fold  and  such  a  unity  was  an  inspiration  to 
lofty  resolutions ;  and  when  approached  in  regard  to 
going  with  the  selected  advocate  to  hold  a  series  of 
anti-slavery  meetings,  we  most  cheerfully  acceded. 
The  appointments  were  made,  and  our  first  meeting- 
was  announced  to  take  place  at  Haverhill. 

We  left  Lynn  in  two  single  sleighs,  took  in  our 
family,  consisting  then  of  five  members,  with  George 
Latimer,  and  joyfull}'  did  we  make  our  journey  over 
the  well-trodden  roads  until  Ave  reached  the  Merrimac 
River. 

Li  safety  we  crossed  the  ice  to  the  opposite  bank. 
In  my  sleigh  was  Latimer,  the  recently  manumitted 
slave,  whom  we  had  taken  in  charge  under  the  auspices 
of  the  anti-slavery  committee.  We  had  reached  the 
top  of  the  bank ;  looking  in  the  rear  Ave  observed  that 
as  the  second  team  Avas  coming  up  the  hill,  the  horse 
became  fractious,  and  refusing  to  go  forward  had  upset 
the  sleigh  and  the  company  Avas  thrown  out,  the  sleigh 
capsizing  in  such  a  manner  as  to  completely  coA^er  my 
sister  Abby.  George  and  I  jumped  OA^er  the  back  part 
of  the  sleigh  in  haste  to  help  the  party,  Avhen  Jesse, 
AAdio  drove  that  horse,  thrcAV  the  reins,  struck  the  horse 
Avith  his  Avhip,  Avhich  rushed  doAvn  the  bank  and  upon 
the  ice  until  he  had  thrown  himself,  and  at  last  Avas 
captured  with  no  injury  to  him  or  to  us,  excepting  the 
great  fright  that  Ave  all  received.  We  gathered  up  our 
belongings  and  rode  to  the  church,  AAdiere  our  meeting 


SINGING    FOE    FREEDOM.  79 

was  just  organized  and  upon  entering  we  were  met 
with  the  cheers  of  the  audience,  and  in  a  few  moments 
we  were  in  their  presence  upon  the  platform.  We  were 
thankful  to  Providence  that  we  had  escaped  injury  and 
were  able  once  more  to  sing  our  songs. 

"  Thus  far  the  Lord  hath  led  us  on." 

The  meeting  proved  a  grand  success,  and  many 
proselytes  were  gained  to  the  cause  of  anti-slavery. 
Lasting  friendships  were  formed,  and  invitations  were 
extended  to  us  to  visit  them  again ;  and,  in  fact,  we 
were  always  welcome  to  that  good  old  town  in  after 
years.  The  Essex  County  campaign  was  in  every  way 
successful,  and  many  souls  were  won,  who  ever  after 
adhered  to  their  first  love  and  were  helpers  in  the  cause 
of  emancipation. 

We  accepted  many  requests  to  meet  notal)le  anti- 
slavery  people  west  of  Boston,  in  Cambridge  and  other 
towns ;  made  the  acquaintance  of  William  A.  White,  a 
very  interesting  individual ;  and  also  came  en  rapport 
with  James  Russell  Lowell,  the  famous  poet. 

We  joined  in  their  sports  with  them  one  day  while 
playing  ball.  The  balls  in  those  days  were  flexible  and 
not  considered  dangerous — very  unlike  the  modern 
ball  used  by  expert  players  which,  when  tin-own  with 
sufficient  force  and  with  the  catching  unsuccessful, 
would  prove  a  fatal  shot.  They  were  c[uite  Ijulky  and 
soft,  wound  with  woollen  yarn,  covered  with  leather; 
and  if  they  struck  a  person,  it  would  do  them  very  little 
harm.  Lowell  and  myself  were  playing  together. 
He  threw  the  ball,  and  I  returned  it  ^vith  such  rapid- 
ity that  it  went  past  his  hands  and  struck  fair  upon  his 
forehead.  For  a  moment  he  winced  under  the  stun- 
ning  blow,   but   after   passing   his  liand  several  times 


80  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

across  liis  forehead,  made  no  further  comphiint.  My 
surprise,  mingled  with  momentary  regret,  sliocked  me 
when  I  was  aware  that  I  had  struck  him  witli  such 
force,  as  I  fain  woukl  have  received  the  bkow  myself. 
Little  did  I  contemplate  then  that  I  had  wounded 
a  future  minister  plenipotentiary,  for  he  later  became 
such  under  the  administrations  of  Presidents  Hayes, 
Garfield  and  Arthur.  He  was  called  to  fill  one  of  the 
most  responsible  places  that  any  man  had  occupied 
since  Franklin,  and  he  did  the  country  great  honor 
during  the  years  he  occupied  that  position  at  the  court 
of  St.  James.  For  a  long  time  his  "  Zekle  and  Huldy  " 
was  one  of  our  most  successful  songs. 

At  this  time  we  became  interested  in  the  "  Brook 
Farm  Experiment.''  This  famous  farm  was  located  in 
West  Roxbury,  near  the  Dedham  line,  and  is  now 
occupied  as  the  site  of  an  almshouse.  In  the  years  of 
wliich  I  am  speaking,  however,  it  was  the  theatre 
where  famous  men  and  women  were  seeking  to  demon- 
strate not  only  the  feasibility  but  the  superiority  of  the 
apostolic  mode  of  living,  as  a  community.  Ilorace 
Greeley's  "North  American  Phalanx  "  became  famous 
and  the  Floi-ence  Community  was  successful  after  that 
at  Brook  Farm  was  given  up.  But  none  of  these  ex- 
periments attracted  so  many  of  the  class  of  people  wlio 
were  doing,  or  preparing  to  do,  a  great  portion  of  the 
l)rain-work  of  the  country  for  some  decades,  as  Brook 
Farm. 

The  fact  is,  the  Hutchinsons  came  upon  the  platform 
at  a  transition  period,  when  various  new  ideas  and 
"  isms  "  were  being  preached.  As  this  history  proceeds, 
it  Avill  be  easily  seen  that  it  was  practically  impossible 
for  us  to  have  embraced  the  anti-slavery  reform  without 
being  under  the  influence  of  and  affected  by,  several 


SINGING   FOR    FREEDOM.  81 

other  related  reforms  and  inoveineiits.  Perhaps  I  cannot 
better  illustrate  conditions  that  obtained  at  the  time 
than  by  quoting  from  the  Brook  Farm  chapter  of  Col- 
onel Thomas  Wentworth  Higginson's  "Life  of  Mar- 
garet Fuller  "  : 

"  It  [Brook  Farm]  was  one  of  the  best  —  probably  the  best  —  hicarna- 
tiou  of  the  ardent  and  wide-reachmg  reformatory  spirit  of  that  day. 
It  was  a  day  when  it  certainly  was  very  pleasant  to  live,  although  it  is 
doubtful  whether  living  would  have  remained  as  pleasant,  had  one-half 
the  projects  of  the  period  become  fulfilled.  The  eighty-two  pestilent 
heresies  that  were  already  reckoned  up  in  Massachusetts  before  1038, 
or  the  '  generation  of  odd  names  and  natures '  which  the  Earl  of  Strat- 
ford found  among  the  English  Roundheads,  could  hardly  surpass  those 
of  which  Boston  was  the  centre  during  the  interval  between  the  year 
1835  and  the  absorbing  political  upheaval  of  1848.  The  best  single 
picture  of  the  period  is  in  Emerson's  lecture  on  '  New  England  Re- 
formers,' delivered  in  March,  1844;  but  it  tells  only  a  part  of  the  story, 
for  one  very  marked  trait  of  the  period  was  that  the  agitation  reached 
all  circles.  German  theology,  as  interpreted  by  Bronson  Alcott  and 
Ripley,  influenced  the  more  educated  class,  and  the  Second  Advent 
excitement  equally  prepared  tlie  way  among  the  more  ignorant.  The 
anti-slavery  movement  was  the  profoundest  moral  element,  on  the 
whole,  but  a  multitude  of  special  enterprises  played  their  parts.  Peo- 
ple habitually  spoke,  in  those  days,  of  '  the  sisterhood  of  reforms ' ; 
and  it  was  in  as  bad  taste  for  a  poor  man  to  have  but  one  hobby  in  his 
head  as  for  a  rich  man  to  keep  but  one  horse  in  his  stable.  IMesmer- 
ism  was  studied;  gifted  persons  gave  private  sittings  for  the  reading 
of  character  through  handwriting;  phrenology  and  physiology  were 
ranked  together ;  Alcott  preached  what  Carlyle  called  a  '  potato  gos- 
pel ' ;  Graham  denounced  bolted  flour ;  Edward  Palmer,  wrote  tracts 
against  money.  In  a  paper  published  in  the  Dial  for  July,  1842,  on  the 
*  convention  of  the  friends  of  universal  reform '  in  Boston,  Emerson 
says  of  the  gathering  :  '  If  the  assembly  was  disorderly,  it  was  pictur- 
esque. Mad  men,  mad  women,  men  with  beards,  Dunkers,  Muggleto- 
nians,  Come-outers,  Groaners,  Agrarians,  Seventh-Day  Baptists,  Quak- 
ers, Abolitionists,  Calvinists,  Unitarians  and  Philosophers,  all  came 
successively  to  the  top.' 

"  Having  myself  attended  similar  meetings  soon  after,  I  can  certify 
that  this  is  not  an  exaggeration,  but  a  plain,  unvarnished  tale.  It  is  to 
be  remembered,  too,  that  all  this  stir  came  upon  a  society  whose  pre- 
vious habit  of  life  was  decidedly  soberer  and  better  ordered  than  that 
of  to-day  ;  stricter  in  observance,  more  conventional  in  costume.   There 


82  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

could  hardly  be  a  better  illustration  of  this  fact  than  when  Emerson 
includes  in  liis  enumeration  of  eccentricities  'men  with  beards';  for 
I  well  remember  when  Charles  Burleigh  was  charged  with  blasphemy 
because  his  flowing  locks  and  handsome  untrimmed  beard  Avere  thought 
to  resemble  —  as  very  likely  he  intended  —  the  pictures  of  Jesus  Christ ; 
and  when  Lowell  was  thought  to  have  formally  announced  a  daring 
impulse  of  radicalism,  after  he,  too,  had  eschewed  the  razor.  The  only 
memorial  we  retain  unchanged  from  that  picturesque  period,  is  in  some 
stray  member  of  the  '  Hutchinson  Family,'  who  still  comes  before  the 
public  with  now  whitening  locks  and  vast  collar  that  needs  no  whiten- 
ing, and  continues  to  sing  with  unclianged  sweetness  tlie  plaintive  mel- 
odies that  huslied  the  stormiest  meeting,  when  he  and  his  four  or  five 
long-haired  brothers  stood  grouped  round  their  one  rose-bud  of  a  sister, 
like  a  band  of  Puritan  Bohemians." 

Brook  Farm  contained  a  gathering  o£  people  who 
represented  the  best  element  of  all  these  conditions.  It 
had  the  sanction  of  Emerson,  Alcott,  Theodore  Parker 
and  Margaret  Fuller.  None  of  these  were  members  of 
the  community,  but  all  were  frequent  visitors  to  it  and 
remained  so  long  as  to  become  fully  identified  with  it. 
Colonel  Higginson,  then  a  youth,  was  anotlier  notable 
visitor.  George  Ripley  Avas  its  projector  and  leading 
spirit.  In  the  company,  either  as  members  or  students, 
were  John  S.  D wight,  for  many  jeais  after  Boston's 
leading  musical  writer ;  Christopher  P.  Cranch,  artist, 
musician  and  poet ;  Charles  A.  Dana,  then  just  out  of 
college,  now  editor  of  the  JVetv  York  iSun  and  the 
Nestor  of  American  journalism ;  Nathaniel  Hawthorne, 
sh}^  retiring,  yet  deserving,  and  fully  illustrating  the 
Scottish  bard's  warning,  "  A  chiel's  amang  ye  takin' 
notes,"  which  were  afterwards  published  in  the  "  Blithe- 
dale  Romance  "  ;  George  William  Curtis,  destined  so 
soon  after  to  take  his  place  as  one  of  the  best  repre- 
sentatives of  American  thought  in  essay,  editorial  and 
romantic  writing.  These,  with  O.  A.  Brownson,  George 
P.  Bradford  and  many  others,  formed  a  community  that 


SIXGING    FOK    FREEDOM.  83 

should  have  fully  demonstrated  the  blessings  of  the 
socialistic  idea.  It  was  proclaimed  at  first  to  be  ''  a 
glimpse  at  Christ's  idea  of  society."  It  was  not  until 
after  it  had  been  established  some  time  that  the  attempt 
to  apply  Fourier's  ideas  was  made.  In  time  it  was  dis- 
covered that  Nathaniel  Hawthorne  was  designed  for 
something  better  than  milking  cows,  tliat  Dana  had  a 
wider  mission  than  washing  dishes  Though  pleasant 
musicales,  picnics,  "  conversations,"  and  like  interesting 
exercises  varied  the  monotony  of  life,  yet  the  disposition 
to  do  the  farming  and  domestic  duties  by  proxy  made 
an  expense  as  well  as  a  perversion  of  the  vital  part  of 
scheme,  that,  with  the  destruction  of  one  of  the  com- 
munity houses  hy  fire,  eventually  led  to  the  aljandon- 
ment  of  the  experiment.  Then  Greeley,  who  was  in 
full  sympatliy  with  the  ideas  of  Ripley,  found  a  place  on 
the  Tribune  for  the  man  who  had  hitherto  occupied  a  Uni- 
tarian pulpit,  and  as  literary  editor  of  that  journal,  Rip- 
ley was  able  to  utilize  the  services  of  Margaret  Fuller 
in  a  way  that  edified  the  public  and  greatly  increased 
her  reputation.  Work  for  Dana  and  Curtis  was  also 
found  on  the  Tribune,  and  so  the  al)andonment  of  the 
experiment  was  the  means  of  wonderfully  enriching 
journalism.  The  literature  of  Brook  Farm  has  in  the 
last  decade  grown  extensive,  and  perhaps  the  reader 
will  not  expect  me  to  more  tlian  outline  its  story,  whicli 
is  to  me,  I  confess,  a  most  fascinating  one.  Dana  has, 
as  yet,  never  furnished  the  pul^lic  his  story  of  an  enter- 
prise in  wdiich  he  was  a  very  important  figure.  I  should 
like  to  see  him  give  his  version  of  it  before  his  work  is 
done. 

At  the  time  of  which  I  am  Avriting,  we  visited  Brook 
Farm.  We  had  looked  forward  to  the  event  with  happy 
anticipations.     The  distinguished  communists  gave  us 


84  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

a  most  hearty  reception.  We  understood  the  company 
to  be  formed  Avith  the  purpose  of  inaugurating  a  tlior- 
ongh  reform  in  our  civil  and  social  society,  building 
up  humanity  and  establishing  such  a  code  of  character 
as  to  make  them  true  lights  and  leading  stars  in  the 
Avorld.  Every  heart  seemed  bouncUng  with  hope,  de- 
lightful to  the  soul;  cheerfulness  seemed  to  pervade 
everj^  individual,  man  or  woman  ;  and  they  stood  around, 
some  fifty  or  sixty  selected  intelligent  people,  all  evi- 
dently converts  to  the  great  idea  of  human  brotherhood : 
"  The  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Brotherhood  of 
Man." 

That  occasion  was  one  which  lingered  lonsf  in  our 
memories ;  for  with  the  delights  that  inspired  us  at  that 
time,  ^ye  seemed  to  catch  a  foretaste  of  a  realm  in  which 
our  spirits  could  bask  and  grow.  All  of  the  principles 
advocated  we  fully  indorsed.  It  seemed  to  be  truly  the 
looking  backward  to  the  days  of  those  loved  ones  who 
gathered  around  the  Nazarene,  whose  mission  when 
fully  adhered  to  was  love  sufficient  to  redeem  the  race. 

Embracing  the  influences  pervading,  we  could  sing 
the  song  of  the  "  Right  Over  Wrong,"  or  "  The  Good 
Time  Coming  " : 

"Behold,  the  day  of  promise  comes, 

Full  of  inspiration, 
The  blessed  day  by  prophets  sung 

For  the  healing  of  the  nation  ! 
Old  midnight  errors  flee  away, 

And  soon  will  all  be  gone, 
And  tlie  heavenly  angels  seem  to  say 

The  good  time's  coming  on." 

Finding  the  pervading  sentiments  in  full  accord  with 
our  loftiest  aspirations,  emphasized  by  our  interview 
with  such  a  nucleus  of  blessed  spirits,  we  went  forth 


SINGING   FOR    FREEDOM.  85 

filled  with  hope  and  a  determinatioii  to  do  everything 
in  our  power  to  prove  in  our  family  and  neighborhood 
the  practicability  of  this  high  ideal  in  human  life.  We 
felt  that  we  had  struck  the  chord  re-echoing  down  the 
centuries  from  the  day  of  Pentecost  and  sung  by  the 
angels ;  and  we  gathered  at  our  home  in  one  group  of 
affection,  and  more  earnestly  did  we  labor,  rejoicing  in 
the  light  of  the  true  gospel. 

In  the  Century  for  November,  1892,  George  P.  lirad- 
ford,  now  deceased,  a  survivor  of  the  Brook  Farm  ex- 
periment, wrote  as  follows  of  tlie  Hutchinsons'  visit  to 
the  community.  After  speaking  of  the  visits  of  Mar- 
garet Fuller,  O.  A.  Brownson,  Robert  Owen,  of  Scot- 
land, and  others,  he  says  : 

"  Then  there  were  the  Hutchinsons,  a  family  well  known  at  the  time, 
and  a  marvel  for  their  sweet  singing,  ai^d  this  especially  in  the  interest 
of  anti-slavery  and  temjjerance.  The  accord  of  their  voices  was  very 
pleasing.  A  great  charm  of  the  singing  was  a  sort  of  wild  freshness  as 
if  taught  in  their  native  woods  and  mountains,  and  their  earnest  in- 
terest in  the  objects  that  formed  so  much  of  the  theme  of  their  songs." 

For  some  time  the  old  home  in  jMilford  was  a  family 
Brook  Farm.  Cheerfull}^  did  we  take  up  the  laljor 
necessary,  according  to  the  season  of  the  year  and  the 
different  departments  of  the  farm  Avork,  with  one  com- 
mon aim  and  interest.  We  met  all  impediments  with  a 
determination  to  prove  to  all  our  surrounding  neighljors 
that  we  were  honest  believers  in  the  faith  that  we  had 
embraced  —  the  true  community.  In  the  cause  of  labor 
and  progress  we  were  united,  each  preferring  one 
another.  Our  labors  were  joyous,  and  we  were  tempo- 
rarily prosperous,  for  we  were  truly  a  band  of  brothers 
and  sisters  of  one  common  interest.  There  were  no  dif- 
ferences or  competitions  in  trafficking  with  one  another, 
for  we  were  genuinely  interested  in  the  welfare  of  all. 


86  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Music  was  the  theme  that  filled  our  hearts  and  souls  as 
we  went  singing  forth  to  the  different  departments  of 
labor  on  the  home  farm,  for  we  earnestly  believed  in 
this  manner  of  life. 

AVhile  we  were  in  Boston  we  were  invited  by  the 
anti-slavery  people  to  join  with  them  in  their  May  meet- 
ings in  New  York.  We  made  ready,  and  were  ticketed 
through  by  the  Norwich  route,  railroad  and  steamboat. 
We  were  up  on  deck  at  early  morning  excited  with 
curiosity  to  see  Gotham,  which  we  watched  with  in- 
tense interest. 

Accompanied  by  our  other  friends  we  went  to  Apollo 
Hall,  where  the  meeting  was  held,  and  wlien  in  full 
session  we  were  introduced.  We  met  with  encouraging 
words  from  the  anti-slavery  people. 

A  mass  temperance  meeting  was  announced  to  take 
place  at  the  Broadway  Tabernacle.  Making  the  ac- 
quaintance of  the  Rev.  William  Patton,  D.D.,  later 
father-in-law  of  Abby,  and  otlier  leaders  in  tlie  conven- 
tion who  were  aware  of  the  interest  we  had  taken  in  the 
cause  of  temperance  years  before,  they  invited  us  upon 
the  platform,  and  Rev.  Lj-man  Beecher,  then  a  leading 
spirit  in  the  great  reform,  at  an  opportune  moment, 
favorably  introduced  us  to  an  audience  of  3,(300  people. 
We  little  thought  then  how  precious  was  to  he  our 
acquaintance  with  the  great  preacher's  greater  son. 
We  were  cheered,  and  somewhat  elated  and  inspired 
as  we  sang  our  fii'st  selection,  wliich  took  them  by 
storm,  and  the  applause  was  seemingly  universal  from 
men  and  women  comprising  that  assembl}-.  It  was 
followed  up  with  a  like  enthusiasm  until  we  had  an- 
swered the  encore,  when  similar  demonstrations  were 
made.  Then  followed  our  family  song,  the  "  Old 
Granite  State,"  after  which  we  retreated  to  the  ante- 


SINGING   FOIl    FREEDOM.  87 

room,  and  though  importuned,  declined  to  go  again 
upon  the  stage. 

Then  came  an  urgent  request  from  numerous  friends 
to  give  a  public  concert,  which  we  did,  and  followed  it 
up  with  several  popular  concerts  in  the  different  parts 
of  Brooklj-n  and  New  York.  With  a  promise  that  we 
would  return  again  in  early  autumn,  we  bade  farewell 
to  the  city  and  returned  to  our  vocation  as  farmers  at 
our  home  in  New  Hampshire. 

Among  other  distinguished  and  notable  men  who 
showed  us  courtesies  during  our  stay  in  New  York  was 
Dr.  William  Beach,  an  amiable  gentleman  of  English 
antecedents.  He  liad  been  present  at  both  the  anti- 
slavery  and  temperance  meetings  and  had  also  attended 
some  of  our  concerts.  He  had  recently  introduced  a 
reform  system  of  medicine  on  botanic  principles.  Call- 
ing upon  us  at  our  rooms  he  expressed  his  pleasure  in 
listening  to  a  song,  "  Calomel,"  which  we  had  recently 
set  to  music : 

"  Physicians  of  the  highest  rank  — 
To  pay  their  fees  we  need  a  bank  — 
Combine  all  wisdom,  art  and  skill, 
Science  and  sense,  in  calomel." 

To  express  his  appreciation  of  our  introducing  and 
singing  the  song  he  presented  to  us  a  large  volume  of 
eight  hundred  pages,  called  "•  The  Reform  Practice  of 
Medicine." 

During  this  season  we  had  the  pleasure  as  guests  at 
our  house  of  that  blessed,  firm,  honest,  gifted  spirit, 
William  Lloyd  Garrison,  with  his  coadjutor,  Francis 
Jackson,  from  Boston.  Later  in  the  season  came  also 
that  man  from  the  mountains,  N.  P.  Rogers,  whose 
lofty  expressions  of  his  true  inspirations  were  poetry  in 
every  syllable.     He  also  was  in  full  accord  with   our 


bo  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

attempt  to  cany  out  our  effort  for  "  Peace  on  earth, 
good-will  to  men."  He  was  a  singer  and  a  lover  of  the 
highest  order  of  art  and  poetry,  cultured  in  the  letter  of 
the  law,  yet  mo]-e  deeply  inspired  by  honest  hearts  and 
a  purpose  to  bring  liberty  to  the  captive.  We  believe 
that  these  pilgrims,  though  they  sojourned  but  a  very 
short  period,  enjoyed  our  house  as  much  as  Ave  did  their 
presence. 

Following  these  notable  lights,  as  leaders  in  the 
cause,  came  also  many  other  dear  friends  whose  hearts 
were  in  great  sympathy  with  the  anti-slavery  Avork : 
Parker  Pillsbury  of  Concord,  Frederick  Douglass,  Henry 
Clapp,  Jr.,  and  others.  It  proved  a  time  of  joyous 
meetings  and  numerous  activities.  Important  letters 
came  from  P.  T.  Barnum  and  others  from  all  sections 
of  the  country,  also  from  the  great  temperance  lead- 
ers, soliciting  engagements  for  legitimate  concert  tours. 
The  cares  of  the  farm  in  its  different  de2:»artments  and 
numerous  calls  of  church  and  puljlic  interest  also  de- 
manded much  of  oui*  time. 

A  special  invitation  came  from  an  old  organization, 
the  New  Hampshire  Anti-Slavery  Society,  to  join  Avith 
them  in  a  grand  couA^ention  to  be  held  at  the  capital, 
Concord.  We  made  haste  to  ansAver  the  call,  and  Avere 
entertained  at  the  house  of  N.  P.  Rogers.  We  heartily 
joined  Avith  them,  and  sang  our  songs  of  freedom,  inter- 
spersing the  selections  appropriately  betAveen  the 
speakers.  Great  unanimity  of  feeling  then  existed 
among  the  Abolitionists.  Though  differing  as  to  their 
modes  of  conducting  the  great  Avork,  there  Avere  dis- 
cussions and  questions  of  policy  raised  and  criticism  ex- 
pressed against  the  scheme  of  a  third  party ;  but  the 
doctrine  of  no  union  Avith  slaA^e-holders,  seemed  to  pre- 
vail AA^thout  question. 


^ 


V 


;»   <«K 


< 


Hi  ■ 


Tl 


HEKA LI )S    OF   FHEEl H  'M  —  (p.  88) 


SINGING    FOE    FREEDOM.  89 

In  addition  to  the  five  members  of  onr  family,  a  con- 
venient carriage  conveyed  })leasantly  across  the  coun- 
try, a  numljer  of  invited  guests,  thirty  miles  to  Con- 
cord. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  anti-slavery  meeting,  many 
friends  expressed  a  desire  that  "\ve  might  remain  over 
one  night  and  gave  a  concert ;  l)ut  by  persuasion  and 
advice  of  Brother  Jesse,  as  we  had  a  very  important 
concert  coming  off  in  Boston  on  June  17  th,  at  which 
we  had  the  promise  of  the  presence  of  the  President  of 
the  United  States  and  suite,  we  decided  not  to  remain. 

The  next  day  we  took  in  with  us  as  friends  and 
fellow-passengers,  Frederick  Douglass  and  Charles 
Lenox  Remond.  Singing  on  our  way  as  we  came  back 
through  that  part  of  Hillsboro  County,  we  had  the 
pleasure  of  these  gentlemen  for  a  da}"  or  two,  at  our 
home. 

Soon  followed  the  great  complimentary  concert.  The 
fatigue  attending  the  public  receptions  of  President  John 
Tyler  induced  his  personal  absence  from  the  concert, 
but  his  representatives  and  suite  honored  the  occasion 
by  their  presence,  and  in  the  reserved  seats  were  Mr. 
and  jNIrs.  Benson,  whose  friendshi})  we  were  proud  to 
acknowledge,  Robert  Tyler  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Presi- 
dent Tyler  and  daughter.  The  concert  Avas  given  in 
the  old  "■  Millerite "  tabernacle,  now  known  as  the 
Howard  Atheneum. 

A  card  was  issued  printed  on  fine  tissue  or  bank-note 
paper,  reiDresenting  the  bank  notes  of  that  day  with  the 
exception  of  the  extra  border.  Tins  was  one  of  our 
most  notable  concerts.  The  warm  weather  militated 
somewhat  against  us  in  a  numerical  way.  At  the  con- 
clusion we  were  introduced  to  ttie  members  of  the 
Tyler  family.  Subsequently,  when  we  had  reached  Wash- 


90  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILYo 

ington,  came  an  invitation  for  us  to  dine  with  the  Pres- 
ident at  the  White  House. 

We  then  set  out  for  Nantucket.  On  our  way  we 
gave  a  concert  in  New  Bedford,  by  invitation  of  a  noted 
Quaker,  John  Bailey;  we  had  an  interesting  audience, 
and  were  invited  into  the  houses  of  many  of  the  residents, 
among  wlioni  were  several  colored  people,  who  presented 
us  with  testimonials  and  many  little  })resents,  a  numer- 
ous variety  of  shells  tliat  had  been  brought  from  foreign 
coasts,  for  the  New  Bedford  people  then,  as  for  many 
years  before,  followed  the  sea  in  whaling  voj'ages  for 
which  they  were  noted,  pursuing  the  profitable  industry 
of  securing  great  quantities  of  oil,  for  there  was  then 
"  millions  in  it." 

Reaching  Nantucket  after  one  session  at  the  anti- 
slavery  meeting,  we  were  seized  with  an  epidemic  of 
influenza  or  what  the  inhabitants  termed  "  Tyler  grip," 
and  although  making  strenuous  efforts  to  produce  our 
usual  effect  in  singing,  we  were  obliged  to  give  up  with 
a  suitable  apology  and  return  to  our  hotel.  After 
spending  a  fcAV  days  with  our  friends,  we  again  hied  to 
our  New  Hampshire  home.  This  disease,  by  the  way, 
was  not  so  fatal  in  its  consequences  as  the  modern  la 
grippe^  yet  it  proved  a  great  annoyance,  aud  in  some 
cases  terminated  fatally. 

With  the  temporary  loss  of  his  voice  Asa  came  nigh 
losing  his  heart  also,  for  he  commenced  wooing  a 
daughter  of  Captain  Chase,  who  followed  the  whaling 
business  for  a  livelihood ;  and  in  1847,  the  year  after 
we  return ed  from  England,  Elizabeth  C.  Chase  became 
Iris  wife,  and  went  with  him  to  his  home  in  New 
Hampshire.  "  No  great  loss  but  there  is  some  small 
gain." 

During  the  remainder  of  the   summer  we  were   en- 


SINGING    FOB    FliEEDOM.  91 

gaged  in  making  preparations  for  our  promised  visit  to 
New  York,  and  early  in  September  we  put  out  once 
more  for  the  Empire  State,  giving  concerts  on  the  way 
at  Nashua,  Lowell,  Boston,  Worcester,  Springfield  and 
Pittsfield. 

On  board  the  cars,  at  the  conclusion  of  a  song  we 
had  been  singing  on  the  way,  a  gentleman  came  forward 
and  inquired  if  Ave  had  seen  the  new  song  just  pub- 
lished, written  by  Longfellow,  called  "-  Excelsior."  We 
answered  in  the  negative,  and  he  said,  "  I  shall  l)e  very 
glad  to  send  it  to  you."  When  we  had  reached  New 
York  we  received  this  song  from  him  through  the  mail. 
We  at  once  set  it  to  music  of  our  own  and  sang  it  in 
our  concerts. 

At  New  York  we  first  secured  a  good  home  in  a 
boarding-house  and  then  made  a  round  of  visits  to 
the  friends  we  had  made  the  previous  season.  We 
found  the  field  was  broad  and  open  and  quite  ready 
to  harvest. 

Our  friend,  Mr.  C.  M.  Saxton,  of  the  firm  of  Saxton 
&  Miles,  who  kept  a  successful  bookstore  on  Broadway, 
had  ofiiciated  in  our  behalf,  securing  a  hall,  attending 
to  advertising,  etc.  Friendly  influence  was  secured 
through  the  medium  of  the  Tribune,  Horace  Greeley, 
editor,  and  the  Home  Journal,  edited  by  INIorris  and 
Willis.  General  good  feeling  was  manifested  among 
our  personal  friends,  which  bespoke  us  a  large  degree  of 
success. 

Noticing  by  the  paper  that  Henry  W.  Longfellow 
was  at  the  Astor  House,  one  of  us  waited  upon  him 
with  the  request,  that,  if  it  was  agreeable  for  him  he 
would  write  an  introduction  for  the  notable  song,  "  Ex- 
celsior." ['•'More  lofty;  still  higher;  ever  upward." 
—  Webster.]      He    gladly  complied  with  our  request. 


92  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

and  before   the   day  ended  we   received  the  note,  which 
read  thus : 

"  Excelsior  "  is  a  word  in  an  unknown  tongue ;  it  rei)resents  the 
aspirations  of  genius.  Disregarding  the  every-day  comforts  of  life, 
the  allurements  of  love,  the  warning  of  experience,  it  presses  forward 
on  its  solitary  path  ;  even  in  death  holds  fast  to  the  device,  and  the 
voice  from  tlie  sky  still  proclaims  the  progress  of  the  soul  in  a  higher 
sijhere." 

Owing-  to  our  adherence  to  radical  principles,  the 
newspapers  were  cautious  in  their  criticisms  of  our 
concerts,  hut  tlu'ough  tlie  interposition  of  many  individ- 
ual friends  wlio  seemed  to  he  enamored  with  our  songs, 
many  editorials  were  favorably  written  of  our  work. 
Our  patronage  was  particularly  or  generally  derived 
from  the  masses  of  New  England  settlers  from  Connecti- 
cut and  other  States  who  in  their  enthusiasm  induced 
the  more  staid  and  conservative  Gothamites  to  at  least 
indorse  and  come  out  and  swell  the  interest  of  our 
entertainments,  and  we  soon  reached  an  elevated  point 
of  popular  favor,  for  our  halls  and  jihices  of  entertain- 
ment were  being  constantly  thronged,  as  our  temper- 
ance and  anti-slavery  sentiments  were  presented  to  their 
understanding,  through  the  medium  of  sweet  sounds, 
until  at  last  we  were  wliolly  indorsed  by  the  general 
public  and  were  made  to  feel  perfectly  at  home.  One 
individual  was  heard,  in  conversation  with  another,  to 
say,  "  They  sing  the  sweetest  harmony  I  have  heard, 
but  —  their  politics  !  " 

Several  very  popular  poetic  contributions  Avere  fur- 
nished by  our  dear  friend.  General  George  P.  Morris, 
among  which  were  "  My  Mother's  Bil)le,''  '•  Westward, 
Ho,"  "The  Sword  and  Staff,''  "Washington  and  Frank- 
lin,"' "  The  History  (or  Origin)  of  Yankee  Doodle." 
Jesse   first   enlisted    Morris's   sympathy,   and   through 


SINGIXG   FOR    FEEEDOM.  93 

^Morris  Ave  became  acquainted  with  Henry  Russell,  tlie 
author  of  "  The  ]Maniac,"  who  then  lived  in  Rochester. 

We  had  frequent  visits  from  a  notable  man,  a  Quaker 
friend,  Isaac  T.  Hopper,  though  he  could  not  make  his 
appearance  in  our  popular  audiences,  for  it  was  against 
the  rules  of  the  Friends,  l)ut  our  best  sentimental  and 
freedom  songs  he  Avas  very  much  pleased  to  hear,  and 
we  accommodated  him  at  our  private  apartments,  in  our 
hotel  or  boarding-house.  Thrilling  were  the  instances 
that  he  related  to  us  of  the  slaveocracy,  and  his  great 
display  of  wit  in  emergencies  connected  with  under- 
ground railroading  in  which  he  baffled  the  slave-hunter 
by  display  of  his  sagacity,  for  he  was  wiser  than  a  ser- 
pent and  feigned  to  be  harmless  as  a  dove.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  congenial  and  loving  souls  the  .society  of 
whom  we  were  permitted  to  enjoy.  We  made  frequent 
calls  at  his  house  and  there  met  his  intelligent  and 
sympathizing  wife,  and  also  became  acquainted  with 
Lydia  Maria  Child,  who  was  then  acting  editress  of  the 
Anti-Slavery  Standard.  "•  Owe  no  man  anything,"  and 
"lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures  upon  earth,"  were 
passages  of  Scripture  which  found  a  lodgment  in  Hop- 
per's great  heart.  He  was  a  friend  of  the  slave  and  an 
enemy  to  all  oppression.  In  after  years  at  our  frequent 
visits  to  that  city  and  until  he  passed  to  glory  he  was 
very  true  and  kind  with  his  advice.  We  learned  that 
his  financial  affairs  were  so  arranged  that  there  were  no 
great  investments  made  in  bank  stock  or  otlier  securi- 
ties, to  be  left  to  greedy  heirs,  but  his  mighty  powers 
of  mind,  heart  and  will  were  so  displayed  that  when  he 
yielded  up  the  ghost,  all  his  oijligations  to  ever}"  one 
were  fully  met. 

Our  reception  in  Brooklyn  from  the  first  Avas  an 
ovation.     The  amphitheatre  of  the  Brooklyn  Institut-e 


94  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

was  nightly  crowded  with  interested  and  sympathetic  lis- 
teners, and  the  hall  rang  out  with  enthusiastic  applause 
for  our  best  efforts. 

We  were  favored  by  a  call  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cox  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Brooklyn,  and  he  stated  to 
us  the  position  that  he  had  assumed  in  regard  to  the 
great  question  of  emancipation  before  his  congregation, 
the  opposition  he  had  received  and  his  determination 
to  abide  b}^  his  resolution  to  devote  liimself  to  the  cause 
of  the  oppressed.  We  were  made  glad  by  his  announce- 
ment and  trusted  that,  having  put  his  hand  to  the  plow, 
he  Avould  never  look  back  or  retreat  a  single  inch. 
What  weight  of  personal  entreaty  from  domestic  or 
church  influence  or  pro-slavery  threatenings,  served  to 
weaken  his  resolution,  I  never  learned,  but  we  know 
that  it  was.  more  than  his  human  soul  could  withstand, 
for  when  the  whirlpool  of  anathemas  and  threatenings 
of  loss  of  friendship,  position  and  salaiy  came,  he  was 
induced  to  retreat  from  his  laudable  position.  The  op- 
portunity was  passed,  and  another  who  could  wield  the 
sword,  sceptre  and  pen,  his  chosen  implements,  in  the 
face  of  the  Goliath  of  slaveocracy,  effectuall}-  slung  his 
potent  words  with  an  honorable  determination  that 
challenged  the  highest  respect  and  regard  of  even  the 
vanquished  foe.  So  Brookljni  saw  another  sight,  and 
the  earnest  believers  in  an  honest  purpose  sustained 
the  great  preacher  of  Plymouth  Church,  who  proved  a 
light  and  guide  to  honest  patriotism  and  free  religion. 
How  often  did  I  notice  that  brother  beloved,  fresh 
from  his  parish  engagements  with  hymn-book  and 
manuscript  —  Henry  Ward  Beecher  —  among  the  hearers 
at  these  Institute  concerts. 

We  were  most  earnestly  besought  to  join  and  take 
charge  of  the  music,  and  become  the  choir  at  Beecher's 
Church,  but  declined. 


SINGING   FOr.    FREEDOM.  95 

After  three  months  of  continued  successes  in  our 
concert  enterprises  throughout  tlie  city  of  New  York 
and  some  of  the  larger  towns  environing  it,  we  bade  it 
adieu  for  a  visit  to  our  Southern  friends  and  public,  in 
Trenton,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and  Washington. 

On  reaching  Philadelphia,  we  were  greeted  l)y  some 
old  friends  who  Avere  cognizant  of  our  efforts  and  by  a 
few  faithful  spirits  who  were  foremost  in  the  anti- 
slavery  enterprise  in  that  city.  The  Hicksite  Quakers 
were  far  more  advanced  in  liberal  sentiments  than  the 
Orthodox,  and  were  ready  to  hear  and  receive  truth 
from  any  source.  Their  kindly  offered  assistance  in 
our  enterprise  was  most  opportune,  and  constantly 
awoke  in  our  hearts  gratitude  and  thankfulness,  which 
forbade  anything  like  grief  or  disappointment.  We 
were  previously  heralded  through  the  medium  of  favor- 
able critics  or  notices  in  the  papers,  as  also  by  corre- 
spondence from  friends  in  New  York  and  Boston. 
Here  they  came  with  their  proffers  to  aid  b}'  work 
and  deed.  The  names  of  Neil,  the  McKims,  Motts, 
Davis,  Palmers,  Wrights  and  others,  are  all  of  those 
Avho  let  no  opportunity  go  hy  to  extend  to  us  the  right 
hand  of  fellowship,  socially  and  otlier\A'ise,  and  we  real- 
ized that  we  were  in  the  midst  of  brothers  and  sisters. 
The  friendships  that  were  establislied  in  those  early 
davs  were  manifested  increasingly,  as  the  time  passed, 
and  never  lessened  in  after  years. 

Our  first  entertainments  were  given  to  a  very  respect- 
able audience,  comprising  some  of  the  leading  and  in- 
fluential people  of  the  city,  and  Musical  Fund  Hall 
rang  out  to  our  delight  the  ap^jroval  of  this  popular 
audience.  At  once  we  were  favorably  im})ressed  by 
the  acoustic  properties  of  this  hall,  whicli  were  of  a 
nature  to  give  the  best  effect  to  our  simple  harmony. 


96  THE   HUTCHINSON   i^AMILY. 

This  was  inspiring.  Our  first  nuiiiber  was  heartily 
clieered  and  encored,  and  we  were  made  aware  as  we 
proceeded  Avitli  our  programme  that  we  liad  produced 
the  best  impression  possible.  We  knew  it  was  best 
to  exercise  wisdom  in  the  introduction  of  our  senti- 
ments, for  there  was  an  intense,  bitter  spirit  existing  in 
the  city ;  many  of  our  audience  had  been  called  to- 
gether out  of  curiosity,  and  some  were  ready  to  catch  at 
anything  that  might  be  said  or  sung  that  should  appear 
tinctured  with  the  unpopular  movement  towards  eman- 
cipation. Therefore,  we  confined  ourselves  to  the  in- 
troduction of  a  general  pi'ogramme  of  glees,  sentimental 
and  harmonious  pieces  that  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  music-loving  people,  not  forgetting  the  duty  of 
fully  declaring  our  position  in  the  final  song  of  the 
evenino- : 

o 

"  We're  the  friends  of  freedom, 
And  the  equal  rights  of  man." 

We  also  declared  our  opposition  to  the  trai!ic  in 
liquor  and  the  custom  of  rum-drinking. 

Concluding  the  concert,  many  of  the  audience  gath- 
ered around  us  to  cong'ratulate  us  on  our  first  effort  and 
the  request  came  from  the  president  of  the  Philharmonic 
Musical  Society,  to  join  Avith  it  in  its  forthcoming  con- 
cert. Fifty  dollars  was  tendered  and  the  use  of  the 
beautiful  hall  for  another  concert.  This  we  agreed  to 
and  the  engagement  proved  a  great  success.  A  few 
selections  were  announced  on  their  programme,  but 
answering  to  the  encores,  we  were  not  able  to  leave  the 
platform  till  Ave  had  sung  four  of  our  characteristic 
songs  ;  and  the  delighted  musicians,  Avho  had  listened 
with  the  deepest  solicitude,  came  down  at  the  conclu- 
sion Avith  vociferous  cheering,  and   the  exercise  fully 


SINGING   FOR    FREEDOM.  97 

settled  our  status  in  the  good  opinion  of  the  cultured 
scientific  musicians  of  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love. 
Then  followed  a  series  of  increasing  audiences ;  and 
1,700  people,  for  that  was  the  capacity  of  the  hall, 
nightly  lilled  the  spacious,  magnificent  concert-room. 

One  night  the  whole  mass,  as  well  as  the  singers, 
Avere  destined  to  hum  a  tune  as  they  w^ere  going  out  of 
the  hall,  towards  "  Home,  Sweet  Home,"  on  the  sliding 
scale. 

The  sky  was  clear,  the  stars  shone  out,  while  the 
audience  gathered  on  this  occasion.  During  the  two 
hours'  concert  there  came  up  a  very  thick  fog  wliich 
congealed  upon  the  cold  stony  pavements  and  Ijrick 
sidewalks,  freezing  as  it  fell,  producing  a  glaze  of  ice 
of  some  thickness.  The  great  throng,  six  or  eight 
abreast,  in  making  their  exit  from  the  hall  in  solid 
phalanx,  pressed  forward  and  as  their  feet  came  in  con- 
tact w4th  the  ice,  down  they  went.  The  unfortunates 
had  only  time  to  gather  themselves  up  out  of  the  way 
of  the  next  falling  crowd.  Then  came  a  great  uproar 
and  shouts  of  laughter,  some  with  explosive  and  stac- 
cato notes  of  sudden  or  violent  emotion,  while  others 
made  points  of  exclamation,  "  Oh  I "  while  there  were 
some  unpleasant  tones  on  the  minor  key ;  and  when  the 
last  row  had  fallen,  at  least  1,500  people  had  passed 
through  the  ordeal. 

As  we  went  out  upon  the  street,  we  could  hear  in 
every  direction,  the  merry  shouts  of  those  astonished 
and  delighted  people  as  they  wended  their  way  through 
the  streets  and  avenues  on  that  freezing  night,  "  Home- 
ward Bound."  They  were  all  in  the  ice  business, 
chanting  till  they  had  come  to  rest  at  *'  Home,  Sweet 
Home." 

During  this,  our  first  visit,   we  had   frecjuent  invita- 


98  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

tions  from  our  personal  friends  to  visit  the  curious  and 
remarkable  places,  buildings,  etc.,  throughout  the  city. 
We  were  shown  the  great  United  States  Bank,  that  was 
flourishing  a  few  years  before,  with  a  capital  of  $14,000,- 
000,  under  the  presidency  of  Nicholas  Biddle.  With 
the  crash  of  this  institution  many  people  who  had  con- 
fidence in  it  lost  their  all.  Many  poor  widows  were 
ruined  by  this  great  crisis.  The  gentleman  who  escorted 
us  said  that  he  had  had  all  his  ready  money  iii  this  in- 
stitution, !i<13,000,  sacrificed. 

Our  next  visit  was  to  the  United  States  Mint,  where 
we  were  very  much  pleased  to  witness  the  manner  of 
coining  silver ;  and  a  very  interesting  sight  it  was  to 
see  the  quarters  and  halves  dropping  out  of  the  hopper, 
with  the  national  inscription  and  date  —  the  eagles, 
the  fives,  the  two-and-a-half  and  tlie  twenties,  all  the 
varied  denominations  of  the  United  States  coin,  gold 
and  silver. 

Then  we  visited  the  great  Girard  College,  founded 
under  the  written  declaration  and  bequest  of  Stephen 
Girard,  who  devoted  his  great  energy  to  the  acquiring 
of  immense  propei'ty.  In  his  will  regarding  tlie  struct- 
ure he  emphatically  declared  that  this  institution  should 
be  entirely  non-sectarian ;  and,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  the 
city  of  Philadelphia  has  observed  his  declaration. 

As  is  often  the  case,  with  America's  great  men 
idiosyncrasies  appear  that  will  not  commend  them  to 
the  good  opinions  of  the  generations  that  come  after 
them.  It  was  said  of  this  gentleman,  that  he  was  un- 
kind and  neglectful  of  the  interests  of  his  wife  and 
helpmeet,  for  she  was  left  to  spend  her  latter  years  in  the 
almshouse,  where  she  died  and  was  buried  in  the  Potter's 
field. 

The  grand  structure  at  this  time  (184:4)  was  j^et  to 


SINGING  FOE  freedo:m.  99 

be  completed.  Since  that  date  thousands  upon  thou- 
sands have  imbibed  through  the  institution  liberal 
sentiments ;  become  lovers  of  humanity  and  true 
patriotism  and  great  workers  in  the  field  of  ethics. 

Among  numerous  acquaintances  we  came  across  one 
old  townsman,  brought  up  in  Milford,  Luther  Wallace. 
He  was  quite  an  expert  player  on  the  clarinet,  and  fre- 
quently played  in  an  orchestra  in  choirs.  He  enter- 
tained us  at  his  house,  kept  by  his  two  maiden  sisters. 
They  together  sustained  a  very  good  reputation  for 
their  kindness  and  uprightness  of  character.  B}"  trade 
he  labored  in  a  type-foundry.  As  we  sat  at  the  bounti- 
ful repast,  the  conversation  was  led  to  the  scenes  of  our 
cliildhood,  most  vividly  related  as  we  recounted  the 
early  settlement  of  the  varied  families  of  Wallaces  in 
Milford. 

Rev.  Mr.  Perry,  pastor  of  one  of  the  Baptist  churches, 
extended  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  He  was  also  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire  and  acquainted  with  our 
ancestry.  He  invited  us  to  attend  a  lecture  on  "  The 
True  ^Matrimonial  Relations  of  ]\Ian  and  Woman,"  and 
his  criticism  on  the  manners  and  shortcomings  of  the 
present  civilization  elicited  encomiums  and  commenda- 
tion. He  ever  proved  a  warm  friend.  He  became  a 
settled  minister  in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  O.,  where  we 
often  met  him  in  our  frequent  visits  going  and  coming 
through  the  West. 

Extract  from  my  diar\'  of  January  9,  1844  : 

"  Why  are  we  highly  privileged  so  much  above  our  f ellowmen  ?  Is 
it  because  we  are  better  than  they  ?  No.  We  must  give  an  account  for 
all  the  blessings  that  we  have  in  this  world.  I  fear  sometimes  we  don't 
realize  the  responsibility  that  is  resting  upon  us.  God  help  us  to  con- 
quer our  passions  and  prejudices,  worldly  honors  and  fame,  for  they 
will  perish  when  God  taketh  away  the  soul ;  then  we  shall  want  a 
friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother." 


100  THE    HFTCHINSOISr    FAMILY. 

We  had  calls  from  many  interesting  people,  among 
tliem  Mr.  Swain,  the  notable  manufacturer  of  a  panacea 
so  famous  for  its  medicinal  qualities  that  every  family 
thought  they  must  have  a  bottle.  He  had  set  up  in  liis 
house  one  of  the  largest  musical  instruments  in  the 
country,  of  European  manufacture. 

Here  in  Philadelphia  was  the  adopted  home  of  our 
beloved  friend,  Charles  C.  Burleigh,  with  his  worthy 
partner,  Gertrude  Burleigh.  They  were  sojourning  in 
a  pleasant  tenement,  not  far  from  our  boarding-place, 
and  Ave  had  frequent  visits  from  them. 

Mrs.  Burleigh  was  a  welcome  guest  at  any  hour  in  the 
daj.  Slie  would  go  to  the  door  and  exercise  her  facult}^ 
of  imitating  one  of  our  American  domestic  fowls,  and 
it  carried  us  back  to  the  farm-yard,  when  we  used  to 
have  turkeys  fattening  for  Thanksgiving.  It  was  cer- 
tainly interesting  to  hear  her  "  gobble." 

While  we  were  sojourning  in  Philadelphia,  our 
brother  Jesse  sent  us  a  request  asking  us  to  come  to 
Boston  to  attend  the  American  Anti-Slavery  Society 
meeting,  at  which  Jesse,  Joshua,  Calel),  and  Fanny,  my 
wife,  having  formed  a  quartet,  were  to  sing.  Brother 
Ze[>haniah  was  at  this  time  acting  as  our  agent. 

We  also  had  a  very  pleasant  letter  from  our  friend 
N.  P.  Rogers,  of  Concord,  inviting  us  to  come  ;  but, 
however  strong  our  inclinations  to  join  with  them  in 
their  grand  crusade,  we  felt  our  duty  call  us  to  utter 
sentiments  before  people  in  Baltimore  who  had  refused, 
years  before,  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  the  prophets  — 
where  Torrey  was  imprisoned,  so  enfeebling  his  consti- 
tution that  he  went  into  a  decline,  and  where  Garrison, 
also,  suffered  inqn-isonment.  Here  the  Avorst  features 
of  the  slave  system  were  practised.  We  visited  Hope 
Slatter   prison,   where    Avere    confined    shxA^es    of    CA^ery 


SINGING    FOU    FREEDOM.  101 

texture  of  skin,  old  and  young,  male  and  female, 
gathered  up  from  all  the  surrounding  country  like 
cattle,  forced  into  this  den  to  fatten  in  preparation  for 
the  great  Southern  mart  and  the  plantations  of  the 
South.  Here  to  our  great  surprise  we  saw  men,  women 
and  children  —  some  so  bleached  out  that  you  could 
scarcely  trace  the  African  blood.  They  gazed  with  the 
greatest  solicitude  upon  us  three  peculiarlj^-dressed  in- 
dividuals, whom  they  apparently  suspected  were  from 
the  far  South  and  were  long-haired  slave-traders. 

While  standing  looking  on  these  unfortunates  a  gate 
was  swung  ajar,  and  in  came  a  company  of  stalwarts 
who  went  through  the  routine  of  some  athletic  exhibi- 
tions, cutting  up  some  of  their  antics,  by  which  they 
were  taught  to  show  tlieir  power,  their  health,  their 
ambition  and  their  spirit,  so  they  would  be  purchased 
in  all  confidence  as  contented,  happy  servants.  The 
keeper  tried  their  muscles.  They  rolled  up  their 
sleeves  to  show  what  strength  they  had.  Some  would 
make  good  field  hands,  others  were  for  domestic  use. 

This  was  a  national  institution,  approved  by  the  Con- 
stitution and  laws  of  the  land.  Our  hearts  sickened  at 
the  sight.  As  we  turned  to  retreat  from  the  prison  we 
inwardly  cursed  such  an  institution,  and  resolved  and 
re-resolved  to  do  everything  in  our  power  to  ameliorate 
the  slaves'  condition,  and  wash  from  our  escutcheon 
the  bloody  stain,  and  we  emphasized  with  greater  force 
tliat  night  at  our  concert, 

"  AVe're  the  friends  of  freedom  and  the  equal  rights  of  man." 

Years  before.  Garrison,  Whittier  and  Torrey,  who 
had  come  on  an  errand  of  mercy  and  emancipation, 
were  obliged  to  retreat  from  the  city  witliout  a  liearing, 
barely  escaping  with  tlieir  lives.     We  had  a  less  dra- 


102  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

matic  experience,  but  still  suffered  inconveniences. 
We  were  conducted  to  our  boarding-place,  went  into 
the  parlor,  and  at  once  commenced  to  talk  and  laugh 
cheerfully,  rejoicing  that  we  had  arrived  at  our  destina- 
tion and  desiring  to  feel  at  home.  Wlien  we  had  spent 
five  or  ten  minutes  talking  matters  over  since  we  had 
come  to  the  city,  in  came  the  landlady  and  said  :  "  I  am 
sorry  to  announce  that  the  rooms  that  I  had  for  you, 
were  previously  taken  by  a  New  York  party ;  Ave  there- 
fore shall  be  obliged  to  dispense  with  you,  and  shall 
not  be  al)le  to  accommodate  you."  And  out  we  put 
into  the  darkness.  It  was  then  about  nine  o'clock ;  but 
our  friend,  Jonas  Hayward,  said  he  knew  of  another 
place.  We  started  off  and  met  our  baggage  on  tlie 
road  bound  for  the  first  place,  and  told  the  man  who 
pushed  the  hand-cart  to  follow  us.  We  approached  the 
house  and  asked  the  landlady  if  she  could  accommodate 
the  Hutchinson  Family  — a  musical  company  —  for  a  few 
days,  and  she  was  very  glad  indeed  that  we  had  come 
to  her.  We  went  into  the  parlor,  began  to  acknowl- 
edge ourselves  living,  and  commenced  to  talk  and 
laugh.  Pretty  soon  Asa  spoke  out  and  said  :  "  I  went 
down  to  see  the  hall ;  and  —  what  do  3'ou  tliink  ?  —  it 
belongs  to  a  Catholic."  Pretty  soon  in  came  the  land- 
lady and  said :  "  We  have  ascertained  that  the  rooms 
we  were  to  let  you  have  are  not  vacated  yet  and  we 
have  no  place  for  you  in  the  house."  And  out  we  went 
again ;  and  finding  nowhere  else  to  go,  we  concluded  to 
go  to  the  American  House,  went  there  and  put  up. 
It  was  a  novel  experience,  then. 

On  the  evening  of  January  23d  we  gave  our  first  con- 
cert in  Baltimore,  achieving  a  pronounced  musical  suc- 
cess, although  the  audience  was  small.  I  remember 
that  I  sano;  the  "  Maniac."     In  the  audience  we  noticed 


SINGING   FOR   FREEDOM.  103 

the  faces  of  several  familiar  friends  from  our  native 
town,  Nehemiali  and  Jonas  Hayward  and  Elizabeth  and 
Mary  Fuller.  ]Mrs.  Nehemiah  Hayward,  wlio  was  also 
there,  wrote  later  in  my  album  after  listening  to  our 
song,  "  My  :Mother's  Bible  '' : 

"'My  mother's  gift,'  that  pleasing  strain 
Still  falls  upon  my  ear, 
Revives  the  past,  the  mournful  vein 
That  memory  loves  to  cheer." 

We  stayed  several  days  in  Baltimore,  our  brotlier 
Zephaniah,  who  acted  for  two  years  as  advance  agent 
for  us,  meanwhile  going  on  to  Washington  and  arrang- 
ing for  our  appearance  there.  Our  closing  concert  was 
given  January  29th  to  a  full  house.  On  Tuesday, 
January  30th,  we  for  tlie  first  time  entered  the  capital 
of  the  nation.  It  was  at  an  important  era  in  the  great 
debates  that  for  three  decades  or  more  were  focusing 
the  eyes  of  the  world  upon  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States.  John  P.  Hale  had  just  entered  the  arena  where 
he  was  to  win  fame  and  an  undying  name  as  the  cliam- 
pion  of  the  oppressed.  While  we  were  there  the  great 
discussion  went  on  regarding  tlie  '•  t\vent3'-first  rule," 
relating  to  the  right  of  petition.  Daniel  Webster,  the 
"expounder  of  the  Constitution,"  was  in  the  heiglit  of 
his  then  undimmed  fame ;  John  Quincy  Adams,  "  the 
old  man  eloquent,"  was  still  wearing  the  harness,  which 
he  never  laid  off  until  Death's  summons  found  him  at 
the  post  of  duty.  In  my  book  of  autographs,  collected 
at  the  time,  is  his  name,  written  in  trembling  characters. 
Webster  shows  his  pride  in  the  Commonwealth  which 
he  so  powerfully  eulogized  in  his  reply  to  Hayne,  by 
the  inscription,  "  Dan'l  Webster  of  ^Massachusetts." 
Among  other  names  in  this  little  volume,  which.  l)y  the 
way,  no  money  would  buy,  are  those  of  John  P.  Hale ; 


104  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Jeremiah  Russell,  Ne\y  York  ;  Ho^Yell  Cobb,  Georgia ; 
Hannibal  Hamlin,  Maine ;  Julius  Rockwell,  Massacliu- 
setts;  Hemy  A.  Wise,  Virginia  —  the  man  who  after- 
ward hung  John  Brown ;  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  later 
Vice-President  of  the  Confederacy  ;  James  Buchanan, 
Pennsylvania,  afterward  president;  Robert  C.  Win- 
throp,  Massachusetts,  and  many  others  of  the  giants 
of  those  days. 

After  a  short  stay  at  our  boarding-place,  kept  by  a 
jNlrs.  Chisholm,  we  went  immediately  to  the  capitol. 
After  a  brief  view  of  its  architectural  features  and  its 
beautiful  frescos,  we  went  into  the  Representatives' 
Chamber.  The  debate  on  the  twent3^-first  rule,  to  which 
I  have  referred,  was  going  on.  A  Georgia  member 
made  a  few  remarks  and  then  John  Quincy  Adams 
spoke.  Tlien  the  matter  Avas  laid  on  the  table  until 
the  next  day.  We  shook  hands  with  the  president  in 
the  evening,  and  made  arrangements  to  pay  a  visit  to 
the  White  House  the  day  following.  Early  the  next 
day  Hon.  John  P.  Hale  called  upon  us.  He  was  a  luan 
of  determination,  a  great  lover  of  liberty,  his  sj'mpathies 
entirely  with  the  North,  a  patriot  indeed.  We  had 
previously  met  him  at  anti-slavery  meetings  in  New 
Hampshire,  although  then  he  had  not  fully  espoused 
that  cause.  He  referred  at  this  interview  to  criticisms 
which  had  been  made  upon  a  recent  vote  of  his  on  a 
sectional  question.  I  told  him  that  we  had  added  to 
our  family  song  this  verse,  which  we  intended  to  sing 
at  our  first  concert  in  Washington: 

"  Liberty  is  our  motto 
And  we'll  sing  as  freemen  ought  to 
Till  it  rings  through  glen  and  grotto 
From  the  old  Granite  State  — 
That  the  tribe  of  Jesse 
Are  the  friends  of  equal  rights." 


SINGING    FOU    FliEEDOM.  105 

He  then  made  no  objection,  but  offered  compliment- 
ary comments.     The  denouement  will  come  later. 

After  j\lr.  Hale's  call,  Ave  went  again  to  tlie  ca^jitol. 
"When  we  came  away  Asa  said  he  pitied  this  country. 
So  did  I.  The  suljject  of  anti-slaver}^  advanced  slowly 
enough.  A  man  from  Tennessee,  Mr.  Johnson,  spoke 
for  an  hour  to  no  effect  whatever.  We  believed  the 
politicians,  especially  those  in  Congress,  to  be  a  curse 
to  the  country. 

In  the  evening,  in  compau}-  with  Ex-Governor  Levi 
Woodbur}',  of  New  Hampshire,  then  in  Congress,  we 
went  to  the  White  House  and  were  formally  introduced 
to  President  Tyler,  afterward  dining  with  him.  I\Iy 
impression  of  him,  as  recorded  in  my  diary,  was  that  lie 
was  not  as  bad  a  man  as  he  had  been  represented  to  be. 
He  wanted  us  to  sing  and  we  gave  him  "  The  Land  of 
Washington,"  ''A  Little  Farm  well  Tilled,"  "My 
Mother's  Bible,"  '*■  The  Old  Granite  State  "  and  ''  Good- 
Morning." 

On  the  evening  of  February  1st  we  gave  our  first 
concert  in  the  city  in  Assembly  Hall.  In  the  audience, 
together  with  many  more  of  the  greatest  men  of  the 
time,  were  John  Quincy  Adams,  Hon.  Levi  Woodbury 
with  his  family,  Postmaster-General  Wyckliffe  and 
family,  Hon.  Charles  Atherton,  famous  as  "  Gag " 
Atherton,  of  New  Hampshire,  Mr.  Hale  and  others. 
There  were  many  Southern  men  of  note  included.  ]Mr. 
Hale,  very  solicitous  for  our  success  among  such  diverse 
elements,  came  into  tlie  anteroom  during  the  inter- 
mission, and  inquired,  "  Are  you  going  to  sing  that 
verse  you  read  to  me  ? "  I  told  him  that  ^\q  were. 
"Don't,"  said  he  ;  "  I  beg  you  not  to  sing  it  to-night; 
I  liad  rather  give  3'ou  my  head  for  a  foot-ball  than  liaA  e 
you  do  it."     In  deference  to  his  desire  that  there  should 


106  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

be  no  exhibition  of  sectional  feeling  to  mar  our  first 
appearance,  we  omitted  the  objectionable  verse,  though 
not  forgetting  to  embody  its  sentiment,  in  a  less  pro- 
nounced form,  in  other  verses.  Those  were  trying 
times  and  the  effort  to  make  an  artistic  success  without 
doing  violence  to  our  consciences  was  no  very  easy 
matter. 

After  the  concert  we  went  to  a  social  gathering 
opposite  the  liall,  where  for  the  first  time  we  shook  the 
hand  of  Daniel  Webster.  When  Webster  came  in, 
before  being  introduced  to  the  company,  he  stepped  to 
the  table,  poured  out  a  glass  of  champagne  and  swal- 
lowed it.  Then  he  poured  out  another  and  gidped  it 
down.  This  started  his  conversational  powers  ;  and  as 
he  lifted  another  glass,  he  paused,  and  inquired  of  his 
host,  "  Doctor,  wliat  makes  this  wine  sparkle  so  ?  "  It 
was  a  poser  for  the  man  of  pills,  scientist  though  he 
was,  but  my  boyhood  friend,  Osgood  Muzzey,  whom  I 
here  met  for  the  first  time  in  many  years,  at  once  joined 
the  group,  and  explained  to  Webster,  for  whom  he 
acted  as  private  secretary,  the  entire  phenomenon.  The 
"•  godlike  Daniel,"  quite  satisfied,  then  turned  to  his 
social  duties.  Webster  was  then  some  fifty-five  years 
old.  His  appearance  was  impressive.  His  whole  har- 
monious figure,  face,  form,  carriage,  was  superbly  grand. 
Men  in  public  station  rarely  appreciate  how  much  in- 
fluence a  little  act  will  exert,  or  what  will  be  the  im- 
pression of  their  acts.  It  wounded  us  deeply,  tee- 
totallers as  we  Avere,  to  see  this  much  admired  and 
almost  worshipped  man  partaking  so  freely  of  wine ; 
but  we  could  not  forget  that  it  was  Webster,  and 
listened  and  looked  with  respect  and  awe.  We  sang 
several  selections,  to  his  evident  satisfaction. 

To  return  for  a  moment  to  Muzze3%     We  had  several 


SINGIXG   FOr.   FREEDOM.  107 

pleasant  interviews  Avitli  him  during  our  stay  in  Wasli- 
inofton.  He  had  led  a  life  full  of  adventure  and  incident 
in  the  fourteen  years  since  we  picked  hops  together  for 
Brother  David.  I  well  recall  how  he  used  to  sit  in  the 
ho2>house  and  tell  stories.  He  was  a  splendid  specimen 
of  a  man,  but,  alas !  died  a  few  years  later  a  victim  to 
the  drink  habit. 

The  next  day  we  made  another  call  at  the  capitol, 
and  heard  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  of  Ohio,  speak  for  the 
abolition  of  the  twenty-first  rule.  His  speech  was  able, 
heartfelt,  and  consequently  effective.  After  an  hour's 
session  the  House  adjourned,  and  we  departed,  con- 
firmed in  our  conviction  that  public  men  were  nuisances. 
We  were  anxious  for  the  triumph  of  freedom,  and  could 
not  calmly  wait  for  the  slow  processes  of  legislation. 

While  in  Washington,  news  came  that  the  harbors  of 
Boston,  New  York  and  Philadelphia  were  frozen  over, 
and  that  Long  Island  Sound  was  impassable.  This  was 
the  coldest  winter  on  record,  and  we  were  rather  glad 
to  be  in  a  warmer  climate.  All  travel  was  of  necessity 
b}^  land.  As  the  fare  from  New  York  to  Boston  b}'  rail 
was  then  fifteen  dollars,  we  were  rather  interested  to 
have  the  Sound  become  passable  before  our  return. 

Five  hundred  attended  our  second  concert,  in  a  popu- 
lar hall  known  as  Carusi's  Saloon,  and  the  most  fashion- 
able people  from  all  parts  of  the  country  were  rejire- 
sented.  Mr.  Giddings,  that  brave  and  noble  A])olition- 
ist,  was  there,  to  hear  the  Yankees  sing.  At  the  close 
of  the  concert  the  people  rushed,  almost  en  masse,  be- 
hind the  curtain  to  offer  congratulations. 

During  the  next  Aveek  we  spent  an  evening  with  tlie 
family  of  Postmaster-General  Wyckliffe.  We  enter- 
tained them  with  songs,  and  they  offered  as  entertain- 
ment champagne,  oranges  and  chicken  salad.     We  did 


108  THE    HUTCHIXSON    FAMILY. 

not  drink  of  the  champagne,  for  we  were  teetotallers  — 
a  very  good  excuse,  they  said.  ]Mrs.  Wyckliffe  we  found 
to  be  a  very  motherly  woman.  The  same  week  Mr. 
Hale  took  us  into  the  Supreme  Court,  and  we  were 
privileged  to  hear  Webster  argue  the  celebrated  Girard 
case.  On  February  8th  we  gave  our  closing  concert  in 
Assembly  Hall,  to  a  great  concourse  of  people.  The 
room  was  jammed.  On  the  following  day  we  returned 
to  Baltimore,  parting  tearfully  with  many  dear  friends 
whom  we  had  learned  to  love  during  our  stay. 

On  the  same  evening  we  gave  a  concert  in  Assembly 
Hall  to  an  audience  which  represented  in  money  as 
much  as  we  had  taken  during  our  entire  previous  stay. 
"VVe  notified  them  that  we  would  repeat  the  concert  on 
the  following  jNIonday  night,  and  they  received  the 
announcement  with  cheers. 

On  Monday  evening,  February  1 2th,  we  gave  what 
we  intended  should  be  our  last  concert  in  Baltimore, 
but  the  attendance  was  so  large  and  enthusiastic  that 
we  consented  to  sfive  another  on  the  followinof  Wednes- 
day  evening. 

While  this  last  concert  was  in  progress,  an  incident 
occurred  which  illustrated  tlie  fact  that  our  family 
quartet  was  made  up  of  very  human  beings,  and  that, 
as  Whittier  says, 

"Before  the  joy  of  peace  must  come 
The  pangs  of  purifying." 

Amid  the  excitement  of  the  concert,  while  we  were 
in  an  anteroom,  some  word  of  criticism  was  spoken,  and 
in  an  instant  Judson  and  Asa  had  pitched  into  one 
another.  I  at  once  assumed  the  role  of  peacemaker, 
stepping  in  between,  and  as  a  result  suffered  the  most 
damage.     I   began   to  rub  my  hurts,  making   fully  as 


SIXGING    FOK    FIJEEDOM.  l09 

mucli  ado  as  my  injuries  would  Avarrant.  This  was 
enough.  The  anger  of  my  brothers  was  forgotten  in 
mutual  sympathy  and  sorrow  over  my  sufferings.  A 
moment  more  and  all  three  of  us  were  on  the  stage, 
singing  as  sweetly  as  though  nothing  had  happened: 

"  This  book  is  all  is  left  me  now, 
Tears  will  unbidden  start ; 
With  faltering  lip  and  throbbing  brow 
I  press  it  to  my  heart. 

"  For  many  generations  past 
Here  is  our  family  tree. 
My  mother's  hands  this  Biljle  clasped ; 
She,  dying,  gave  it  me." 

February  l()tli  we  reached  Philadelphia.  During  our 
stay  there  I  visited  the  grave  of  Franklin.  On  Sunday, 
the  18th,  we  went  to  hear  Father  Miller,  the  great 
Millennialist,  preach  in  the  saloon  of  the  Chinese 
Museum.  I  never  witnessed  such  a  gathering  in  my 
life.  He  proved  quite  plainly,  according  to  the  record 
in  my  diary,  made  at  the  time,  that  the  end  of  the  world 
was  near  at  hand.  There  was  some  disturbance,  and 
an  officer  was  sent  for.  When  he  came,  the  disturbers 
began  to  scatter,  and  the  congregation  thought  there 
was  to  be  a  mob ;  but  quiet  was  soon  restored.  Father 
^Miller  preached  two  hours,  and  then  bade  his  hearers 
farewell  forever. 

On  February  2-4:th  we  left  Philadelphia  for  New 
York,  where  we  remained  several  days,  giving  concerts, 
and  enjoying  tlie  society  of  old  friends.  While  we 
were  there  word  came  of  the  terrible  explosion  on  the 
ship  Princeton  sailing  on  the  Potomac,  of  the  big  gun 
called  the  "  Peacemaker."'  The  President  and  his 
cabinet  were  on  board,  and  Secretary  Upshur  and  other 
prominent    men    were    instantly    killed.     Tlie    tragedy 


110  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

was  one  of  thrilling  interest  to  us,  for  several  of  those 
with  whom  we  had  become  intimate!}"  acquainted  were 
on  the  vessel.  The  ladies,  of  whom  there  were  at  least 
two  hundred,  Avere  in  the  cabin,  having  a  social  time  ; 
and  just  as  the  catastrophe  took  place  our  friend  JNIiss 
Wyckliffe  was  being  cheered  for  the  toast,  "The  Ameri- 
can Flag:  the  only  thing  American  which  will  l)ear 
stripes  I  "  None  of  the  ladies  were  hurt.  President 
Tyler  had  just  been  invited  on  deck,  and  had  reached 
the  cabin  stairs  on  his  Avay  to  the  place  of  death  when 
the  explosion  occurred. 

While  in  New  York  each  of  us  suffered  more  or  less 
from  sickness,  occasioned,  doubtless,  by  the  life  of  ex- 
citement we  were  leading,  and  our  inexperience  in  the 
business  of  making  such  long  concert-tours.  Our  call- 
ers consisted  of  such  cherished  friends  as  General  Mor- 
ris, who  was  always  more  than  welcome,  and  another 
class  of  people  Avhom  I  find  denominated  in  my  diary 
as  those  with  "  axes  to  grind."  Many  of  those  who 
invited  us  to  their  homes  were  anxious  to  hear  us  sing, 
but  the  invitation  was  always  very  carefully  worded. 
Just  before  we  made  our  advent,  an  Englishman  of 
note  with  his  company  had  been  giving  concerts  in  the 
city,  Avith  great  success.  One  of  the  class  of  individ- 
uals mentioned,  Avith  axes  to  grind,  invited  them  to  come 
to  his  liouse  to  a  social  gathering.  The  invitation  Avas 
accepted,  and  soon  after  supper  the  host  asked  if  he 
Avould  not  give  the  guests  a  little  music.  He  hesitated 
and  remarked  that  he  did  not  know  they  Avere  expected 
to  sing.  "  Why,"  said  the  host,  "  that  Avas  Avhat  Ave  in- 
vited you  for."  "  Oh,"  said  the  artist,  "  then  Ave  Avill." 
He  at  once  stepped  to  the  door,  ordered  his  coachman 
to  go  to  his  hotel  and  get  his  instruments,  and  Avhen 
they  came,  stood  his    musicians   in  the   corner   of   tlie 


SINGING   roil    FREEDOM.  Ill 

parlor  and  Avent  through  his  entire  programme.  The 
party  was  of  course  higlily  delighted.  Tlien  he  said 
"  good-night  "  and  returned  to  liis  hotel.  The  next  day 
the  man  who  had  invited  him  received  a  l)ill  for  eiglit 
hundred  dollars.  As  a  result  of  this  incident,  we  found 
that  when  we  went  into  similar  gatherings,  the  form  of 
request  to  sing  was,  "  If  you  feel  like  singing,  Ave  should 
be  very  much  pleased  to  hear  you." 

We  made  a  short  trip  into  Connecticut,  singing  at 
Stamford.  On  the  day  Ave  started  Ave  arose,  dressed 
and  calmly  Avaited  until  within  a  half-hour  of  the  time 
of  the  boat's  start  for  our  carriage,  and  then  learned 
that  none  had  been  called.  Zephaniah  hastened  into 
the  street  and  secured  a  hack,  Avhich  landed  us  on  the 
Avharf  just  as  the  last  bell  rang.  AVhen  Ave  started 
back  from  Stamford,  we  Avere  landed  on  the  wharf  only 
to  learn  that  the  boat  did  not  stop.  It  soon  steamed 
by,  signalling  that  it  would  Avait  for  us  at  a  landing  six 
miles  aAvay.  We  secured  a  carriage,  and  met  it  after 
it  had  Avaited  a  half-hour. 

Our  closing  concert  Avas  given  in  the  Broadway  Tab- 
ernacle March  21st.  For  several  days  the  indications 
had  been  unmistakable  that  we  Avere  to  liaA^e  an  ovation. 
Our  friend  George  Endicott  offered  us  nine  hundred 
dollars  for  our  receipts,  agreeing  to  pay  all  expenses. 
The  old  Tabernacle  Avas  full.  All  told,  there  was  a 
little  OA^er  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  a  half-lmshel  of  bills. 

While  at  Ncav  York  on  this  trip  Ave  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Henry  C.  BoAven,  Avho  has  so  long  been  the  pub- 
lisher of  the  Independent.  He  Avas  then  a  merchant  on 
Williams  Street.  He  Avas  so  much  impressed  Avith  the 
success  of  this  last  concert  that  he  l^egged  us  to  stay 
and  give  others.  He  said  he  would  give  us  four  thou- 
sand   dollars    for    four  nights  if    Ave  Avould    only  stay. 


112  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Much  as  I  longed  again  to  greet  my  dear  wife  and  the 
loved  ones  at  home,  I  felt  this  too  good  an  opportunity 
to  forego,  but  it  was  of  no  use.  Judson  had  been  read- 
ing a  book  on  hens,  and  had  the  fever  badly.  He  must 
go  home  to  his  chickens  ;  we  had  given  our  last  concert 
and  that  was  all  there  was  to  be  said.  Asa,  too,  had 
his  plans,  although  he  would  have  stayed  had  Judson 
been  more  tractable.  Finding  that  plan  was  useless, 
Mr.  Bowen  then  insisted  that  we  must  stop  at  Wood- 
stock, Conn.,  the  place  which  he  has  since  made  famous 
by  his  Fourth  of  July  patriotic  gatherings,  and  give  a 
concert.  To  this  Ave  consented  and  he  went  with  us. 
Our  concert  at  Woodstock  was  given  by  daylight, 
between  11  A.  M.  and  2  p.  m.  We  took  ninety-four 
dollars  and  gave  hfty  dollars  to  the  academy  of  the 
place.  The  people  were  so  pleased  that  they  asked  us 
to  sing  on  the  following  day,  Sunday.  So  on  Sunday 
evening  we  gave  a  free  sacred  concert  in  one  of  the 
churches. 

We  reached  Boston  March  25th,  and  in  our  boarding- 
place  at  Father  Francis  Jackson's  on  Hollis  Street, 
counted  up  our  gains  for  the  three  months  and  found  we 
had  |!4,750  left  in  the  treasury.  Two  or  three  days  later 
we  made  a  flying  trip  to  Milford  and  greeted  again  the 
dear  ones  from  Avhom  we  had  been  so  long  absent.  We 
stayed  aljout  Boston  several  weeks,  giving  well-attended 
concerts  in  the  Melodeon,  in  Charlestown,  Cambridge, 
Salem,  Lynn  and  other  contiguous  towns.  We  also 
heard  frequent  lectures  from  Wendell  Phillips,  Rev. 
John  Pierpont,  Garrison  and  others.  Garrison  came  to 
us  in  trouble  at  one  time,  and  seemed  to  sincerely  ap- 
preciate the  financial  aid  we  were  glad  to  give  him. 

On  April  11th  we  left  Boston  on  a  three  weeks'  tour 
to  Hartford,  New  Haven   and  other   towns   along  the 


SINGING   FOR   FREEDOM.  113 

valley  of  the  Connecticut.  It  was  a  trip  full  of  pleas- 
ant, though  not  very  exciting  experiences.  By  a  happy 
chance  our  good  friends,  Rev.  John  Pierpont  and  wife 
were  on  the  train  when  we  embarked,  and  we  not  only 
had  their  company  on  the  journey,  but  met  them  fre- 
quently while  in  Hartford.  We  went  to  Springlield  by 
rail,  thence  down  the  river  by  boat.  It  was  the  hrst 
time  we  had  seen  a  propeller,  and  the  other  passengers 
seemed  rather  amused  at  our  wonder  over  it.  Brothers 
Zephaniah  and  Andrew  were  at  the  wharf  waiting  for 
us  when  we  reached  Hartford.  Our  first  concert  was 
given  on  Tuesday  evening,  all  of  the  best  people  in  the 
city  being  represented  in  the  audience.  We  stopped  at 
the  Eagle  Hotel,  opposite  the  State  capitol.  My  diary 
gives  some  interesting  hints  of  the  way  we  amused  our- 
selves between  our  concerts.  Up  to  the  time  our  con- 
certing commenced  we  had  been  more  or  less  apart,  but 
when  our  travels  were  begun  our  hearts  became  closer 
and  closer  knit  together,  and  particularly  when  we  were 
in  new  places  we  depended  entirely  upon  each  other  for 
society.  In  the  privacy  of  our  hotel  apartments  we 
were  like  innocent  children  and  played  together  like 
kittens.  Mingled  with  our  pleasures,  however,  was  a 
vein  of  anxiety  and  foreboding,  for  Brother  Andrew's 
spirits  were  far  from  light,  Brother  Zephaniah's  health 
was  poor,  Brother  Judson  had  a  habit  of  viewing  things 
from  their  tragic  side,  and  all  of  us  took  rather  a  solemn 
view  of  life,  joyous  as  we  naturally  were.  At  that  time 
all  the  country  was  stirred  up  by  the  Second  Advent 
excitement,  and  though  we  Avere  not  "  Millerites,"  we 
naturally  talked  more  or  less  on  the  subject.  Thus,  I 
find  in  my  journal  such  entries  as  these  : 

"  Andrew,  Judson  and  I  have  been  talking  about   that  grim   mes- 
senger, '  Death.'     I  believe  we  may  live  so  that  death  will  not  be  the 


114  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

king  of  terrors,  but  so  that  we  can  say  with  one  of  old,  '  O  death, 
where  is  thy  sting,  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory ! '  Then  let  us, 
brothers,  try  and  get  into  the  path  of  wisdom.  God  have  mercy  on  us 
all,  and  save  us  in  Thy  kingdom  at  last  to  praise  Thee  without  cessa- 
tion, Amen." 

Another  entry,  at  New  Haven  : 

"Asa  wanted  to  go  and  hear  the  Virginia  Minstrels  to-night,  but  I 
persuaded  him  not  to.  So  we  had  a  family  meeting,  sang  '  Old  Hun- 
dred '  and  talked  about  heaven.  How  happy  we  shall  all  be  when  we 
get  home  !  " 

Later : 

"  I  got  scared  yesterday  at  the  noise  of  a  lamp.  Thought  it  was  the 
last  trumpet.     Oh,  that  I  might  be  ready  when  God  calls  ! " 

Again,  at  Northampton : 

"  Judson  says  :  '  Get  ready,  John,  the  time  is  at  hand.'  God  have 
mercy  on  everybody.     Amen." 

But  it  was  not  all  solemn,  for  I  find  such  entries  as 
these : 

"  All  went  to  the  hall  this  afternoon  except  Abby,  and  had  a  good 
play  pinching  one  another.     Andrew  scratclied  me  some  accidentally." 

Pinching  was  a  favorite  pastime  with  us,  and  our 
arms  were  black  and  blue  most  of  the  time  from  the 
exercise. 

At  another  time : 

"  We  have  been  playing  at  rubbing  noses  until  the  tears  ran  down 
Judson's  cheeks." 

All  of  US  played  ball  a  good  deal  for  exercise.  On 
our  walks  and  other  excursions,  Asa  and  Abby,  the  two 
youngest,  usually  Avent  together,  while  I  paired  off  with 
my  loved  Judson. 

While  we  were  on  this  trip  Brother  Jesse  published  a 
new  anti-slavery  song,  "  Get  off  the  Track  "  : 


SINGING   FOR   FREEDOM.  115 

"  Ho,  tlie  car  Emancipation 
Kides  majestic  tlirongli  our  nation, 
Bearing  on  its  train  the  story, 
Liberty,  our  nation's  glory. 

"  KoU  it  along,  roll  it  along 
Through  the  nation, 
Freedom's  car,  Emancipation." 

This  immediately  aroused  the  antagonism  of  the  pro- 
slavery  press,  and  the  Boston  Atlas  was  especially 
bitter  in  its  attack  upon  the  song  and  upon  us  as  its 
singers.  At  this  time  we  distinguished  our  newspaper 
notices  as  "  puffs,"  that  is,  compliments  upon  our  sing- 
ing, and  "  blows,"  criticisms  on  our  anti-slavery  songs 
and  appearances  at  emancipation  meetings.  Much  as 
we  desired  success,  in  an  artistic  sense,  we  desired  to 
see  the  triumph  of  the  cause  of  freedom  more,  and  the 
result  of  the  "blows"  was  only, to  make  us  utter  a 
prayer  for  help  to  stand  for  the  right. 

At  Hartford  we  made  a  call  upon  Mrs.  Sigourney, 
the  noted  Connecticut  poetess,  leaving  with  her  admis- 
sions to  our  concert,  which  she  seemed  to  appreciate 
very  much.  We  went  to  New  Haven,  wliere  we  en- 
joyed looking  over  Yale  College.  We  attended  an  ex- 
hibition at  the  college  chapel,  where  Johnson's  Pliila- 
delphia  Band  was  among  the  attractions.  Then  we 
went  on  to  Springfield,  where  we  gave  a  concert,  and 
thence  up  to  Northampton,  a  town  that  pleased  us  so 
much  that  it  was  with  difficulty  we  tore  ourselves 
away. 

We  spent  two  days,  one  of  them  a  Sunday,  with  the 
Florence  Community,  and  were  loth  to  leave  it.  We 
looked  over  the  farm,  viewed  the  silk  establishments 
and  enjoyed  the  society  of  the  communists,  some  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  in  all.  On  Sunday,  in  the 
dining-room,   Frederick  Douglass  spoke,  as  did  one  or 


116  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

two  others,  and  we  sang.  The  next  day  I  made  a 
trip  to  the  summit  of  Mount  Holyoke,  which  I  greatly- 
enjoyed. 

While  at  Northampton  we  sang  at  an  anti-slavery 
meeting  in  the  town  hall,  at  which  Douglass  spoke  for 
three  hours.  This  singing,  of  course,  aroused  more 
criticism,  but  we  endeavored  to  take  it  patiently. 

On  Friday,  JNIay  3d,  we  were  once  more  in  Boston, 
our  trip  having  netted  us  a  tidy  sum.  Here  I  found 
my  wife  at  Father  Jackson's,  and  in  a  day  or  two  a  dis- 
cussion commenced  on  the  question  of  our  future. 
Brotlier  Benjamin  Avas  not  satisfied  Avith  our  plan  of 
living  together  on  the  farm.  Asa  was  opposed  to  it  and 
it  was  not  entirely  agreeable  to  my  wife.  Judson  and 
Abby  agreed  Avith  me  that  it  should  l)e  continued.  I 
was  a  strong  belieA^er  in  the  idea  of  a  community,  and 
so  with  me  it  was  a  question  of  princij^le.  However, 
the  decision  was  held  in  abeyance  for  the  time. 

The  next  week  we  all  went  home  to  Milford,  where 
several  weeks  were  spent  in  work  on  the  farm.  During 
this  summer  we  erected  what  is  knoA\'n  as  the  '*  Com- 
munity Block,"  on  the  square  in  the  village.  It  was 
four  stories  in  height,  with  a  hall  in  the  upper  part, 
which  was  at  once  devoted  to  the  free  meetings  of  the 
"  Come-outers."  On  May  27th  we  went  to  Boston  to 
attend  the  May  meetings  of  the  Anti-Slavery  Society. 
The  family  was  Avell  represented  at  these  meetings: 
Zephaniah,  Joshua,  Caleb,  Jesse,  Benjamin,  Judson, 
John,  Asa  and  Abby.  We  were  all  on  tlie  platform  of 
Tremont  Temple  together.  All  the  anti-slavery  leaders 
were  there.  During  our  stay  here  we  sang  at  a  l)ig  tem- 
perance meeting  on  Boston  Common,  attended  ])y  at 
least  twenty  thousand  people.  The  speakers  included 
John  B.  Gough,  Mr.  Hawkins,  the  great  Washingtonian 


SINGING   FOR    FREEDOM.  117 

reformer  from  Baltimore,  Gov.  Georo-e  N.  Brio-o-s  and 
others.  The  temperance  agitation  in  favor  of  moral 
suasion  was  then  at  its  height.  On  the  next  evenino- 
there  was  another  temperance  meeting  in  the  Represen- 
tatives' chamher  of  the  State-house,  on  Beacon  Hill,  at 
which  the  gOA^ernor  and  others  spoke.  Our  quartet  sat 
in  Avhat  is  now  the  ladies'  gallery  of  the  old  chamber, 
and  sang  at  appropriate  intervals. 

At  the  last  anti-slavery  meeting  of  the  week  C.  C. 
Burleigh  j^resented  a  beautiful  banner  to  Garrison,  and 
eloquent  speeches  were  made  by  each.  There  ^^'as  a 
good  deal  of  disorder,  the  disturbers  sitting  in  different 
parts  of  Tremont  Temple  and  hissing  the  speakers. 
The  meeting  ended  in  quite  a  flurry.  Then  we  went 
back  to  our  toil  in  Milford  for  a  season. 

I  ought  to  quote  N.  P.  Eogers's  description  of  our 
singing  at  the  convention,  from  the  Herald  of  Freedom^ 
June,  1844 : 

"...  One  word  more  —  the  Hutchinsons.  No  one  will  any  longer 
tax  me  with  hyperbole  or  exaggeration  when  I  exult  at  these  matchless 
anti-slavery  songsters.  They  surpassed  themselves  at  the  convention. 
They  came  out  with  some  new  strains,  and  sung  some  that  were  not  en- 
tirely new  with  prodigious  and  indescribable  effect.  Ames  says  it 
takes  an  orator  to  describe  an  orator,  or  to  write  his  life.  I  say  it 
would  take  musicians  and  music  to  describe  tliese  singers.  Their  out- 
burst at  the  convention,  in  Jesse's  celebrated  'Get  oft:  the  track,'  is 
absolutely  indescribable  in  any  words  that  can  be  penned.  It  repre- 
sented the  moral  railroad  in  characters  of  living  light  and  song,  with 
all  its  terrible  enginery  and  speed  and  danger.  And  when  they  came 
to  the  chorus-cry  that  gives  name  to  the  song  —  when  they  cried  to  tlie 
heedless  pro-slavery  multitude  that  were  stupidly  lingering  on  the 
track,  and  the  engine  'Liberator'  coming  hard  upon  them,  under  full 
steam  and  all  speed,  the  Liberty  Bell  loud  ringing,  and  they  standing 
like  deaf  men  right  in  its  whirlwind  path,  —  the  way  they  cried  '  Get 
off  the  track,'  in  defiance  of  all  time  and  rule,  was  magnificent  and  sub- 
lime. They  forgot  their  harmony,  and  shouted  one  after  another,  or 
all  in  confused  outcry,  like  an  alarmed  multitude  of  spectators,  aliout 
to  witness  a  terrible  railroad  catastrophe.     But  I  am  trying  to  describe 


118  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

it.  I  should  only  say  that  it  was  indescribable.  It  was  life  —  it  was 
nature,  transcending  the  musical  staff,  and  the  gamut,  the  minim  and 
the  semi-breve,  and  leger  lines.  It  was  the  cry  of  the  people,  into 
which  their  over-wrought  and  illimitable  music  had  degenerated,  and  it 
was  glorious  to  witness  them  alighting  down  again  from  their  wild 
flight  into  the  current  of  song,  like  so  many  swans  upon  the  river  from 
which  ihey  had  soared,  a  moment,  wildly  into  the  air.  The  multitude 
who  had  heard  them  will  bear  me  witness  that  tliey  transcended  the 
very  province  of  mere  music  —  which  is,  after  all,  like  eloquence  or 
like  poetry,  but  one  of  the  subordinate  departments  of  humanity.  It 
was  exaggerated,  sublimated,  transcendent  song.  God  be  thanked  that 
the  Hutchinsons  are  in  the  anti-slavery  movement  —  for  their  sakes  as 
well  as  for  ours  !  Their  music  would  ruin  them,  but  for  the  chastening 
influences  of  our  glorious  enterprise.  It  will  now  inspire  all  their 
genius  and  give  it  full  play,  and  will  guard  them  from  the  seductions 
of  the  flattering  world,  which,  but  for  its  protection,  would  make  them 
a  prey.  I  note  them  not  to  praise  them.  I  am  above  that  —  as  they 
are.  I  do  it  in  exultation  for  the  Cause,  and  for  their  admonition; 
though  while  they  are  Abolitionists  they  do  not  need  it.  Anti-slavery 
is  a  safe  regulator  of  tlie  strongest  genius.  I  here  take  occasion  to  say, 
in  defiance  of  all  rule,  that  Jesse  Hutchinson,  Jr.,  is  the  most  gifted  song- 
writer of  the  times  —  so  far  as  I  know.  None  of  our  most  approved 
poetry  comes  up  to  his,  written  in  the  hurley-burley  of  anti-slavery  de- 
bate. It  is,  perhaps,  owing  to  this  and  to  the  fact  that  he  writes  to  sing 
rather  than  to  read  —  writes  under  the  influence  of  song  —  that  the  music 
precedes  the  poetry  in  his  mind  ;  that  the  words  come  at  the  call  of  the 
music,  and  are  drafted  into  its  service,  or  rather  volunteer  at  its  sum- 
mons; that  his  poetry  sings  so  much  better  than  Pierpont's  or  Bur- 
leigh's or  Lowell's  or  Whittier's  or  any  of  the  bards.  Burns  wrote  his 
immortal  songs  to  match  the  tunes  sent  him  by  George  Thompson. 
He  couldn't  sing  like  Jesse  Hutchinson.  I  don't  know  as  he  could  at 
all.  His  soul  could,  if  Iiis  voice  couldn't ;  and  under  its  inspiration  he 
poured  forth  his  lays  in  songster  verse.  What  songs  he  would  have 
left  us,  if  he  could  have  written  under  such  a  spell  of  music  as  pos- 
sesses the  Hutchinsons  !  Jesse's  songs  remind  me  of  him.  '  The  Slave 
Mother '  is  hardly  surj^assed  by  anything  of  Burns'.  I  only  mention  it 
to  call  the  attention  of  the  people  to  what  is  going  on  in  the  anti-slav- 
ery field.    They'll  all  miss  it  if  they  don't  come  there." 

As  I  look  back  upon  the  years  of  professional  life  no 
fact  gives  me  greater  satisfaction  than  this,  that  no  mat- 
ter how  great  were  the  artistic  triumplis  of  the  Hutch- 
insons, they  were  always  more  than  ready  to  leave  their 


PARKKK    JMI.LSr.rUV  — tl'.  U'.h 


SINGING   FOr.   FIIEEDOM.  119 

iDublic  careers  for  the  sweeter  joys  of  domesticity.  One 
day  we  would  be  receiving  the  phiudits  of  the  multi- 
tude ;  the  next  wending  our  Avay  back  to  our  fields.  On 
our  long  trips,  I  find  my  diary  contains  constant  expres- 
sions of  lonsfing  for  home  and  the  dear  ones  left  there. 
We  placed  the  strongest  emphasis  on  the  joy  and  beauty 
of  home,  and  to-day  it  seems  to  me  that  no  institution 
exists  which  so  distinctly  bears  the  marks  of  the  divine 
purpose  and  has  a  more  sure  promise  of  the  blessing  of 
the  All-Father  than  tlie  family.  In  this  age  of  over- 
organization  it  is  well  to  remendjer  that  the  lirst,  if  not 
the  only  organization  God  ordained,  was  the  family. 

In  June  we  went  to  a  great  anti-slavery  meeting  in 
Concord,  where  those  present  had  the  privilege  of  songs 
from  Jesse,  Judson,  John,  Asa,  Abby,  David,  Noah, 
Caleb,  Joshua,  Benjamin,  Rhoda  and  Fanny. 

Then  came  haying-time.  A  regiment  of  Hutchinsons 
went  into  the  fields  for  a  family  haying-bee  —  David  with 
his  tribe  of  boys  and  hired  man ;  Noah  with  his  crutch 
and  cane,  doing  what  he  could ;  Caleb  with  his  man ; 
and  Cousin  William  Marvel,  Zephaniah,  Jesse,  Benny, 
Judson,  Isaac,  George,  John  and  Asa. 

On  July  14th  Parker  Pillsbury  preached  to  us  at  a 
"  free  meeting  "  in  the  old  meeting-house.  Judson  tried 
to  get  Rev.  Mr.  Richardson  to  announce  the  event  at 
the  regular  church  service  in  the  morning,  Ijut  his  re- 
quest was  refused.  On  the  following  Saturday  Wil- 
liam Lloyd  Garrison  and  Francis  Jackson  came  to  our 
house  for  a  stay  of  a  day  or  two.  On  the  following  day 
the  *■'  Come-outers  "  enjoyed  a  free  meeting  with  them 
in  the  old  meeting-house.  According  to  my  diary,  ^Ir. 
Garrison  spoke  at  five  o'clock,  on  "  the  Sabbath,"  and 
proved  to  my  mind  that  it  was  as  good  as  any  other  day. 
On  the  following  day  they  departed,  Asa  driving  them 
as  far  as  Nashua. 


120  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  month  I  made  a  trip  to 
Boston  and  Lynn.  One  day  I  spent  fishing  at  Bass 
Point,  Nahant,  with  such  congenial  spirits  as  Garrison 
and  Pierpont.  We  took  a  sail-boat  from  Lynn,  and  en- 
joj'ed  a  fisli  mess,  with  Jesse  as  chief  cook.  Phillips 
came  over  from  his  cottage  and  dined  with  us.  On  an- 
other day  twelve  hundred  of  the  finest  spirits  of  the 
age  went  to  Hingham  for  a  great  open-air  convention, 
Garrison,  Phillips,  Douglass,  Clapp,  Charles  C.  Bur- 
leigh, Charles  Lenox  Remond,  George  Bradburn,  Parker 
Pillsbury,  Robert  Purvis  of  Pliiladelphia,  Stephen  Fos- 
ter, Abby  Kelle}',  Francis  Jackson,  Edmund  Quincy  and 
others  spoke.  The  quartet,  Judson,  John,  Asa  and 
Abby,  with  Jesse,  did  the  singing  for  them.  It  was  a 
picnic,  and  each  one  was  supposed  to  bring  enough  food 
for  himself  and  his  neighbor.  As  many  came  for  the 
loaves  and  fishes,  tlie  menu  turned  out  to  be  rather  slim. 
It  Avas  easily  perceived  that  there  was  not  going  to  be 
nearly  enough  for  such  a  company ;  so  the  committee 
in  charge  of  the  tables  set  aljout  finding  any  supplies 
that  had  been  held  back.  It  happened  that  I  had 
brought  my  trunk,  in  Avhich  was  my  violin  in  its  box, 
with  me,  and  as  the  most  safe  place,  had  left  it  on  the 
steamboat  wliich  had  been  chartered  for  the  occasion. 
As  soon  as  it  was  seen,  it  was  surmised  that  it  Avas  full 
of  eatables,  and  it  was  at  once  transported  to  the  tables, 
to  be  opened  if  it  Avas  found  that  the  bill-of-fare  Avas 
falling  short.  I  knew  nothing  of  Avhat  had  happened, 
until  standing  at  the  tables,  looking  A^ainly  for  some- 
thing to  assuage  my  hunger,  I  observed  a  man  at  it 
Avith  a  cold  chisel.  Before  I  could  reach  him,  he  had 
opened  it  and  drawn  forth  the  Adolin.  I  remarked  tliat 
he  Avould  find  nothing  more  appetizing  than  catgut  and 
hair  there.  The  managers  of  the  affair,  at  Mr.  Jackson's 
suggestion,  made  good  the  damage. 


SIXGIXG    FOP.    FREEDOM.  121 

At  sundown  we  were  packed,  several  hundred  of  us, 
on  the  hoat,  and  it  started  for  Boston.  Alas  !  the  cap- 
tain had  missed  his  reckoning ;  the  tide,  instead  of 
coming  in,  was  going  out,  and  soon  we  were  stuck  fast 
on  the  flats.  There  was  nothing  to  be  done  but  wait  for 
the  tide  to  come  in  again,  although  this  was  rather  hard 
for  people  "svho  were  not  only  weary  but  who  had  been 
fed  on  little  more  than  mental  pabulum  all  day.  But 
there  we  stayed,  until  nearly  dawn.  To  make  matters 
worse,  the  boat  was  so  crowded  that  it  was  impossible  to 
find  sufficient  seats,  or  other  means  of  repose.  I  man- 
aged t(i  fnid  a  loose  cabin  door,  which  seemed  to  be 
serving  no  very  useful  purpose,  tore  it  off,  and  after 
placing  blocks  of  wood  under  it,  made  it  serve  as  a  seat 
for  six  other  weary  ones  beside  myself.  Finally,  in 
utter  exhaustion,  I  lay  down  under  a  table  and  tried  to 
sleep,  but  the  moving  feet  of  the  people  sitting  at  the 
table  soon  demonstrated  this  to  be  an}- thing  but  a  bed  of 
roses.  Passing  oat  toAvards  the  engine-room,  I  sighted 
my  good  friend  Francis  Jackson  sweetly  sleeping  high 
on  a  pile  of  fire-wood.  Meanwhile,  Brother  Jesse,  with 
Frederick  Douglass  and  Henry  Clapp,  were  the  life  of 
the  sleepy  company.  Deciding  that  there  was  no  pos- 
sibility of  rest  and  small  prospect  of  either  supper  or 
breakfast,  they  resolved  to  make  the  best  of  it,  and  so 
skylarked  all  over  tlie  boat.  Kobert  Purvis  was  by  the 
stairs  in  a  sleeping  position,  when  suddenly  some  one 
grabl^ed  him  by  the  nose.  He  woke  and  mildly  pro- 
tested against  the  undue  familiarity.  ''  Oli,  beg  par- 
don," said  the  intruder,  ''  I  thought  you  were  a  chair  I  '' 
Jesse  organized  meetings  here  and  there  at  which  reso- 
lutions of  the  nature  of  solace  for  the  inconvenience 
experienced  were  passed :  "  Resolved,  that  Ave  had  our 
usual  quiet  night's  rest."     "  Resolved,  that  we  have  had 


122  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

our  breakfast,"  etc,  Mr.  Garrison  viewed  these  per- 
formances with  some  disapproval,  and  quietly  Avarned 
these  3'oung  men  against  injuring  their  personal  influ- 
ence by  too  much  levity ;  he  could  not  forget  that  the 
party  came  to  Hingham  on  serious  business.  But  hard 
times  and  good  times  have  an  end,  and  at  last  we  reached 
Boston,  ate  our  breakfasts,  secured  some  sleep,  and  soon 
the  impression  of  everything  but  the  good  time  we  had 
had  passed  off. 

This  excursion  was  soon  followed  by  one  even  more 
pleasurable,  when  I  got  my  first  impressions  of  the  beauty 
of  the  White  Hills. 

In  Auo'ust  I  secured  a  hig;  stasfe-coach,  hired  a  man  to 
drive  tlie  four  horses  which  drew  it  (I  saw  this  man, 
Granville  Turner,  hale  and  hearty  in  1894),  and  made 
u[)  a  big  famil}-  party  for  a  trip  through  the  White 
Mountains.  There  were  twelve  of  us  in  the  coach,  be- 
sides several  others  in  single  carriages.  We  took  the 
laro'B  tent  belonoinp'  to  the  band,  in  which  I  had  an  in- 
terest,  and  on  the  first  day  proceeded  as  far  as  Concord. 
We  pitclied  our  tent,  and  gave  a  concert  in  the  old 
Xorth  Church  in  the  evening  to  a  great  concourse  of 
people.  Mr.  Rogers'  three  daughters,  Frances,  Caroline 
and  Ellen,  joined  our  party  at  this  point,  as. did  John 
K.  French,  William  M.  White  and  Mar}^  Lincoln. 

After  an  enjoyable  ride,  we  reached  Sanbornton.  We 
pitched  our  tent  by  a  farm-house,  and  the  men  of  the 
party  used  it  for  a  dormitory,  Avhile  the  ladies  slept  in 
the  house.  We  appointed  a  foraging  committee  to  se- 
cure butter,  milk,  eggs  and  other  supplies  of  the  farmers, 
as  they  proceeded  by  different  routes. 

The  scenery  was  sublime,  the  weather  good  and  our 
spirits  fine.  The  next  morning,  with  cheers  for  the 
"  Old    Granite    State,"    the    farmers,    and    others,    we 


SINGING   FOK    FilEEDOM.  123 

started  for  Plymouth,  where  we  arrived  at  noon,  find- 
ing onr  family  friend,  N.  P.  Rogers,  waiting  for  ns.  We 
stopped  at  the  house  of  his  brother  John,  a  physician, 
and  in  the  evening  gave  a  concert  in  the  village  to  a 
good  house.  Writing  to  the  Herald  of  Freedom,  Mr. 
Rogers  spoke  tlius  of  this  concert  : 

"The  concert  was  in  the  Court  House  —  a  fine  room  for  music,  but 
too  small  for  the  audience  —  on  a  dogday  night.  It  was  crowded.  Many 
people  came  in  from  the  surrounding  towns.  Tlie  Hutchinsons  have 
never  sung  to  a  more  intelligent  and  tasteful  audience,  of  uny  size,  in 
any  place.  And  they  never  sang  more  freely,  or  in  fr^PT  spirit  and 
strain.  The  air  was  somewhat  oppressive  and  non-elastic,  but  tliey 
were  in  capital  spirits.  Some  of  their  songs  were  absolutely  wonder- 
ful. I  wish  I  had  time  to  23articuhirize.  I  want  to  say  a  good  many 
things  about  that  little  concert  —  to  me  the  most  interesting  they  can 
ever  give.  But  I  have  no  time.  I  was  glad  to  see  my  old  and  vene- 
rated friend  Judge  Livermore  present,  at  the  age  of  near  fourscore  — 
though  it  was  several  miles  from  liis  residence,  and  a  dark  evening. 
And  when  they  sang  Longfellow's 'Excelsior,' and  Judson  sent  down 
that  chorus  word,  from  the  height  of  the  high  Alps  J'oung  genius  was 
scaling,  'It  is  your  motto  word,  young  men,' remarked  the  judge,  en- 
thusiasticaHy,  and  in  his  own  peculiar,  '  excelsior '  style,  as  rare  as 
the  music  he  was  lauding.     But  I  am  interrupted,  and  must  close." 

Saturday  we  spent  in  the  woods  at  Lincoln,  fronting, 
with  good  success.  On  Sunday,  at  noon,  we  reached 
Littleton,  our  journey  taking  us  through  the  Franconia 
Notch,  a  trip  we  greatly  appreciated.  We  liad  a  fine 
view  of  the  "Old  Man  of  the  ^Mountain,"  A  row  upon 
Pemigewassett  Lake  was  also  taken.  In  the  afternoon 
there  was  an  anti-slavery  meeting  at  Littleton  ;  S.  S. 
Foster,  William  A.  White  and  Al^by  Kelley  were  the 
speakers,  we  contributing  two  songs.  In  the  evening 
Foster  spoke  again,  and  we  sang  once  more. 

Monday  we  fished  for  trout  in  the  Ammanoosuc 
River.  On  that  evening  we  gave  a  concert,  and  the  fol- 
lowing day  went  to  Fabyan's.     The  hotel  was  hardly  as 


124  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

large  as  at  the  present  time,  and  there  were  no  accom- 
modations for  us,  so  the  tent  was  brought  into  requisi- 
tion once  more.  The  eight  women  of  the  party  were 
provided  with  one  room  in  the  hotel.  The  next  day 
thirteen  of  us  ascended  Mount  Washington,  on  horses 
trained  by  ^Ir.  Fabyan  for  the  purpose.  We  had  a 
good  time  but  a  hard  one.  It  was  the  roughest  route  I 
had  ever  travelled  in  my  life.  It  was  nine  miles  from 
the  hotel  to  the  top,  and  the  ascent  took  about  four 
hours.  It  was  a  romantic  sight  to  see  some  twenty-four 
men  and  women  on  horseback,  following  one  another 
single  tile  over  the  rocks  and  crags,  logs,  ruts  and 
ditches  until  they  reached  an  altitude  so  high  that  trees 
or  shrubs  refused  to  grow.  Tlien  we  left  earth  behind 
and  went  into  the  clouds,  and  at  last  reached  the  sum- 
mit. I  was  the  first  of  the  Hutchinson  party  to  reach 
the  goal,  excepting  Mr.  White,  who  walked  the  whole 
distance,  up  and  back,  eighteen  miles.  The  guide  re- 
fused to  let  the  horses  go  beyond  a  certain  point,  but  I 
had  the  reins  in  my  own  hands  and  urged  my  steed  to 
the  tip-top.  It  seemed  poetic  enough  to  be  among  the 
clouds,  but  it  felt  chilly,  and  after  eating  our  lunch  and 
singing  a  song,  we  came  down.  Tlie  clouds  were  so 
troublesome  that  we  only  caught  one  glimpse  of  the 
Saco  River  winding  its  way  through  the  valley  towards 
North  Conway  and  Fryeburg.  A  severe  headache 
spoiled  my  enjoyment  of  the  view.  When  we  reached 
the  foot  of  the  mountain,  which  was  descended  without 
accident,  we  had  some  sport  racing  our  horses  on  the 
plains,  and  when  we  came  to  the  travelled  road  we 
formed  ourselves  into  a  band,  and  so  rode  singing  to  tlie 
hotel.  We  were  stiff  enough  when  we  dismounted 
from  our  horses  and,  of  course,  were  a  laughing-stock 
for  those  who  had  remained  behind.  I  was  very  sick 
that  night. 


SINGING   FOR    FEEEDOM.  125 

The  next  day  we  started  on  our  retnrn  trip.  (Jur 
bill  for  one  and  tvvo-tliirds  days'  board  at  the  hotel  was 
•f 73.  We  took  dinner  at  the  old  Crawford  House,  near 
the  Willey  House  in  the  Notch,  and  that  night  pitched 
our  tent  thirty-live  miles  from  Fajd^an's,  in  North 
Conwa}",  and  in  the  evening  gave  a  free  concert  to 
a  delighted  company  which  gatliered  outside.  Then 
next  day  we  Avent  to  Centre  Harbor,  stopping  on  the 
way  in  the  w^oods  of  Tamworth  for  a  picnic  dinner. 
]Mr.  White  made  an  temperance  and  anti-slavery  ad- 
dress to  the  honest  farmers  who  gathered  about.  The 
following  day  we  spent  rowing  upon  and  swimming  in 
Lake  Winnepisogee.  We  returned  through  Plymouth, 
gave  a  concert  at  Sanbornton  Bridge  on  our  wa}'  to  Con- 
cord, spent  the  last  night  of  our  journey  at  Goffstown 
and  reached  ]\[ilford  August  l-ith.  I  was  ailing  most 
of  the  time  on  the  return  trip,  and  so  could  not  enjoy 
it  as  much  as  I  otherwise  might.  In  those  days  I  be- 
lieved in  hydropathy  and  had  caught  a  serious  cold 
from  a  superfluity  of  shower  Ijaths. 

In  the  Alilford  column  of  the  JVew  Hampshire  Repuhli- 
can.,  a  few  j^ears  since,  appeared  a  reminiscence  of  this 
White  Mountain  trip,  from  a  writer  singing  his  name 
"  E.  M.  S." 

"In  1844  the  celebrated  Hutchinson  family  of  singers  decided  on  a 
pleasure  trijj  through  the  AVhite  jNlountains.  In  that  year  Granville 
Turner  was  driving  the  stage  between  Milford  and  Nashua,  and  as  he 
possessed  the  confidence  of  Jesse  Hutchinson,  the  father  of  the  noted 
family-,  he  was  delegated  to  draw  the  ribbons  over  a  double  span  of 
horses  and  guide  the  Hutchinsons  on  their  journey.  ]Mr.  Turner  re- 
lates, that  as  he  sat,  reins  and  whip  in  hand,  before  the  door  of  the 
Hutchinson  home,  with  the  brothers  and  sister  about  him,  the  father, 
Jesse  Hutchinson,  appeared  upon  the  threshold  and  with  raised  hand 
gave  into  ]Mr.  Turner's  keeping  his  sons  and  daughter,  and  bade  him" 
to  return  them  to  the  parental  roof  in  safety.  Mr.  Turner  solemnly 
replied  that  lie  would  ;  and  he  did.     On  the  journey  many  amusing  in- 


126  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

cidents  occurred.  All  told,  the  party  comprised  eighteen  persons. 
Not  far  from  one  mountain  hotel  the}'  halted,  and  fished  and  sang  and 
put  up  their  canvas  tent.  Later,  a  stage-driver  coming  into  this  hotel 
was  asked  if  lie  had  seen  the  Hutchinson  singers,  whom  they  heard 
were  on  the  way.  His  reply  was,  '  No,  but  I  passed  a  band  of  tented 
Arabs  who  were  fishing  and  singing  not  far  away.'  None  of  the 
listeners  imagined  the  people  referred  to,  to  be  the  Hutchinsons.  Later 
the  '  Arabs '  came  driving  to  the  hotel,  singing,  '  We're  a  band  of 
brothers  from  the  old  Granite  State,'  and  announced  their  identity, 
but  the  populace  did  not  believe  them.  They  entered  the  hotel  in  their 
rough  and  ready  rigs,  procured  rooms,  and  when  evening  came,  they  ap- 
peared in  costume  to  tiie  wonderment  of  all ;  and  when  they  sang,  they 
captivated  and  charmed  and  took  that  mountain  house  by  storm." 

The  reference  to  father's  solicitude  for  us  is  a  re- 
minder of  Parker  Pillsbury's  description  of  a  visit  made 
to  the  old  homestead  at  about  this  period.  Milford  was 
during  these  years  one  of  the  most  pronounced  anti- 
slavery  communities  in  New  Hampshire,  and  frequent 
conventions  were  held  in  the  old  church  and  other 
asseml)ly  rooms,  as  noted  elsewhere  in  this  history.  On 
these  occasions  the  members  of  the  family  quartet  and 
Brother  Jesse  Avould  come  home,  if  possilile,  and  share 
in  the  exercises,  while  the  home  would  be  opened  to 
visiting  speakers.  Pillsbury  says  on  one  occasion,  he, 
with  N.  P.  Rogers,  stayed  at  the  homestead.  In  the 
morning,  after  breakfast,  "  Uncle  Jesse  "  rose  to  start 
for  his  daily  toil  in  the  fields  ;  but  just  at  this  moment 
Brother  Jesse  said,  "  Father,  shall  we  not  sing  you  a 
farewell  before  we  leave  for  our  distant  homes  ?  "  The 
father  paused,  and  the  dozen  sons  and  daughters,  led  by 
Jesse,  sang : 

"  Our  father,  we  wish  you  well. 
When  our  Lord  calls,  we  hope  you  will  be  mentioned 
in  the  promised  land." 

To  this  prayer  the  father  in  sonorous,  but  grave  and 
earnest  tones,  responded : 


SINGING   FOK    FREEDOM.  127 

"My  children,  I  wish  you  wlU. 
When  our  Lord  ealls,  I  trust  you  will  be  mentioned 
in  tlie  promised  land." 

Both  PilLsbuiy  and  Rogers  were  deeply  affected  by 
this  ceremony,  which,  in  the  Hutchinson  homestead 
was  but  the  outflow  of  the  sentiment  of  respect  felt  by 
every  son  and  daughter  for  our  sire,  and  something 
rarely  overlooked  in  our  coming  and  going. 

September  11,  1844,  the  quartet,  with  Zephaniah  as 
advance  agent,  started  on  another  season  of  concert 
Avork.  Our  first  stop  was  at  Manchester,  where  we 
sang  to  twelve  hundred  people.  The  next  night  we 
sang  in  Nashua,  takhig  nearly  twice  as  much  money  as 
at  Manchester.  Then  Brother  Zephaniah  went  to  New- 
buryport  to  arrange  a  concert,  while  we  went  on  to 
Lynn,  where  a  few  days  were  pleasantly  spent  with  old 
friends.  On  the  16th  we  reached  Newburj^port  and 
gave  a  concert  in  the  evening,  six  hundred  being  in  the 
hall.  While  there  we  had  as  callers  Rev.  Samuel  J. 
May,  who  desired  us  to  stay  over  a  day  and  sing  at  his 
anti-slavery  meeting  the  following  night,  and  Hannah 
F.  Gould,  the  poetess,  who  consented  to  write  us  some 
songs.  ~Sh\  ^lay  found  the  native  town  of  Garrison 
rather  indifferent  to  anti-slavery.  It  had  not  then  got 
to  the  point  of  raising  a  monument  to  its  distinguislied 
son.  AVe  were  unaljle  to  stop  and  sing  for  jMr.  May 
and  the  next  day  were  in  Portsmouth,  where  we  had 
the  pleasure  of  Avitnessing  tlie  launching  of  a  man-of- 
AA'ar  at  tlie  naA'y  yard.  Our  Portsmouth  concert  Avas  an 
artistic  and  a  numerical  success.  Our  next  stop  was  at 
Saco  ;  our  house  AA'as  poor,  and  we  determined  to  lea\'e 
the  toAvn  out  in  our  future  trips. 

On  the  21st  Ave  reached  Portland.  We  stopped  at 
the  home  of  our  friend  Oliver  Dennett  and  liad  a  most 


128  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

deliglitful  sta3\  We  gave  two  concerts,  with  good 
audiences,  and  at  the  close  of  the  second  were  driven 
to  the  boat  and  steamed  away  for  Augusta.  By  this 
time  we  thought  ourselves  pretty  well  "  down  East," 
but  were  told  by  the  inhabitants  that  we  must  go  on  to 
Bangor  before  reaching  that  region. 

Our  concert  at  Augusta  was  successful.  We  were 
importuned  to  repeat  it,  but  concluded  to  give  one  in 
Gardiner,  near  by,  instead.  The  concert  here  was  not 
numerically  a  success,  however.  Our  next  concert  was 
given  in  Hallowell.  There  was  a  strong  anti-slavery 
sentiment  in  this  place.  During  this  trip  we  brothers 
concluded  to  exercise  as  often  as  possible  at  bowling, 
and  had  many  curious  experiences  finding  alleys  and 
making  bargains  for  their  use.  In  one  place  we  had 
rolled  the  balls  but  a  few  minutes  when  the  profanity 
and  drunkenness  in  the  place  so  disgusted  us  that  we 
fled.  At  Bath  we  closed  our  concert  as  usual  with 
''The  Old  Granite  State,"  but  immediately  there  were 
calls  for  "  Get  Off  the  Track."  We  sung  it,  and  it  was 
received  with  cheers  such  as  we  seldom  heard  from  pro- 
slavery  people.  We  were  convinced  that  people  would 
take  in  song  what  they  would  not  in  any  other  way. 

October  1st  we  reached  Brunswick.  While  at  dinner 
in  our  hotel  we  noticed  a  man  at  another  table  who 
looked  like  John  B.  Gough.  It  proved  to  be  the  great 
lecturer,  Avho  was  to  speak  in  Bath  that  evening.  He 
told  us  his  stage  was  to  start  at  once  and  bade  us 
good-by.  In  a  few  minutes  the  stage  came  rattling 
back  and  Gough  and  his  wife  stepped  out,  as  if  they 
had  forgotten  something.  He  told  us  he  thought  the 
opportunity  of  spending  an  afternoon  with  us  too  good 
to  lose,  and  so  had  come  back.  We  had  a  jolly  time 
until   five  o'clock,  when  he  took  the  coach   for  Bath. 


SINGING   FOll    FREEDOM.  129 

That  evening  we  sang  in  a  cliurch,  and  the  next  day 
took  a  twenty-six-mile  journey  in  a  stage-coach  to  Port- 
land. 

We  stayed  several  days  in  Portland,  singing  at  a 
great  anti-slavery  meeting.  This  hegan  in  the  City -hall, 
but  after  a  day  the  meetings  were  stopped  by  the  ma^'or, 
wlio  refused  to  allow  the  hall  to  be  used  longer  for  such 
a  purpose.  This  caused  the  loss  of  an  evening,  which 
the  leading  Abolitionists  improved  by  a  social  gathering 
at  the  home  of  the  Dennetts,  where  we  were  again 
stopping.  Then  Concert  Hall  was  secured,  and  the 
convention  proceeded.  A  Southern  slave-holder  made 
trouble  at  nearly  every  session  by  engaging  in  discus- 
sion with  Mr.  Garrison.  On  the  last  night  of  the  con- 
vention, Sunday,  October  6th,  he,  Avith  a  prominent 
Portland  poet  named  John  Neal,  attempted  to  introduce 
resolutions  declaring  the  poor,  despised  Abolitionists 
traitors  to  God  and  religion,  Christianity  and  their 
country.  Mr.  Garrison  met  them  with  his  strongest 
arguments.  Finally,  the  confusion  was  so  great  that 
Mr.  Garrison,  in  despair  at  making  himself  heard,  called 
npon  us  to  sing.  We  rose  to  give  "  The  Slave  Mother's 
Lament,"  facing  as  disorderly  a  gathering  as  I  ever  saAV. 
Soon  all  was  as  still  as  death.  We  never  had  better 
attention.  The  audience  was  melted  by  our  song,  and 
the  meeting  continued  without  further  interru[)tion 
until  a  very  late  houi".  .We  were  so  excited  by  the 
event  that  it  was  long  after  midnight  before  we  retired. 
Mr.  Neal  ever  after  showed  himself  a  kind,  helpful  and 
sjmipathizing  friend. 

The  next  day  we  went  again  to  Portsmouth  and  fi'om 
there  to  Newburyport,  thence  to  Dover,  N.  H.,  giving 
successful  concerts  in  each  place.  From  there  we  Avent 
to  Exeter,  and  thence  to  Haverhill,  giving  Avell-attended 


130  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

entertainments.  We  stayed  over  a  Sunday  in  Haver- 
hill, making  a  trip  to  Bradford  and  Georgetown,  taking 
dinner  with  friends  at  the  latter  place,  and  returning, 
spent  the  night  with  friends  in  the  former  town. 

Our  next  objective  point  was  Andover,  a  conserva- 
tive, l)Ut  friendly  town,  where  we  greatly  enjoyed  the 
society  of  an  old  friend,  Mr.  Clark.  A  fine  audience 
attended  our  concert.  The  next  day  we  went  to 
Woburn,  where  a  good  assembly  listened  to  our  songs 
in  tlie  town  hall.  The  day  after  was  spent  with  the 
Jacksons  in  Boston,  and  on  the  day  following  we  were 
in  Lowell,  where  our  concert  was  given  to  a  large 
audience  in  the  Universalist  church.  On  the  following 
day  we  were  again  in  old  Milford,  and  stayed  over  Sun- 
day. An  anti-slavery  convention  was  in  progress  in  the 
hall,  with  Abb}^  Kelley,  Stephen  Foster,  Parker  Pills- 
buiy  and  a  Miss  Hitchcock  as  speakers.  The  meetings 
on  Sunday  were  so  largely  attended  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  adjourn  from  the  hall  to  the  old  meeting-liouse. 
We  sang  at  each  session.  Monday  Ave  spent  in  visiting 
our  brothers,  and  on  the  following  day  were  back  in 
Boston.  This  week  we  gave  a  concert  in  the  Melodeon 
to  the  largest  Boston  audience  Ave  had  ever  yet  had. 
The  Atlas  came  out  that  afternoon  Avith  another  diatribe 
agrainst  "  Get  Off  the  Track,"  AA-hich  aa^c  Avere  announced 
to  sing,  calling  it  "•  Adle  stuff."  On  Friday  Ave  Avent  to 
Providence,  and  found  politics  raging,  the  Polk  and 
Dallas  campaign  being  in  progress.  Our  concert  that 
CA^ening  Avas  largely  attended  and  the  audience  enthu- 
siastically demanded  a  repetition ;  but,  alas !  we  had 
adA^ertised  for  "  one  niglit  onl}","  and  kept  our  Avord. 
On  Sunday  Ave  heard  a  sermon  by  liey.  Francis  Way- 
land,  president  of  BroAvn  UniA'ersity.  The  next  day  Ave 
started  for  Worcester,  stopping  at  Mendon  on  our  Avay 


SINGING   FOR    FREEDOM.  131 

to  spend  a  very  pleasant  evening  and  night  with  an  old 
acquaintance,  Mr.  Crooker.  We  reached  Worcester 
Tuesday,  Octol^er  "29th,  after  a  dreary  stage-coach  trip 
through  the  mud  and  rain.  An  overflowing  audience 
greeted  us  that  evening.  The  next  day  we  set  out 
for  Springfield,  fortunately  meeting  our  friends,  the 
Goughs,  at  the  depot  for  a  brief  interview.  At  Spring- 
field we  heard  several  debates  between  George  Brad- 
burn  and  David  Lee  Child  (husband  of  Lydia  Maria 
Child)  on  slavery.  Mr.  Child  had  rather  the  worst  of 
the  argument.  He  Ijelieved  Al)olitionists  should  vote 
for  Henry  Clay  ;  jSlr.  Bradl)urn  did  not.  Our  concert 
in  this  place  was  a  success.  On  Saturday  we  reached 
Albany,  where  we  found  politics  even  more  exciting 
than  at  Providence,  and  renewed  our  acquaintance  with 
our  good  genius  Mr.  Newland,  who  was  our  friend  in 
need  in  this  city  two  years  before.  He  believed  that 
the  Bible  sanctioned  slavery,  and  gave  me  a  Ijook  which 
sought  to  prove  it.  On  Sunday  we  called  on  ]Mrs. 
Mott,  where  we  were  glad  to  peruse  copies  oi  the 
Liberator  and  Herald  of  Freedom. 

Election  day  came  during  our  stay  in  All)any.  It 
was  an  exciting  time.  One  day  Oliver  Johnson  came 
up  from  New  York,  and  we  had  a  pleasant  time  in  his 
societ}'.  We  gave  two  concerts  to  crowded  liouscs,  one 
hundred  being  turned  away  from  the  last,  and  mean- 
while sandwiched-in  a  concert  at  Troy.  Tuesday,  No- 
vember 12th,  we  gave  a  concert  at  Schenectad}-,  where, 
two  years  before  we  were  compelled  to  give  a  free  show 
or  nothing.  On  the  13th  we  sung  in  Utica,  and  went 
to  a  fii'e  (a  drug-store  being  burned)  after  the  concert 
was  over  ;  and  at  two  o'clock  the  next  morning  took 
the  train  for  Syracuse.  Here  we  gave  a  big  concert. 
Before  it  commenced  a  man  came  to  the  door-tender 


132  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

and  asked  the  price  of  tickets.  He  was  told  fifty  cents. 
"  B}^  Geoi'ge  I  "  said  he,  ^  I  never  pay  over  two  shillings." 
We  told  him  he  could  go  in  for  that,  and  if  he  did  not 
think  the  concert  worth  it,  he  need  not  pay  any  more. 
At  the  close  of  the  programme,  he  went  to  the  door- 
keeper and  gave  him  the  other  two  shillings,  saying  he 
would  not  cheat  us.  Rev.  Samuel  J.  May  was  at  the 
concert  and  before  Ave  departed  we  had  a  call  from  John 
A.  Collins  of  the  Community. 

Our  next  stop  was  at  Auburn,  where  we  visited  the 
State  Prison,  seeing  seven  hundred  convicts  at  dinner. 
Our  concert  was  given  in  the  nuiseum,  to  a  good  house. 
Then  we  went  to  Geneva,  and  thence  on  to  Rochester 
and  Batavia,  and  reached  Buffalo  Noveml:)er  22d.  The 
trip  from  Batavia  was  very  picturesque,  although  I 
missed  a  good  deal  of  it  because  of  my  absorption  in  the 
works  of  Prof,  O.  S.  Fowler.  We  had  to  l)e  rather  par- 
ticular in  our  selection  of  a  seat  in  the  cars.  The  rails 
along  tlie  route  were  made  of  thin  plates  of  iron  nailed 
to  wood,  and  some  times  the  wheels  had  a  way  of  turn- 
ing them  at  the  ends  up  through  the  car,  making 
"  goose-necks,"  and  creating  a  good  deal  of  havoc.  We 
gave  two  concerts  in  Buffalo,  successful,  as  Avere  practi- 
cally all  on  this  trip. 

There  had  been  a  great  storm,  and  its  effects  were 
everywhere  visible.  A  big  steamer  was  landed  high 
and  dry  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie.  Judson  and  I 
Avent  doAvn  to  see  her.  On  our  Avay  Ave  ol)serA^ed  a  lit- 
tle old  house  the  loAver  story  of  Avhicli  had  been  de- 
stroyed, all  except  the  corner-posts,  by  the  Avinds  and 
Avaves.  I  noticed  smoke  coming  out  of  the  chimney, 
although  it  seemed  impossible  such  a  structure  could  be 
inhabited.  We  Avent  on,  but  not  being  satisfied,  re- 
turned, and  noticing  a  ladder,  crawled  up,  and  knocked 


SINGING  FOR  feeedo:m.  133 

on  a  door  lying  horizontally  on  the  floor.  A  delicate 
woman,  with  a  half-starved  baby  in  her  arms  answei'ed 
our  summons.  The  woman  was  thinl}-  clad  and  almost 
frozen,  for  the  tempest  had  washed  nearlj^  all  her  cloth- 
ing away,  and  she  was  without  means  to  get  more. 
The  next  day,  with  Abl\y,  we  took  them  some  clothing, 
paid  their  rent,  and  gave  them  money  to  move  to  a 
more  secure  dwelling. 

Buffalo  Avas  the  extreme  western  limit  of  our  tour, 
but,  much  as  we  desired  to  return  to  home  and  loved 
ones,  we  felt  that  Ave  must  see  Niagara  Falls  first.  For 
some  daj^s  before  Ave  took  the  trip  Ave  Avere  filled  Avith 
pleasurable  anticipations.  On  NoA^ember  26th  Ave  started. 
The  cars  in  Avhich  Ave  made  the  journey  Avere  mean,  cold 
and  uncomfortable.  We  stopped  at  a  temperance  house 
at  the  falls  and  Avarmed  ourselves,  and  then  Avent  to  see 
the  cataract.  It  didn't  look  as  Ave  expected,  and  Ave 
were  so  nearly  frozen  that  Ave  cared  very  little  hoAv  it 
did  look.  We  bought  some  souvenirs  and  then  Avent 
back  to  our  hotel,  and  thence  returned  to  Buffalo. 
Taking  a  summer  trip  to  them  in  later  years  ga\^e  me 
quite  a  different  impression. 

On  our  return  tour  home  Ave  revisited  many  of  the 
cities  we  had  so  recently  seen,  and  all  our  concerts  Avere 
successful.  But  there  Avas  a  shadoAV  over  us  all  the 
Avay.  My  brother  Judson  had  mau}^  of  the  qualities  of 
the  seer.  He  Avas  very  gloomy  during  our  stay  in  Buf- 
falo  and  afterward.  It  Avas  his  regular  assignment  dur- 
ing our  trips  to  AAa'ite  letters  to  the  folks  at  home.  One 
day  in  Rochester  I  happened  to  pass  behind  him  as  he 
was  Avriting  a  letter  to  father  and  mother,  and  glanced 
over  his  shoulder  at  the  sheet.  He  had  clraAvn  the  out- 
line of  a  coffin  on  the  margin  of  the  paper.  I  stopped 
in  dismay,  and  as  I  stood  there  he  drcAV  another,  tlie  cof- 


134  THE    HUTCHIXSOX    FAMILY. 

fins  being  head  to  head.  I  do  not  know  what  he  wrote 
in  the  letter.  We  were  not  in  the  habit  of  reading  one 
another's  missives,  and  none  of  us  said  anytliing  to  him 
about  it.  From  that  time,  thougli  Ave  were  constantly 
meeting  dear  friends,  were  having  the  higliest  success 
in  our  concerts,  and  Avere  seeing  sights  to  be  remem- 
bered for  a  lifetime,  Ave  Avere  full  of  forebodings.  I 
had  my  own  personal  reasons  for  anxiety,  and  in  addi- 
tion Avas  an  indefinable  fear  of  an  unknown  sorroAV. 

Our  last  concert  was  given  in  Worcestei'.  We  ar- 
rived a  day  early,  and  in  the  evening  Avent  to  hear  Ole 
Bull  play.  In  the  language  of  my  diar}^  "  He  played 
me  mad.''  But  great  as  his  success  Avas,  he  had  an 
audience  only  half  as  large  as  that  Avhich  gathered  to 
hear  the  Hutchinsons  on  the  folloAving  night. 

Friday,  December  4th,  we  reached  Milford  once  more. 
We  Avere  told  in  the  village  that  Brother  Benjamin  and 
Isaac  Bartlett  (Sister  Bhoda's  husband),  Avere  sick. 
We  found  them  so,  but  able  to  be  about  the  liouse.  On 
the  following  Wednesday  Isaac  Avas  so  very  sick  that 
Dr.  Shaw  Avas  called.  On  Friday  Brother  Benjamin 
grew  suddenly  Avorse,  and  Dr.  Shaw  was  also  called  to 
him.  On  Saturday,  Jesse  and  AndrcAv,  Avho  had  been 
summoned,  came  to  Milford  to  bear  their  share  in  nurs- 
ing the  sick  men.  On  Tuesday  evening,  December 
17th,  my  Avife  gave  birth  to  our  first-born,  Henry.  As 
he  heard  the  first  cry  of  the  little  infant.  Brother  Benny 
awaking  from  his  stupor,  said,  "  One  comes  into  the 
Avorld  ;  another  goes  out." 

During  the  excitement  folloAving  the  birth.  Sister 
Rhoda  came  hurriedly  in,  and  said  Isaac  Avas  dying.  I 
Avent  to  him,  and  he  was  bidding  father  and  mother  and 
the  brothers  good-by.  He  lingered,  hoAvever,  for  several 
days ;  and  meanwhile  Benjamin  grcAV  rapidly  Avorse  of 


SINGING    FOli    FREEDO:^.  135 

the  same  disease,  typhoid  fever.  Isaac  died  on  Sunda}', 
December  22d,  and  on  Monday  Benjamin  bid  farewell 
to  earth. 

As  I  was  standing  by  his  bedside,  he  raised  liis  eyes, 
with  a  h^ok  of  intensity,  and  said :  "•  Victory,  victory  ; 
this  is  a  day  of  victory."  These  words  I  afterwards 
used  as  a  closing  strain  of  a  song  which  we  have  sung 
many  times  at  funerals  and  other  occasions,  entitled  ''  A 
Brother  is  Dead." 

Meanwhile  Asa  became  very  sick,  and  with  the  shadow 
resting  over  the  bereaved  household  he,  too,  calmly  pre- 
pared for  death.  He  had  the  same  disease,  but  ulti- 
mately recovered. 

Three  hours  before  his  death  Brother  Benjamin  sang 
a  farewell  song  with  Jesse,  who  was  watching  with  him. 
The  double  funeral  of  the  brothers-in-law  was  held 
from  the  old  home  on  the  following  Tuesday.  As  I 
passed  through  the  hall  and  saw  the  two  caskets,  head 
to  head,  instantly  the  recollection  of  Judson's  letter, 
written  in  Rochester,  flashed  through  my  mind.  It  was 
a  touching  funeral  service.  We  were  all  there,  excep- 
ting our  sick  brother  Asa.  We  realized  all  that  human 
skill  could  do  had  been  done  to  save  the  lives  of  these 
two  loving,  earnest,  whole-souled  brothers,  but  that  God 
had  called  them  and  they  had  cheerfully  obeyed  the 
summons.  Rev.  John  Richardson  of  the  Baptist  church 
conducted  the  service.  Brother  Jesse's  words  I  can 
never  forget.  He  said :  "  We  have  adjourned  our 
family  meeting  to  Heaven.  Blessed  be  God ! "  The 
family,  with  broken,  but  hope-inspired  voices,  joined  in 
songs  of  love  and  heaven.  It  was  the  first  Ijreak  in  the 
family  circle  since  most  of  us  had  come  to  maturity. 
Alas !  how  frequently  came  the  broken  ties  afterward ! 

The  demise  of  these  our  l)rothers  led  to  the  dissolu- 


136  THE   HUTCHINSON"   FAMILY. 

tion  of  the  community.  As  has  previously  been  stated, 
the  home  with  its  eight  large  rooms,  eighteen  by  sixteen 
feet  square,  and  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  were  given  to  the  six  younger  children — Benja- 
min, Judson,  John,  Asa,  Rhoda  and  Abby,  on  condition 
that  they  should  take  care  of  mother.  Fatlier  had  a 
great  idea  of  doing  missionary  work  as  a  preacher.  He 
had  the  farm  where  all  the  children  but  Aljby  and  Eliza- 
beth were  born,  and  also  a  house  in  the  village,  and  to 
his  mind  tliere  could  be  no  reason  why  he  should  not 
deed  the  house  to  us.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  may  be 
stated,  he  did  not  preach,  and  it  was  very  rare  indeed 
that  he  was  away  from  home  over  a  night.  When  we 
formed  our  community,  it  was  with  an  idea  of  "  settling 
down,''  and  farming  ;  but  as  time  wore  on,  the  attrac- 
tions of  our  life  of  song  were  too  strong,  both  artisti- 
cally and  financially,  so  we  started  out  once  more.  All 
our  earnings  as  a  quartet,  however,  went  into  the  com- 
mon treasury  ;  it  was  understood  Benny  and  Rhoda  had 
as  much  interest  in  it  as  either  of  the  others.  A  great 
deal  of  our  money  was  loaned  out  at  interest.  Tavo 
thousand  dollars  was  expended  in  improvements  on  the 
farm.  Five  thousand  dollars  was  invested  in  the  Com- 
munity Block.  There  was  no  bank  in  town,  so  the  rest 
of  our  money  was  put  in  a  shot-bag,  Avhich  was  in  turn 
put  in  an  earthern  pot,  and  that  was  buried  under  the 
cellar  arch.  We  kept  father  informed  of  its  location, 
and  made  him  understand  that  whenever  he  wanted 
mone}',  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  go  and  dig  it  up. 

jMeanwhile  Brother  Judson,  Sister  Rhoda  and  I  mar- 
ried. This  complicated  matters,  and  made  life  as  a  com- 
munity more  difficult.  Then  the  older  brothers  began 
to  hint  that  it  was  not  quite  fair  to  deprive  them  of 
their  interest  in  the  farm.     The  death  of  Isaac  made  no 


SINGING    FOK    FKEEDO:\I.  137 

difference  in  Rhoda's  status,  of  course,  and  the  death  of 
Benjamin,  as  his  fatlier  was  his  only  legal  heir,  sliould 
have  made  none.  But  it  brought  matters  to  a  liead  in 
such  a  way  that  after  many  conferences  it  was  deemed 
best  to  make  a  division,  and  give  the  community  plan 
up.  So  far  as  the  house  and  farm  were  concerned,  the 
deed  had  never  been  recorded,  so  that  all  tliat  was  nec- 
essary was  to  destroy  it,  but  there  had  been  suclr  an 
increase  in  personal  property  that  an  auction  was  neces- 
sary before  there  could  be  a  division  of  that. 

It  was  a  great  trial  to  me  to  give  up  the  life  in  tlie  old 
home.  It  not  only  meant  a  relinquishing  of  a  form  of 
life  in  which  I  fully  believed,  and  tlie  partial  separation 
from  the  brothers  and  sisters  whom  I  so  dearly  loved, 
but  it  meant  a  farewell  to  the  home  of  my  boj'hood,  to 
which  I  was  tenderly  attached.  However,  we  did  not 
separate  at  once.  Judson  went  to  housekeeping  in  the 
"-  milk  room,''  Fanny  and  I  in  the  sitting-room,  while 
the  rest  of  the  children  kept  house  with  the  old  folks. 
Our  lives  were  very  quiet  for  a  couple  of  months.  Domes- 
tic cares  occupied  most  of  our  time.  On  February  18th 
we  gave  a  concert  at  Wilton.  Prior  to  that  the  Avhole 
family  of  brothers  with  Abby  made  a  trip  to  lioston 
and  sung  at  the  anti-slavery  meetings  in  the  Representa- 
tives chamber  of  the  State-house.  Our  hearts  were 
heavy  as  we  thought  of  our  brother,  with  us  Ijut  a  short 
year  before.  We  also  made  a  trip  to  Fitchburg,  and 
sung  at  a  meeting  where  Wendell  Phillips  Mas  the 
speaker. 

During  the  last  of  February  we  started  on  a  concert 
tour,  first  singing  in  Manchester  to  a  crowded  liouse ; 
and  then,  going  l)ack  to  ^Nlilford  long  enougli  to  get  my 
wife  and  little  Henr}-,  we  went  to  Lowell,  Avhere  a  suc- 
cessful concert  Avas  given.     Leaving  Fanny    there,  we 


138  ,    THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

went  to  Boston,  where  a  few  days  were  pleasantly 
spent.  March  10th  we  went  on  to  Providence,  and  on 
the  12th  gave  a  concert.  While  here  we  visited  Gover- 
nor Dorr,  in  prison  for  rebellion.  He  was  painting  fans. 
Another  concert  was  given  in  Providence  on  the  14th 
to  a  crowded  house,  though  it  was  stormy.  After  a 
concert  in  Pawtucket,  we  went  to  New  York,  arriv- 
ing March  ITth.  Here  we  had  a  triumphant,  though 
rather  stormy  experience.  The  Express  warned  us  we 
should  lose  our  popularity  if  we  sang  such  songs  as 
'•  Get  Off  the  Track,"  and  our  friends  advised  us  not  to 
sing  it.  New  York,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  country, 
was  very  tender  on  the  subject  of  slavery  at  this  time. 
The  blows  of  the  Abolitionists  were  beginning  to  tell. 
But  a  warning  in  those  days  came  to  us  in  the  similitude 
of  a  command.  As  long  as  nothing  was  said,  we  could 
take  our  choice  ;  but  if  we  were  told  we  must  not  sing 
a  song  that  expressed  our  convictions,  we  then  felt  that, 
come  victory  or  defeat,  we  must  cry  aloud  and  spare 
not,  and  the  song  was  sung,  with  a  serene  sense  that 
God  would  help  us  to  do  our  dut}^  Well,  our  first 
concert  came  off  in  Niblo's,  on  the  19th.  We  gave  a 
second  on  the  ^Ith,  and  two  daj's  later  sang  in  Palmer's 
Opera  House.  When  we  sang  "  Get  Off  the  Track," 
the  audience  hissed  ;  then  some  began  to  cheer,  and 
there  was  a  tug  of  war ;  finally  the  cheers  prevailed. 
Our  friend  Henry  Dennison  was  in  the  audience,  and 
threw  a  request  for  a  song,  attaclied  to  a  copper  cent. 
It  hit  my  violin,  and  as  many  thought  it  a  stone,  a  good 
deal  of  unnecessary  indignation  was  shown.  We  went 
into  the  ante-room,  and  waited  during  the  uproar  until 
we  feared  that  it  would  be  said  that  Ave  were  hissed  off 
the  stage.  Then  we  went  back.  The  hissing  continued, 
and  also  the  cheers  ;  but  finally  the  cheers  trium.phed. 


SINGING    FOR    FREEDOM.  139 

and  we  were  able  to  sing  our  next  song,  "  ]My  iMotlier"s 
Bible."  Henry  John  Sharp,  an  English  reformer,  was 
present,  and  was  very  indignant  at  tlie  treatment  we  re- 
ceived. This  noble  man,  who  wrote  many  songs  for  lis, 
was  a  frequent  attendant  at  our  concerts,  and  always 
would  bring  a  line  bouquet  for  Al)l)y. 

Several  more  concerts  were  given  in  New  York  and 
Brooklvn.  Instead  of  references  to  applause,  I  find 
such  entries  as,  "  Not  much  hissing,"  in  my  diaries. 
April  4tli  we  gave  our  last  concert,  at  Niblo's,  and  five 
hundred  were  turned  away  for  lack  of  room,  wliich 
showed  to  what  extent  the  prophecy  of  the  Uxpress  that 
we  sliouldlose  our  popularity  had  proven  true.  During 
this  stay  in  the  metropolis,  we  saw  a  good  deal  of  our 
valued  friends  George  P.  Morris  and  j\Irs.  Lydia  Maria 
Child. 

April  7th  we  sang  in  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  9th 
sang  again  in  Musical  Fund  Hall,  to  as  many  people  as 
could  get  in.  We  stopped  again  in  New  York  on  our 
return,  and  during  this  stay  visited  Sing  Sing,  and  sang 
to  the  convicts.  Wlien  we  sang  "  My  Mother's  Bible  " 
to  the  female  convicts,  every  one  was  in  tears.  After 
concerts  in  the  city  and  Brooklyn,  our  Jinale  was  given 
in  the  Broadway  Tabernacle.  Returning,  I  went  to 
Lowell,  where  my  wife  was  waiting  me,  stayed  over  a 
Sunday,  and  then  went  to  Boston,  where  two  concerts 
were  given. 

May  oth  we  were  all  in  ^Milford  once  more,  and  most 
of  the  time  for  a  few  months  was  devoted  to  the  pleas- 
ant duties  of  a  farmer's  life.  Asa  and  Aljlw  })ut  in  a 
few  months'  scliooling  in  the  academy'  in  Hancock. 
Judson  and  I  worked  on  the  land,  made  soap,  butter, 
pickles  ;  we  fished  and  hunted,  put  in  our  cjuota  of 
time  on  the  highways,  and  altogether  had  a  happy  time. 


140  THE   HDTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

On  June  4tli  we  attended  an  anti-slavery  convention 
in  the  old  town-hall  in  Concord.  It  was  a  stormy  time- 
Pillsbury,  Foster,  Phillips,  Douglass  and  others  debated, 
until  words  waxed  so  hot  that  Garrison,  who  took  no 
part,  left  the  hall.  The  main  trouble  was  over  the 
Herald  of  Freedom.  The  paper  was  edited  by  N.  P. 
Rogers,  and  his  son-in-law,  John  II.  French,  who,  after 
the  war,  was  serge  an t-at-arms  of  the  United  States 
Senate,  was  its  business  mana2:er.  All  the  New  Euo- 
land  Abolitionists  were  interested  in  the  paper,  and  it 
was  our  frequent  haljit  to  send  contributions  of  money 
to  aid  it.  j\Ir.  Rogers,  who  had  an  expensive  family, 
had  left  a  lucrative  law  practice  to  take  up  the  anti- 
slavery  agitation.  At  this  meeting  an  accounting  was 
asked.  The  tirst  causes  of  the  trouble  were  Foster  and 
Pillsbury,  who  expressed  a  feeling  that  they  had  beaten 
the  bush  for  the  pa})er  in  their  meetings,  but  that 
Rogers  had  caught  the  bird.  Another  cause  of  trouble 
Avas  Mr.  Rogers'  ideas  as  to  meetings.  He  had  in- 
vented a  sort  of  fi'ee  meeting,  with  no  chairman,  where 
each  said  what  he  had  to  say  as  he  found  opportunity. 
This  did  not  meet  the  views  of  Mr.  (larrison,  who  was 
disposed  to  insist  that  everything  in  the  anti-slavery 
line  should  be  carried  on  strictly  in  the  Garrisonian 
way,  decently  and  in  order.  They  also  disagreed  on 
the  subject  of  an  independent  party  organization.  Tlie 
upshot  of  it  all  was  that  the  convention  displaced 
Rogers  and  })ut  Pillsbury  in  his  place.  Plie  people  of 
New  Hampshire  were  very  much  attached  to  Rogers, 
and  rather  indignant  at  this  proceeding.  Consequently, 
wdien  lie  started  another  paper  in  Concord,  it  at  once 
gained  a  large  circulation,  while  the  Herald  of  Freedom 
languished.  But  ]\Ir.  Rogers'  spirit  was  broken  and  he 
never  recovered  fi'om  what  he   felt  to  be  an  injustice 


SINGING   FOR   FREEDOM.  l4l 

and  desertion  by  his  friends.  His  healtli  gave  way  and 
he  survived  bnt  a  few  years  after.  We  held  aloof  from 
participation  in  all  this  trouble.  Our  friends  were 
arrayed  on  either  side,  and  we  said  nothing.  When  the 
debate  waxed  too  warm  for  comfort,  we  would  put  in  a 
song,  which  seemed  to  smooth  things  over  somewhat. 

During  this  spring  Jesse  purchased  High  Rock  in 
Lymi,  and  this  in  after  years  became  the  home  of  sev- 
eral of  the  Hutchinsons. 

Meanwhile,  we  were  thinking  of  Europe.  It  had  been 
Jesse's  idea  to  have  the  whole  family  go  into  concerting, 
but  the  death  of  Benjamin  changed  that  plan.  Early 
in  August  we  had  a  pleasant  tour  through  New  Hamp- 
shire towns  and  then  went  to  Lynn,  intending  to  have  a 
few  weeks  of  rest  by  the  seashore.  But  our  plans  were 
suddenly  altered,  as  the  next  chapter  will  show. 


142  THE   HUTCHINSOX   FAMILY^ 


CHAPTER  IV. 


IN   ENGLAND. 

'  Old  John  was  frank,  and  every  rank 

Gave  lis  the  welcome  hand; 
And  her  noble  men  did  now  and  then 

Make  us  love  our  fatherland. 
The  women,  too,  were  kind  and  true, 

And  we  scarcely  found  a  foe 
In  the  days  we  went  to  England,  hoys. 
Long  time  ago. 

'  We  saw  the  great  in  Church  and  State, 
In  all  their  pomp  find  pride. 
The  little  queen  who  reigns  supreme, 

Her  lords  and  dukes  beside. 
But  dazzling  sights  brought  no  delight 
When  the  poor  were  crushed  so  low, 
In  the  days  we  passed  through  England,  boys, 
Long  time  ago." 


DumNG  the  spring  and  summer  of  1845,  we  had  been 
singing  through  the  towns  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
were  in  hopes  of  having  a  vacation,  and  to  pass  it  in 
fishing  and  rustic  enjoyments.  We  were,  in  the  early 
jDart  of  August,  giving  some  concerts  in  ^Massachusetts  ; 
and  in  Lynn  on  the  11th,  we  met  Frederick  Douglass 
and  James  N.  Buffum,  an  anti-slaveiy  sympathizer  of 
that  town,  who,  having  purchased  their  tickets,  and 
made  arrangements  for  a  trip  to  Europe,  were  expecting 
to  sail  on  the  16th  on  the  steamship  Camhria  of  the 
Cunard  line.  They  urged  us  to  go  with  them ;  and  as 
Ave  had  been  contemplating  a  tour  of  England  for  some 
time,  it  did  not  take  much  persuasion  to  induce  us  to 
go :  we  straightway  began  to  make  preiDarations  for  our 
departure. 


IN  ENGLAND.  143 

We  returned  to  our  home  in  New  Hampshire  to  take 
leave  of  our  dear  ones,  which  we  did  not  hnd  a  very 
easy  matter.  They  all  said  "  Don't  go,  don't  go  "  ;  and 
when  mother  found  Ave  were  Ijound  to  go  and  take 
Abby  with  us,  she  was  almost  heart-broken,  for  a  jour- 
ney to  England  in  those  days  was  looked  upon  as  l)eing 
attended  with  more  danger  tlian  at  present,  and  they 
were  all  afraid  they  would  never  see  us  again.  But 
they  being  finally  reconciled,  Ave  set  to  Avork  in  earnest,  as 
time  Avas  short.  We  had  to  raise  about  tAvo  thousand 
dollars,  AA'hich  Ave  finally  succeeded  in  doing,  and  Ave  Avere 
ready  to  start.  As  Ave  had  to  giA^e  a  concert  in  Glouces- 
ter on  the  evening  of  the  14th,  Ave  left  liome  early  on 
the  morning  of  that  day  for  Lj-nn,  Avhere  aa^c  took  a  car- 
riage to  meet  our  engagement,  accompanied  by  our  sis- 
ter Rhoda  and  Harriet  Jackson,  daugliter  of  our  anti- 
slavery  friend,  Francis  Jackson.  I  had  not  slept  any 
the  night  before,  being  kept  aAvake  by  tlie  entreaties  of 
my  Avife  to  stay  at  liome,  and  Av^as  up  Ijefore  daylight. 
Mother  Avas  up,  and  all  our  brothers  came  to  say  good- 
by.  The  time  to  depart  had  arrived ;  and  I  had  given 
my  Avatch  and  some  tokens  to  my  Avife  to  keep  in  re- 
membrance of  me,  as  though  I  never  expected  to 
see  her  again.  The  dear  old  father,  AA'hom  Ave  all  re- 
vered and  honored,  Avas  solemn  and  A^ery  prayerful,  say- 
ing but  a  Avord,  "  Be  true  to  each  other,  my  children." 
Then  the  blessed  mother  let  us  go,  Avith  tears  in  her 
eyes,  Avatching  us  till  the  darkness  of  the  early  morn 
hid  us  from  her  sight ;  but  her  voice  still  sounded  over 
the  hill  as  the  last  echo  died  on  our  ears.  I  shall  never 
forget  the  ring  of  that  voice  as  the  old  horse  drew  us 
from  the  "  cot  Avhere  we  Avere  born." 

That  da}^  so  mother  related  to  us  afterward,  she 
climbed  to  the  summit  of  the  steep  hill  in  sight  of  the 


144  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

house,  seven  miles  away,  and  sat  under  an  old  chest- 
nut-tree, a  journey  she  had  longed  to  accom^^lish,  and 
wept  when  she  thought  of  her  children  gone  so  far 
away.  ^leanwhile,  we  prayed  for  our  precious  ones 
gathered  in  tlie  home  by  the  old  Souhegan,  among  the 
granite  liills,  and  stole  away  in  the  morning  twilight, 
our  heai'ts  sad  and  oppressed.  The  next  day  came  the 
final  preparations  in  Boston  :  buying  the  tickets,  getting 
the  baggage  on  board,  and  taking  leave  of  the  many 
friends  who  had  gathered  to  see  us  off  ;  the  getting  on 
board  the  small  tug-boat,  as  the  steamer  could  not  get 
up  to  the  wharf ;  the  parting  of  the  two  sisters,  Rhoda 
and  Abby,  the  former  a  widow,  left  behind  to  go  back 
to  the  Granite  State  and  comfort  the  old  folks  at  home 
till  Ave  might  return.  These  things  all  touched  our 
hearts.  The  attempt  to  sing  under  these  circumstances 
seemed  almost  sacrilegious,  but  as  Jesse  had  composed 
some  verses  for  the  occasion,  we  attempted  to  put  them 
into  music.  ,  The  first  verse  was  gone  through  quite  re- 
spectably. As  the  l)ell  rang  and  the  friends  were  about 
eettingf  on  the  tuo-  to  return  to  the  shore,  the  second 
verse  was  begun,  when  catching  sight  of  Sister  Rhoda, 
whose  earnestness  bespoke  the  deep  sympathy  of  a  feel- 
ing heart,  we  broke  down,  and  gave  only  a  last  farewell 
as  the  old  ship  carried  us  away  over  the  bounding  deep. 

When  we  became  accustomed  to  our  confined  quarters, 
the  motion  of  the  steamer  and  the  surroundings,  we  be- 
gan to  feel  quite  at  home.  We  early  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Captain  Judkins,  whom  we  found  to  be 
a  bluff  old  sterling  Englishman,  full  of  music  and  good 
cheer.  We  passed  much  of  our  time  in  his  society  on 
deck,  and  many  a  night  we  sat  and  sang  together  and 
told  stories  till  midnight. 

We  of  course  suffered  from  sea-sickness  a  part  of  the 


IN   ENGLAND.  145 

time,  and  were  conlined  to  our  staterooms,  but  soon  got 
regulated  so  that  we  could  enjoy  the  bountiful  table 
whicli  was  spread  for  us. 

Life  was  quite  monotonous ;  but  between  eating, 
sleeping,  reading  and  singing,  we  managed  to  pass  the 
time  very  pleasantl}',  often  gathering  on  deck  with  some 
of  our  English  and  American  friends,  who  seemed  very 
glad  to  linger  with  us  to  enjoy  our  harmonies.  We  saw 
some  big  waves,  some  big  icebergs,  and  some  big  fish, 
while  on  board  we  had  some  big  slave-holders  from 
Cuba,  who  somewhat  marred  the  pleasure  of  tlie  voy- 
age. One  of  them,  at  the  table  one  day,  accidentally 
spilled  some  wine  on  the  dress  of  my  sister ;  his  profuse 
and  distressing  apologies,  coming  from  such  besotted 
lips,  were  much  worse  than  the  wine  stains  on  the  silk 
skirt. 

Frederick  Douglass,  for  the  crime  of  color,  was  forced 
to  take  passage  in  the  steerage,  where  Mr.  Buffum  accom- 
panied him.  It  was .  only  by  sufferance  that  Douglass 
was  allowed  to  come  on  the  promenade  deck,  and  then 
had  no  freedom  except  when  with  a  friend.  We  fre- 
quently invited  him  to  walk  with  us,  when  he  freely 
expressed  to  us  his  feelings  and  sentiments  on  the  sul> 
ject  of  slavery,  and  among  other  things  said  he  would 
rather  trust  his  liberties  with  the  English  government 
than  with  the  American  rabble. 

The  curious  of  both  nationalities  were  interested  in 
him,  and  after  reading  his  little  "•  Narrative,"  which  we 
took  pains  to  circulate  among  the  passengers,  the  desire 
to  hear  him  speak  was  expressed.  We  obtained  permis- 
sion from  the  captain  to  give  him  an  audience  on  the 
forward  deck.  Most  of  the  foreigners  and  some  of  the 
Americans  were  assembled ;  and  our  colored  brother  be- 
gan at  first  standing  under  the  awning,  but  I  persuaded 


146  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

him  to  come  into  the  open,  by  the  main-mast,  where  he 
read  from  a  pamphlet  containing  the  statntes  of  South 
Carolina  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  AVe  soon  saw  tliat 
the  reading  ^\'as  not  relished  by  some  of  the  auditors,  as 
the  sequel  proved.  The  cluster  of  slave-holders  and 
slave-drivers  were  preparing  to  resent  what  they  claimed 
was  an  insult  to  them.  They  soon  so  disturbed  the 
speaker  that  he  was  forced  to  suspend,  and  with  a  sen- 
tence half-finished,  he  retreated  under  the  awning  and 
thence  down  the  stairs  to  the  steerage,  his  only  hiding 
place,  where  he  was  sheltered  from  the  ^^'rath  of  those 
blood-tlnrst}'  Americans  whose  "chivalry"  was  so 
much  shocked.  Then  followed  threats  of  killing,  and 
throwing  the  "nigger"  overboard,  and  for  a  few  minutes 
anarchy  ruled  and  the  war  spirit  was  rampant. 

The  captain  was  sent  for ;  he  came  suddenly  from  his 
quarters,  where  he  had  been  enjoj'ing  a  siesta  after  a 
luxurious  banquet  tendered  him  by  his  fiiends.  He 
took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  and  when  one  of  the 
fire-eaters  approached  liim,  threatening  insult  because 
he  had  allowed  a  "  nigger ''  to  speak,  the  old  British 
lion  awoke  in  him,  and  asserting  his  authority  as  cap- 
tain, he  shouted  lustily  for  tlie  bos'n  to  l)]ing  the  irons. 
This  at  once  quelled  the  disturbance,  and  quiet  was 
restored. 

The  captain  then  turning  to  us,  said,  "  I  Avas  once  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  slaves,  but  the  government  of 
Great  Britain  liberated  them,  and  I  am  glad  of  it."' 
AVe  struck  up  "  God  save  the  Queen,''  and  followed  by 
singing  "  Yankee  Doodle,"  "  America"  and  "A  Life  on 
the  Ocean  Wave." 

We  made  some  very  pleasant  acquaintances  on  the 
voyage,  but  were  more  strongly  than  ever  prejudiced 
against  the  institution  of  slavery  from  this  exhibition 


IX   EXGLAXD.  147 

made  on  board  ship  b}'  the  scions  of  sonthern  aristoc- 
racy, as  also  by  the  supercilious  airs  they  })ut  on. 

Everj'thing  was  done  for  our  comfort  while  on  Ijoard, 
and  we  were  almost  sorry  when  land  was  anninniced, 
though  we  were  anxious  to  reach  the  shores  of  Old 
England  and  ascertain  what  fate  had  in  store  for  us. 

On  August  26th,  the  captain  informed  us  we  could 
see  land  that  evening,  Avhich  caused  a  small  commotion 
on  board,  each  one  being  anxious  to  be  the  first  to  dis- 
cern it.  At  about  10.30  p.  m.  we  saw  the  first  light, 
which  we  were  told  was  at  the  southern  extremity  of 
Ireland ;  and  the  next  morning  before  breakfast  we 
hailed  the  land  with  delight.  It  was  the  Emerald  Isle: 
the  mountains  loomed  up  in  their  grandeur  ;  and  dotted 
here  and  there  with  their  fields  of  grain,  white  unto 
harvest,  the  land  presented  a  very  picturesque  and  inter- 
esting appearance.     Our  hearts  Ijounded  with  rapture : 

"The  cold  cheerless  ocean  in  safety  we've  passed, 
And  the  warm  genial  earth  glads  our  vision  at  last." 

One  man  hailing  from  Philadelphia  exclaimed  as  he 
came  on  deck,  "  Oh,  the  dear  spot  where  I  was  born  I  '" 

Soon  we  were  in  sight  of  Wales,  We  had  just  fin- 
ished our  dinner ;  toasts  had  l)een  given  to  the  Queen 
and  the  Army  of  England,  and  to  the  United  States. 
Jesse  gave  the  following  toast,  "  Our  country  is  the 
world,  our  countrymen  all  mankind,''  wliich  was  re- 
ceived with  warm  applause. 

The  next  morning  broke  brio-ht  and  clear,  and  we 
were  up  early  making  preparations  to  go  ashore. 
Books  were  laid  aside,  and  we  wei'e  engaged  packing 
trunks,  putting  off  our  sea-scented  clothing  and  Scotch 
caps,  and  donning  our  long  coats,  broad  collars  and 
beaver  hats,  assuming  tlie  airs  of  strangers,  we,  who 


148  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

but  a  few  hours  before  were  intimate  friends  or  hail- 
fellows  well  met  with  everybody  on  board.  We  ranged 
ourselves  on  the  deck  in  position  to  give  a  lusty  cheer 
to  the  people  of  Liverpool  as  the  steamer  drew  along- 
side of  the  wharf.  Here  we  were  in  a  foreign  land 
three  thousand  miles  from  our  own  native  home  — 
though  in  the  land  of  our  forefathers  —  in  smoky  old 
Liverpool. 

We  disembarked,  and  Pfettinsf  our  baefofaofe  throuo-h 
the  custom-house  with  some  trouble,  even  being  re- 
quired to  pay  a  duty  on  a  daguerreotype  of  our  family 
group,  were  conducted  to  a  hotel,  and  in  company  with 
Edward  N.  Wright,  one  of  our  own  countrymen,  and 
Edmund  Sharpe,  a  clever  Englishman,  were  soon  seated 
at  the  sumptuous  table  of  a  foreign  hotel. 

How  odd  and  singular  everything  appeared !  The 
meat  looked  delicious,  tasted  some  like  pork,  cut  like 
beef.  We  ventured  to  ask  the  name  of  it,  when  our 
English  friend  answered  with  a  smile,  "  This  is  the 
famous  Southdown  mutton."  We  often  called  for  that 
dish  during  our  eleven  months'  stay  in  England, 
readily  perceiving  why  the  English  bragged,  and  still 
brag,  about  it.  Judson  called  for  some  molasses,  being 
ver}-  fond  of  this  sweet ;  the  servant  seemed  disturbed, 
not  understanding  the  order,  took  a  few  steps  backward, 
then  tried  to  comprehend  what  the  gentleman  wanted. 
The  request  Avas  repeated,  at  which  the  girl  was  com- 
pletely non-plussed.  Our  friend  Sharpe,  being  familiar 
with  the  language  on  both  sides,  informed  the  girl  that 
"  treacle  "  was  wanted,  whereupon  she  jumped  for  the 
article  and  Judson's  wants  were  at  once  supplied. 

We  were  settled  for  the  time  in  very  comfortable 
quarters,  Douglass  and  Buffum  being  with  us,  and 
spent   the    time   in   looking   about   and  observing  the 


IN   ENGLAND.  149 

manners  and  customs  of  the  people,  which  seemed 
strange  to  us.  When  we  left  the  steamer  and  walked 
up  the  street  we  were  struck  with  the  order  and  de- 
corum of  the  working-classes  as  they  passed  along  to 
their  daily  toil.  As  it  was  early  in  the  morning  they 
Avere  just  going  to  their  work,  lunch  in  hand  —  the  tin- 
pail  parade  —  dressed  according  to  their  different  occu- 
pations, apparently  cheerful  and  happy.  But  every- 
where poverty,  in  the  form  of  liuman  beings,  came 
under  our  notice  to  mar  our  pleasure. 

"Begging,  begging,  England's  squalid  poor, 
For  scores  of  hungry  beggars  met  at  almost  every  door." 

Our  hearts  grew  sick  to  see  the  suffering  and  distress 
there  was  in  the  city. 

The  next  day  after  our  arrival,  being  the  29th  of 
August,  and  the  birthday  of  our  sister  Abby,  we  all 
took  a  trip  into  the  country  to  see  the  estate  of  a  famous 
marquis,  to  reach  which  we  had  to  go  to  Eaton  Hall,  a 
distance  of  nineteen  miles  from  the  city,  and  to  cross 
the  River  Dee,  the  bridge  or  arch  over  which  was  the 
Sfreatest  in  the  world  at  that  time.  This  estate  was 
one  of  the  largest  in  England,  covering  an  area  of  sixty- 
three  square  miles,  and  the  income  from  it  was  said  to 
be  two  million  dollars.  Passing  through  the  walled  town 
of  Chester  on  our  way,  we  were  shown  some  very  ancient 
buildings,  among  them  a  chapel  which  was  said  to  be 
six  hundred  years  old,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation 
and  still  used  regularly  as  a  place  of  woi'ship. 

On  this  estate,  we  were  informed,  there  Avere  two 
hundred  men  kept  constantly  employed.  "We  soon 
came  in  sight  of  the  mansion,  a  most  splendid  structure 
of  Avhite  marble.  After  waiting  aljout  half  an  hour,  we 
were  admitted   and   conducted    through   the   principal 


150  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

rooms.  The  hall  through  the  centre  of  the  house  was 
very  wide  and  four  hundred  and  seventy-two  feet  long, 
the  floor  laid  in  marble.  The  rooms,  besides  containing 
family  portraits,  were  hung  with  the  most  gorgeous  and 
expensive  silk  and  worsted  fabrics.  Everything  was  on 
a  magnificent  scale,  and  displayed  not  only  the  wealth 
but  the  taste  of  the  occupants.  After  we  had  inspected 
the  interior  of  the  house  we  went  into  the  garden, 
where  the  same  evidences  of  wealth  and  taste  were 
shown :  flowers,  trees,  shrubs  and  plants  in  profusion. 
On  our  return  to  town  we  passed  fields  of  grain  which 
were  all  loaded  with  a  bountiful  harvest ;  the  land 
seemed  to  be  good  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
It  was  just  harvest  time,  and  thousands  of  people,  men, 
women  and  children,  were  out  from  the  cities,  some  of 
them  hundreds  of  miles,  working  in  the  fields. 

At  this  time  rumors  of  war  with  America  were  very 
common ;  but  they  gave  us  little  uneasiness,  as  we  told 
our  English  friends  that  Uncle  Sam  had  whipped  John 
Bull  twice,  and  could  do  it  again  if  necessary.  But 
next  to  our  own  native  land  our  hearts  went  out  in  love 
to  this  merry  Old  England. 

We  found  the  season  was  early  for  concerting,  and  in 
addition  to  this,  began  to  fear  we  had  brought  our  coals 
to  Newcastle,  for  many  of  the  singers  in  the  street  had 
fine  voices,  yet  made  only  a  precarious  living.  We 
began  in  earnest  to  seek  an  engagement  to  sing,  realiz- 
ing that  we  must  soon  begin  to  replenish  our  treasury. 
Board  bills  were  coming  in,  expenses  going  on.  New 
clothes,  cut  in  the  fashion  of  our  English  cousins,  were 
thought  indispensable  ;  so  we  doffed  our  long  tails  for 
the  "  stubs  "  of  John  Bull.  We  had  already  spent  a 
good  deal  of  money,  and  knew  that  unless  some  resource 
was  soon  provided  we  should  be  "  broke."     We  tried  to 


IN    ENGLAND.  151 

find  some  one  who  knew  us  or  had  confidence  enough 
to  make  an  engagement  with  us  for  a  concert.  Nobody 
came  to  the  rescue. 

A  few  friends  came  to  see  us  at  the  hotel ;  Ave  sang 
for  them  to  gain  their  approval ;  they  all  cheered  us, 
shook  hands  and  expressed  a  wish  that  we  might  suc- 
ceed, but  left  us  alone  in  our  glory.  We  soon  realized 
that  popularity  in  our  own  country  gave  us  little  fame 
here,  and  that  we  nuist  begin  over  again  and  sing  our 
way  into  public  favor  and  thus  overcome  the  prejudice 
we  found  existing  against  Yankee  talent.  Some  people 
seem  to  delight  at  times  in  doing  what  they  know  will 
make  them  miserable  ;  that  is  the  only  reason  I  can  now 
give  for  our  often  repairing  to  the  pier,  at  tliat  time, 
to  witness  the  arrival  and  departure  of  the  steamers 
from  and  to  our  own  land  ;  and  we  would  turn  away  from 
the  scene  and  sigh  that  our  mission  was  still  unaccom- 
plished. 

Edwin  Forrest  was  in  Liverpool  at  this  time,  called 
upon  us  several  times  with  his  wife,  and  encouraged  us 
much  by  his  words  of  cheer. 

We  finally  succeeded  in  getting  an  engagement  for 
the  evening  of  Wednesda}-,  September  10th,  in  Concert 
Hall,  Mechanics  Institute,  for  which  we  were  to  receive 
ten  pounds.  We  had  two  days  in  which  to  look  around 
and  prepare  for  our  first  appearance  before  an  English 
audience.  The  Disston  family  was  giving  concerts  in 
Liverpool  at  this  time,  and  being  attracted  by  the  novelty 
of  their  instruments  (sax  horns),  we  went  to  hear  them 
and  decided  it  was  the  sweetest  music  we  had  ever 
heard.  The  family  consisted  of  the  father  and  four 
sons :  we  advised  their  coming  to  this  countr}',  and  I 
think  they  met  success  by  taking  the  advice. 

Dining  at  our  hotel,  the  boarders,  men  and  women. 


152  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

all  drank  a  sort  of  ale  or  beer  or  some  kind  of  wine  : 
glasses  were  put  at  our  plates,  some  of  the  liquor  poured 
into  them  ;  but  we  being  teetotallars,  the  color  of  the 
liquid  aroused  our  suspicions,  and  not  being  certain 
what  it  was,  we  declined  to  partake,  fearing  we  should 
find  the  "  old  critter  "  in  it  and  break  our  pledge.  Not 
wishing  to  expose  our  ignorance,  we  decided  to  take 
some  of  it  to  our  rooms  and  find  out  what  it  was ;  this 
we  did,  and  all  together,  found  the  stuff  tinctured  with 
the  "  Fiendish  Reaper."  Then  we  realized  that  we  had 
broken  our  pledge,  and  resolved  to  sign  over  again,  and 
relin(|uish  all  drinks  of  this  description  during  our  stay 
in  tlie  kingdom. 

Later,  while  in  Dublin,  under  the  hospitable  roof  of 
Richard  Haughton,  we  all  signed  the  pledge.  The 
article  of  agreement,  I  am  informed,  hangs  to-day  in  the 
parlor  of  that  honorable  gentleman  ;  and  his  daughter, 
surviving  him,  thirty-one  years  later  pointed  with  pride 
to  this  pledge.  Abby,  who  saw  this  only  a  few  years 
ago,  wrote,  '^  The  precious  signatures  are  in  as  good  a 
state  of  preservation  as  Avhen  made,  with  the  signers 
now,  some  in  the  spirit  world,  others  surviving,  all  the 
living  true  to  the  pledge." 

Messrs.  Isaacson  and  Atkinson  were  the  proprietors 
of  the  Zoological  Gardens,  and  being  asked  by  tliem  to 
go  out  there  and  sing  a  few  songs,  we  walked  out,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  two  miles.  Of  all  the  sights  I  had  seen 
up  to  that  time,  this  was  the  grandest :  beasts  of  all 
kinds,  from  the  monke}'  to  the  elephant ;  birds  from  all 
parts  of  the  world ;  and  flowers  of  the  most  brilliant 
hue.  The  gardens,  about  ten  acres,  were  laid  out  in  a 
most  artistic  manner.  We  sang  a  few  songs,  hoping  to 
get  an  engagement  at  no  distant  day. 

As  the  time  drew  near  for  our  debut  before  an  English 


IN   ENGLAND.  153 

audience,  we  all  felt  nervous  and  excited.  We  found 
that  our  voices  had  not  improved  by  crossing  the  At- 
lantic. We  went  to  the  hall  to  familiarize  ourselves 
with  the  surroundings,  and  were  on  the  anxious  seat  all 
day.  The  hour  having  finally  arrived  we  went  to  the 
hall.  With  trembling  step  and  throl)bing  brow  we 
entered  our  dressing-room ;  met  Jesse,  who  seemed  very 
much  excited,  and  asked  him  what  kind  of  a  house,  "  Oh, 
not  very  full."     He  had  expected  a  full  house. 

Our  hearts  beat  fast  as  we  went  in  before  the  audience. 
Thunders  of  spontaneous  applause  burst  forth  from 
every  part  of  the  hall.  Every  eye  was  fixed  on  us  as 
we  took  our  seats  and  laid  down  our  instruments. 
When  we  stood  up  with  trembling  limbs  and  voices  we 
were  received  with  another  round  of  applause.  When 
this  subsided,  we  commenced  the  song,  "  The  Pirate's 
Glee,  or  Blow  on."  When  we  had  finished  the  cheering 
was  renewed ;  our  confidence  was  restored,  and  we 
went  through  our  programme,  being  cheered  on  every 
number.  We  were  relieved,  feeling  that  our  reputation 
was  made ;  and  though  fifty  dollars  was  a  small  sum 
for  our  effort,  considering  that  we  had  sacrificed  engage- 
ments in  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  other  cities  in 
America  which  would  pay  us  one  thousand  dollars  a 
night,  we  were  well  satisfied,  and  encouraged  to  believe 
that  we  should  soon  have  the  people  with  us,  and  be 
able  to  reap  the  reward  for  which  we  came,  apprecia- 
tion, fame  and  cash,  the  latter  of  which  we  needed  very 
much.  There  were  quite  a  number  of  Americans 
present,  among  wliom  were  the  Forrests. 

We  felt  that  now  we  had  broken  the  ice  ;  our  first 
concert  had  Ijeen  given,  and  as  we  thought  very  accept- 
ably, so  we  should  have  no  trouble  in  getting  further 
eno-asrements.     But  the   first  thino-  to   do  was   to  have 


154  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

one  of  our  number  act  as  agent  for  the  family.  As 
Jesse  had  already  acted  in  that  capacity  at  home,  and 
his  voice  could  not  be  much  addition  to  the  quartette, 
the  duty  was  put  upon  him,  and  he  continued  to  serve 
as  our  business  agent  during  our  stay  abroad.  As  a 
result  we  were  engaged  nearly  every  evening,  either  on 
our  own  responsibility  or  on  special  terms. 

After  giving  one  or  two  moi'e  concerts  in  Liverpool 
Ave  began  to  receive  letters  from  all  directions  soliciting 
engagements. 

()n  the  ship  coming  over  was  a  Scotchman  by  the 
name  of  Mackintoslr,  who  made  us  promise  to  come 
over  to  Dublin;  and  receiving  letters  from  Douglass, 
who  was  there,  we  at  last  decided  to  go,  and  wrote  that 
we  would  be  over  very  soon. 

About  this  time  Jesse  came  near  getting  us  into  a 
scra[)e  by  bringing  into  question  our  musical  abilities 
and  judgment  as  critics.  An  aspiring  individual  applied 
to  a  committee  for  a  professional  engagement,  referring 
to  us  as  to  his  musical  abilities.  Jesse  was  approached, 
and  having  heard  the  man  sing,  he  inadvertently  said 
the  man  was  a  clever  fellow,  which  was  enough  and  he 
Avas  engaged.  His  performance  on  the  first  occasion 
was  so  displeasing  that  the  audience  left  the  hall  in 
disgust,  so  we  heard,  before  the  programme  Avas  com- 
pleted, and  he  Avas  left  to  sing  to  empty  seats.  We 
Avere  taken  to  task  for  recommending  such  a  felloAv,  but 
Avhen  it  Avas  understood  that  Avhat  we  meant  by  "  clcA^er  " 
Avas  simply  that  he  Avas  a  good-natured  fellow,  possess- 
ing an  agreeable  disposition,  instead  of  possessing  skill 
or  talent,  as  they  construed  it  to  mean,  they  had  a  good 
laugh  over  it,  and  we  were  exonerated  from  blame. 

We  Avatched  the  manners  of  men  and  of  the  times 
Avith  AA^onder  and  surprise,   trying  to  realize  the  condi- 


IN   ENGLAND.  155 

tions  we  saw  in  society.     Such  extremes  of  wealth  and 
poverty  we  coukl  not  reconcile. 

One  day  as  we  gazed  from  the  liotel  window  there 
came  into  the  public  square  a  woman,  poorly  clad,  witli 
a  basket  on  her  head.  She  was  gathering  with  her 
hands  the  offal  from  the  streets,  and  as  she  continued 
to  fill  the  basket  the  rain,  wliicli  was  falling,  saturated 
the  contents  and  ran  down  upon  her  person.  When  she 
had  filled  the  basket  she  trudged  away  Avith  it,  a  sight 
to  behold.  We  thought,  Avhat  a  contrast  to  the  wealth 
we  see  all  about  us,  and  felt  inclined  to  murmur  against 
Providence  for  allowing  such  a  wretched  state  of  society. 
Good  sweet-voiced  singers  came  and  sang  their  doleful, 
sympathetic  strains  under  our  windows,  and  we  wouhl 
remark,  "  What  a  pity  such  gifts  could  not  be  better 
appreciated  and  utilized ! "  To  us  it  Avas  soul  music, 
and  our  enjoyment  in  listening  was  only  marred  at  the 
thought  of  the  condition  of  the  singers,  and  Ave  Avould 
sing  a  verse  of  our  song, 

"  New  England,  tliou  land  of  the  brave  and  the  free, 
Our  country  and  home,  we  are  looking  toward  thee ; 
And  we  long  for  the  day  when  again  we  shall  stand 
On  thy  rude  sandy  soil,  but  our  own  native  land." 

The  very  next  night  Ave  Avere  listening  to  delightful 
music  rendered  by  no  less  personages  than  Grisi,  Mario, 
Miss  Whitnall  and  Signor  Lablashe,  Avho  Avere  singing 
in  concert,  and  their  voices  charmed  all  Avho  listened. 
But,  strange  to  say,  they  Avere  singing  in  the  inagnificent 
opera  house  for  the  small  price  of  one  and  two  shillings, 
and  sixpence  for  the  poor,  and  a  small  house  they  had, 
too.  Of  course  Ave  could  not  expect  to  approach  the 
character  of  music  they  sang.  Novelty  and  harmony 
were  all  Ave  could  count  on  for  success,  but  we  thought 
we  could  give  just  as  acceptable  a  concert  as  they. 


156  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

After  being  in  Liverpool  about  two  weeks  and  giving 
concerts  to  crowded  houses,  we  started  for  Dublin  to 
keep  our  engagements  there.  In  crossing  the  Channel, 
Avhich  we  did  on  Sunday,  September  21st,  on  the 
steamer  3Iachid,  we  were  more  than  sick ;  it  was  ten 
times  worse  than  the  Atlantic.  But  we  linally  found 
ourselves  on  the  sod  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  met  a  re- 
ception which  only  the  sons  of  Erin  could  give.  We 
found,  awaiting  us  at  the  landing,  Mr.  Buffum  and  a 
Mr.  Thomas  Webb,  who  escorted  us  to  Dublin,  a  dis- 
tance of  seven  miles ;  we  took  rooms  at  the  Hotel 
Northumberland,  and  were  invited  to  spend  our  first 
evening  at  ]\Ir.  Webb's  house,  where  we  found  Frederick 
Douglass  and  Mr.  Haughton,  with  whom  we  became 
very  well  acquainted,  and  at  whose  house  we  spent 
very  many  pleasant  liours  during  our  stay  in  Dublin. 

Just  before  leaving  Liverpool  we  were  called  upon 
by  a  warm-hearted,  burly  Englishman  named  Scott, 
who,  when  he  saw  we  were  disposed  to  be  down-hearted 
and  home-sick,  said  in  his  broad  accent,  "  Cheer  up,  my 
Yankee  lads,  in  spite  of  British  fashion  you  will  succeed 
if  you  continue  in  the  path  you  have  struck  out."  We 
had  already  begun  to  have  some  misgivings  as  to  our 
success ;  though  we  had  been  well  received  so  far,  we 
had  not  been  able  to  obtain  engagements  at  prices  which 
we  thought  we  ought  to  be  getting,  and  were  afraid  the 
people  were  too  far  advanced  for  Yankees  like  us. 

Our  first  concert  in  Dublin  was  given  under  engage- 
ment with  ]\Ir.  Mackintosh  for  ten  pounds,  and  on  the 
evening  of  Monday,  September  22d,  we  repaired  to  the 
hall.  As  we  entered  all  was  still,  not  a  person  but  an 
officer  and  the  doorkeeper  were  at  the  door  ;  all  looked 
gloomy.  I  looked  into  the  hall,  and  there  sat  one  soli- 
tary Irish  woman  in  the  pit.     We  went  into  our   dress- 


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IN   ENGLAND.  157 

ing-room,  a  little  narrow  place  with  a  small  fire  in  it,  a 
single  gas-light,  and  that  just  on  the  point  of  going  out 
apparently.  There  we  all  sat  clown  to  wait  till  we 
should  hear  the  signal  for  beginning  the  concert.  I 
don't  know  Avhat  thoughts  passed  through  the  minds  of 
the  others,  as  not  a  word  was  spoken;  but  it  was  just  as 
well  that  quiet  was  maintained  if  they  all  felt  as  I  did. 
I  had  just  been  reading  the  life  of  Napoleon,  and  had  a 
presentiment  that  we  were  near  the  city  of  jNIoscow  — 
disappointed  ambition.  The  avalanche  of  public  opin- 
ion seemed  about  to  fall  u[)on  and  crush  us.  I  wanted 
to  go  home  to  the  granite  hills  of  our  native  land,  and 
hummed  to  myself  the  lines  : 

"  Ah  !  why  from  our  own  native  land  did  we  part, 
With  its  mountains  and  valleys  so  dear  to  each  heart? 
Ah  !  wliy  did  we  leave  the  enjoyments  of  home 
O'er  the  wide  waste  of  waters  as  strangers  to  roam?" 

When  the  band,  for  one  had  been  provided  consisting 
of  about  twenty  pieces,  struck  up  an  air,  every  strain 
seemed  to  strike  daggers  to  my  lieart ;  and  as  soon  as 
it  was  ended  we  entered  the  hall  and  took  our  places 
on  the  platform.  There  were  but  few  people  there  to 
receive  us,  and  most  of  them  were  invited  guests  — 
among  others  Messrs.  Haughton,  Webb  and  Douglass. 
One  old  man  sat  away  down  in  front  near  the  platform, 
and  in  his  expressions  of  enthusiasm  he  almost  discon- 
certed us ;  he  would  pound  on  the  floor  and  the  edge  of 
the  platform  with  his  cane,  and  shout  "  Encore  ! " 
"  Bravo  I  "  as  loud  as  he  could  shout.  We  made  up  our 
minds  to  go  home  after  this  concert.  The  steamer 
H'thenila  was  to  sail  on  the  4th  of  October,  and  we 
thought  that  none  too  soon  for  us  to  get  out  of  the 
country. 

Frederick  Dougflass  was  at  this  time  endeavorino"  to 


158  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

arouse  an  interest  in  the  abolition  cause,  speaking  every 
-night,  and  selling  the  books  which  ^ye  had  helped  him 
circulate  on  the  vessel  coming  over.  We  attended 
some  of  his  lectures,  and  singing  to  the  audience  were 
cheered  jnost  vociferously.  The  Lord  Mayor  was  pres- 
ent and  presided  at  one  of  the  meetings.  We  con- 
cluded to  join  forces  with  Douglass,  and  for  two  or 
three  evenings  we  had  grand  good  meetings  and  made 
hosts  of  friends,  who  advised  us  not  to  go  home  ;  so  we 
decided  to  stay  a  little  longer. 

We  called  at  the  house  of  Daniel  O'Connell,  Avho 
was  then  in  his  prime  ;  not  finding  him  at  home  we  felt 
honored  in  being  allowed  to  sit  for  a  few  minutes  in  his 
big  armchair. 

We  noAV  decided  to  give  another  concert  on  our  own 
responsibility,  and  had  the  assurance  of  the  attendance 
of  the  Lord  Mayor  and  O'Connell. 

About  this  time  we  went  into  a  field,  where  we  saw 
some  women  digging  potatoes,  as  this  was  a  part  of 
their  duty,  and  noticed  that  al)Out  one-half  of  the  crop 
was  bad,  good  for  nothing,  which  proved  to  be  the  case 
all  over  the  country,  and  was  the  cause  of  the  famine 
the  following  year. 

We  went  to  the  summit  of  the  Dockey  Hill,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  eight  miles  from  the  city,  where  we  had 
a  splendid  view  of  the  Sugarloaf  Mountains  and  of  the 
sea.  We  were  followed  all  the  way  up  by  a  troop  of 
beggars  whom  it  was  almost  impossible  to  rid  ourselves 
of.  The  eminence  reminded  us  very  much  of  High 
Rock,  on  the  beauties  of  which  Jesse  expatiated  to  the 
friends  who  were  with  us. 

On  the  way  back  to  town  our  attention  was  attracted 
by  a  crowd  of  children  surrounding  and  following  a 
man  in  ilie  street,  and  on  asking  who  he  was  were  told 


IN   ENGLAND.  159 

he  was  Daniel  O'Connell.  AVe  turned  and  followed,  then 
passed  him,  and  seeing  him  smile  and  say  a  word  to  the 
children,  we  felt  that  he  was  indeed  a  great  man.  The 
next  day  we  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  and  hearing  him 
speak  in  Constitution  Hall  on  "  Repeal."  He  touched 
on  American  slavery ;  and  one  sentiment  he  uttered 
was,  "  He  that  commuteth  crime  gives  strength  to  the 
enemy."  I  thought  I  had  been  in  packed  assemblies  be- 
fore, but  I  never  saw  anything  to  equal  the  crowd  on 
that  occasion.  I  had  to  get  out  before  the  close  of  liis 
speech,  or  suffocate. 

We  gave  our  next  concert,  and  had  a  better  house 
than  before  ;  were  cheered  tremendously,  and  felt  com- 
paratively happy.  Mackintosh,  who  had  rather  forsaken 
US  since  the  failure  of  our  first  effort,  was  now  ready  to 
make  amends  and  give  us  more  engagements. 

We  went  out  to  Kingston  one  day,  wliere  we  had  the 
jjleasure  of  seeing,  and  shaking  hands  with  that  friend 
of  humanity  and  advocate  of  temperance,  Father 
Mathew  ;  we  heard  him  talk  and  administer  the  pledge 
to  a  number  of  people.  He  was  then  in  his  prime,  a 
strong,  well-built  man. 

Henry  Russell  was  in  Dublin  at  this  time  giving  con- 
certs ;  was  having  fine  houses  and  giving  great  satisfac- 
tion. We  saw  a  good  deal  of  him,  sang  and  consulted 
with  him.  He  discouraged  us  very  much  by  saying  he 
did  not  think  we  should  be  aljle  to  make  any  money  in 
that  countr}",  at  the  same  time  trying  to  engage  us  to 
sing  for  him.  On  one  occasion  we  were  at  his  concert 
and  ao-reed  to  sincj  on  the  cliorus  of  one  of  his  sono-s. 
We  Avere  behind  a  screen,  out  of  siglit  of  the  audience, 
and  when  we  struck  into  the  chorus  of  the  "'  Boatmen  of 
the  Ohio,"  it  seemed  as  if  the  house  would  come  down. 
He  rushed  in  to  us,  and  telling  us  to  sing  louder,  it  was 
repeated. 


160  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Then  we  were  invited  upon  the  stage,  and  sang  "  The 
Old  Granite  State."  This  so  captivated  the  audience 
that  Russell  thought  it  advisable  not  to  make  his 
appearance  in  the  one  or  two  numbers  tliat  remained  on 
the  programme,  and  the  concert  closed  with  tlie  selec- 
tions we  sang  in  response  to  enthusiastic  encores.  Rus- 
sell then  offered  us  one  thousand  dollars  to  make  the 
tour  of  England  under  his  auspices !  We  declined  to 
accept  his  offer. 

In  one  of  our  walks  about  the  city  we  came  to  the 
poor-house.  We  passed  through  all  the  different  de- 
partments, and  were  surprised  when  told  that  tliere 
were  fifteen  hundred  inmates.  We  afterwards  visited 
tlie  prison  in  which  O'Connell  was  incarcerated  for  one 
hundred  days. 

We  were  still  in  Dul)lin,  undecided  what  to  do. 
Some  said,  "  Go  hoine."  Jesse  said  we  could  go  to  New 
York  for  fifty  dollars.  This  was  the  third  time  we 
partly  decided  to  go.  Judson  related  a  vision  he  had 
when  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  that  he  Avas  to  die  at 
the  age  of  twenty-eight ;  and  as  this  was  the  year,  he 
was  very  despondent.  I  told  of  a  dream  that  I  liad  the 
night  before,  to  the  effect  that  I  was  going  to  be 
drowned  on  my  way  home  from  England;  and  when 
Abby  told  us  that  she  had  just  dreamed  that  we  were 
all  drowned  on  our  way  home,  Ave  concluded  there  must 
be  sometliing  in  it,  and  that  we  had  better  "bide  aAvee." 

On  the  evening  of  October  14th  Ave  left  Dublin  for 
Manchester,  going  via  Liverpool.  In  crossing  the  Chan- 
nel the  boat  Avas  crowded  Avith  hogs,  cattle  and  horses, 
Avith  Avhich  the  Irishmen  Avere  to  "  pay  their  rint "  ;  be- 
tween the  noise  of  Avliich  and  the  roughness  of  the 
Avater  we  got  very  little  rest.  Arriving  in  Liverpool  in 
the  morning,  Judson  and  Asa  Avent  directly  on  to  Man- 


IN   ENGLAND.  lljl 

Chester  to  engage  lodgings,  the  rest  of  us  stopping  in 
Liverpool  to  see  our  friends  and  get  the  mail.  In  the 
afternoon  we  followed,  and  joined  in  the  hunt  for  lodg- 
ings, which  they  had  not  yet  been  able  to  hud. 

We  were  soon  settled  in  comfortable  quarters,  and 
began  to  feel  more  at  home  than  at  any  time  since  we 
had  been  in  the  country.  There  seemed  to  be  a  differ- 
ent atmosphere  surrounding  us.  Though  the  town  .was 
very  smoky  and  dirty,  we  were  in  good  spirits.  Judson 
had  just  heard  from  home  that  the  letters  he  had  sent 
had  been  published,  and  just  having  come  from  Ireland, 
said  he  was  willing  to  stay  in  England  till  he  went 
home. 

We  soon  began  to  find  friends.  A  Mr.  Peacock,  to 
whom  we  had  a  letter  of  introduction,  did  everything 
in  his  power  to  interest  us,  introduced  us  to  a  great 
many  free-traders  and  friends  of  freedom,  among  them 
Mr.  Robert  Moore,  husband  of  Rebecca  Moore,  who 
became  a  life-long  friend  of  the  Hutchinsons. 

We  stopped  in  the  Bazaar,  where  an  exhibition  was 
in  progress,  to  see  tlie  sights  and  get  a  view  of  a  live 
duke  from  India.  He  came  in,  accompanied  by  his  gro- 
tesque and  brilliant  suite  and  interpreter,  when  every 
eye  was  fixed  on  the  lion  of  the  hour.  He  passed 
through  the  room  and  took  a  seat  in  the  orchestra  with 
the  music.  We  were  invited  to  sing-  a  soncf,  and  com- 
ing  to  the  platform,  we  sang  "•  Come  on "  ;  being  en- 
cored, we  sang  "  Over  the  Mountain,"  when  we  were 
loudly  cheered.  Thinking  we  had  already  been  highly 
complimented  we  descended  and  were  introduced  to  the 
duke,  who  expressed  himself  as  much  gratified  with  our 
singing. 

Having  concluded  to  change  our  boarding-place  after 
being  in  it  three  days,  we  notified  our  landlady  early  on 


162  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILYo 

Sunday  morning  that  we  wanted  our  bill,  as  we  were 
going  to  leave.  She  handed  the  bill  to  us,  and  on  find- 
ing it  made  out  for  live  pounds,  a  full  week's  bill,  told 
her  we  would  not  pay  it.  At  the  same  time  we  had  our 
trunks  all  packed  ready  to  leave.  She  got  mad  and 
very  nrtich  excited,  said  we  ate  so  much  more  than 
Englishmen  that  our  board  was  worth  more,  and  she 
would  make  no  reduction.  We  then  told  her  we  would 
stay  the  week  out,  and  forthwith  ordered  breakfast.  It 
was  produced  in  due  time,  and  we  so  astonished  the 
good  woman  with  our  voraciousness  that  she  was  glad 
to  let  us  go  at  half-price. 

Mrs.  liebecca  Moore,  at  whose  house  Abby  had  been 
staying  for  a  day  or  two,  we  found  to  be  a  highly  intel- 
lectual, refined,  sensible,  loving  woman,  and  the  more 
we  saw  of  her  the  more  she  grew  into  our  affections ; 
the  many  happy  hours  we  spent  in  her  society,  in  her 
house  and  at  our  own  boarding-house,  can  never  be  for- 
gotten, but  will  always  be  cherished  by  me  as  the  pleas- 
antest  of  my  life.  She  still  lives,  and  I  often  now  re- 
ceive tokens  of  friendship  from  her. 

We  found  our  new  boarding-house  a  very  pleasant 
place,  and  that  it  was  where  Edwin  Forrest,  the  Disston 
Family,  and  other  public  characters  stopped  when  in  the 
city. 

Mr.  Bennett,  a  corn  dealer,  to  whom  we  had  a  letter 
of  introduction,  was  very  polite  and  kind  to  us.  He 
invited  us  to  dine  at  his  house.  We  found  him  living 
in  fine  stjde  just  out  of  the  city,  and  we  were  beauti- 
fully entertained,  and  treated  with  marked  attention  and 
hospitality.  After  an  early  dinner  he  and  some  other 
friends  whom  we  met  at  his  house  accompanied  us  back 
to  the  city.  As  we  returned  in  the  early  evening  the 
factories,  of  which  the  town  was  full,  were  all   lighted 


IN   ENGLAND.  163 

up.  The  lights  shining  out  brightly  made  a  very  brill- 
iant effect. 

We  remained  in  ^lanchester  only  about  a  week  at 
this  time,  making  no  engagements  to  sing,  meeting 
some  old  American  friends  and  making  many  ne^y  ones ; 
then  returned  to  Dublin,  where  we  had  to  give  some 
concerts. 

The  passage  over  this  time  was  not  so  disagreeable  as 
our  former  ones  had  been,  as  we  were  in  a  lirst-class 
boat,  and  the  water  was  comparatively  smooth.  Among 
the  many  new  acquaintances  we  made  was  a  family  of 
Quakers  named  Wells ;  they  were  very  fond  of  music, 
and  what  was  remarkable  with  that  sect,  they  were  very 
demonstrative  in  their  manifestations  of  approval. 

After  remaining  in  Dublin  for  two  Aveeks,  giving  con- 
certs in  the  city  and  some  of  the  surrounding  towns,  we 
began  to  make  arrangements  to  go  back  to  England. 
Not  expecting  to  return  to  Dublin,  we  began  to  take 
final  leave  of  our  friends,  and  we  thought  they  were  as 
sorry  to  have  us  go  as  we  were  to  leave  them.  They 
had  all  treated  us  handsomely,  and  on  leaving  gave  us 
many  tokens  of  their  regard. 

We  spent  our  last  evening  at  the  house  of  Richard 
Webb,  a  party  being  given  in  our  honor.  During  the 
evening  Mr.  Webb  brought  in  a  periodical  Avhich  he 
had  just  procured,  containing  the  "  Bridge  of  Sighs," 
by  Tom  Hood,  published  then  for  the  first  time. 

"  Take  her  up  tenderly, 
Lift  her  with  care  ; 
Fashioned  so  slenderly. 
Young  and  so  fair  ! " 

After  reading  it  over,  we  took  it  into  his  library,  and 
putting  our  heads  together,  we  put  the  poem  up  in  plain 
sight  of  each  of  us,  began  to  adjust  our  different  parts 


164  THE   HUTCHINSOK   FAMILY. 

to  the  lines,  and  in  a  short  time  came  out  and  sang  it  to 
the  com2)any ;  after  making  some  slight  changes  in  the 
music,  it  became  one  of  the  selections  on  our  pro- 
gramme, and  we  sang  it  on  almost  every  occasion. 

We  crossed  the  Channel  again,  this  time  from  Kings- 
ton, on  the  steamer  Iron  Duke^  and  had  a  very  rough 
voyage.  On  the  morning  of  Noveml)er  7th  we  arrived 
in  Liverpool,  and  on  the  following  evening  gave  a  con- 
cert to  sixteen  hundred  people,  who  greeted  us  Avith 
long-continued  applause. 

]\Ir.  Iiuffum  rejoined  us  here,  having  come  on  from 
Birmingham,  and  gave  us  quite  a  shock  when  he  said 
he  liad  had  a  falling  out  with  Douglass,  aiul  could  not 
sta}^  with  him  any  longer.  He  proposed  to  stay  with 
us  for  a  few  days  and  wait  for  Dr.  Kittredge,  who  was 
on  the  way  over  from  America,  Avhen  they  were  going 
together  to  France.  We  were  very  glad  to  liave  him 
with  us,  as  he  "w^as  full  of  fun,  always  in  good  spirits 
and  cheered  us  up  while  we  were  in  his  presence. 

On  the  18th,  Dr.  Kittredge,  of  Lynn,  or  '^  Noggs," 
the  norii  de  jjhwie  under  which  he  wrote,  arrived,  and 
the  next  morning  left  for  France  with  Buffum.  It  Avas 
very  hard  to  part  Avith  these  true  hearts.  "  Noggs  "  had  a 
claim  of  the  first  class  on  my  affections.    My  diary  says  : 

"  God  bless  every  hair  of  his  head,  every  inch  of  it  is  wit  and  good- 
humor;  and  were  it  to  grow  twice  the  length  it  now  is,  'twould  still  be 
on  the  head  of  Noggs  '  continually.'     [The  last  was  his  great  by-word.] 

"  Farpwell,  you  Yankee,  true  ami  witty; 
We'll  meet  again  and  sing  tliis  ditty. 

"  I  sliall  never  forget  the  time  when  first  we  met  in  England,  in  this 
old  smoky  Liverpool." 

We  Avere  engaged  now  nearly  every  evening,  either  in 
Liverpool  or  some  of  the  suburbs,  and  Avere  quite  happy 
and  contented. 


IN    ENGLAND.      .  165 

We  went  one  evening  to  hear  tliat  good,  faithful 
friend  of  humanity  and  equal  rights,  Geoige  Thompson, 
M.  P.,  speak  on  the  India  question.  I  knew  him  the 
moment  he  entered  the  door,  from  descriptions  I  had 
received  of  him,  and  was  prepared  for  the  treat  he  gave 
us.  His  lecture  was  a  fine  one,  full  of  poetry  and  feel- 
ing ;  his  address  was  pleasant  and  impressive,  his  elo- 
quence grand  and  powerful,  and  he  had  a  magnetism 
that  carried  his  audience  with  him. 

We  were  introduced  to  him  after  tlie  lecture,  when 
he  received  us  very  cordially,  and  invited  us  to  break- 
fast the  next  morning,  where  the  conversation  turned 
on  the  controversy  then  going  on  between  Garrison  and 
Rogers,  which  we  all  deplored. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  an  acquaintance  which 
was  kept  up  between  us  to  the  day  of  his  death ;  and 
we  always  found  him  the  same  kind,  genial  friend  and 
formidable  defender  of  any  cause  he  espoused.  He 
called  upon  us  the  same  afternoon  in  company  with 
Miss  E.  Pease,  to  bid  us  adieu,  as  we  were  aljout  start- 
ing for  Manchester,  and  said  that  he  would  meet  us 
there  the  next  day. 

On  the  way  to  the  station  Asa  and  Al^by  went  on 
ahead,  walking  at  quite  a  rapid  pace,  and  as  it  was 
quite  dai'k  they  did  not  pay  much  attention  to  anything 
exce]3t  to  keep  on  the  sidewalk.  All  of  a  sudden  he 
went  down,  dragging  her  after  him.  When  I  came  u[) 
I  found  they  had  fallen  into  a  coal-hole  which  had  just 
been  opened.  As  they  scrambled  out  thej^  looked  some- 
what the  worse  for  wear,  not  much  hurt,  but  very  much 
astonished.  We  had  only  time  to  caution  the  careless 
coal-heaver  never  to  do  such  a  thing  again  as  to  leave 
the  hole  open  without  some  protection. 

The  road  was  very  rough,  and  the  cars  were  so  tossed 


166  THE    HUTCHINSON    T'AMILY. 

about  that  we  found  it  almost  impossible  to  get  any 
rest;  and  to  add  to  my  discomfort  thei'e  was  a  man 
sitting  next  to  me  who  seemed  quite  fatigued  and  like- 
wise desirous  of  getting  some  rest ;  just  as  I  would  get 
into  a  doze  he  would  jog  his  Ijmiphatic  corporosity  up 
against  me,  seeming  to  say  at  every  lurch  or  nod, 
"  Keep  awake,  or  youll  take  cold,"  which  would  have 
been  good  advice  to  follow,  as  some  of  the  passengers 
had  their  windows  open,  and  I  did  take  quite  a  severe 
cold.  We  took  a  second-class  coach,  not  that  we  de- 
spised the  lowest,  or  abjured  with  homage  the  upper, 
but  it  was  congenial  to  our  ideas.  "  Give  me  neither 
poverty  nor  riches." 

The  next  morning  George  Thompson  called  on  us 
and  suo-crested  that  we  should  sino^  a  sono^  or  two  at  his 
lecture  in  the  evening ;  and  we  consented.  A  short 
time  after  Jesse  came  in  and  said,  "  Boys,  did  you  know 
you  were  announced  to  sing  to-night  ?  "  To  our  surprise 
posters  had  been  put  out  announcing  us  to  appear  in 
company  with  George  Thompson.  When  evening  came 
we  entered  the  hall  with  him  ;  and  previous  to  com- 
mencing his  lecture,  he  introduced  us  to  the  audience 
in  a  very  neat,  complimentary  manner,  and  we  sang  a 
song.  Being  encored,  we  sang  another.  At  the  close  of 
his  lecture,  which  was  on  the  ancient  history  of  India, 
we  sancf  '^  The  Old  Granite  State,"  and  such  a  round  of 
applause  as  we  received  did  us  good,  and  made  us  think 
of  home.  He  afterwards  gave  us,  together  with  Mrs. 
Moore,  a  very  graphic  account  of  his  visit  to  India,  the 
character,  habits  and  customs  of  the  people.  It  was 
like  reading  a  novel,  only  much  more  interesting. 

We  heard  Willson,  the  great  Scotch  singer,  and  ad- 
mired him  much  in  his  description  of  the  character  of 
Burns,  and  singing  of  his  songs. 


IX    ENGLAND.  167 

On  the  way  out  to  Chester,  where  we  gave  a  concert, 
we  had  a  fine  view  of  Easton  Castle,  a  huge  mass  of 
rocks,  perclied  up  on  a  steep  hill,  looking  like  an  ice- 
berg, as  viewed  against  tlie  background  of  a  clear  sky. 

From  my  diaiy : 

"  November  27th.  This  is  Thanksgiving  Day  in  our  far-away  New 
England  home.  We  think  of  the  father  and  mother  and  all  the 
brothers  gathered  around  the  hearth  to  celebrate  the  day  in  prayers 
and  hymns  of  praise,  and  wish  ourselves  there  with  them.  As  I  look 
out  and  see  the  new  moon  just  settling  behind  the  hills,  my  memory 
reverts  to  the  scenes  of  my  youth.  I  think  of  the  many  happy  hours 
of  my  earlier  life,  when  I  knew  not  what  care  or  remorse  was ;  of  my 
school  days,  when  I  was  filled  with  buoyant  hopes  of  the  time  when  I 
should  be  a  man  in  active  life.  The  bright  side  seems  always  to  present 
itself  in  anticipating  future  events.  The  present  never  satisfies  me. 
Little  did  I  think,  when  trudging  through  the  snow  to  the  old  district 
school-house,  with  my  book  in  one  hand  and  a  piece  of  .Johnny-cake  ' 
in  the  other,  singing  as  I  went,  and  hurrahing  for  Jackson,  who  was 
then  President  of  the  United  States,  that  I  should  ever  visit  Old  Eng- 
land. But  time  and  fate  have  brought  it  about ;  and  here  I  am,  a 
lonely,  self-exiled,  ignorant  man,  left  to  deal  with  the  future.  What  is 
past  I  know  ;  what  is  before  I  cannot  tell ;  the  present  I  have  learned 
to  improve  and  enjoy.  I  might  say  I  regret  the  neglect  of  my  books  ; 
that  would  only  be  folly.  I  will  make  the  best  of  wiiat  I  have,  and 
improve  all  I  can.  I  am  happy  of  life,  and  hope  for  a  future  that  will 
satisfy  the  mind.  Many  of  my  old  friends  and  associates  have  gone 
home,  with  the  memory  of  whose  spirits  I  now  hold  sweet  communion. 
.  Ere  long  this  spirit  will  be  separated  from  its  tenement,  and  eternity 
begin  its  work  of  clothing  it  with  celestial  robes  of  immortality.  Now, 
a  transient  home,  but  soon  an  everlasting  one  ;  now  with  anxious  fears, 
soon  peace  and  joy  without  alloy. 

"  The  stars  are  shining  now  o'erhead, 

Tliis  clear  and  frosty  night ; 
So  will  they  shine  when  we  are  dead, 

As  countless  and  as  bright. 
Other  poor  souls  from  dust  shall  rise 

By  our  good  Saviour's  aid; 
When  the  last  trump  shall  sound, 

Sun,  moon  and  stars  shall  fade." 

Returning  from  Preston,  where  we  had  been  singing, 
to  Manchester,  we  were  enveloped  in  smoke  and  fog  so 


168  THE    HUTCHINSOX    FAMILY. 

thick  we  could  hardly  see  across  the  street;  which  re- 
minded us  of  a  man  who  had  told  us  a  few  days  before, 
that  he  had  been  waiting  forty  years  for  a  pleasant  day 
to  leave  the  city. 

Asa,  Judson  and  Jesse  went  one  day  with  a  friend  to 
see  one  of  the  large  cotton  mills,  and  came  home  tired, 
but  delighted  with  the  sight,  and  covered  with  evidences 
of  where  they  had  been,  in  shape  of  fine  particles  of 
cotton  all  over  their  clothing. 

Being  engaged  every  evening  in  giviug  concerts  of 
our  own,  attending  otliers,  or  being  entertained  by  our 
numerous  friends,  time  passed  very  pleasantly  and 
swiftly  with  us.  We  visited  all  the  churches,  at  some 
of  Avliicli  we  heard  fine  singing  ;  the  colleges  and  fairs, 
where  we  saw  many  interesting  curiosities.  So  much 
dissipation  was  beginning  to  tell  on  us,  and  we  were 
pretty  well  used  up ;  but  kept  up  our  spirits,  as  we  were 
just  beginning  to  feel  repaid,  in  a  financial  way,  for 
coming. 

In  INlanchester  was  located  the  largest  and  best 
equipped  machine-shop  in  the  kingdom,  which  we  vis- 
ited one  day  on  the  invitation  of  the  proprietors, 
Sharp  Brothers  &  Co.  We  were  shown  all  through  it, 
and  were  very  much  interested  in  watching  the  nine 
hundred  employees  at  their  work.  There  was  a  mam- 
moth clock  in  the  estal^lishment,  the  pendulum  of  which 
weighed  312  lbs.,  and  all  the  work  in  the  place  seemed 
to  be  going  by  that  clock,  at  least  it  was  as  regular  as 
the  swing  of  the  pendulum ;  but  we  were  weary  before 
we  got  through,  watching  the  ponderous  engines  and 
the  great  variet}^  of  machines. 

The  largest  and  most  enthusiastic  meeting  we  attended 
was  at  about  this  time  in  Free  Trade  Hall.  It  was  an 
anti-corn-law  meeting.     The  hall  was  crowded,  not  less 


IX    ENGLAND.  1»)9 

than  eight  thousand  men  being  present,  besides  hundreds 
on  the  outside  who  couhl  not  gain  admittance.  It  was 
a  splendid  sight  to  see  such  earnest,  attentive,  upturned 
faces.  Yes,  they  were  the  working  chisses,  who  had 
come  together  mutually  to  seek  redress  for  grievances ; 
they  Avere  seeking  the  repeal  of  the  corn-laws,  that 
cursed  sj^stem  of  keeping  food  from  the  starving  poor 
of  the  country.  Thank  God,  the  laws  were  about  to  be 
repealed.  Willson  was  the  chairman  of  tlie  meeting ; 
Gibson,  Cobden,  Bright,  Fox  and  Brotherton  were  the 
speakers ;.  Fox  was  the  orator  of  the  occasion,  his  lan- 
guage being  true  eloquence.  The  audience  was  very 
enthusiastic  ;  it  must  have  been  inspiring  to  have  such 
an  intellig-ent  mass  of  liuman  bein^fs  to  address. 

Bolton  was  another  of  the  large  manufacturing 
towns  which  we  visited.  We  were  met  on  our  arrival 
by  the  committee  of  working-men  which  had  engaged 
us.  We  were  conducted  to  our  lodwino-s,  which,  thouo-h 
humljle,  were  very  neat  and  comfortaljle.  We  gave  a 
concert  to  one  of  the  largest  and  most  appreciative 
audiences  we  ever  had.  Next  morning  the  sun  shone 
out  brio-ht  and  clear,  which  was  a  ffreat  relief,  as  it 
rarely  shines  in  this  country  unless  obscured  by  the  fog 
or  smoke  —  here  we  found  pumpkins  a  curiosity  and  a 
fair  day  a  novelty.  The  town  was  dirty,  everything  be- 
grimed with  soot,  but  it  was  a  manufacturing  town,  and 
Ave  could  expect  nothing  else.  We  were  awakened  in 
the  morning  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  bloAving  of 
Avhistles,  and  kept  awake  in  the  early  hours  by  the  clat- 
ter of  the  Avooden  shoes  on  the  paA^ements  as  the  men, 
Avomen  and  children  stamped  along  on  their  Avay  to  the 
mills.  There  Avere  some  very  large,  high  chinnieys  at 
some  of  these  factories,  one  of  them  being  thirty-six 
feet    in  diameter    at    its    base,  and  three  hundred   and 


170  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

sixty-six  feet  high,  octagon  in  shape,  and  bnilt,  as  we 
were  informed,  without  visible  staging,  the  material  all 
being  carried  up  and  the  work  done  from  the  inside. 
There  were  not  many  fine  houses  or  buildings  in  the 
town,  but  a  fine  free-hearted  set  of  people. 

As  we  came  into  Manchester  on  our  return  we  saw 
that  we  were  billed  to  sing  the  same  evening  at  the 
Colonial  Institute  with  Professor  Greenbank.  We 
sang  four  songs  ;  by  request  I  sang  "  The  Maniac."" 
Then  we  returned  early  to  our  rooms,  Judson  not  being 
at  all  well,  and  for  three  or  four  evenings  our  concerts 
had  to  be  given  up  or  postponed  on  account  of  his  sick- 
ness. On  one  occasion  we  engaged  the  services  of 
Miss  Whitnall,  but  she  did  not  fill  the  vacancy  in  our 
quartet,  though  she  was  a  fine  singer.  An  apology  was 
made  for  us  by  the  mayor  of  the  city. 

We  received  letters  from  home  ;  and  among  other 
matters  of  news,  we  learned  that  our  brothers,  Zepha- 
niah,  Caleb  and  Joshua  with  our  sister  Khoda,  were  giv- 
ing concerts  in  America,  stjding  themselves  ''•  The 
Home  Branch,"  and  trying  to  sustain  the  reputation  of 
the  family. 

.From  this  time  (about  the  middle  of  December)  up  to 
leaving  Manchester,  January  24th,  we  were  engaged 
almost  every  evening  in  giving  concerts.  We  sang  in 
Bolton,  where  the  house  Avas  full  when  we  arrived. 
The  crowd  standing  in  the  aisles  was  so  dense  that  we 
had  hard  work  to  squeeze  through ;  and  after  we  were 
through,  the  gap  closed  up  like  water  resuming  its  place 
after  being  disturbed  by  some  body  thrown  into  it. 

We  sang  in  Halifax,  another  manufacturing  town  of 
about  seventy  thousand  inhabitants,  nestled  among  the 
hills  which  were  covered  with  snow ;  these  reminded  us 
very  much  of  our  own  native  hills.     The  scenery  all 


IN   ENGLAND.  171 

the  way  coming  out  from  jMancliester  was  grand, 
through  a  beautiful  valley  about  six  miles  long,  and  on 
either  side  hills  or  mountains  ;  in  another  place  through 
six  or  eight  arches  of  solid  masonrj-,  one  of  them  two 
and  three-quartei's  miles  long. 

We  sang  in  Ashton,  which  had  the  finest  hall  we 
had  yet  been  in,  though  it  not  being  sufficiently  heated 
we  suffered  very  much  with  the  cold.  We  gave  a  con- 
cert in  Darwin,  a  town  about  nine  miles  off  the  rail- 
road, to  reacli  which  we  had  to  take  a  coach.  The  hotel 
here  was  a  great  mass  of  stone  on  tlie  side  of  a  hill ;  it 
looked  like  a  prison,  but  we  were  well  treated  both  in 
the  house  and  at  our  concert. 

As  Christmas  approached,  we  could  see  preparations 
being  made  for  its  celebration  everywhere.  The  rich 
and  poor  alike  were  providing  their  gifts,  and  mistle- 
toe boughs  were  seen  on  every  hand. 

On  Christmas  Day  news  was  received  of  tlie  ill-fated 
steamer  President,  which  was  lost  three  years  before. 
It  was  now  said  that  she  had  been  taken  by  pirates ; 
but  none  of  the  passengers  were  ever  heard  from.  We 
spent  the  evening  at  our  friend  Peacock's,  where  he  en- 
tertained us  reading  portions  of  the  "  Cricket  on  the 
Hearth,"  which  had  only  just  been  published. 

We  had  received  a  barrel  of  New  Hampshire  apples, 
as  well  as  some  chestnuts  and  hickoiy-nuts,  riglit  from 
the  old  farm,  in  time  for  Christmas,  and  the}-  tasted 
good  to  us,  and  to  our  friends  whom  we  "  treated." 

We  gave  concerts  in  St.  Helens,  Rochdale,  Mackles- 
field,  and  all  towns  around  Manchester,  and  were  re- 
ceiving letters  for  engagements  all  the  time.  We  re- 
ceived one  anonymous  letter,  advising  us  not  to  meddle 
with  English  politics  ;  to  let  free-trade  alone ! 

George  Dawson  was  deliverino-  a  course  of  lectures  at 


172  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

the  Atheneum  at  this  time,  and  we  became  quite  well 
acquainted  with  liim.  He  was  a  young  man,  only  twenty- 
four,  and  a  man  of  a  good  deal  of  ability.  We  attended 
some  of  his  lectures,  and  at  tlie  conclusion  of  one  of 
them  he  pointed  up  to  one  of  our  bills  on  the  wall,  and 
expressed  himself  as  much  gratified  that  we  were  sing- 
ing such  songs  —  in  a  word,  gave  us  a  good  puff ;  and 
when  he  spoke  of  poor  Tom  Hood,  the  autlior  of  some 
of  the  songs  we  sang,  the  audience  sympathetically  re- 
sponded to  the  eulogy  he  pronounced  upon  him.  He 
afterwards  invited  us  to  come  to  Birmingham,  sajdng 
that  lie  would  do  all  he  could  to  make  our  stay  pleas- 
ant and  profitable. 

As  we  had  several  calls  from  London,  Jesse  went  on 
there  to  make  arrangements  for  our  appearance  in  the 
metropolis  of  the  world. 

Our  last  concert  in   Manchester  was  given  January 

23d,  and  we  prepared  to  leave  for  London  the  next  day. 

Our  friends  all  came  to   say  good-by  and  God  speed ; 

and,  telling  them  we    should  see   them  again    two    or 

three  months  hence,  we  got  aboard  the  cars,  singing  the 

refrain  : 

"  Now  farewell,  friends  and  brothers, 
Fathers,  sons,  sisters,  mothers, 
Manchester  people,  and  all  others 
In  old  Lancastershire. 
From  our  first  appearing 
Have  3'our  smiles  been  cheering; 
And  the  thoughts  endearing 
We  shall  cherish  evermore. 
May  the  choicest  blessings 
Ever  rest  upon  you  all." 

Riding  all  day  in  the  cars  through  a  beautiful  coun- 
try—  liills,  valleys,  meadows  and  streams,  mansions  and 
castles  —  we   reached    London   at   about   five    o'clock, 


IX   ENGLAND.  1T3 

where  we  were  met  by  Jesse,  and  conducted  to  the 
quarters  he  had  selected  for  us,  at  21  IloUis  Street. 

We  awoke  bright  and  early  the  next  morning,  which 
was  Sunday,  January  25,  1846,  to  find  ourselves  in  the 
third  story  of  a  boarding-house  near  ILmcjver  Square. 
We  had  sung  in  Dublin,  Liverpool  and  Manchester 
most  of  the  time  since  we  arrived  m  the  country,  and  liad 
had  an  experience  which  we  prized  as  highly  as  we  did 
money.  We  found  ourselves  a  few  liundred  dollai's 
ahead  of  what  we  had  when  we  left  home,  and  were 
now  in  London,  the  great  and  mighty  city,  all  well  and 
in  good  spirits.  The  surrounding  houses  impressed  us 
as  being  very  liandsome,  most  of  them  five  and  six 
stories  high,  no  blinds  on  the  windows,  and  everything 
orderly  and  refined.  ToAvard  evening,  after  the  rain  had 
subsided,  we  walked  out  to  St.  James  Park,  where  we 
saw  Buckingham  Palace,  the  home  of  the  queen.  It 
was  a  magnificent  building,  surrounded  by  a  high  iron 
fence,  around  which  soldiers  were  stationed.  In  front 
was  an  arch  built  by  George  III,  of  solid  marble. 

I  cannot  now  describe  the  impression  formed  upon 
my  mind  on  this,  my  first  visit  to  London ;  it  came  up 
to  our  fullest  anticipations,  and  reminded  us  of  the  pict- 
ures we  had  seen  of  Babylon. 

The  next  day  we  spent  in  looking  about  the  city  in 
company  with  our  old  friend  '"  Xoggs,"  who  had  re- 
turned from  France.  We  called  on  George  Thompson 
at  his  office,  and  found  him  just  as  pleasant  and  glad  to 
see  us  as  he  was  in  ^lanchester,  and  pronnsing  to  do 
everything  he  could  for  us.  We  also  saw  Mrs.  Charles 
Dickens  and  her  sister,  with  three  other  ladies,  sang 
them  some  songs,  with  which  they  seemed  much  })leascd ; 
she  invited  us  to  her  house  on  the  Wednesday  following. 

George  Thompson  having  obtained  an  invitation  for 


174  THE   HUTCHINSOX   FAMILY. 

US  to  attend  a  Buckingham  Soiree,  wliicli  was  held  in 
the  hall  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Institute,  Ave  re- 
paired to  the  hall  at  about  half-past  eight,  and  Avere 
ushered  into  a  room  full  of  aristocratic  people,  Viiih 
white  gloves,  etc.  We  took  an  obscure  seat  behind  the 
piano,  and  as  soon  as  quiet  was  restored  we  began  to 
sing — first  "The  Cot  where  we  were  Born,"  which  we 
followed  with  "  Excelsior  "  and  "  Over  the  Mountains  "  ; 
all  of  which  were  received  with  applause.  Then 
George  Thompson  gave  a  short  history  of  our  family, 
and  of  our  intentions  in  coming  to  England  (a  most 
favorable  introduction)  ;  after  which  Abby  was  asked 
to  sing  the  "  May  Queen,"  which  was  received  with 
pronounced  marks  of  a})probation.  Having  s^^ent  a  very 
pleasant  liour  we  returned  to  our  rooms,  light-hearted 
and  full  of  hope  for  the  future,  for  we  liad  a  promise  of 
a  command  to  visit  the  queen  sliortly.  This  was  a 
courtesy  expressed  by  ro}^alty  to  visitors,  a  command 
instead  of  an  invitation. 

We  were  boarding  ourselves,  as  we  did  in  Dublin, 
and  found  it  the  most  convenient  and  pleasant  Avay  of 
living.  It  was  the  custom  followed  by  most  foreigners 
at  tliat  time.  We  hired  our  rooms,  furnished  our  own 
food,  Avhich  was  cooked  for  us  in  the  house  and  put  on 
a  private  table,  for  all  of  which  so  much  a  week  Avas 
paid.  George  Thompson  Avas  a  frequent  guest  at  our 
cheerful  board  Avhere  he  AA'ittily  related  many  of  his 
American  experiences. 

We  visited  the  gallery  of.  fine  arts,  Avhere  Ave  saAV 
some  very  fine  paintings.  Then  Ave  called  on  the 
American  minister,  found  his  clerk  in,  and  lie  gave  us 
a  Democratic  discourse  on  politics. 

We  Avere  invited  to  spend  an  evening  Avith  Charlotte 
Cushman,    AAdio   AA^as    just  starting  in  her    professional 


IN   ENGLAND.  .  175 

career :  arriving  at  the  lioiise  we  found  quite  a  large 
party,  and  being  asked  to  sing,  Ave  contributed  several 
selections.  During  the  evening  she,  together  with  Eliza 
Cook,  the  author  of  the  song,  and  the  author  of  the 
music,  also  present,  sang  the  new  song,  a  parting  glee, 
"  Come,  let  us  part  "  : 

"Come,  let  us  part  witli  liglitsome  heart, 
Nor  breathe  one  chiding  sigli 
To  think  tliat  wing  of  rainbow  plume 
So  soon  should  learn  to  fly. 

*'  We  scarcely  like  the  chimes  to  strike 
That  tell  of  itleasiire's  flight ; 
But  friendship's  cliain  when  severed  thus 
Is  sure  to  reunite. 

"  Then  why  not  we  as  merry,  merry  be 
Thougli  the  song  be  the  last, 
Believing  otlier  days  will  come 
As  bright  as  those  just  passed." 

It  had  just  been  written,  and  was  still  in  manuscript. 
(This  was  the  last  song  I  sang  with  my  sister  Al;)l)_y 
in  Boston,  in  1892,  but  a  few  weeks  before  her  death.) 
We  often  met  Miss  Cushman  afterward,  and  esteemed 
her  highly  for  her  grand  womanly  qualities  of  heart  and 
mind. 

On  the  day  appointed  we  called  on  ]\Irs.  Dickens 
and  spent  a  very  pleasant,  social  hour.  We  did  not  see 
Dickens,  he  not  being  at  home. 

Having  made  arrangements  to  give  our  first  concert 
in  London  on  February  10th,  we  had  some  time  to  look 
about  and  see  the  sights,  of  which  we  took  advantage 
by  visiting  a  great  many  people  and  places  of  interest. 
We  saw  Charlotte  Cushman  in  "  Romeo  and  Juliet,"' 
attended  the  Julian  concerts,  and  went  to  Westminster 
Abbey.     One  day  we  took  a  steamer  down  tlie  ri^'er  to 


176  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

the  Thames  Tunnel,  which  we  found  a  wonderful 
structure  indeed.  I  walked  through  it  with  a  Scotch- 
man ;  it  was  lit  up  Avith  gas,  and  all  along  the  walk 
were  fancy  stations  or  booths,  where  men,  women  and 
children  were  offering  little  trinkets  for  sale.  We  saw 
three  little  boys,  the  youngest  six  years  old,  playing  a 
harp  and  violins,  and  they  made  very  sweet  music.  Asa 
tried  to  get  his  phiz  cut  out  for  a  sixpence  ;  when  it 
Avas  done  it  resembled  Sir  Walter  Scott  more  than 
it  did  him,  and  because  he  found  fault  with  it  the 
sculptor  was  quite  wrathy  and  threatened  to  black  his 
eye  and  inflict  all  manner  of  corporal  punishment  upon 
him. 

We  passed  up  the  river  about  two  miles,  lowering 
the  smoke-stack  of  our  little  steamer  as  we  ran  under 
the  many  bridges  with  which  the  river  is  spanned.  The 
'*  London "  bridge  was  a  splendid  structure,  but  the 
''  Suspension  "  was  far  superior.  We  returned  to  the 
city  in  the  early  afternoon,  having  passed  a  very  pleas- 
ant day,  and  seen  many  places  of  historical  interest, 
among  wliich  was  Westminster  College. 

Al)by  and  Jesse  repaired  to  the  house  of  Charles 
Dickens,  Avhere  they  had  been  invited  to  dine  ;  and  in 
the  evening  we  all  joined  them,  in  company  Avith 
"-Noggs."  After  takinsf  some  coffee  we  were  shown 
into  the  parlor  upstairs,  and  ushered  into  the  presence 
of  some  of  the  most  notal)le  characters  of  the  day. 
There  Avas  Macready,  the  actor ;  Douglas  Jerrold,  the 
author  of  the  famous  "  Mrs.  Caudle's  Curtain  Lectures  "  ; 
Samuel  Rogers,  the  celebrated  poet ;  the  Hon.  Mrs. 
Norton,  author  of  "•  Bingen  on  the  Rhine  "  ;  and  a  num- 
ber of  others  no  less  noted.  By  request  Ave  sang  "  The 
Bridge  of  Sighs,"  "  Good  Time  Coming,"  and  other 
selections,  Avhich   Avere  Avell   received.     "  Nowcts  "    sfot 


IN   ENGLAND.  177 

into  conversation  with  Macready,  not  nnderstanding 
who  he  was,  and  said  to  him,  "  I  know  I've  seen  you 
somewhere."  "  Very  likely  you  have,"  he  replied,  "  I 
have  been  in  America,  all  through  the  States,  etc.'' 
After  tliey  liad  finished,  Asa  said  to  ^  Noggs,"  ''Did 
you  know  you  were  talking  to  the  celebrated  actor, 
Macready  ?  "  When  "  Noggs  "  realized  it,  every  muscle 
in  his  face  contracted  and  relaxed  alternately ;  he  was 
much  surprised  and  embarrassed.  After  spending  a 
very  pleasant  evening  we  retired ;  often  calling  at  the 
house  afterwards,  always  being  welcome,  and  receiving 
calls  from  Mrs.  Dickens,  who  came  to  hear  us  sing,, 

While  dining  witli  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickens,  Charles 
Dickens  sat  at  Abby's  right,  and  Douglas  Jerrold  at 
her  left.  In  accordance  with  her  pledge,  she  declined 
the  wine  when  offered.  Dickens  said,  "  Well,  Jerrold, 
after  dinner  we  also  will  give  up  wine  —  until  to- 
morrow." 

We  found  that  we  liad  every  kind  of  talent  to  con- 
tend with  in  London,  from  the  street  musicians  to  the 
finest  operas ;  as  this  seemed  to  be  the  Mecca  of  all  who 
were  after  fame,  popularity  and  money.  We  soon  made 
up  our  minds  it  was  no  place  for  us  to  succeed,  as  it 
would  take  a  longer  time  than  we  had  at  our  disposal  to 
create  a  sentiment  in  our  favor.  We  found  not  the  best 
of  feeling  existing  toward  the  Yankees  ;  and  as  we  were 
more  distinctively  American  than  any  other  company 
ever  introduced  in  the  country,  there  was  a  good  deal 
of  prejudice  against  us,  and  it  was  only  among  a  certain 
class,  and  tliat  the  industrial,  that  we  could  hope  for 
much  appreciation.  We  accordingly  decided  that  our 
stay  must  be  short  in  London  ;  we  could  give  a  few 
concerts  in  the  city,  visit  some  of  the  suburban  manu- 
facturing towns,  where  we  could  always  command  good 


178  THE   HUTCHINSON  FAMILY. 

audiences,  see  all  the  points  and  places  of  interest  in 
and  about  the  town,  and  then  return  to  Manchester  or 
Liverpool. 

We  spent  a  delightful  evening  at  the  house  of  George 
Thompson,  and  found  his  wife,  though  an  invalid,  a 
most  charming  lady. 

Our  first  concert  in  London,  February  10,  1846,  had 
been  well  advertised,  and  our  friends  all  assured  us  it 
would  be  a  success.  The  evening  came  ;  we  went  to 
the  Hanover  Square  Rooms,  called  the  "•  Queen's  Con- 
cert Rooms,"  and  sang,  we  thought,  as  well  as  usual, 
and  Avere  well  received  by  an  intelligent  audience  of  about 
live  hundred.  Seated  in  different  parts  of  the  crowded 
hall  miglit  have  been  seen  the  notable  William  Howitt ; 
Mary  Howitt,  the  poetess  ;  Eliza  Cook,  author  of  '■'  The 
Irish  Emigrant's  Lament "  ;  George  Thompson,  j\L  P. ; 
Charlotte  Cushman,  the  greatest  actress  of  the  nine- 
teenth century ;  Douglas  Jerrold,  the  great  author ; 
John  Forester  of  the  Exaininer ;  Hogarth,  the  London 
musical  critic ;  Hon.  Mrs.  Norton ;  John  Ross  Dix, 
author  of  "  Pen  and  Ink  Sketches  "  ;  Sanuiel  Rogers, 
the  celebrated  poet ;  and  many  others. 

Among  those  noted  people,  and  seated  in  the  most 
conspicuous  place  in  the  front  part  of  the  hall,  was 
Charles  Dickens  with  his  wife  and  children.  After 
forty  years  had  elapsed  I  met  his  son,  who  was  visiting 
the  prominent  places  in  America,  at  a  lecture  in  Lynn 
and  he  spoke  with  enthusiasm  of  the  delight  that  he 
experienced  at  that  notable  concert  in  the  Queen's  Con- 
cert Rooms.  Referring  to  the  occasion,  he  said,  "  Among 
the  brightest  recollections  of  my  early  years  was  attend- 
ing that  concert  of  the  Hutchinson  Family,  in  company 
with  my  father,  mother,  brothers  and  sisters." 

At  this  concert  appeared  a  man  whose  business  Avas 


IN    ENGLAND.  179 

something  like  that  of  the  man  who  likes  to  clean 
gravestones  in  the  cemeteries,  for  whatever  sum  friends 
of  the  buried  might  give.  He  had  met  lirother  Jesse 
previously,  and  proffered  courtesies  to  the  family.  On 
this  evening  he  sat  in  a  conspicuous  place,  and  at  an 
opportune  time  threw  upon  the  stage  offerings  in  the 
shape  of  a  wreath  and  bouquet.  These  were  given  to 
Sister  Abby.  When  we  returned  to  our  anteroom,  who 
should  appear  but  this  man,  asking  where  his  wreath 
and  flowers  were,  with  the  explanation  that  he  desired 
to  throw  them  to  another  artist  the  same  evening.  We 
pointed  them  out  to  him  and  he  seized  them  and  van- 
ished into  the  night. 

Congratulating  ourselves  that  Ave  had  made  a  hit, 
there  came  a  reaction  in  the  way  of  cold  criticism  in  the 
papers  the  next  morning.  A  dramatic  critic  of  one  of 
the  papers  advised  us  to  throw  away  our  fiddles,  and 
we  found  the  notices  in  some  of  the  other  morning 
papers  still  woi'se.  The  3Iornm(:j  Chronicle  Avas  an  ex- 
ception. Not  knowing  what  to  do  or  where  to  go,  we 
started  out  to  Avalk  off  the  ''  horrors,"  each  p'oino-  in  a 
different  direction.  We  were  later  cheered  by  some  of 
our  friends  telling  us  we  would  yet  succeed  in  chano-ino- 
the  opinions  of  the  press.  When  the  Times  came  out, 
we  anxiously  looked  for  its  verdict ;  then  all  hope 
seemed  to  desert  us,  as  we  thought  it  t]\e  meanest 
notice  we  had  ever  had  in  any  newspaper.  Tliey  called 
us  the  "second  batch  "  of  American  singers.  The  cause 
of  this  Ave  attributed  largely  to  a  feeling  of  liostility 
against  the  Yankees,  as  there  Avere  rumors  of  Avar  Avith 
the  United  States.  Our  friends  rallied  around  us,  and 
tried  to  console  us  by  saying, 

"A  l)low  is  as  good  as  a  puff. 
They're  both  windy." 


180  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Juclson  said  he  wouldn't  sing  again,  lie  was  going 
home,  and  began  to  pack  up  his  fiddle  at  once.  With 
my  sister  Abby  I  was  rather  more  sanguine  than  the 
rest,  having  prepared  myself  for  adverse  criticism  ;  but 
it  was  hard  to  stem  the  current  of  opinion  that  they 
must  go  home,  which  had  set  in  in  the  minds  of  all 
the  other  members  of  the  family.  In  a  few  days  this 
feeling  wore  off  in  a  measure,  and  getting  more  favor- 
able notices  from  the  press,  we  "braced  up,"  deter- 
mined to  win  our  way  to  favor  Avliile  we  stayed  in 
London. 

On  Feln-uar}' l-lth  we  attended  service  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  that  grand  edifice  about  which  so  much  has  been 
said  and  written.  On  our  way  we  passed  through  8t. 
James  Park,  and  were  attracted  by  the  crowds  that  con- 
gregated tliere  on  Sunday.  Two  novelties  we  saw 
attracted  our  favorable  attention ;  one  the  presence  of  a 
numl)er  of  goats  harnessed  into  little  wagons  for  chil- 
dren to  drive ;  and  the  other  the  keeping  of  numerous 
cows  to  l)e  milked  for  the  benefit  of  the  many  children. 
Our  friend  Stephens  from  America  was  with  us,  and 
told  us  of  meeting  an  Engiisliman  in  the  town,  avIio  was 
pointing  out  to  him  the  cannon  that  had  been  captured 
from  foreign  countries.  Stephens  asked  him  where 
they  kept  those  taken  from  the  United  States.  "  Oh, 
we  haven't  got  any."  "  But  3-0U  must  have  some  you 
took  at  Bunker  Hill."  This  made  the  Englishman 
bristle  up ;  but  he  had  nothing  to  say,  and  the  Yankee 
only  laughed  and  left  him. 

In  Hyde  Park  we  often  saw  some  of  the  queen's 
troops  parading,  with  a  band  of  about  sixty  pieces. 
The  troops  in  their  bright  uniforms,  with  the  instru- 
ments of  the  band  glistening  in  the  sun,  presented  a 
very  fine  appearance,  which  was   very  much   enhanced 


IN    ENGLAND.  181 

by  the  display  of  grand  equipages,  coaches  and  carriages 
of  every  kind  and  description. 

Our  second  concert  was  given  with  a  little  better 
success  than  the  first,  inasmuch  as  it  elicited  quite 
favorable  notices  from  the  press,  though  in  a  financial 
way  the  receipts  were  not  enough  to  pay  the  expenses. 

We  visited  the  Houses  of  Lords  and  Commons  in 
companj-  with  George  Thompson.  They  not  being  in 
session,  we  were  admitted  to  the  floor  and  had  the  honor 
of  sitting  in  the  seat  of  the  speaker,  and  had  the  seats 
of  all  the  prominent  members  pointed  out  to  us  by  the 
attendant. 

•  We  spent  an  evening  at  the  house  of  William  and 
Mary  Howitt,  where  we  met  a  goodly  company  of  the 
friends  of  freedom,  among  whom  we  always  felt  at 
home.  On  Washington's  Birthday,  which  was  Sunday, 
we  took  breakfast  with  Mr.  Millville,  Secretary  of  the 
Legation,  and  dined  with  our  good  friend  George  Atwood, 
who  gave  us  a  real  Yankee  dinner  of  beans  and  brown 
bread.  There  we  met  a  number  of  American  friends 
and  passed  the  evening,  for  about  two  hours,  in  singing- 
good  old-fashioned  hymns  and  patriotic  airs. 

We  visited  the  Polytechnic  Institute,  the  Zoological 
Gardens  and  the  London  Literary  and  Scientific  Insti- 
tute, where  we  sang  some  songs.  We  went  to  see  the 
curiosities  in  the  Chinese  Museum,  and  on  the  way 
passed  the  house  of  Loixl  Wellington,  in  front  of  which 
was  a  monument  erected  in  his  honor,  which  was  com- 
posed of  the  cannon  he  captured  from  Napoleon.  We 
went  to  St.  Paul's,  where  we  saw  the  statues  of  Paken- 
ham.  Sir  John  Moore  and  many  others ;  and  on  paying 
sixpence  we  went  up  into  the  whispering-gallery,  Avhich 
was  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  in  length  and  across 
which  we   could  hear  the    least   whisper.     Ascending 


182  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

about  one  hundred  steps  higher  we  had  a  fine  view  of 
the  cit}',  but  could  liave  seen  more,  as  tlie  air  was  clear, 
but  for  the  dense  smoke  arising  from  great  chimneys  in 
all  parts  of  the  town.  From  here  we  went  to  the  Tower 
of  London,  through  which  we  were  conducted  b}^  a 
soldier  who  fought  under  Wellington  at  the  battle  of 
Waterloo.  He  told  with  pride  of  a  French  bullet  he 
had  in  his  head.  After  inspecting  the  ancient  weapons 
of  war  used  in  the  days  of  Cromwell,  Queen  Anne,  the 
Georges  and  other  tyrants,  we  ascended  the  steps,  saw 
the  block  on  which  Anne  Boleyn  was  beheaded ;  and 
the  axe,  too,  was  there.  We  then  went  into  the  room 
where  the  treasures  of  the  realm  were  kept,  and  saw  the 
several  crowns  belonging  to  the  kings  and  queens  of 
England,  resplendent  with  precious  stones,  which  alone 
were  valued  at  one  and  a  half  million  [)ounds  sterling. 
The  diamonds,  pearls,  rubies,  gold  and  silver  ornaments 
there  displayed  were  said  to  be  worth  ten  million 
pounds.  We  then  went  to  see  Madame  Toussaud's 
collection  of  wax  statuary.  There  was  the  royal  family, 
Parkinson,  Napoleon,  and  a  hundred  more  of  the  great 
characters  who  had  died,  but  seemed  to  be  still  living, 
so  true  to  life  were  thej'. 

After  giving  our  fourth  concert  in  London,  Judson 
and  Asa,  as  well  as  Jesse,  were  bound  to  come  home, 
and  all  signed  an  obligation  to  start  in  April.  I  Avould 
not  join  with  them,  and  Abby  being  opposed  to  going 
back  so  soon,  they  concluded  to  stay  a  little  longer. 

We  went  to  the  House  of  Lords  again,  and  were 
more  successful  this  time,  as  they  were  in  session.  We 
expected  a  treat  in  hearing  some  of  the  peers  of  the 
realm  speak,  but  we  were  much  disappointed.  Welliug- 
ton,  the  Iron  Duke,  got  up  in  a  pompous  kind  of  a  way, 
and  complimented  the  English   army,  who  fought   so 


IN   ENGLAND.  183 

well,  and  killed  so  many  of  the  Sheiks,  during  the  war 
in  India.  Every  word  he  spoke  was  followed  with 
cheers.  He  began,  "  ]My  Lords  [cheers]  —  My  Lords 
[cheers]  —  the  army  [cheers]  —  in  India  [cheers]  — 
the  Sheiks  [bravo,  bravo  I  ]  "  That  was  about  all  he 
said ;  but  the  next  morning  the  Times  came  out  in  a 
two-column  article  on  the  thrilling  effect  produced  by 
the  eloquent  words  of  the  noble  lord.  Two  others  of 
tlie  members  tried  to  say  something,  but  they  were  very 
uninteresting  ;  Lord  Brougham  was  one  of  them.  The 
whole  affair  seemed  like  a  farce  ;  they  would  leave  their 
sentences  half-finished  for  the  want  of  words.  Well 
might  Punch  say,  "  They  ought  to  be  turned  out  to 
grass." 

We  went  to  see  the  Bank  of  England  ;  were  shown 
through  the  vaults,  a  privilege  rarely  accorded  to 
strangers ;  had  in  our  hands  millions  of  dollars  worth 
of  notes ;  and  wheeled  about  in  a  wheelbarrow  all  the 
gold  we  could  lift.  We  went  from  the  bank  to  the 
Exchange  House,  where  was  a  splendid  statue  of  the 
queen.  From  the  Exchange  we  went  to  the  Temple, 
a  church  one  thousand  years  old,  where  we  saw  some  of 
the  same  old  figures  put  there  a  "  long  time  ago." 

On  the  evening  of  March  6th  we  gave  our  fifth  and 
last  concert  in  London  for  the  time  being,  having  made 
an  engagement  to  return  and  sing  again  on  tlie  30th. 
At  this  last  concert  we  sang  our  new  song  on  Oregon, 
singing  verses  alternately  in  the  tunes  of  "  God  Save 
the  Queen  "  and  "  Yankee  Doodle."  This  seemed  to 
delight  the  audience  very  much.  We  had  to  stop  at 
the  end  of  each  verse  for  the  cheering  to  subside. 
This  was  composed  by  George  Thompson,  Judson  and 
Jesse. 

We  now  made  up  our  minds  to  leave  London,  and 


18-i  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

seek  our  fortunes  in  some  of  the  smaller  towns,  in  a 
good  many  of  Avhicli  we  had  already  secured  engage- 
ments. The  hrst  town  we  went  to  was  Islington,  the 
home  of  the  late  Tom  Hood.  Here  we  had  a  house 
full  of  enthusiastic  listeners,  who  seemed  to  enjoy 
every  moment,  and  it  did  us  good  to  sing  to  such 
people.  We  were  entertained  here  by  Mrs.  Tliomas 
Hood,  and  sung  to  her  her  late  husband's  "  Bridge  of 
Sighs." 

We  then  went  to  Birmingham,  where  we  gave  three 
concerts  to  crowded  houses,  visiting,  during  our  stay 
there,  the  Silver-Plating  and  Galvanic  IManufacturing 
Company,  as  well  as  many  other  places  of  interest  in 
and  al)Out  that  busy  town.  After  our  three  concerts  in 
Birmingham  we  left  for  Manchester,  where  we  were 
greeted  by  all  our  filends,  who  were  glad  to  see  us  re- 
turned ;  and  we  began  to  feel  at  home  again. 

Jesse,  here  being  anxious  to  leave  us  and  go  home, 
offered  to  sell  out  to  us  for  a  thousand  cloUars.  After 
consultation  with  Asa,  Judson  and  Abby,  it  was  de- 
cided best  to  let  him  go ;  so  we  accepted  his  terms,  and 
he  left  for  Liverpool  to  start  for  America.  He  after' 
ward  regretted  the  step ;  and  we  being  loath  to  have 
liim  leave,  he  concluded  to  rejoin  and  stay  Avith  us 
until  he  could  induce  us  all  to  return  home.  Tlie  finan- 
cial phase  of  the  incident  was  amicably  adjusted. 

In  Manchester  we  gave  a  concert  to  one  of  our  old- 
time  assemblies,  and  Avere  very  much  cheered  and  en- 
couraged by  our  reception.  While  here  Judson  re- 
ceived news  of  the  sudden  death  of  his  father-in-law, 
Abel  Hutchinson ;  at  which  he  was  very  much  de- 
pressed and  again  talked  of  going  home.  Going  on  to 
Liverpool  we  found  the  Cambria  lying  at  the  wharf, 
when  Judson  and  Jesse  went  aboard   and  picked   out 


IK   ENGLAND.  185 

their  berths,  determined  to  return  home  June  19th,  or 
July  4th  at  the  latest.  After  giving  one  or  two  con- 
certs in  Liverpool  Ave  returned  again  to  Manchester,  in- 
tending to  make  that  our  headquarters  while  giving 
concerts  in  the  surrounding  towns,  until  we  should  re- 
turn to  London  to  keep  our  engagement  made  there  for 
tlie  80th.  In  Bolton  we  gave  two  concei'ts  in  a  fine 
temperance  hall  to  very  large  appreciative  audiences. 
Miss  Ashworth,  an  estimable  lady,  whose  acquaintance 
we  formed,  took  us  in  her  carriage  out  about  three  miles 
to  see  a  huge  Avater-wheel ;  and  on  the  way  stopped  to 
introduce  us  to  a  Quaker  AA'onian,  for  wlioni  we  sang 
some  songs,  to  her  great  deliglit.  This  wlieel  Avas  to  us 
an  enormous  affair,  made  of  solid  iron,  sixty  feet  in 
diameter,  and  costing  X  10,000. 

On  Sunday  Abby  and  I  attended  a  Quaker  meeting. 
There  we  sat  for  two  long  hours  without  hearing  a 
word  spoken.  Though  it  Avas  very  tedious  and  monoto- 
nous we  bore  it  Avith  all  patience,  as  we  had  a  number 
of  good  friends  in  the  meeting  ;  and  they  Avere  such 
dear,  good  creatures,  and  so  sociable  and  pleasant  in 
their  houses,  that  Ave  could  Avell  jDut  up  Avith  their 
silence  in  meeting.  And  on  the  AA'hole  I  am  not  sure 
but  the  serA'ice  impressed  us  more  than  some  of  the  long 
faces,  long  praA'crs  and  long  sermons  Ave  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  see  and  hear  at  home. 

Back  to  LiA^erpool  Ave  Avent,  and  gave  a  grand  good 
concert  to  a  very  large,  enthusiastic  audience.  Captain 
Judkins  of  the  Camhria  Avas  present  and  Avanted  us  to 
promise  to  return  Avith  him  to  America  on  July  4th, 
Avhich  AA^e  nearly  made  up  our  minds  to  do. 

After  P'iA'inCT  concerts  in  Rochdale,  BenT  and  CrcAv 
which  Avere  A^ery  satisfactory  to  us  in  CA'ery  Avay,  and 
very  pleasing  to  the  audiences,  if  their  demonstrations 


18(3  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

of  approbation  were  any  criterion,  we  returned  to  Lon- 
don, where  we  arrived  on  Saturday,  jNIarcli  28tli. 

On  the  evening  of  the  following  Monday  we  went 
to  the  Covent  Garden  Theatre,  where  we  found  an 
audience  of  five  thousand  people  awaiting  us.  It  was 
nine  o'clock  before  we  Avent  on  the  platform.  This 
entertainment  began  at  six  o'clock  and  lasted  all  night, 
being  an  annual  complimentary  concert  to  the  talent  of 
the  kingdom.  Abby  sang  the  "  May  Queen,"  which  she 
had  to  repeat,  in  ansAver  to  the  applause  which  greeted 
her ;  Judson  sang  "  Down  East  "  ;  then  we  all  joined  in 
the  "  Old  Granite  State."  The  other  attractions  before 
this  vast  audience  were  the  elder  Braliam,  Russell, 
Phillips,  who  all  sang  finely ;  some  Italians,  Jcavs  and 
Germans,  who  all  sang  and  played  very  creditably  ;  but 
none  of  them  seemed  to  secure  the  approbation  that  our 
simple  ballads  and  melody  elicited. 

Our  good  friend  George  Thompson,  with  liis  wife, 
called  for  us  on  the  following  morning  to  escort  us  to 
Windsor  Castle.  We  arrived  at  the  station,  where  we 
ordered  dinner  to  be  ready  for  us  at  three  o'clock,  then 
took  a  coach  Avith  postillion  for  the  castle.  The  sur- 
rounding country  was  beautiful ;  through  the  trees  Ave 
could  see  the  old  towers  of  the  castle  looming  up  in 
their  grandeur.  We  soon  arrived  at  the  base  of  the 
hill,  Avhere  leaA'ing  our  coach,  Ave  began  the  ascent  to  the 
castle.  We  Avere  conducted  by  an  attendant  through 
the  A'arious  apartments,  saw  the  portraits  of  the  ancient 
kings,  queens  and  noblemen  with  AAdiich  the  Avails  Avere 
adorned.  Then  we  ascended  the  tOAver,  singing  as  Ave 
Avent.  At  last  Ave  reached  the  top,  and  had  the  Avhole 
country  round  about  for  fifteen  or  tAventy  miles  spread 
out  as  a  panorama  before  us,  the  most  magnificent  sight 
I  had  CA^er  beheld.     Our  guide  was  very   communica- 


IN   ENGLAND.  187 

tive  and  inquisitive  in  regard  to  ns,  and  on  questioning 
Mr.  Thompson,  was  told  that  Ave  were  Yankees,  that 
we  came  from  the  backwoods,  and  on  our  arrival  we 
were  wild,  but  having  been  in  the  country  for  about 
nine  months  we  were  pretty  well  tamed  and  perfectly 
harmless,  and  could  speak  a  little  Englisli ;  also  that 
we  Avere  black,  but  the  climate  had  bleached  us  out ; 
and  a  good  deal  more  in  the  same  strain,  all  of  Avhich 
the  credulous  Englishwoman  swalloAved  Avith  open-eyed 
Avonder. 

We  had  a  fine  AdeAV  of  the  Thames,  as  it  Avound  its 
picturesque  Avay  through  the  A'alle}' ;  it  inspired  us  Avith 
song,  and  Ave  sang  all  the  Avay  down  and  out.  We  took 
a  cab  and  Avent  on  the  GoA'crnment  land,  a  splendid 
hard,  smooth  road,  straight  and  bordered  on  each  side 
Avith  old  English  elm-trees.  The  sight  Avas  grand  as  Ave 
ascended  the  hill  opposite  to  look  at  the  castle.  We 
passed  herds  of  goats  quietly  grazing  and  stopped  by 
the  side  of  a  beautiful  little  lake,  in  AAdiich  the  queen 
and  royal  family  Avere  said  to  fish  for  gudgeons.  We 
skipped  stones  on  its  glassy  surface,  got  under  the  trees 
AAdien  it  rained,  had  a  general  good  time,  enjoyed  our 
dinner  immensely  Avhen  Ave  returned  to  the  hotel,  and 
reached  our  rooms  late  in  the  afternoon,  pretty  well 
tired  out  but  feeling  that  Ave  had  spent  a  very  delight- 
ful day,  and  seen  one  of  the  greatest  objects  of  interest 
in  England. 

We  gaA'e  one  or  two  more  concerts  in  London,  which' 
Ave  considered  A^ery  successful  in  CA^ery  Avay,  and  then 
Ave  began  to  take  leaA^e  of  our  many  dear  friends.  Mrs. 
]Mary  Howitt  Avas  one  of  them.  We  felt  under  great 
obligations  to  the  Atwoods,  the  Goulds,  Dickenses, 
Putnams,  Lords,  and  our  numerous  friends  in  London 
for  the  many  kindnesses  and  attentions  shown  us. 


188  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Amons:  the  brio-htest  recollections  connected  with  our 
visit  to  England  was  the  many  pleasant  visits  in  a  social 
way  to  the  home  of  Mary  and  William  Howitt,  and 
their  presence  at  the  concerts  given  in  the  different  parts 
of  the  city  of  London. 

From  the  first  introduction  to  them  they  seemed  to 
me  England's  best  production.  Such  culture  of  heart, 
spirit  and  intellect  —  full  of  enthusiasm,  love  and  faith; 
always  so  clieerful  and  hopeful. 

Our  visits  to  their  home  were  frequent ;  and  whether 
the  occasion  was  one  of  a  strictly  private  nature  or  we 
were  to  meet  other  invited  guests,  Ave  were  made  happy 
and  our  resolves  were  made  stronger  to  labor  on  in  the 
right. 

We  were  surprised  on  one  occasion,  accepting  an 
invitation,  to  find  that  we  were  to  sit  for  our  portraits. 
The  artist  was  ready  with  bi'ush  and  easel,  and  we  were 
to  sit  for  the  painting.  Mrs.  llowitt,  in  the  mean  time, 
took  her  relative  position  and  with  paper  and  pen  insti- 
tuted a  series  of  queries  relative  to  the  rise  and  progress 
of  the  Hutehinsons  in  America,  of  our  personal  rela- 
tions and  environments,  of  genealogy,  of  the  parents  of 
our  numerous  tribe,  of  our  religious  sentiments,  of  our 
labors  in  the  cause  of  human  elevation,  emancipation 
and  temperance.  Both  artist  and  historian  were  busy 
in  their  vocation  ;  and  as  our  interview  closed  after 
the  sitting,  we  found  a  beautiful  painting  of  the  quar- 
tet in  water-colors.  Forty-seven  years  after,  this  paint- 
ing was  sent  to  New  York  to  Sister  Abby,  she  showing 
it  to  the  artist  Mr.  F.  B.  Carpenter.  It  was  pronounced 
a  true  likeness  as  he  remembered  the  family  in  earlier 
years. 

Mrs.  Howitt  at  this  time  published  the  following  lines 
in  our  honor : 


IN   ENGLAND.  189 


BAND  OF  YOUNG  APOSTLES. 

Band  of  young  apostles,  teaching  love  and  truth, 

You  have  come  before  us  in  your  glorious  youth, 

Like  a  choir  of  angels  missioned  from  above. 

To  make  our  souls  acknowledge  how  beautiful  is  love. 

Taint  of  earth  I  see  not  in  your  clear  eyes  shine. 

You  to  me  resemble  natures  all  divine  — 

Pure  seraphic  creatures,  from  some  Iiitiher  spliere. 

Who  but  for  love  and  pity  never  had  been  here, 

Who  but  for  human  fellowship  iiad  never  shed  a  tear. 

Band  of  young  apostles,  such  to  me  ye  seem, 

As  I  list  your  singing  in  a  rapturous  dream  — 

Now  with  choral  voices,  like  the  birds  of  May, 

Warbling  in  tumultous  joy  that  winter  is  away  ; 

Now  like  angels  weeping  o'er  a  sinner's  bier, 

With  their  white  wings  folded  and  low  voices  clear, 

Mourning  for  the  sorrow  which  sin  has  brought  on  earth, 

Mourning  for  that  pity  that  man  has  made  sucli  dearth, 

Teaching  to  a  callous  world  what  a  soul  is  worth. 

Band  of  young  apostles,  teaching  love  and  truth. 

Onward  go,  high  missioned  in  your  joyous  youth  ! 

Onward  go  ;  God's  blessing  on  your  path  alight ! 

Still  lift  your  kindred  voices  as  prophets  of  the  right. 

Onward  go,  undaunting  herald  of  that  day 

When  all  mankind  are  lirotliers  and  war  has  ceased  to  sway. 

We  have  seen  and  loved  you  ;  we  have  pressed  your  hand  ; 

We  have  blessed  you,  and  we  bless  in  you  your  native  land  : 

Farewell,  and  God's  blessing  guide  you,  ye  young  and  noble  band. 

On  April  6th  we  l)id  farewell  to  London,  not  ex- 
pecting to  retnrn,  and  on  the  same  evening  and  tlie  two 
succeeding  ones  gave  three  concerts  in  Liston,  a  beauti- 
ful little  town  about  four  liours'  ride  from  the  great  city. 
It  seemed  so  quiet  and  retired  that  we  could  almost 
have  been  persuaded  to  settle  down  and  stay  there. 

On  leaving  London  our  landlady  said  we  were  excep- 
tions to  the  common  itinerant  singers,  in  that  Ave  paid 
our  debts. 


190  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Our  next  concert  we  gave  in  Longhborougli,  where 
we  found  ourselves  in  a  great  conipan}-  of  teetotallers, 
who  had  come  there  to  hold  a  meeting.  The  hotel  was 
so  filled  with  them  that  we  had  hard  work  to  get  an}^- 
thing  to  eat.  We  repaired  to  the  hall  where  their 
meeting  was  being  held,  and  being  called  upon  to  sing 
we  gave  them  some  of  our  best  temperance  songs,  whicli 
pleased  them  very  much;  and  in  the  evening  our  con- 
cert was  a  grand  success,  and  it  cheered  us  very  much  to 
find  ourselves  in  such  an  atmosphere,  feeling  we  were 
just  where  we  belonged.  Jesse  made  a  speech,  and  on 
the  whole  we  thought  we  had  passed  a  ver}'  happy  Good 
Friday. 

We  returned  to  Liston,  where  we  spent  tN^'o  or  three 
days  very  pleasantly  among  our  newly-found  friends. 
We  were  entertained  very  handsomely  at  the  house  of 
a  Mr.  Briggs,  who  had  a  very  fine  establishment  about 
two  miles  out  of  town.  In  company  with  Mrs.  Briggs, 
Mrs.  Mott  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawks,  we  visited  the 
ruins  of  an  ancient  abbey,  walked  through  the  gardens 
surrounding  it,  and  on  tlie  Ijanks  of  a  little  lake  we  sat 
down  and  gave  our  friends  a  specimen  of  Yankee 
wliittling ;  but  we  finally  had  to  tear  ourselves  away 
from  this  place  and  these  friends. 

At  Nottingham,  where  we  gave  our  next  two  con- 
certs, we  were  well  received,  stopped  at  a  temperance 
hotel,  and  spent  a  large  part  of  our  time  in  seeing  the 
sio-hts,  among  others  the  ruins  of  the  old  castle,  which 
had  been  destroyed  for  the  second  time,  about  fifteen 
years  before  our  visit,  by  a  mob.  This  was  one  of  the  old- 
est castles  in  England,  was  the  nursery  of  several  of  the 
English  monarchs,  and  was  destroj-ed  during  Cromwell's 
time,  when  it  was  defended  by  Colonel  Hutchinson. 
We  saw  the  secret  path,  cut  in  the  solid  rock,  by  which 


IN   ENGLAND.  191 

the  garrison  escaped.  It  Avas  on  an  eminence  com- 
niandino-  a  fine  view  of  the  town  and  surroundino- 
country,  though  Jesse  thought  it  coukl  not  be  com- 
pared to  High  Rock.  Another  very  attractive  feature 
of  this  town  Av^as  the  extensive  hxce  factories,  which  we 
visited. 

Near  the  castle  gate  was  hung  in  full  view  the  sword 
of  William  Wallace,  once  Avaved  as  a  dazzling  inspira- 
tion to  his  followers,  as  he  led  them  on  to  victory  at  the 
head  of  his  clan.  The  blade  appeared  to  be  five  feet 
long,  and  so  weighty  that  any  modern  leader  would 
find  it  wearisome  to  wield  upon  a  charge. 

Derby  was  our  next  objective  point;  we  gave  two 
concerts  to  well-filled  houses  and  very  appreciative 
people.  Mr.  Cook,  the  Unitarian  preacher,  and  his 
good  wife  were  very  attentive  to  us  here,  took  us  in  the 
country  to  see  another  old  castle  and  a  church  which 
was  twelve  hundred  years  old.  It  was  built  of  stone, 
and  the  walls  were  covered  with  moss,  and  little  ti'ees 
and  shrubs  growing  all  over  it.  Our  friend  Sharpe  took 
us  from  here  to  Swadlincote,  where  Ave  met  A\'ith  the 
Avarmest  reception  accorded  us  anyAvhere  in  England. 
This  town  Ave  found  not  so  attractive  in  appearance  as 
some  Ave  had  seen,  but  the  people  Avere  A'^ery  hospital^le, 
and  all  seemed  to  vie  Avith  each  other  to  see  Avhich  could 
do  the  most  for  our  comfort  and  enjoyment.  This  Avas 
the  home  of  the  Sharpes,  and  going  to  the  house  we 
Avere  introduced  to  the  father,  an  old  man  nearly  ninety, 
Avho  told  us  he  had  ahvays  been  a  tem[)erate  man  and 
Avas  still  enjoying  good  health.  Our  friends  Avere  the 
proprietors  of  A^ery  extensive  pottery  Avorks  here,  and 
they  made  the  finest  kind  of  crockery,  some  samples  of 
AA'hich  Avere  given  us  by  the  employees,  for  Avliom  Ave 
s'dncr-  two  or  three  song's.     On  leaAdno-  Enoiand  for  home 


192  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

we  were  presented  by  tlie  Sliarpe  Brothers  with  three 
hirge  crates,  containing  a  full  dinner-  and  tea-set  of 
their  manufacture,  some  of  the  pieces  of  which  I  still 
have  in  my  possession.  We  remained  here  over  Sun- 
day and  returned  to  Nottingham,  where  we  gave  another 
concert. 

In  Leicester  we  gave  a  concert  to  seventeen  hundred 
people,  wlio  all  cheered  us  till  they  were  hoarse  and  we 
were  tired.  Then  going  to  Sangton,  we  were  met  by  a 
Mr.  Bloor,  at  whose  house  we  were  invited  to  stop  dur- 
ing our  stay  in  the  toAvn.  We  found  his  a  very  pleasant 
family,  consisting  of  a  wife,  who  was  an  elderly  lady, 
kind-hearted  and  good,  and  several  daughters,  who 
made  our  visit  of  two  or  three  days  very  agreeal)le. 
We  gave  two  concerts  to  very  large  and  good  audiences. 
Remaining  here  over  Sunday,  we  went  to  churcli  in  the 
morning,  and  heard  a  sermon  preached  by  the  rector, 
which  I  thought  the  most  bigoted  of  anything  I  had 
ever  heard.  In  the  afternoon  we  went  to  the  church 
attended  by  the  Duchess  of  Sutherland  and  her  family. 
She  drove  up  in  her  coach,  drawn  by  four  splendid  wliite 
horses,  and  with  about  half-a-dozen  liveried  servants. 
We  received  an  invitation  from  her  to  visit  her  gardens 
and  take  tea,  which  we  accepted,  and  saw  the  most 
beautifully  laid  out  and  kept  gardens  that  we  had  seen 
anj-wliere.  We  took  tea  with  the  duchess,  and  after  a 
short  stay  left  for  home.  We  gave  another  concert  the 
followino-  eveninof,  then  one  in  Macklefield,  and  then 
went  Ijack  to  Manchester. 

We  went  from  here  again  to  Birmingliam,  where  we 
gave  two  concerts  in  the  town-hall,  which  was  croAvded 
on  both  occasions,  not  less  than  seventeen  hundred 
people  being  present.  A  little  party  of  about  twenty- 
five  was  gotten   up  here  to  visit  Warwick  and  Kenil- 


IN   ENGLAND.  193 

worth  Castles,  which  were  a  distance  of  about  twenty 
miles  from  the  city. 

We  first  arrived  at  Warwick,  which  we  were  told  was 
the  only  castle,  with  the  exception  of  Windsor,  spared 
by  Cromwell  in  his  desolation  of  the  country.  We 
walked  around  and  about  it,  over  it  and  through  it, 
viewing  it  from  every  side,  and  Avere  impressed  with 
the  massiveness  of  its  walls,  and  could  but  think  of  the 
many  cruelties  and  outrages  that  had  been  committed 
inside.  We  went  out  on  the  battlements,  and  from  one 
of  the  turrets  we  had  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding 
country.  On  the  walls  and  stairways  were  carved  the 
initials  of  tourists,  who  seemed  very  desirous  of  immor- 
tality, or  at  least  that  their  names  should  not  die.  In 
the  observatory  was  a  bowl  said  to  have  been  taken  from 
the  ruins  at  Pompeii ;  it  Avould  hold  about  three  hun- 
dred gallons,  and  looked  as  if  it  had  been  filled  with 
})unch  a  good  many  times.  Inside  everything  was 
p-rand,  and  showed  signs  of  having  been  at  one  time 
magnificent ;  the  paintings  on  the  walls,  the  massive 
tables,  gold-engraved  and  gold-plated,  and  the  furniture 
hundreds  of  years  old,  all  showed  what  it  had  been. 
We  sang  a  song  in  the  large  dining-room,  and  our  voices 
echoed  through  the  whole  house. 

Kenilworth  was  the  best  specimen  of  a  ruin  we  had 
seen  ;  the  foundations  were  there,  but  the  walls  were 
scattered  in  all  directions,  covered  with  moss  and  i\y. 
It  was  on  high  ground  overlooking  the  country  for 
miles  around.  But  we  were  getting  hungry,  and  mak- 
ing a  table  of  a  plank  we  found,  we  soon  were  doing 
justice  to  the  excellent  dinner  we  had  brought  with  us, 
consisting  of  cold  roast  beef  and  mutton  and  pigeon-pie, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  lemonade,  and  wine  for  those  who 
drank  it-     It  did   not  take  us  lone  after  dinner  to  see 


194  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

all  there  was  to  these  ruins,  and  we  started  for  home, 
reaching  there  at  about  two  o'clock,  pretty  tired,  but 
feeling  well  repaid  for  our  fatigue. 

Staying  in  Birmingham  another  day  we  visited  the 
extensive  glass-works,  and  being  urged  to  sing  again, 
gave  another  concert  to  at  least  eighteen  hundred  peo- 
ple. After  the  concert  we  drove  out  a  mile  and  a  half 
to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Carpenter,  where  we  stayed  until 
about  one  o'clock  engaged  in  social  intercourse.  On 
our  return  to  Manchester  we  took  with  us  a  splendid 
edition  of  Shakespeare,  presented  to  us  by  our  friends  in 
Birmingliam,  and  gave  another  concert  to  a  thousand 
people,  the  hall,  aisles  and  steps  so  crowded  we  hardly 
had  room  on  the  sta^e. 

From  ^Manchester  we  went  to  Oldham,  one  of  the 
dirtiest  places  we  got  into,  but  we  had  a  good  audience. 
Then  we  started  for  Warrington,  which  we  reached 
after  much  tribulation,  missing  trains,  impressing 
broken-down  teams,  and  at  last  having  to  depend  upon 
generosity  of  strangers  to  drive  us  into  town  in  a  pri- 
vate conve3ance. 

We  gave  another  concert  in  Bolton,  and  returned  to 
Manchester,  from  whence  a  Mr.  Ryland  took  us  to  his 
house,  about  two  miles  out  of  town,  where  he  had  very 
large  cotton  factories.  He  entertained  us  most  roj^ally, 
but  could  not  understand  why  we  would  not  join  him  in 
some  of  his  wine,  twenty-five  years  old.  In  the  evening 
we  sang  to  his  operatives,  after  which  he  took  us  back 
to  town. 

At  one  time  during  our  stay  at  Manchester  we  went 
with  Mrs.  Moore  to  hear  George  Dawson  deliver  his 
celebrated  lecture  on  "  Oliver  Cromwell."  He  came  be- 
fore the  audience  with  the  greatest  degree  of  sanr/froid. 
At  once  he  commenced  talking  to  the  people.     He  had 


IN   ENGLAND.  195 

one  of  the  largest  heads  I  ever  saw  on  a  man,  and  it 
was  tilled  with  knowledge.  His  only  gesture  from  be- 
ginning to  end  was  simply  a  moving  of  one  finger.  He 
was  just  about  my  age. 

Subsequently,  we  called  on  John  Bright,  M.P.,  and 
spent  one  of  the  pleasantest  evenings  we  ever  enjoyed. 
Mr.  DaAvson  came  while  we  were  there.  Bright  treated 
us  right  royally.  I  can  now  see  his  smiling,  joyful, 
hopeful  countenance.  He  lived  an  earnest  life,  with 
high  aspirations  for  a  position  which  he  could  fully 
adorn.  He  was  one  of  the  noblest  men  whom  we  met, 
and  with  whom  we  conversed.  Cobden  and  Bright 
were  the  Garrison  and  Phillips  of  England.  With 
George  Thompson  and  Robert  Moore  they  constituted 
the  quartet  which  went  through  the  country  and  held 
great  conventions  in  opposition  to  the  corn  laAvs. 

On  Saturday,  May  l(3th,  we  were  advertised  to  give 
our  farewell  concert  in  Free  Trade  Hall,  Manchester, 
and  felt  a  little  anxious  and  nervous  over  the  pros- 
pect ;  but  when  we  found  ourselves  confronted  Avitli  an 
audience  of  six  thousand  people,  and  learned  that  hun- 
dreds were  turned  away,  we  felt  reassured  and  gave  one 
of  our  best  concerts.     We  felt  very  nuich  elated. 

We  went  to  Leeds,  where  we  gave  two  concerts  to 
good  audiences;  then  to  Henly,  where  we  gave  two 
more  with  good  success  —  at  both  places  stopping  with 
friends  who  treated  us  with  greatest  courtesy. 

The  weather  was  getting  quite  warm,  so  it  Avas  really 
uncomfortable  singing  in  the  crowded  houses  whicli 
greeted  us  everywhere,  and  Ave  felt  glad  to  think  Ave 
had  really  decided  to  leave  for  home  on  tlie  Cambria^ 
July  4th.  While  Ave  Avere  consoling  ourselves  Avith  this 
fact,  the  ncAVS  came  that  the  Camhria  had  gone  ashore 
on  Cape  Cod,  so  our  hopes   Avere    dashed    again    for   a 


196  THE  HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

short  time,  till  Ave  learned  it  was  a  false  alarm,  or  rather 
that  the  damage  to  lier  was  very  slight  and  wonld  not 
interfere  Avith  her  regular  trips.  Within  eight  years 
after,  tlie  Cambria  Avent  down  Avith  all  on  board,  except- 
ino-  the  engineer.  She  had  then  been  taken  off  the 
Cunard  line. 

We  left  Henly  at  ten  o'clock  one  bright  Saturday 
morning  on  the  outside  of  a  coach  for  a  driA^e  of  forty 
miles  to  Swadlincote.  The  air  Avas  clear  and  bracing, 
the  country  beautiful,  a  part  of  the  Avay  in  the  A^alley 
of  the  Trent.  The  passengers  Avere  sociable  and  pleas- 
ant, and  everything  combined  to  make  the  ride  delight- 
ful. At  Burton  Ave  met  our  good  friends  Edmund  and 
Frank  Sharpe,  Avith  carriages,  in  Avhicli  they  took  us  the 
rest  of  tlie  Avay.  The  peojile  seemed  very  glad  to  see . 
us,  and  the  gratification  was  mutual.  We  passed  Sun- 
day quietly,  going  to  church  Avith  some  friends  morning 
and  evening ;  and  on  Monday,  after  visiting  an  old 
ruined  castle  at  Ashby,  Ave  gave  a  very  acceptable  con- 
cert to  a  big  assemblage  of  delighted  people.  We  Avere 
engaged  here  by  a  blind  man,  who  was  a  great  loA^er  of 
music  ;  and  after  the  concert  Ave  returned  to  SAvadlin- 
cote,  Avhere  Ave  gave  a  concert  the  next  evening.  From 
the  latter  place  Ave  returned  to  Birmingham,  Avhere  Ave 
met  all  our  good  friends  again  —  Mv.  Patton,  Miss  Ben- 
nett, the  Porters  and  Miss  Carpenter.  Here  Ave  heard 
that  Henry  Russell  Avas  going  to  sue  us  for  singing  his 
song,  "•  The  Maniac,"  but  he  discreetly  refi-ained  from 
pusliing  the  matter.  We  gave  tAvo  concerts,  after  Avhich 
Ave  took  leave  of  all  our  good  friends.  In  Birmingham 
Ave  went  through  the  factories  where  steel  pens  and  also 
hooks  and  eyes  Avere  made  ;  and  spent  one  of  the  days 
very  pleasantly  in  the  country  Avith  a  party  of  about 
thirty  friends.     Here  Ave  first  learned  of  the  beginning 


IN   ENGLAND.  197 

of  the  Mexican  War.  On  Snnday  we  went  to  hear 
George  Dawson  preach,  and  were  very  much  pk^i.sed 
with  his  manner.  He  spoke  Avithout  notes  and  ^^^as 
very  eloquent  and  interesting.  After  the  service  in  the 
evening,  we  went  behind  the  pulpit  and  spoke  to  him, 
calling  him  "brother,"  as  he  reall}*  seemed  to  us.  He 
2)romised  to  come  to  America  some  time,  and  later  he 
did  so. 

All  good  friends  must  part,  so  we  had  to  leave  these 
people,  as  we  Avere  advertised  to  sing  in  Sheffield.  A 
number  of  our  friends  accompanied  us  ten  miles  on  the 
road  ;  when  we  reached  Derby  we  met  some  more  wlio 
had  driven  the  seven  miles  from  Swadlincote  to  shake 
hands  with  us.  About  five  miles  farther  on  our  road 
we  Avere  joined  by  Edmund  Sharpe,  who  accompanied 
us  into  Sheffield,  where  we  gave  our  first  concert  in  the 
theatre,  and  were  well  received  by  a  large  audience. 

Here  we  visited  the  world-renowned  establishment  of 
Rogers,  wdiere  the  finest  cutlery  was  made.  We  saw 
many  fine  specimens  of  the  art ;  one  knife  with  two 
Imndred  blades,  others  Avitli  one  hundred,  seventy  and 
sixty.     We  bought  some  razors,  knives  and  forks. 

The  town  Avas  beautifully  situated  on  the  sides  of 
tAvo  hills,  most  of  it  in  the  valley  betAveen.  We  met 
here  a  Mr.  Stanburn,  the  editor  of  a  paper,  Avho  Avas 
very  attentive  to  us.  On  June  4th,  after  giA^ing  tAvo 
more  concerts  to  appreciative  audiences,  Ave  left  Shef- 
field for  York,  Avhere  Ave  entered  the  Minster  or  York 
Cathedral,  Avlnch  Ave  found  to  be  very  magnificent.  As 
services  Avere  being  held  Ave  stepped  in  to  hear  the  sing- 
ing and  the  playing  of  the  organ  ;  tlien,  on  payment  of 
a  small  fee,  Ave  Avere  allowed  to  ascend  to  the  top  of  the 
toAver,  Avhich  Avas  a  A^er}^  long,  tedious  climb  of  tAvo 
hundred  and  eighty-five  steps  of  about  nine  inches  each. 


198  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

From  York  we  went  to  Leeds,  in  both  of  which 
places  we  gave  concerts,  tiren  started  back  to  Manches- 
ter. During  our  concert  at  Leeds  a  Mr.  Burtt  was  sell- 
ing the  People's  Journal^  containing  Mrs.  Howitt's  arti- 
cle on  the  Hutchinson  Family,  together  with  picture  of 
the  group.  On  our  return  to  Manchester  we  attended 
a  concert  in  Free  Trade  Hall,  and  were  cheered  by  the 
audience  as  we  entered,  though  we  only  helped  make 
u[)  the  audience.  We  were  greeted,  between  the  num- 
bers, by  Richard  Colxlen  and  his  friend  Harland.  We 
heard  the  celebrated  violinist  Vieuxtemps,  who  was  cre- 
ating a  great /(/rore  at  the  time. 

We  went  to  Haslington,  a  small  manufacturing  town, 
seventeen  miles  distant ;  gave  a  concert,  and  enjoyed 
the  hospitality  and  enthusiasm  of  the  people.  Here  we 
experienced  our  first  thunder-storm  in  Phigland,  and  it 
was  a  grand  sight  indeed  to  see  the  light  and  shadow 
cast  upon  the  intense  green  of  the  surrounding  liills. 

After  driving  out  to  Langton,  a  distance  of  about 
forty  miles,  on  a  coach,  and  giving  a  concert,  we  re- 
turned to  Manchester,  where  we  prepared  to  give  our 
farewell,  take  leave  of  our  friends  and  stai't  for  Scot- 
land, where  we  had  promised  ourselves  we  would  spend 
about  two  weeks  before  returning  home.  We  were  re- 
ceiving letters  from  all  parts  of  the  country  bidding  us 
farewell,  and  were  packing  up  preparatory  to  leaving 
for  America. 


IN   SCUTLAND.  199 


CHAPTER  V. 


IN   SCOTLAND. 

•'  And  we  are  friends  of  emancipation, 
In  its  broadest  acceptatiou; 
This  we  sing  through  every  nation 
From  the  old  Granite  State. 
We  are  friends  of  freedom, 
And  we'll  plead  the  right  of  all. 
Men  should  love  each  other, 
Nor  let  hatred  smother; 
Every  man's  a  brother. 
And  our  country  is  the  world." 


Our  last  concert  was  given  on  the  evening  of  June 
13th  in  Free  Trade  Hall,  Ijefore  an  immense  audience, 
and  was  a  grand  ovation.  Aftei'  the  concert  we  were 
surrounded  by  our  friends,  who  had  all  come  to  say 
good-by.  The  next  day  we  spent  a  quiet  Sabbath,  the 
afternoon  and  evening  at  the  house  of  the  Peacocks, 
Avhere  we  found  Mrs.  Moore  and  ^Ir.  Ireland.  We  sang 
some  songs  with  them  that  will  never  be  forgotten  as 
long  as  life  lasts ;  we  left  them  in  the  evening  with 
hearty  hand-shakes  and  tears  in  our  eyes. 

The  next  morning  we  left  Manchester  for  Liverpool, 
intending  to  make  our  start  from  there  to  Scotland. 
We  were  received  by  good  Rickerby,  who  was  alwaj-s 
glad  to  see  us,  and  in  the  evening  gave  a  concert  to  a 
large  audience  in  Lord  Nelson  Street.  Mr.  Smith,  editor 
of  the  Mercury^  came  into  our  dressing-room,  and  we 
found  him  a  fine  specimen  of  a  real  old  English  gentle- 
man. 


200  '  THE   HUTCHINSON  FAMILY. 

We  journeyed  through  a  part  of  the  highlands  of  Eng- 
hind  in  our  route  to  Scotland,  which  compelled  us  to 
travel  by  various  conveyances,  as  the  railroad,  stage- 
coach, canal-boats,  etc.,  and  we  rode  the  last  fourteen 
miles  in  a  barouche  that  we  had  chartered  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

Harriet  Martineau  had  cordially  invited  us  to  visit  her 
at  her  country  home,  some  time  previously,  while  we 
were  in  Liverpool.  As  we  approached  the  town  where 
we  were  to  visit  her  (Ambleside),  the  sun  was  slowly 
declining  in  the  west,  as  if  separated  by  a  cloud  that 
capped  the  top  of  the  surrounding  hills ;  it  formed 
one  of  the  grandest  spectacles  that  eye  hath  ever  seen, 
silver-lining  the  landscape  and  presenting  a  most  gor- 
geous aspect,  on  which  Ave  would  gladly  have  feasted 
and  never  left  if  it  had  been  possible  to  preserve  such  a 
picture  : 

"  The  sun's  rich  rays  shine  through  the  tlay, 
But  flashes  deeper  still 
When  darting  forth  its  farewell  beams, 
Behind  the  western  hill." 

In  the  sweet  valley  surrounded  hy  these  hills  was 
clustered  the  village  of  Ambleside.  Near  a  beautiful 
lake  of  fine  location,  was  the  residence  of  Miss  Marti- 
neau, a  picturesque  cottage  of  rough  stone. 

"  Bright  things  can  never  die, 
E'en  though  they  fade, 
Beauty  and  minstrelsy 
Deathless  were  made." 

It  being  June  it  was  even  more  than  ordinarily  beau- 
tiful, and  we  soon  came  down  into  the  valley  and  up 
toward  the  town  and  learned  from  the  postmaster  where 
the  good  lady  resided  whom  we  were  to  visit.  Miss 
Martineau  greeted  us  at  the  door,  for  she  had  been  pre- 


IN   SCOTLAND.  201 

vioiisly  informed  of  our  arrival  and  was  ready  to  receive 
us.  Siie  was  extremely  glad  to  see  us  and  gave  us  a 
hearty  welcome.  Sister  Abb}'  remained  Avith  her  in  her 
house,  while  Judson,  Asa  and  I,  took  quarters  at  a  hotel. 
It  had  been  planned  by  our  good  hostess  that  we 
should  enjo}^  a  visit  or  an  outing  to  a  lake,  a  distance  of 
about  three  miles ;  so  on  the  following  morning  we  set 
out  for  it,  where  we  joined  a  company  of  her  choice 
friends.  Reaching  the  lake  we  took  a  boat  across  to  the 
opposite  sliore,  where  we  would  be  sheltered  from  the 
heat  of  the  day. 

"  A  boat,  a  boat  to  cross  the  ferry. 
We  are  going  over  to  be  merry." 

We  commenced  in  earnest  to  enjoy  the  occasion  and 
having  no  regular  programme,  things  took  their  own 
course,  of  singing,  running,  dancing,  wading  in  the 
stream,  climbing  the  surrounding  hills,  piling  up  stones 
for  landmarks  and  monuments  and  behaving  mucli  like 
little  children  on  a  picnic  ;  and  so  passed  some  of  the 
first  hours  till  at  last  Brother  Jesse,  who  was  to  join  us, 
having  stepped  off  the  previous  day  to  get  the  mail, 
came  to  the  opposite  shore  and  Ave  saw  him,  but  Ijeyond 
hearing  distance.  He  crossed  over  in  a  boat,  and  as  he 
approached  we  sent  out  a  song.  He  ansAA-ered  us  back, 
and  AA^e  soon  greeted  him  and  received  our  mail.  The 
time  passed  jo^'ously.  We  sang  songs,  spoke  pieces,  told 
stories,  and  Avere  as  happy  as  mortals  could  be.  Thus 
passed  the  never-to-l^e-forgotten  day. 

The  next  day  Ave  took  a  comprehensive  vicAv  of  the 
town,  village  and  farm-home  of  our  hostess.  It  Avas  hay- 
ing-time, and  Ave  Avere  much  pleased  to  haA^e  the  ojipor- 
tunity  of  a  little  farm-Avork,  as  Ave  Avere  alloAved  1)}'  the 
gardener  to  take  his  scythe  and  mow.     We  soon  found 


202  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

it  was  very  heavy  mowing,  and  that  we  coukl  not  do  it- 
Miss  Martineau  came  on  tlie  piazza,  and  asked  us  if  we 
would  not  like  to  try  a  lady's  scythe.  We  consented, 
and  she  brought  her  own  implement :  it  was  about  twice 
as  heavy  as  our  Yankee  scythes,  the  blade  about  three 
inches  and  a  half  wide.  It  was  a  fatiguing  effort  to 
handle  even  such  a  woman's-suffrage  scj'the. 

Learning  that  the  hall  where  we  were  announced  to 
sing  was  small  and  low-studded,  and  taking  into  account 
the  extremely  warm  weather,  we  concluded  to  find  a 
place  where  we  could  sing  in  the  open  air,  consequently 
I  was  introduced  to  Mr.  Harrison,  who  had  a  very  fine 
mansion  with  a  beautiful  lawn  in  front.  He  cordially 
offered  us  the  use  of  it ;  arrangements  were  made  and 
the  stage  erected. 

The  concert  commenced  about  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  and  some  three  hundred  people  had  gathered 
on  the  lawn,  while  as  many  more  of  the  populace  were 
seated  on  the  walls.  Each  part  of  our  programme  elic- 
ited the  warmest  approbation  and  the  applause  was 
hearty.  We  greeted  the  audience  with  "The  Cot 
where  We  were  Born." 

"  We  stood  upon  the  mountain  height, 

And  viewed  the  valleys  o'er ; 
The  sun's  last  ray,  with  mellow  light, 

Illum'd  the  distant  shore  ; 
We  gazed  with  rapture  on  tlie  scene, 

Wliere  first  in  youth's  bright  morn 
We  play'd,  where  near  us  stood  serene 

Tlie  cot  where  we  were  born." 

We  would  dash  upon  the  stage,  sing  our  piece,  receive 
our  encores,  and  then  disappear  among  the  bushes  until 
our  next  number. 

Our  good  lady  sat  at  the  right,  about  four  seats  back, 
and  with  her  trumpet  to  her  ear  seemed  to  catch  every 


IN    SCOTLAND.  •  203 

sound,  and  was  apparently  enjoying  the  entertainment. 
About  midway  of  the  concert  there  came  ii[)  a  black 
cloud:  the  lightning  flashed,  the  thunder  roared  and 
the  rain  fell,  but  not  upon  our  audience.  Still  Ave 
could  see  it  outside  the  apparently  charmed  circle. 
Soon  the  sullen  rumble  of  the  retreating  storm  could 
be  heard  in  the  distance.     Our  farewell  refrain  was: 

"  Though  we  love  with  true  devotion, 
Our  dear  liome  across  the  ocean, 
Yet  we  feel  a  warm  emotion 
For  our  old  fatherland. 

May  the  kind  relations, 

And  the  obligations, 

Of  the  Saxon  nations. 
Be  good-will  and  brotherly  love. 

"  Now,  farewell,  friends  and  brothers, 
Fathers,  sons,  sisters,  mothers, 
Harriet  Martineau,  and  all  others 
In  old  Ambleside  ; 

May  the  choicest  blessings  rest  upon  you  all ; 
Farewell,  farewell ! " 

The  concert  over,  we  said  our  parting  words.  Seated 
in  our  carriage  that  was  to  convey  us  to  Patterville  we 
sang  again  our  last  good-by ;  our  dear  lady  standing 
upon  her  piazza  waving  her  white  scarf,  her  farewell 
fraught  with  the  tenderest  affection  with  a  ''  God  bless 
you  all." 

I  append  a  description  penned  by  Miss  Martineau  of 
the  whole  visit,  which  appeared  iii  the  People's  'Journal. 

THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY    IN    GRASMERE. 

We  all  remember  the  singing  group,  and  the  Memoir  which  Mrs. 
Howitt  gave  us.  It  is  pleasant  to  me  now  to  connect  tlietn  witli  our 
lake  scenery,  to  think  that  our  valleys  have  resounded  with  their  har- 
monies. jNIrs.  Howitt  wrote  to  me  that  the  Hutchinsons  were  coming 
to  Kendal;  and  I  forthwith  settled  in  my  own  mind  that  they  must 
sing  10  us  at  Ambleside.     Everybody  about  me  wished  to  hear  them ; 


204  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

and  they  wisliecl  to  come ;  so  the  whole  affair  arranged  itself  easily 
enough.  The  large  room  at  the  White  Lion  was  engaged  and  filled 
witli  benches,  so  as  to  hold  the  greatest  possible  number,  two  hundred. 
As  the  time  drew  near,  however,  I  met  a  shake  of  the  head  whichever 
way  I  turned.  Everybody  was  sure  that  many  more  than  two  lumdred 
people  would  want  admission.  People  were  coming  from  Bowness, 
Grasmere,  Hawkshead,  and  even  Kendal;  and  if  they  should  be  turned 
back  from  the  door,  how  could  they  be  expected  to  bear  it  patiently? 
And  then  the  heat  was  excessive.  Everybody  was  afraid  of  it.  Rut 
what  could  be  done?  Here  was  the  largest  room  that  could  be  had ; 
and  the  Hutchinsons  could  not  stay  to  give  a  second  concert.  Such 
was  the  state  of  things — the  tickets  almost  all  sold,  everybody  want- 
ing to  go,  and  everybody  dreading  the  heat  —  when  the  Hutchinsons 
were  to  arrive,  on  Tuesday  evening,  June  16th.  I  had  advised  their 
coming  by  Newby  Bridge  from  Lancaster,  so  as  to  finish  tlieir  day's 
journey  from  Liverpool  by  the  Windermere  steamer.  A  trip  l)y 
steamer  from  end  to  end  of  Windermere  is  the  prettiest  finish  of  a 
summer  day's  journey  that  can  bo  imagined. 

It  was  as  lovely  an  evening  as  any  during  this  glorious  June  of  1846. 
As  I  stood  on  the  shore  at  W^aterhead  waiting  for  the  steamer,  I  en- 
deavored to  look  upon  the  landscape  with  the  eyes  of  a  stranger,  and 
thought  that  if  I  were  then  seeing  it  for  the  first  time,  it  would  appear 
to  me  the  true  paradise  of  this  world.  The  soft  ruddy  evening  light 
on  Wansfell,  the  purple  hollows  of  Loughrigg,  the  deep  shadows  of 
the  western  side  of  the  lake,  pierced  by  lines  of  silver  light  —  the 
white  gables  of  the  houses  at  Clappergate,  peeping  from  the  woods 
which  skirt  Loughrigg,  and  the  little  gray  church  on  its  knoll  in  the 
centre  of  the  Brathay  valley, —  these  made  up  such  a  vision  of  deli- 
cious coloring  that  I  imagined  my  friends  on  the  deck  of  .the  steamer 
saying,  that  never,  in  any  lustrous  evening  of  a  New  England  autumn, 
had  they  enjoyed  a  riclier  feast  to  eye  and  mind.  Then  came  the 
steamer,  rounding  tlie  point  from  Low-wood.  There  seemed  to  be  but 
few  passengers  on  deck  —  no  signs  of  any  band  of  brothers,  with  a 
sister  in  the  midst.  They  were  not  there  ;  and  I  had  only  to  hasten 
home,  lest  they  should  arrive  some  other  way.  Before  I  had  been  at 
home  many  minutes,  I  saw  from  my  terrace  a  barouche  coming  rapidly 
along  the  winding  road,  with  one  bonnet  and  several  gray  caps  in  it ; 
it  entered  my  gate,  drove  up  to  the  porch,  and  I  found  myself  among 
hearty  Americans  once  more. 

The  first  business  to  be  done  was  to  go  down  to  the  White  Lion,  and 
see  the  room.  Wlien  there,  we  could  only  agree,  like  other  people, 
that  tlie  room  could  only  hold  two  hundred  and  that  it  would  be  dread- 
fully liot.  Tlien  the  brothers  and  sister  stepped  on  the  platform,  and 
tried  the  fitness  of  the  place  for  music.  Wliat  those  few  notes  were  to 
others  I  know  not.     I  saw  afterwards  that  a  number  of  people  had  on 


IN    SCOTLAND.  205 

the  instant  gathered  in  tlie  street  and  a  little  friend  of  mine  observed 
that  he  now  heard  music  that  he  thought  beautiful.  As  for  me,  long 
years  of  solitary  sickness  had  passed  since  I  had  last  heard  harmony, 
or  anything  that  I  could  call  music,  except  one  song  in  my  sick  room 
from  Adelaide  Kemble ;  and  this  was  almost  too  much  for  me  now,  in 
full  health-  It  thrilled  through  me,  as  if  I  were  a  harp  played  upon 
by  the  wind.  It  seemed  to  me  that  I  never  before  heard  such  harmony, 
such  perfect  accord,  as  between  those  four  voices.  I  believe  the  echo 
never  sleeps  in  the  ear  of  those  who  have  once  heard  it. 

The  next  day,  Wednesday,  was  reserved  for  a  glorious  country  holi- 
day ;  and  it  turned  out  a  day  of  pleasuring  without  alloy.  Eare  as  is 
the  event  of  a  pleasure  day  without  alloy,  for  once  it  was  so.  A  party 
of  seventeen  persons,  aged  somewhere  between  seventy-six  and  twelve 
years,  met  on  the  shores  of  Grasmere  —  about  three  miles  from  my 
house.  We  had  three  boats,  and  in  them  —  rowed  by  ladies,  children, 
young  men  or  servants,  as  the  fit  took  us— we  crossed  to  a  shady, 
sliingly  spot,  before  the  greatest  heat  of  the  day  came  on.  There,  on 
tlie  shingle  some  lay  down,  and  talked,  or  played  ''  Duck  and  Drake," 
while  others  dabbled  in  the  cool  ripple,  or  dipped  their  heads,  and  let 
the  water  stream  from  their  locks. 

Abby  Hutchinson,  the  youngest  of  her  parents'  sixteen  children, 
and  therefore  called  "  the  baby,''  dropped  asleep  for  a  few  moments 
with  her  head  upon  a  stone — her  sweet  face  looking  as  calm  and  inno- 
cent as  any  baby's.  Other  young  ladies  pushed  off  in  a  boat  to  prac- 
tice rowing,  and  came  back  relieved  of  the  toil  by  a  spirited  little  fel- 
low of  twelve  who  wielded  their  oars  manfully.  Then  off  went  one  or 
the  other  of  the  Hutchinsons,  rowing  away  suddenly,  as  if  for  his  life, 
and  coming  back  no  less  veliemently.  It  was  a  gay  little  party,  on  the 
margin  of  a  clear  lake  at  the  bottom  of  a  basin  of  mountains  all  green 
to  the  summit  —  dappled  with  woods  and  slopes,  gay  sunshine  and  deep 
shade.  In  the  midst  of  the  lake  was  its  one  island,  green  and  bare,  ex- 
cept on  the  side  where  a  pine  grove  casts  its  sliadow  on  the  waters.  On 
the  opposite  margin  was  the  village  of  Grasmere,  with  its  old  church  — 
its  low  and  square  tower  showing  itself  from  among  the  trees.  Imme- 
diately behind  it  rose  Helm  Crag,  the  most  beautiful  summit  in  all  the 
neighborhood  for  form,  light  and  shadow.  To  the  left  branched  off 
the  mountains,  now  grny  and  purple,  which  encompass  Easedale.  To 
the  right  ascended,  winding  round  the  skirts  of  Helvellyn,  the  road  to 
Keswick.  Scattered  nearer  at  hand,  among  the  nooks  and  on  the 
slopes  of  the  hills  around  the  lake,  were  dwellings  whose  aspect  might 
tempt  wandering  spirits  of  earth  or  air  to  stay  and  rest  amidst  Nature's 
peace.     In  this  scene  was  our  morning  passed. 

Then  came  the  merry  dining :  the  spreading  of  the  tablecloths  on 
the  grass  ;  the  finding  rocky  seats  to  eat  on  conveniently  ;  and  the 
grouping  (as  if  they  could  help  it !  )  of  the  Hutchinsons  to  sing,  their 


206  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

breath  of  song  stirring  np  the  quietest  spirits  of  the  party,  like  a 
breeze  breaking  the  glassy  calm  of  the  lake ;  and  then  the  lazy  rest 
after  dinner  ;  broken  by  the  arrival  of  a  fourth  brother  of  the  Hutchin- 
sons,  bringing  letters  and  newspajjers  from  Liverpool  by  the  last 
packet.  When  each  on  his  separate  stone  had  read  his  letters  and 
dispensed  his  public  news,  all  who  were  ready  for  enterprise,  and  not 
afraid  of  the  heat,  began  to  climb  in  the  direction  of  High  Close. 
What  a  scramble  was  the  first  part.  Tempted  by  the  shade  of  a  wall, 
we  went  straight  up  the  face  of  the  hill,  where  the  grass  was  as  glassy 
and  slippery  with  the  dry  weather  as  so  much  satin,  and  for  almost  every 
step  forward,  we  slipped  one  back.  After  a  few  laughs,  some  sensations 
of  desjiair,  many  slides  and  universal  vows  to  return  another  way,  we 
all  reached  the  road,  half-way  up  the  ascent;  and  from  thence  all  was 
easy.  Cool  air  soon  came  to  us  over  the  ridge  before  us  ;  we  got  some 
Avater  at  a  farm-liouse,  and  then  attained  our  object.  We  stood  in  a 
field  whence  we  commanded  the  finest  view  of  Westmoreland.  Far  to 
the  left  stretched  away  Windermere  among  lessening  hills.  Near  to  us 
lay  Loughrigg-tarn,  a  round  little  lake  on  higher  ground,  though  be- 
neath us.  There  it  lay  blue  and  clear,  under  the  dark  slopes  of 
Loughrigg.  Immediately  below  us  spread  Elter  Water  —looking  like 
a  group  of  ponds  amidst  green  meadows.  To  the  right  stretclied 
Langdale,  the  winding  narrow  valley  which  is  overhung  at  the  further 
end  by  the  glorious  Langdale  Pikes  ;  our  landmarks  amidst  the  bil- 
lowy hill  region  in  which  we  live.  Last  of  all,  arose  Bowfell, —  the 
mountain  mass  which  closes  in  the  whole.  Such  is  the  mere  outline  of 
the  scene  which  sprinkled  over  M'ith  dwellings  of  every  kind  from  the 
great  castle  on  a  promontory  of  AVindermere,  to  the  gray  hut  on  the 
mountain  side  —  where  farm-steads,  hamlets,  mills,  cottages — a 
chapel  here,  a  bridge  there,  a  sheep-fold  below  —  such  is  the  scene 
which  is  rightl}'  called  the  finest  view  in  Westmoreland.  The  Hutch- 
insons  will  never  forget  it.  They  noted  down  the  names  in  their  tab- 
lets, and  the  features  of  the  scene  in  their  minds.  In  the  midst  of  it 
all,  however,  sweet  Abby,  looking  herself  as  fresh  as  a  daisy,  had  in  her 
hand  a  basin  of  clear  cold  water  for  the  benefit  of  the  thirsty. 

After  returning  to  the  boats,  the  next  thing  was  to  row  across  to 
Grasmere,  as  we  were  to  go  a  mile  beyond  the  village  to  a  friend's 
house  in  Easedale  to  tea.  That  was  an  evening  to  be  remembered.  Our 
venerable  hostess  sat  in  her  beauty  under  a  shady  tree,  happy  among  her 
happy  guests.  The  tea  tables  in  the  shade  looked  cool  and  tempting. 
AVe  were  in  a  garden  in  front  of  a  white  cottage  —  an  elegant,  rambling 
cottage,  all  covered  with  roses,  whose  porch  was  almost  one  mass  of 
blossom  and  spray.  The  sim  let  us  alone  under  our  trees,  while  it 
shone  eA'erywhere  else,  making  the  wild  and  sometimes  dreary  Ease- 
dale,  one  scene  of  light  and  greenness. 

Soon,  the  Hutchinsons  grouped  themselves,  as  if  by  some  irresistible 


IN    SCOTLAND.  207 

attraction,  and  sang  piece  after  piece,  to  the  rapture  of  their  licarers. 
Tliose  who  had  lieard  tlieni  sing  "Tlie  Cot  where  We  were  Born," 
"  Tlie  Ohio  Boatman,"  and  "  Excelsior,"  may  conceive  sometliing  of  our 
delight.  And,  of  all  things  to  be  doing,  they  were  teaching  us  to  play 
"Fox  and  Geese"  on  the  green  below.  They  themselves  played  with 
great  humor  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  our  fun,  I  saw  that  all  the  servants 
of  the  house  were  looking  on  from  the  corner  of  the  terrace,  and  not  a 
few  laborers  from  outside  the  gate. 

The  appointed  day  for  the  concert  had  arrived.  The  evening  be- 
fore, a  neighboring  gentleman  had  kindly  and  beneficently  offered 
that  his  lawn  should  be  the  scene.  His  servants  should  move  the 
benclies,  put  up  the  platform,  attend  at  the  gates,  and  save  all 
trouble. 

In  the  morning  the  hot  weather  melted  away  all  doubts.  It  seemed 
clear  that  all  parties,  those  who  could  not  be  consulted  and  those  who 
could,  would  be  pleased  to  be  sent  to  a  shady  spot  in  the  open  air, 
where  any  number  of  people  might  hear  without  any  crowding.  The 
Hutchinsons  themselves  begged  that  all  the  townspeople  who  liked 
might  hear  them,  those  who  could  not  pay  as  well  as  those  who  could. 
That  concert  will  never  be  forgotten  by  any  who  were  so  happy  as  to 
be  present.  The  Hutchinsons  enjoyed  it  more  than  any  they  had 
given  in  the  country.  Abby  left  her  bonnet  in  a  rhododendron  bush 
out  of  sight :  and  the  family  group  came  up  a  green  slope  from  the 
thicket  below.  The  little  platform  was  erected  under  the  deep  shade 
of  spreading  sycamores.  In  front  and  on  either  hand  were  collected 
a  larger  audience  than  any  house  in  Ambleside  could  have  contained :' 
and  among  them  were  some  who  could  not  have  enjoyed  the  pleasure 
elsewhere :  an  invalid  lady,  who  lay  on  the  grass  and  an  infirm  old 
gentleman,  whose  chair  was  wheeled  into  the  circle.  There  was  row 
behind  row  of  the  tradespeople,  servant  and  laborers  of  the  neighbor- 
hood: and 'in  the  centre,  behind  all,  the  parish  clerk — zealous  in  the 
psalmody  and  all  the  other  good  objects  of  the  place,  and  most  active 
in  promoting  our  concert.  He  deserved  the  enjoyment  which  I  am 
sure  he  had. 

And  now  when  I  am  most  anxious  to  convey  some  impression  of  this 
festival,  I  am  least  able  to  do  so.  How  is  it  i)ossible  to  give  an  idea  of 
the  soul-breathing  music  of  the  Hutchinsons  to  those  who  have  not 
heard  it?  One  might  as  well  attempt  to  convey  in  words  the  colors  of 
the  sky  or  the  strain  of  the  nightingale  as  such  utterance  of  the  heart 
as  theirs. 

One  can  only  observe  the  effects.  There  was  now  hearty  laughter, 
and  now  many  tears.  Nothing  can  be  said  of  the  interior  emotions 
which  found  no  expression.  Everj^body  congratulating  everybody 
else  on  having  come.  A  youug  servant  of  mine,  who  went  all  in  higii 
spirits  at  the  prospect  of  an  evening's  pleasure,  cried  the  whole  tinje, 


208  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

as  did  others.  At  the  end,  when  every  heart  was  beating  in  response 
to  tlie  brotlierly  greeting  and  farewell  offered  in  the  closing  jiiece, 
"  The  Old  Granite  State,"  the  parish  clerk  sprang  up  and  called  for 
three  cheers  for  the  Iliitchinsons,  which  were  given  by  as  many  as  had 
unchoked  voices.  I  think  no  one  could  have  come  away  without  a 
strong  impression,  consciously  or  unconsciously  entertained,  of  the 
good  and  beauty  of  a  free  nurture  and  exercise  of  our  human  powers. 
There  must  be  many  among  us  with  powers,  of  one  sort  or  another, 
equal  to  those  of  the  Hutchinsons.  If  we  could  be  wise,  and  take 
courage  to  follow  the  lead  of  our  natures,  it  cannot  be  but  that  many 
of  us  might  be  as  free,  as  simple,  as  happy,  as  beneficent  as  they,  as 
able  as  they  to  speak  to  hearts  and  to  awaken  souls. 

As  for  me,  I  crossed  the  road  to  my  own  gate  in  a  mood  which  the 
Hutchinsons  described  to  me  as  theirs  when  I  entered  the  room  where 
we  met  for  the  last  time  :  —  "  We  are  happj'  and  sad,"  said  they.  I 
was  happy  and  sad :  and,  I  dare  say,  so  was  everybody  who  was  at 
that  moment  returning  home  from  that  green  spot  under  the  trees. 
The  most  moving  thing,  however,  was  yet  to  come.  When  they  had 
dressed  themselves  for  a  night  stage  to  Patterdale,  and  had  supped^ 
and  said  farewell,  and  seated  themselves  in  the  carriage,  they  stopped 
the  horses  on  my  terrace  for  yet  another  minute,  and  sent  forth  a 
sweet  and  most  mournful  chorus  of  farewell  to  me,  in  notes  swelling 
and  dying  away  in  the  still  night  air.  I  was  "happy  and  sad,"  as  I 
turned  in  to  my  solitary  lamp.  I  could  not  let  the  glass  door  be 
closed,  late  as  it  was  :.  but  again  and  again  I  went  out  on  the  terrace 
to  look  for  more  stars  to  light  my  friends'  way  over  the  mountain  pass, 
and  to  watch  the  summer  lightning  —  not  without  some  impression 
that  their  sweet  strain  of  farewell  was  still  floating  over  the  valley. 
To  me  it  can  never  die  away  into  silence. 

The  Knoll,  Ambleside,  June  20,  1846. 

Postscript.  —  Mr.  Hartley  Coleridge  was  present  at  the  concert; 
and  the  effect  on  him  of  Abby  Hutcliinson's  singing  of  the  "  May 
Queen"  may  be  judged  of  by  the  following  sonnet,  which  he  permits 
me  to  append  to  this  paper : 

TO  ALFRED  TENNYSON. 

I  would,  my  friend,  indeed  tliou  hadst  been  liere. 

Last  nigUt  beneath  tlie  sliadowy  sycamore 

To  bear  the  lines,  to  me  well  known  before; 
Embalmed  in  music,  so  translucent,  clear. 
Each  word  of  thine  came  singly  to  the  ear; 

Yet  all  was  blended  in  a  flowing  stream. 

It  had  the  rich  repose  of  summer  dream, 
The  light  distinct  of  frosty  atmosphere. 


IN   SCOTLAND.  209 

Still  have  I  loved  tby  lines,  yet  never  knew 
How  sweet  they  were,  till  woman's  voice  invested 

The  peucill'd  outline  with  the  living  hue, 
And  every  note  of  feeling  proved  and  tested. 

What  might  old  Pindar  be  —if  once  again 

The  harp  and  voice  were  trembling  with  his  strain  ! 

How  joyously  and  delightfully  passed  each  and  every 
hour  through  that  starlight,  moonlight  and  twilight 
night,  as  we  posted  far  away  over  the  winding  mountain 
paths  leading  toward  our  destination.  As  we  thought 
of  its  being  only  a  couple  of  weeks  before  we  should  be 
sailing  for  our  home,  it  seemed  as  though  the  best  wine 
had  been  reserved  for  the  last.  The  scenes  thrilled  us 
with  such  delight  and  —  accompanied  as  they  were 
with  the  niemor}^  of  the  beautiful  scenes  and  friend- 
ships we  had  just  left  behind  —  so  enthused  us  that  we 
bade  farewell  to  sleep  and  joyously  and  mirthfully  sang 
our  songs  and  conversed  with  each  other  until  sunshine 
dawned,  enliv^ening  our  pathway  till  we  alighted  at  Pat- 
terdale.  In  Scotland  durino-  June  the  twilio-ht  lasts  all 
throun-h  the  nio-ht. 

It  could  not  be  possible  for  mortal  creatures  to  enjoy 
more  of  the  beauties  of  nature  than  this  —  one  of  our 
brightest  experiences  in  all  our  tour,  with  a  backgrotmd 
as  interesting  as  the  picture  itself,  and  it  was  all  with- 
out alloy. 

Leaving  our  chartered  team,  we  entered  the  regular 
stage-coach  at  five  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  next 
day,  and  were  driven  through  a  very  interesting  portion 
of  Scotland  leading  to  Glasgow,  where  we  arrived  at 
seven  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

As  we  passed  through  Dumfries,  the  driver  kindly 
drew  up  his  liorses  and  allowed  me  to  jump  into  the 
field  where  Burns  ploughed  up  the  mouse  :  I  picked  a 
few  daisies  Avhich  I  have  pressed  in  my  book  as   a  me- 


210  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

mento.  Learning  that  the  great  poet  was  entombed  in 
the  churchyard  of  that  town,  we  j'esolved  to  visit  it. 
While  they  were  changing  the  horses,  we  hastened  to 
the  spot,  and  as  we  coukl  not  wait  for  the  gate  to  be 
unlocked,  scrambled  over  the  wall,  and  as  if  by  instinct 
took  a  direct  course  to  the  grave.  We  found  his  monu- 
ment, the  finest  among  four  or  five  hundred,  on  which 
his  figure  was  sculptured  in  marble  holding  a  plough. 
AVe  then  went  into  the  church  and  sat  in  the  pew  once 
occupied  by  the  Scottish  Bard.  'Twas  solemn  to  be 
there.  As  we  proceeded  on  our  way  we  passed  a  mar- 
ketwoman  with  some  strawberries.  I  })urchased  a  shil- 
lino-\s  worth.  When  we  arrived  at  the  hotel,  found  Jud- 
son  and  Asa  had  also  purchased  a  bag.  We  had  a  feast 
indeed,  sweetened,  and  with  cream. 

As  we  advanced  onward  in  Scotland,  we  perceived 
marked  cliaracteristics  of  their  nationality  in  the  inquis- 
itive countenances  of  the  people. 

One  of  the  curiosities  which  attracted  our  attention 
here  was  a  tree  which  was  pointed  out  to  us,  said  to 
liave  been  planted  by  the  great  Scotch  warrior,  William 
Wallace,  ^^'hen  a  l)oy. 

One  of  the  great  annoyances  throughout  Great 
Britain  which  we  could  not  become  reconciled  to,  was 
the  exorbitant  perquisites  of  the  servants  at  the  hotels, 
23ublic  places  and  resorts.  Every  one  of  the  employees, 
from  clerk  to  bootblack,  came  streaming  in  after  we 
had  paid  our  regular  charges,  Avith  their  demands  for 
perquisites.  From  the  clerk  even  to  the  chamber-maid, 
every  one  Avanted  their  fee.  It  Avas  both  extortion  and 
imposition  upon  us.  In  the  present  case  we  had  paid 
our  fare,  some  fifty  dollars,  for  a  ride  in  a  coach  — 
higher  rates  than  we  paid  in  our  own  countr}^ ;  but  as  we 
approached  the  city  Avhere  Ave  Avere  to  take  the  train, 


IN    SCOTLAND.  211 

we  learned  from  some  persons  tliat  the  "  whip  "  intended 
to  come  the  '■'  Scotch  gral) "'  on  us  for  the  sum  of  five 
shillings  each,  and  there  were  five  of  us.  1  ordered 
liim  to  leave  the  baggage  at  the  depot  wliere  we  were 
to  take  the  cars  for  Glasgow  ;  instead  of  that,  he  de- 
posited the  baggage  right  opposite  the  tavern.  We 
had  l)arely  time  to  get  it  to  the  depot,  but  we  immedi- 
ately cliartered  a  hand-cart,  and  found  a  man  ready  and 
willing  to  take  it  as  fast  as  he  could  for  the  sum  of 
three  or  four  shillings.  As  I  secured  my  tickets  I  met 
this  driver  at  the  tiuin.  He  was  exceedingly  insulting. 
I  said  to  him,  '^  You  can't  come  the  '  Scotch  grab '  on 
these  Yankees."  The  police  were  very  near,  if  there 
liad  been  any  outbreak. 

Usually  while  we  were  travelling  any  great  distance 
we  took  a  regular  first-class  coach,  with  a  door  on  each 
side,  which  held  six  or  eight  passengers,  and  we  were 
fastened  in  by  the  train-man.  The  coaches  had  very  fine 
seats,  cushioned  thoroughly  for  the  whole  length  of  the 
body  and  with  arms  upholstered. 

It  was  frequently  the  case  at  the  starting  of  a  train 
from  some  of  tlie  depots,  that  a  man  was  deputized  with 
trumpet  in  hand  to  play  some  patriotic  air  familiar  to 
the  people  travelling,  and  that  was  a  signal  for  the 
starting  of  the  train.  This  man  would  get  partly 
through  his  tune  when  we  -would  start  off  Avith  the 
music  ringing  in  our  ears.  The  trumpeter  at  Man- 
chester would  recognize  us  as  we  apj^roached  tlie  train, 
and  would  play  some  of  our  national  music,  '"  Yankee 
Doodle,"  ''  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  "  Sweet  Home," 
"  Auld  Lang  Syne,"  which  we  considered  a  compliment 
to  the  Hutchinsons. 

Every  nation,  as  far  as  we  have  learned  its  history, 
has  been  inclined  to  dissipation  in  some  jjarticular,  per- 


212  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

suing  courses  that  are  both  injurious  to  health  and  de- 
moralizing. The  great  tobacco  habit  is  an  illustration. 
Tobacco  was  an  Indian  weed  discovered  in  America 
only  about  three  hundred  years  ago.  It  was  first  intro- 
duced into  Europe  for  medicinal  purposes,  but  afterwards 
resulted  in  an  imitation  of  the  native  aborigines.  The 
white  man  became  addicted  to  the  habit  of  using  this 
narcotic  on  account  of  its  so  affecting  and  exhilaratinof 
the  nervous  system.  Though  there  was  a  heavy  em- 
bargo on  this  product,  yet  the  people  of  Great  Britain 
would  not  forego  the  privilege  of  the  substance,  but 
secured  it  at  whatever  cost,  to  their  mouth's  content. 

It  was  evident  that  the  Scotch  people  in  Glasgow  had 
embraced  and  practised  the  habit  of  using  it  in  the  form 
of  snuff.  Sunday  morning  I  repaired  to  one  of  the 
kirks.  Tlie  moment  the  door  was  opened,  the  pervasive 
atmosphere  of  the  place  came  with  such  a  stunning  powei* 
upon  ni}"  olfactories  that  at  first  shock  I  was  inclined  to 
A^'ithdraw,  but  staggered  through  the  thick  fog  and  was 
usliered  to  a  seat  with  a  large  congregation  around  me, 
and  soon  observed  that  the  male  portion  of  the  audience 
at  very  short  intervals  were  taking  their  pinch  of  snuff 
from  a  box  situated  almost  directly  in  front  of  each  of 
them  upon  a  desk.  The  preacher  took  his  text  from 
that  passage  of  Scripture,  '"  He  that  is  filthy  let  him  be 
filthy  still,"  the  only  passage  in  the  Scripture  that  ap- 
pears to  sanction  the  habit ;  and  often  in  his  gesticula- 
tions, pronouncing  the  curse  upon  original  sin  and 
sinners,  he  would  reach  his  hand  to  a  deposit  shelved 
under  his  Bible,  and  pausing  in  his  sentence,  as  he  was 
about  to  pronounce  his  anathema  upon  the  poor  sinner 
of  old,  he  would  snuff  his  tobacco,  and  tlien  finish  out 
his  gesture. 

For  exercise    we    perambulated    about   the    city  and 


IN    SCOTLAND.  213 

noticed  the  peculiarities  of  the  buildings ;  some  were 
very  ancient  in  their  architecture,  some  six  and  seven 
stories  high  on  the  great  thoroughfai'e,  the  upper  stories 
overhanging  the  sidewalks  in  a  very  ancient  st3-le. 

We  learned  to  our  surprise  of  the  strict  observance  of 
Sunday  and  the  general  acceptance  of  that  day.  In  a 
private  apartment  of  our  hotel  some  one  of  us  hajjpened 
to  sing  a  few  bars.  The  landlord  came  to  our  room 
and  requested  us  not  to  sing  a  note,  as  it  was  annojdng 
to  a  divine  who  was  boarding  in  the  same  house.  Of 
course,  we  refrained  from  further  disturbing  incidents  and 
determined  that  while  we  were  sojourning  in  Turkey  we 
would  do  as  tlie  turke3'8  did.' 

The  following  Monday  we  gave  our  first  concert  and 
were  received  Avith  the  greatest  eclat  and  vociferous  ap- 
plause. Such  a  greeting  was  exceedingly  gratifying  to 
us,  and  the  tender  recollections  of  that  scene  and  re- 
ception will  ever  abide  with  us  as  an  honor  from  those 
peculiar  and  interesting  people. 

The  United  States  Consul  showed  us  great  courtesy, 
and  there  came  a  request  that  we  should  repeat  the  con- 
cert, but  our  engagement  at  Edinburgh  the  following 
night  prevented  our  remaining.  The  next  day  we 
started  for  the  Highlands  of  Scotland.  We  visited 
Loch  Lomond  and  the  Mount  Ben  Lomond,  3,200  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  This  is  the  land  of  Kob  Roy. 
The  atmosphere  was  most  invigorating  and  electric,  con- 
stantly ministering  to  our  esthetic  joy  as  we  viewed 
from  this  heio-ht  the  beautiful  lakes  and  the  o'rand 
scenery  of  the  country,  the  silver  cascade  and  waterfall 
perfecting  the  scene.  The  tempest,  too,  to  make  the 
scene  more  beautiful,  was  upon  us.  A  sudden  gust  of 
wind  coming  upon  my  umbrella  nearly  threw  me  over 
the   precipice    into   the     raging   stream.       Seeing    my 


214  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

dangerous  position,  my  brother  Asa  sprang  and  seized 

me  and  balanced  me  back  into  life. 

Thence  down  the  lake  we  sailed  across  Loch  Lomond 

to   the  opposite  shore.     Here    they   supplied   us   with 

mountain   ponies,  and  we  crossed   five  miles  over   the 

mountains.     Halting   upon  a  crest,  we   gatliered  in   a 

group  and  sang  Sir  Walter  Scott's  words  to  our  adapted 

music,   "  McGregor's   Gathering,"  in  full   view  of   the 

lake. 

"  The  moon's  on  the  lake,  tlio  mist's  on  the  brae 
And  our  clan  has  a  name  that  is  nameless  by  day  ; 
Our  signal  for  fight,  which  from  monarchs  we  drew 
Must  be  heard  but  by  night  in  our  vengeful  hallu. 
Thenhallu!  hallu!  hallu!" 

Several  Scotclimen  gathered  around  and  listened,  ex- 
pressing great  delight  with  the  song,  the  words  of  which 
were,  of  course,  familiar  to  them. 

Descending  to  the  landing,  we  took  a  steamboat, 
seven  miles  across  the  lake^  and  saw  the  cave  of  Rob 
Roy.  We  stopped  at  a  hotel  named  Ardcheanachroch- 
dam.  We  mounted  the  hill  near  this  unspeakable  hotel, 
and  sang  "•  God  save  the  Queen,"  and  *•'  Yankee  Doodle,"' 
then  passed  on  to  Sterling  where  we  gave  a  popular 
concert  and  were  very  well  received. 

Leaving  Sterling  ert  route  for  Edinburgh,  we  took  a 
seat  on  the  top  of  the  coach  for  the  pleasure  of  viewing 
the  country,  and,  arriving  at  the  station,  took  cars  to 
our  destination.  On  our  arrival  we  improved  tlie  op- 
portunity of  viewing  the  capital  of  Scotland,  where  we 
beheld  many  places  of  much  interest.  We  saw  Scott's 
monument,  which  was  the  finest  specimen  of  architect- 
ure I  have  seen  for  many  a  day.  We  also  visited  Sterl- 
ing Castle.  We  here  met  Mr.  Comb,  the  phrenologist. 
We    went   to   the    Parliament    House,  and   to    George 


IN    SCOTLAND.  215 

Harriett's  institution  for  poor  children.  This,  I  think, 
is  the  best  metliod  a  man  can  talce  to  use  his  money  and 
do  good.  Tliere  were  eiglity  cliildren  in  tliis  institu- 
tion. Edinburgh  University,  or  College,  was  one  of  the 
grandest  buildings  I  had  seen  since  leaving  New  York. 
The  only  monument  we  saw  in  this  institution  was  that 
of  Robert  Burns.  Bonaparte's  table,  which  he  used  while 
a  prisoner  at  St.  Helena,  we  also  saAV.  We  then  went 
on  to  Arthur's  Seat,  the  view  from  Avhich  has  been  so 
magnificently  described  by  Carlyle;  and  thence  to  Royal 
Chapel,  where  among  the  many  curiosities,  we  saw  the 
bones  of  the  kings  and  queens  of  Scotland.  We  went 
to  the  Tower  and  saw  the  ciown  of  Scotland  that  Sir 
Walter  Scott  found  in  a  little  room  in  tlie  walls  of  the 
structure ;  also  a  very  large  camion  that  was  used  in 
the  time  of  the  Scotch  Rebellion,  Ijelted  with  wrought- 
iron  hoops,  one  and  one-half  inches  thick,  and  six  inches 
wide,  a  rude-looking  piece  of  ordnance. 

Returning  to  Liverpool  by  Avay  of  Glasgow,  Ave  met 
many  of  our  recently  made  friends,  Avho  congratu- 
lated us  on  our  safe  arrival.  We  then  gaA'e  two  more 
concerts  before  our  departure,  the  time  intervening 
being  spent  in  social  gatherings.  We  took  the  oppor- 
tunity to  invite  all  our  English  friends  to  Uncle  Sam's 
domain,  as  he  was  "rich  enough  to  gi\'e  them  all  a 
farm." 

On  the  morning  of  July  4th  Ave  Avent  on  board  the 
Cambria.  Many  dear  friends  from  the  different  parts 
of  the  country  came  to  see  us  off.  Among  them  Avere 
Douglas  JeiTold,  Frederick  Douglass,  Henry  Clapp, 
Mr.  Ireland,  of  the  Manchester  Guardian,  ]\Irs.  Bright, 
the  Misses  Brady,  and  many  others. 

On  the  trip  Ave  had  frequent  gatherings  on  board, 
at  Avhich  Ave  entertained  the  people,  introducing  many 


216  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

of  our  nautical  songs,  interesting  to  the  captain  and 
supernumeraries  as  well  as  the  passengers. 

A  London  cockney  having  shipped  on  board,  bound 
for  Canada,  made  himself  a  nuisance  by  lying  in  the 
thoroughfare  or  walk  on  board,  where  we  would  have 
to  step  over  or  on  him  in  passing  a  given  point  towards 
the  awning.  Day  after  day  we  would  find  the  man  in 
that  position,  stupid  witli  his  homesickness  and  seasick- 
ness. Some  friends  had  gatliered  to  hear  us  sing  a  song. 
At  the  closing  of  the  melodious  song,  "  Happy  and 
Free,"  and  while  the  others  were  applauding,  this  man 
awoke  from  his  stupor,  turned  up  his  face  and  ejacu- 
lated this  sentence  as  a  compliment  to  the  perform- 
ance, •'  That's  infernal  good."  After  hearing  this  song 
he  never  spoke  more,  and  we  passed  on.  Who  would 
not  sell  a  farm  and  go  to  sea  ? 

Nearing  the  American  coast,  the  warm,  genial  earth 
gladdened  our  visions  at  last,  its  beauty  enhanced  by  a 
splendid  sunset  watcliecl  by  passengers  and  crew,  pro- 
nounced as  the  finest  view  that  they  had  seen.  One 
Englishman  in  his  enthusiasm  remarked,  "  Well,  if  that 
is  a  specimen  of  your  sunsets,  1  shall  want  to  stay  in 
America." 

About  midnight  the  pilot  was  taken  on  board ;  and 
when  morning  came,  with  a  fair  wind,  the  sails  were  set 
and  wafted  us  onward,  and  we  had  a  safe  conduct  to 
Halifax.  We  saw  the  sun  rise  once  more  in"  America ; 
we  went  ashore  and  saw  the  forts  ;  took  on  some  ice, 
provisions,  etc.,  with  twenty-five  passengers,  then  went 
on  to  Boston.  The  day  passed  merrily  by  with  high 
hopes :  we  specuhxted  with  one  another  on  the  prospect 
of  again  meeting  our  American  friends.  The  ship  was 
merry  with  song  ;  and  as  a  complimentary  reminder  of 
our  nativity,  as  we  passed  around  the   rocks  of  Marble- 


IN    SCOTLAND.  217 

head,  the  captain  dined  us  upon  pork  and  beans.  The 
occasion  was  notable  for  friendships  and  congratuhx- 
tions.  We  sang  our  songs,  and  in  the  evening  we  gave 
a  concert  in  tlie  cabin,  and  all  went  ^  merry  as  a  mar- 
riage bell." 

Notwithstanding  the  seeming  idiosj-ncrasies  of  that 
contiding  and  capable  officer,  Captain  Judkins  of  the 
Cambria^  we  treasured  him  among  the  nobility,  such  a 
one  as  England  is  proverbial  for  placing  at  the  head  of 
her  greatest  and  most  re.-iponsible  enterprises ;  Captain 
Judkins  was  a  friend  and  brother. 

The  following  day,  July  17th,  we  arrived  in  Boston 
at  two  o'clock.  Passing  Cape  Cod  we  saw  twenty-tive 
fishing  schooners  all  in  one  company.  We  were  all 
jubilant,  especially  Brother  Jesse,  who  having  caught  a 
glimpse  of  Lynn  and  High  Rock,  seemed  to  be  overcome 
with  delight,  and  going  to  and  fro,  scattered  smiles  to 
high  and  low,  all  the  time  in  great  danger  of  losing  his 
hat.  We  all  joined  in  singing  "  Home  again,  from  a 
foreign  shore." 

We  were  greeted  at  the  landing,  as  millions  have 
been  before  us,  by  our  dear  friends,  with  whom  we 
were  glad  indeed  to  meet.  Among  the  crowd  at  the 
lauding  stood  Elizur  Wright,  editor  of  the  Chronotype. 
We  made  many  pleasant  calls  on  our  Boston  friends,  and 
were  again  greeted  by  our  dear  friend  Francis  Jackson 
and  his  daugliter  Hatty,  on  Hollis  Street. 

Having  been  alxsent  eleven  months,  we  treasured  the 
experience  of  that  period  as  among  the  brightest,  love- 
liest and  most  profitable  of  our  lives. 

We  then  hastened  to  a  happier  meeting  and  greeting 
at  the  home  farm,  which  we  had  left  the  year  before  — 
father,  mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  wife  and  little  one. 
We  met  with  many  queries   and  questions  —  and  they 


218  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

became  very  monotonous,  though  coming  from  friends 
and  neighbors  as  they  met  us  in  our  perambuhitions 
about  the  town  at  every  corner — like  these:  ''How 
did  you  like  sailing?"  "Did  you  see  any  big  fish  in 
the  ocean  ?  "  "  Did  you  meet  with  any  accidents  on 
the  way  going  and  coming  ?  "  "  Sure,  by  Jabers,  did 
you  see  CConnell  ?  "  "•  Did  you  visit  Scotland  ?  "  "  How 
do  you  like  the  English  brogue  ?  "  "  What  was  the 
highest  price  for  tickets  you  got  at  your  concerts  ?  We 
heard  you  got  eight  dollars  a  ticket."  "  How  much  did 
you  take  at  any  one  concert  ?  "  "  Do  you  think  they'll 
be  inclined  to  2^0  to  war  with  us  a<>"ain  ?  I  o-uess  we 
could  whip  them  out  every  time."  "  Are  they  in- 
clined to  aid  us  in  our  great  struggle  for  emancipation, 
and  will  they  ])e  sincere  in  it  ?  "  And,  to  cap  the  cli- 
max, "■  How  did  you  like  the  queen  ?  "  By  the  way, 
Jesse  was  the  only  one  of  us  who  saw  Victoria,  after  all. 

Upon  our  arrival  from  England,  we  were  informed  by 
a  relative  that  grandfather  Leavitt  was  very  ill  and  was 
extremely  desirous  of  seeing  his  grandchildren.  I  gath- 
ered up  some  material  for  his  comfort,  my  brothers  and 
sisters  contributing  to  tliis  donation,  carried  them  to 
the  house  and  presented  them  to  my  Uncle  William, 
who  had  charge  of  grandfather.  I  found  him  lying  on 
his  couch,  but  he  still  had  his  memory  and  senses.  He 
was  then  ninety-four  years  old.  He  expressed  great 
delight  at  our  safe  arrival,  and  said,  "•  I  shall  never  see 
you  again."  In  a  very  few  weeks  after  we  heard  of  his 
demise,  on  the  29th  of  August,  1846. 

Hanging  upon  the  wall  of  his  room  was  a  lithograph 
picture  of  brothers  and  sisters,  the  quartet,  that  we  pre- 
sented the  family  some  little  time  before  we  left  for 
England.  We  were  told  by  our  Uncle  William  Leavitt 
that  daily  our  grandfather  requested  him  to  take  doAvn 


IN   SCOTLAND.  219 

that  picture,  bring  it  to  where  his  feeble  sight  could 
distinguish  the  individual  members,  and  as  he  kissed 
them  lie  would  murmur  a  prayer  that  we  might  safely 
return  and  that  he  might  behold  us  once  more. 

The  funeral  was  arranged  at  the  Congregational 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  member  in  good  standing. 
He  had  assisted  in  building  it  seventy- four  years  be- 
fore. During  the  services  we  arose  from  among  the 
mourners,  stepped  into  the  aisle  and  sang  "  The  An- 
gel's Invitation  to  the  Pilgrim." 

"Come  pilgrim,  come  away, 
Wliy  shouklst  thou  be  lingering  here, 
I  hear  the  voice  of  angels  calling. 
Come  away,  come  away." 

The  occasion  was  very  impressive  and  one  of  deep 
interest.  He  being  well  known  by  the  citizens  and 
the  oldest  man  in  the  town,  great  sympathy  was  mani- 
fested. 

A  very  excellent  notice  of  him  appeared  from  the 
pen.  of  Richard  Boyleston,  the  editor  of  the  Fanner''s 
Cabinet,  his  familiar  acquaintance. 

I  here  submit  several  verses,  the  lines  of  which  were 
penned  some  years  subsequent  to  this  by  Brother  Jesse, 
in  memory  of  his  life  and  demise. 

OLD  GRANDFATHER. 

Old  Grandfather  lived  till  he  was  ninety  years  old, 

But  he  died  long  ago,  long  ago  ; 
He  had  many  friends,  and  it  never  was  told 

TliAt  the  good  old  man  had  a  foe. 

Chorus. 
Then  lay  down  the  mallet  and  the  maul. 

Hang  up  the  chisel  and  the  saw; 
There's  no  more  labor  for  the  good  old  man. 

He  has  gone  to  his  home  far  awa. 


220  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

His  grandchildren  all  will  remember  him  long, 

For  a  smile  always  sat  on  his  brow, 
As  he  told  a  good  story  or  sang  a  good  song  ; 

Methinks  I  can  hear  him  sing  now. 

He  built  many  houses  while  he  lived  upon  the  earth; 

But  never  a  house  did  he  own, 
Except  the  old  cot  where  he  lived  so  many  years, 

And  the  house  where  now  rests  his  bones. 

Oh,  well  I  remember  the  day  that  he  died. 

And  they  laid  him  out  on  his  bier  ; 
As  we  followed  to  tlie  grave  the  little  children  cried, 

And  the  old  men  wept  many  a  tear. 

His  body  now  sleeps  in  the  old  churchyard, 
And  the  stone  marks  the  spot  wiiere  'twas  laid; 

And  in  heaven  his  soul  has  found  its  reward. 
And  the  good,  all  shall  meet  him  again. 

Chorus. 
Then  lay  down  the  mallet  and  the  maul, 

Hang  up  the  chisel  and  the  saw  ; 
There's  no  more  labor  for  the  good  old  man, 

He  has  gone  to  his  long  home  awa. 

He  married  three  times,  and  had  nine  chikh-en  by 
his  first  wife  and  two  by  his  second  wife.  His  young- 
est daughter  Nancy  took  for  a  partner  a  brother  of 
the  great  preacher  Theodore  Parker,  of  l^oston.  The 
youngest  son,  Kendrick,  following  the  calling  of  his 
father,  pursued  his  trade  as  a  carpenter  in  the  city 
of  Cincinnati,  where,  in  the  very  early  days  of  slave- 
ocracy  he  assisted  and  was  a  member  of  the  first  anti- 
slavery  society  of  that  vicinity,  in  which  Salmon  P. 
Chase  acted  an  important  part.  He  also  lived  to  the 
good  old  age  of  ninety-three. 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  221 


CHAPTER   VI. 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING. 

"  There's  a  good  time  coming,  boys, 

A  good  time  coming; 
Tliere's  a  good  time  coming,  boys; 

Wait  a  little  longer. 
We  may  not  live  to  see  the  day, 
But  earth  shall  glisten  in  the  ray, 

Of  the  good  time  coming. 
Cannon-balls  may  aid  the  truth, 

But  thought's  a  weapon  stronger; 
We'll  win  our  battle  by  its  aid. 

Wait  a  little  longer." 


Soon  after  our  return  from  Europe  an  incident  oc- 
curred which  well  illustrates  the  peculiar  political  and 
social  conditions  of  the  time,  and  indicates  how  necessary 
was  our  work  of  arousing  the  public  conscience  to  a 
sense  of  its  inhuman  treatment  of  the  despised  and 
down-trodden  black  man,  even  though  in  so  doing  we 
encountered  a  form  of  social  ostracism,  and  risked  the 
loss  of  popularity  and  money. 

I  had  invited  Frederick  Douglass  to  dine  with  me  in 
Boston,  at  the  old  Pearl  Street  House.  Arriving  a  little 
ahead  of  him,  but  fully  persuaded  that  he  would  come, 
I  tipped  up  a  chair  by  my  side  at  the  table,  and  com- 
menced my  dinner.  Perhaps  I  w^as  two-thirds  through, 
when  I  descried  his  familiar  figure  at  the  door.  Im- 
mediately rising,  I  beckoned  to  him  to  come  to  me,  and 
seated  him  at  niy  elbow.  At  once  a  hundred  chairs 
went  back  with  a  bang,  and  every  guest  excepting  our- 


222  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

selves,  rose  and  vacated  the  apartment,  re.pairing  to  the 
corridors  and  hotel  office,  indignantly  declaring,  with 
much  more  profanity  than  could  by  any  stretch  of  imag- 
ination be  considered  necessary,  that  they  did  not  pro- 
pose '*  to  eat  with  a  '  nigger/  "  Meanwhile,  though 
rather  surprised  at  this  demonstration,  I  calmly  re- 
marked to  Douglass  that  we  would  go  on  with  our  din- 
ner, and  beckoned  to  the  waiter  to  come  and  serve  us. 
He,  a  Avhite  man,  defiantly  placed  his  towel  behind  his 
back,  and  refused  to  respond.  Then  I  called  another, 
and  another,  with  the  same  discouraging  lack  of  success. 
By  this  time  I  was  desperate  ;  going  to  the  side-board, 
wliere  the  dinner  was  dealt  out,  I  seized  a  Avhole  roasted 
chicken,  and  placing  it  before  my  despised  friend,  told 
him  we  would  serve  ourselves.  As  we  came  out  of 
the  dining-room,  having  finished  our  dinner,  the  cook 
came  up  from  the  basement,  wearing  his  white  head- 
gear, and  boldly  declared  that  he'd  be  if  he  would 

cook  for  a  nigger.  As  we  glanced  from  the  windows 
we  saw  at  least  a  half-dozen  draj^s  drawn  up  to  the  side- 
walk, receiving-  the  bao-q-aore  of  the  "insulted"  miests, 
which  was  being  removed  to  more  acceptable  quarters. 
The  proprietor  of  the  hotel  took  a  noble  stand  on  this 
occurrence.  He  said  to  me,  "  I  take  the  responsibility. 
This  is  your  guest,  and  you  have  a  right  to  have  him 
here." 

At  a  later  date  during  my  stay,  I  had  a  rather  un- 
pleasant experience  with  this  same  landlord.  I  was 
afflicted  with  a  severe  toothache.  He  syni])athetically 
remarked  that  he  thought  he  could  help  me,  and  I  con- 
sented to  let  him  pull  the  offending  molar.  So  he  pro- 
duced an  instrument  closely  resembling  a  logger's  cant- 
hook,  known  to  the  profession  as  a  "  turnkey,"  and 
adjusted  it  for  action.     He  used  a  neighboring  tooth  for 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  223 

a  fulcrum.  When  he  began  to  hear  down,  I  found  that 
one  of  my  front  teeth  was  likely  to  be  sacrificed,  and 
cried  out,  "  Hold  on  !  you'll  spoil  my  front  tooth.''  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  I  now,  a  half-century  later,  carry  a 
loose  front  tooth,  with  a  dent  in  it,  as  a  result  of  tliat 
operation.  Well,  the  tooth  came  out,  and  my  Boniface 
dentist  looked  it  over,  said  it  showed  very  little  decay, 
and  after  scraping  it,  put  it  back  in  my  jaw.  He  showed 
me  one  in  his  own  mouth  which  had  been  put  back  in 
the  same  way.  For  six  weeks  after  that  I  suffered  from 
neuralgia  and  every  form  of  pain  that  ever  proceeds 
from  a  diseased  jaw.  Finally  I  went  to  Lynn,  con- 
vinced that  another  tooth  was  the  siinier,  and  callinp-  on 
a  dentist,  had  it  extracted.  Then  I  told  him  of  the 
tooth  I  had  had  pulled  and  reset,  and  he  exclaimed, 
"  You  have  run  the  risk  of  your  life  !  It  must  come 
out  at  once."  So  the  second  one  was  taken  out.  I 
found  it  a  great  deal  more  painful  than  when  it  was 
pulled  tlie  first  time. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1846,  we  started  on  another 
tour,  very  successful  financiallj',  but  wliich  came  to  an 
abrupt  ending,  owing  to  our  regard  for  another  cultured 
black  man,  Robert  Purvis,  of  Philadelphia,  and  our  de- 
termination that  whites  and  blacks  shoidd  have  equal 
facilities  to  liear  the  Hutchinsons  sing,  or  we  would 
refuse  to  sing  to  anybody.  Three  profitable  engage- 
ments, at  an  average  of  eight  hundred  dollars  each,  were 
hanging  in  the  balance  of  our  decision  ;  but  we  did  not 
falter  and  rather  than  yield  to  the  pro-slavery  prejudice 
of  Philadelphia,  expressed  through  the  high-lianded 
officialism  of  its  mayor,  we  returned  to  our  farms  and 
our  freedom.  We  could  earn  our  bread  by  the  sweat  of 
our  brows,  and  preferred  to,  rather  than  sul)mit  to  the 
tyranny  of  misguided  and  prejudiced  magistrates,  even 


224  THE    HUTCHINSON"   FAMILY. 

though  Ave  knew  an  impatient  public  was  waiting  for 
our  songs.  * 

On  January  8, 1847,  Mr.  Garrison  made  the  following 
comment  on  the  Philadelphia  incident,  in  the  Liberator: 

"  Tlie  Hutchinson  Family,  after  giving  three  concerts  in  Philadel- 
phia, were  denied  the  use  of  Musical  Fund  Hall  for  a  fourth  by  the 
trustees,  on  the  ground  that  the  mayor  had  given  warning  that  the  ad- 
mission of  persons  of  color  could  not  be  allowed,  and  would  be  posi- 
tively prohibited,  otherwise  the  city  would  be  exposed  to  the  danger  of 
a  mob!  There  is  another  exemplification  of  American  liberty  —  an- 
other story  to  travel  to  England  of  opprobrium  of  our  country.  Shade 
of  William  Penn !  has  not  thy  miscalled  'City  of  Brotherly  Love' 
long  since  become  the  abode  of  every  foul  spirit  1  Of  course  the  Hutch- 
insons  indignantly  refused  to  exclude  colored  persons  from  their  con- 
certs, and  consequently  shook  off  the  dust  from  their  feet  of  this  mobo- 
cratic  city." 

We  gave  Philadelphia  a  lesson  that  she  did  not 
forget,  and  she  protited  l)y  it.     But  to  my  story. 

Our  route  led  us  through  Manchester,  Concord  and 
Nashua,  to  Boston  and  Lowell.  At  each  place  we  gave 
good  satisfaction,  except  when  we  sang  Avhat  the 
Democrats  called  "•politics."  Then  Ave  usually  receiA'ed 
a  volley  of  hisses.  But  hisses  did  not  frighten  us.  We 
gave  tAvo  concerts  in  Salem,  and  recalled  how  once  Ave 
had  to  go  begging  for  an  audience  in  the  City  of 
Witches ;  but  a  name  abroad  had  changed  all  that.  We 
found  it  harder  to  sustain  popularity  than  to  earn  it,  for 
our  audiences  grcAV  critical.  At  a  concert  in  Lynn 
some  one  made  a  remark  from  the  auditor's  seats,  and 
in  response  Brother  Jesse  gaA'e  one  of  his  celebrated 
crows,  Avith  AAdiich  he  Avas  Avont  to  awake  all  the  roosters 
in  town  at  dead  of  nisfht  durino"  his  ycnith  and  A'ounaf 
manhood.  The  effect  upon  the  audience  Avas  to  cause 
a  commotion  that  may  be  better  imagined  than  de- 
scribed. We  Avent  to  Worcester,  Avhei'e  two  concerts 
Avere  given,  and  on  October  14th   reached  Ncav   York 


A   GOOD   TIME    COMING.  225 

City.     jNIy  diary  tells  the  story  of  our  stay  there  as  fol- 
lows : 

"On  Wednesday  the  18th,  sang  in  tlie  Tabernacle  to  about  two 
thousand  people.  It  did  seem  good  to  be  with  the  Gothaniites  once 
more.  We  got  through  the  concert  without  much  trouble.  With  tlie 
exceiition  of  a  little  hissing  all  went  oti'  smootlily.  We  sang  against 
war  with  INIexico,  and  against  the  '  honorable'  system  of  enslaving  the 
human  race.  The  papers  came  out  the  next  day  roaring  like  lions 
against  such  sentiments  being  uttered  in  a  concert-room  by  persons 
singing  for  the  public  favor  and  money.  This  had  its  effect,  and  now 
we  feel  more  like  singing  against  these  public  sins  than  ever.  On 
Monday  the  21st,  we  had  our  second,  and  another  good  house,  but  with 
some  falling  off  from  the  first.  One  paper  is  on  our  side,  the  New 
York  Tribune,  edited  by  Horace  Greeley,  formerly  of  Amherst,  N.  H. 
He  is  a  very  moral  man,  and  one  who  wishes  well  to  all  tlie  human 
family.     Peace  to  his  posterity  ! 

"  On  Tuesday,  December  1st,  we  gave  our  third  entertainment,  at 
the  Tabernacle.  Had  a  good  house.  My  wife  was  present.  She  came 
on  in  the  steamboat  Atlantic,  arriving  in  New  York  on  that  morning, 
just  two  days  before  the  boat  was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Long  Is- 
land Sound,  forty  persons  losing  their  lives.     Oh,  what  an  escape  !  " 

On  the  day  of  one  of  our  concerts  in  New  York 
Abby  was  suffering  with  a  severe  cold,  caught  on  a 
trip  to  Sing  Sing,  where  \ve  spent  Thanksgiving  Day 
singing  to  the  prisoners.  The  doctor  said  she  could 
hardly  talk,  much  less  sing ;  but  we  had  the  programme 
to  go  through,  and  we  went  through  it,  Abby  singing 
Avitli  the  rest,  to  the  satisfaction  of  ourselves  and  the 
public.  To  the  last  our  concerts  in  New  York  were 
well  attended,  but  much  opposition  was  manifested,  es- 
pecially when  we  sung  such  lines  as  the  following : 

'  "  War  and  slavery  perplex  us 

And  ere  long  will  sorely  vex  us. 

Oh,  we're  paying  dear  for  Texas 

In  the  war  with  IMexico. 

Such  a  demonstration 

Is  beneath  our  station 

When  by  arbitration 

We  can  settle  every  war." 


226  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Our  two  opening  concerts  at  Philadelphia  were  of 
the  pleasantest  kind.  We  took  about  fourteen  hundred 
dollars.  We  stayed  with  Edward  Hopper,  son  of  the 
eminent  philanthropist  of  the  same  surname.  Mr.  Hop- 
per's wife  was  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Mott,  the  noted 
Quakeress  and  Abolitionist.  The  week  preceding 
Christmas  was  one  to  be  long  remembered.  We  occa- 
sionally found  amusement  skating  Avith  friends,  Ed- 
ward Davis,  Miller  McKim  and  others.  On  the  eve  of 
Christmas  Ave  had  a  fine  time  at  the  home  of  our  friends 
the  Palmers,  with  games  and  song. 

On  Christmas  night  Ave  gave  our  fourth  concert  at 
Musical  Fund  Hall,  and  encountered  some  opposition 
to  our  anti-slaver}^  sentiments.  But  Ave  felt  it  our  duty 
to  tell  the  sins  of  the  nation,  and  preach  humanity  to 
the  Avhole  race.  At  this  concert  our  friend  Robert  Pur- 
vis, an  educated  mulatto,  to  Avhom  I  have  previously  re- 
ferred, a  fine  speaker  and  in  every  Avay  an  able  man, 
attended,  sitting  Avith  Lucre tia  Mott  and  one  or  tAvo 
other  "  plain  bonnets.''  Some  fcAv  people,  having  con- 
stitutional objections  to  colored  persons  beside  them  in 
a  public  entertainment,  made  complaint  to  the  mayor, 
and  that  dough-faced  functionar}-  at  once  notified  the 
head  of  his  police  force  to  place  officers  at  the  door  to 
stop  any  one  black  enough  to  belong  to  the  proscribed 
race  from  coming  in  to  hear  us  sing.  Also  informing 
the  trustees  of  the  hall  that  he  AA^ould  not  be  responsi- 
ble for  the  damage  to  it,  if  this  Avas  not  done.  This 
order  Ave  considered  an  infringement  of  human  rights, 
and  Ave  at  once  came  out  in  a  card  in  the  papers,  stat- 
ing our  couAdctions  in  the  most  emphatic  manner,  and 
announcing  the  cancelling  of  the  dates  of  three  concerts 
advertised,  on  the  ground  that  we  Avere  virtually  driven 
from  the  hall : 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  227 

"  Party  threats  are  not  alarming, 
For  when  music  ceases  charming 
We  can  earn  our  ])read  by  farming 
In  the  old  Granite  State." 

On  the  evening  of  the  29th  we  Avere  given  a  farewell 
reception  at  the  home  of  Lucretia  Mott.  I  shall  never 
forget  that  scene.  Many  friends  of  freedom  were  gath- 
ered. It  was  a  ha[)})y  meeting,  thongh  the  words  of 
Mrs.  Mott  affected  us  to  tears.  In  thrilling  language,  she 
eulogized  us  as  martyrs  for  principle,  saying  we  should 
be  classed  with  the  martyrs  of  old,  and  prophesying 
the  greatest  good  to  come  from  our  act.  And  she  was 
rig-ht.  At  tlie  close  of  the  meeting  Ave  felt  more  deter- 
mined  than  ever,  on  our  course,  and  consecrating  our- 
selves anew  to  the  good  work  we  went  forth,  realizing 
that  for  the  achievement  of  any  great  end,  we  must,  in 
the  language  of  the  poet, 

"  Strike  like  a  hammer,  steady,  strong, 
That  beating  shapes  the  glowing  steel ; 
Strike  for  the  right  against  tlie  wrong, 
And  be  each  blow  a  thunder  peal." 

The  name  of  Lucretia  ^Nlott  will  long  be  revered,  and 
her  good  works  live  in  history,  for  the  seeds  of  love  and 
kindness  sown  by  her  in  the  hearts  of  many  will  bloom 
centuries  hence.  Many  hearts  echo  tlie  worthy  tribute 
paid  to  her  l^y  Fanny  D.  Gage,  from  which  this  is  an 
extract : 

"I  never  think  of  that  woman. 

But  my  heart  throbs  high  with  love. 
And  I  ask,  Can  she  be  more  beautiful 

In  the  blissful  realms  above  ? 
I  can  scarcely  in  my  dreaming, 

See  her  face  more  fair  and  bright  ; 
She  seems  to  me  now  with  her  radiant  brow, 

A  spirit  of  love  and  light. 


228  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

The  jjoet  may  sing  liis  praises, 

Of  the  glow  of  sweet  sixteen, 
But  tliere  is  a  holier  beauty 

Of  eighty-three,  I  ween  ; 
For  the  girlisli  face  if  moulded. 

By  a  true  and  loving  heart, 
Will  brighten  as  the  heart  throbs  on, 

Kechiselling  every  part." 

Of  course,  the  real  trouble  in  Philadelphia  was  that 
we  were  singing  anti-slavery  songs,  and  were  convert- 
ing the  people,  and  the  pro-slavery  sympatliizers  couldn't 
stand  it.  The  papers  took  sides  for  and  against  us,  and 
great  good  was  done  for  the  cause  of  equal  rights. 
jNIeanwhile,  we  shook  the  dust  of  Philadelphia  from 
our  feet,  as  a  testimony  against  it,  and  went  to  Wil- 
mington, in  the  slave-holding  State  of  Delaware,  where 
we  found  a  less  proscriptive  spirit  tlian  in  the  City  of 
Brotherly  Love,  and  were  treated  with  perfect  courtesy. 
Then  we  went  home,  with  aching  hearts,  for  it  was  hard 
to  be  reconciled  to  the  Southern  custom  of  suppressing 
free  speech  and  free  song.  Two  days  later,  we  brothers 
had  shouldered  our  axes  and  were  merrily  at  work  log- 
ging, as  if  there  were  no  such  unpleasant  functionaries 
as  pro-slavery  mayors  in  existence.  In  the  course  of  a 
week  I  had  purcliased  the  Wheeler  farm  in  Amherst, 
near  the  ^Nlilford  line,  and  soon  began  moving  my 
household  goods  to  it,  and  set  up  in  real  earnest  as  a 
farmer. 

With  the  exception  of  two  or  three  short  trips,  de- 
tails of  which  will  be  given  later,  most  of  the  year  that 
followed  was  devoted  to  the  multifarious  cares  of  farm 
life.  My  journal  shows  that  I  worked  fally  as  hard  to 
earn  a  simple  livelihood  on  that  farm  as  does  the  aver- 
age poor  man  who  battles  witli  the  elements,  and  depre- 
dating specimens  of  the  animal  and  feathered  kingdom, 


A  GOOD  timp:  coming.  229 

in  getting  subsistence  from  the  rockj  soil  of  New  Eng- 
land, in  lieu  of  some  better  and  easier  mode  of  life. 
Meanwhile,  I  confess  that  I  was  unhappy.  To  be  sure, 
singing  was  a  severe  tax  on  one's  physical  and  nervous 
system.  We  boys  were  in  the  habit,  in  our  rehearsals, 
of  practising  for  perfect  accord  and  harmony  until  in 
sheer  exhaustion  of  brain  and  nerve  we  would  resort  to 
an  extreme  expedient  for  relief.  Each  of  us  would 
take  a  separate  tune,  in  different  keys,  and  sing  them 
simultaneously  for  about  an  half-hour.  By  that  time  we 
would  be  sufficiently  refreshed  to  go  on  with  our  prac- 
tising. But,  notwithstanding  the  cares  and  trials  of 
professional  life,  it  seemed  to  me,  j^icking  up  stones  in 
the  east  held,  or  toiling  at  haying  in  the  hot  Jul}^  sun, 
was  a  far  harder  mode  of  making  money,  and  vastly 
less  remunerative. 

In  January,  1847,  we  all  went  to  Boston  to  sing  at  the 
anti-slavery  meetings.  Before  leaving  Boston  we  gave 
concerts  there  and  in  Woburn,  and  then  went  to  Provi- 
dence, where  at  our  first  concert  the  rush  was  so  great 
that  a  thousand  people  were  unable  to  gain  admittance 
to  the  hall.  A  Mr.  Willard  was  very  kind  to  us  during 
our  stay  here.  We  sang  in  Pawtucket,  and  again  in  Prov- 
idence, and  the  demand  to  hear  us  was  so  great  that  on 
the  day  of  our  departure  we  gave  a  morning  concert  to 
a  large  audience.  The  next  night  we  sang  to  fifteen 
liundred  people  in  Springfield.  Here  we  met  George 
Hills  of  West  Candnidge,  now  Arlington,  and  a  Mr. 
Coggin  of  New  Hampshire,  l^oth  of  wliom  were  very 
friendly  to  us.  I  made  a  short  visit  to  my  old  friend 
Lydston,  the  painter,  who  was  also  very  proficient  on 
the  trombone'-and  a  good  fellow.  Then  we  proceeded 
to  Hartford,  where  our  friend  Rev.  William  W.  Patton, 
afterwards    president    of  Howard    University,  soon  ap- 


230  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

peared,  and  made  life  look  pleasant.     He  was  Ludlow 
Patton's  brother. 

February  15th  we  reached  New  Haven,  where  we 
sang  to  a  full  house.  The  next  day  we  had  a  fine  time 
kicking  football  on  the  college  green.  By  the  way,  I 
was  the  first  to  introduce  the  big  rubber  football  at 
Yale  College,  for  so  many  j^ears  tlie  home  of  football 
champions,  and  also  at  Amherst  and  other  colleges.  I 
liad  seen  them  at  the  store  of  a  relative  in  New  York, 
and  immediately  bought  one.  During  this  trip  we  for 
the  first  time  saw  the  workings  of  the  magnetic  tele- 
graph. Our  concert  was  given  on  the  17th.  It  went 
off  well,  but  our  anti-slavery  songs  were  hissed  by  a 
coterie  of  Southern  students  sitting  together  in  one 
part  of  the  hall.  Judson  looked  calmly  at  them  during 
a  pause  in  the  singing,  and  remarked :  "  There  are  no 
snakes  in  Ireland,  but  there  are  lots  of  geese  in  America." 
That  squelched  them,  and  we  had  no  further  trouble. 
Meanwhile,  we  had  become  very  much  aroused,  and  sung 
with  more  spirit  than  ever.  The  next  day  we  returned 
to  Hartford,  and  in  the  evening  gave  a  closing  concert. 
We  were  hissed  some,  and  the  following  day  the  Times^ 
a  Democratic  pajjer,  paid  its  respects  to  us,  coming  down 
on  our  freedom  songs  "  like  a  thousand  of  brick,''  as  my 
journal  sa^'S. 

Going  back  to  Springfield,  we  gave  concerts  there  and 
at  Cabotville,  and  then  went  to  Albany,  where  we 
stopped  at  the  Delavan  House,  in  company  wnth  John 
B.  Gough.  We  went  to  his  lecture,  where  he  kept  the 
people  in  a  roar  for  three  hours.  After  the  lecture  we 
had  an  hour  of  good  fellowship  with  him.  Tlie  Alba- 
nians turned  out  well  to  our  concerts,  and  so  did  the 
Trojans,  when  we  went  to  Troy  on  the  2oth.  At  Troy 
we  stayed  with   Ilev.  John  Pierpont.     We  heard  hira 


A   GOOD    TIME   COMIXG.  231 

preach  on  the  Sabbath  during  our  stay.  While  at  Troy, 
Brother  Zeph  came  in  one  day  feeling  unSvell,  and  "whim- 
sically remarked,  '•  I  haven't  eaten  anything  since  yes- 
terday till  to-day  —  and  to-morrow  will  make  three  days." 

On  our  way  back  we  stopped  at  Albany  and  gave 
a  farewell  concert.  A  little  negro  girl  in  the  audience 
disturbed  some  of  our  pro-slavery  hearers  ver}"  much. 
Judson  had  been  quite  averse  to  going  to  New  York 
City,  but  we  finally  persuaded  him  to  go  and  sing  for 
the  benefit  of  the  starving  poor  in  Ireland.  March  3d  we 
reached  that  city.  Here  we  were  met  by  Ludlow  Patton, 
who  soon  became  the  husband  of  Abby,  and  had  a  most 
enjoyable  time  in  liis  company.  Soon  after  our  arrival 
Joshua  joined  us,  he  having  been  himself  on  a  concert 
tour.  On  the  5th  we  gave  a  concert  in  the  Tabernacle, 
with  comparatively  little  hissing.  On  the  8th  we  had 
one  of  our  most  successful  concerts  in  Brooklyn.  After 
a  monster  concert  in  the  Tabernacle  Ave  returned  to 
Boston,  where  we  stopped  a  few  days.  On  tlie  Sabbath 
I  heard  Theodore  Parker  preach,  and  was  highly  edified. 
I  made  a  practice  of  hearing  him  often  after  tliat.  Took 
a  day's  run  out  to  Lynn,  to  see  Jesse  in  his  new  house 
on  High  Rock,  and  then  home  to  ]Milford  again. 

On  Sunday,  April  l<Sth,  my  daughter  Viola  was  born. 
My  diary  says,  "  The  Lord  has  blessed  me,  and  I  hope 
to  be  always  thankful."  To-day,  cheered  as  I  am  in  my 
declining  years  by  the  loving  ministrations  of  this  af- 
fectionate child,  I  gladly  repeat  the  sentiment. 

Home  cares  fully  occupied  my  attention  for  many 
months.  In  August  we  made  up  a  family  party,  and 
started  for  a  trip  through  the  White  Hills.  With  us 
were  Caleb  and  wife,  Judson  and  Jerusha  his  wife, 
Rlioda  and  Abby,  with  Joshua  driving ;  Asa  with  his 
new  bride  Elizabeth,  Frank,  and  her  sister  and  the  baby 


232  THE    HUTCHINSOK    FAMILY. 

in  the  team  witli  me.  Others  joined  us  as  we  proceeded. 
Our  route  was  through  Manchester  and  Concord,  sing- 
ing at  each  place,  and  making  a  pilgrimage  at  the  latter 
to  the  p-rave  of  our  honored  and  lamented  friend  N.  P. 
Roo-ers.  Plymouth,  Bristol,  through  Franconia  Notch; 
Fahyans,  where  we  found  the  hotel  much  enlarged,  and 
did  not  have  to  camp  outside  as  before ;  Littletown ; 
Bath;  Haverhill;  Hanover,  where  we  gave  a  concert; 
Woodstock ;  Windsor ;  Claremont ;  Bellows  Falls ; 
Brattleboro ;  Keene ;  Peterboro ;  giving  concerts  in 
nearly  all  the  latter  towns ;  and  home.  Wliile  in  the 
White  Mountains  we  were  fortunate  in  meeting  the 
Baker  Family  twice,  and  had  a  good  sing  with  them. 
At  Brattleboro  we  were  serenaded  in  the  dead  of  night 
by  the  Burdett  Family,  a  fine  organization  of  young  men. 
It  seemed  to  me  if  I  could  have  such  singing  over  my 
body  at  my  funeral  I  should  be  satisfied.  In  tlie  group 
was  a  boy,  James  Fisk,  Jr.,  then  fourteen  years  old, 
with  a  beautiful  alto  voice.  He  afterwards  became  the 
noted  stock  operator  with  Jay  Gould,  and  died  a  tragic 
death  in  New  York. 

The  year  1848  was  an  eventful  one  to  us.  In  Feb- 
ruary we  spent  three  weeks  in  concerting  in  the  vicinity 
of  Boston  and  then  departed  for  New  York.  On  our 
way  we  heard  that  Henry  Clay  was  to  be  the  guest  of 
the  city,  and  the  fact  started  up  the  poetic  muse  of 
Brother  Jesse,  who  was  with  us  at  the  hotel  in  New 
Haven  and  he  wrote  his  song,  "Harry  of  the  West." 
He  showed  the  words  to  me,  and  instantly  an  appro- 
priate melody  came  into  my  mind.  This  we  sang  over 
several  times,  and  then  started  for  the  New  York  boat. 
On  board,  we  sought  a  retired  spot,  and  commenced  to 
rehearse  it  again,  Jesse  taking  the  bass  and  I  the  air. 
Judson  and  Asa  came  sauntering  along,  attracted  by  the 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  233 

new  tune,  and  uttering-  remarks  in  comment  on  our 
singing  a  song  of  -which  tliey  knew  nothing.  "  What 
have  you  got  there?"  said  one.  "-Join  in,"  said  we. 
They  took  their  parts,  and  we  sang  the  song,  until  a 
hxrge  number  of  passengers,  attracted  by  the  harmony, 
gathered  about,  complimenting  us  upon  it.  We  had  no 
thought  of  singing  it  in  public,  but  at  our  boarding- 
house  in  New  York,  we  sang  it  over  again.  Captain 
Knight,  of  the  new  and  famous  ship  Henry  Claij^  called 
upon  us,  and  invited  us  to  go  on  board  the  vessel. 
Complying,  we  went  into  the  captain's  cabin  and  stand- 
ing in  a  group,  struck  up  the  song.  We  had  hardly 
finished,  when  an  aldeiinau  of  the  city,  who  was  on 
board,  said  to  us  enthusiastically,  "  You  must  go  and 
sing  that  song  to  Henry  Clay  this  afternoon."  We  be- 
gan to  consider  whether  we  ought  to  go  or  not.  Jesse 
immediately  added  another  verse  to  the  song  to  make 
our  convictions  clear,  for  we  well  knew  Clay  to  be  a 
pro-slavery  man : 

"  For  tlie  glorious  day  is  coming  now 
When  wrong  shall  be  redressed  ; 
And  Freedom's  star  shine  bright  and  clear 
On  '  Harry  of  the  West.'  " 

And  we  consented  to  go. 

Going  ashore,  we  took  a  hack  and  went  after  Abl\y, 
at  our  boarding-house.  She  was  rather  reluctant  about 
going,  as  she  had  heard  so  much  against  the  "  great 
compromiser,"  but  finally  yielded.  We  soon  arrived  at 
the  hotel  where  the  reception  was  taking  place.  The 
mayor  with  his  chief  counsellors  and  their  distinguished 
guest  were  just  about  taking  their  wine  at  the  banquet 
when  we  were  ushered  in.  The  Hutchinsons  ^^-ere  at 
that  time  very  popular  in  New  York.  Tlie  leading- 
people  in  all  departments  of  life  Avere  frequenting  our 


234  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

concerts,  and  we  were  pretty  well  known  to  everybody. 
The  mayor  at  once  arose  and  expressed  his  pleasure  in 
announcing  our  presence,  and  said  we  would  sing  an 
appropriate  selection.     The  four  brothers  sang  — 

"  Come,  brothers,  now  let's  hurry  out 
To  see  our  honored  guest, 
Tor  lo,  in  every  street  they  sliout, 
'  Brave  Harry  of  the  West.' 

"  The  women,  too,  and  chiklren  sweet. 
Are  singing  with  the  rest, 
And  weaving  garlands  in  the  street, 
For  '  Harry  of  the  West.' 

"  Old  Broadway  now  is  all  alive, 
And  in  her  laurels  dressed  ; 
As  the  word  goes  round,  lie'U  soon  arrive, 
Brave  '  Harry  of  the  West.' 

"  Behold  the  aged  statesman  comes  ! 
In  highest  honors  dressed ; 
No  conquering  hero  ever  shone 
Like  '  Harry  of  the  West.' 

"  Nor  shall  a  party  feeling  dare 
To  raise  one  narrow  test, 
But  all  shall  in  the  tribute  share 
To  '  Harry  of  the  West.' 

"  For  th'  glorious  day  is  coming  near 
When  wrong  shall  be  redressed. 
And  Freedom's  star  shine  bright  and  clear 
On  '  Harry  of  the  West.' 

"  Then,  hail,  all  hail,  thrice-honored  sage, 
Our  most  distinguished  guest ! 
We'll  venerate  thy  good  old  age, 
Brave  '  Harry  of  the  West.'  " 

As  we  were  singing  this,  Mr.  Clay's  eyes  opened,  and 
his  chin  dropped  with  astonishment  and  surprise  at  its 
appropriateness.  At  the  close,  he  rose  and  came  to  us, 
saying,  "  What  can  I  do  to    repay  you  for    this  great 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  235 

honor  yon  have  conferred  upon  me  ? " '  In.stantly  the 
response  came  into  my  mind,  "•  Liberate  your  slaves, 
and  well  make  you  President  of  the  United  States." 
But  it  did  not  seem  appropriate  to  say  such  a  thing, 
under  such  circumstances,  and  we  simply  made  some 
response  of  thanks  for  his  expression  of  gratitude,  and 
he  returned  to  his  place  of  honor.  Subsequently,  he 
sent  his  wine  down  to  us,  but  we  sent  him  back  word 
that  we  were  teetotallers,  and  could  not  drink  with  him.; 
He  left  his  seat,  came  up  to  us  and  responded,  "  If  I 
were  a  young  man  like  yoiu-selves,  I'd  be  a  teetotaller, 
too."  Later,  with  Abby,  we  sang  a  temperance  song, 
"  Cold  Water,"  and  "  The  Old  Granite  State,"  thus  giv- 
ing him  both  temperance  and  emancipation. 

A  reporter  of  the  Neiv  York  Tribune,  Elias  Smith, 
was  present,  and  wrote  out  a  very  elaborate  account  of 
the  incident,  and  included  the  song.  Other  papers  also 
printed  accounts  of  it.  This  made  trouble  for  us,  for 
the  papers  went  to  Boston,  Garrison  read  them,  and  the 
next  week  the  Liberator  came  out,  and  in  a  scathing 
article  attacked  us  for  going  back  on  our  principles 
in  doing  honor  to  Clay,  the  compromiser.  We  said 
nothing  in  response,  but  bided  our  time. 

In  referring  to  our  meeting  with  Clay,  my  diary  saj^s  : 
"  It  did  seem  good  to  hear  the  old  man  speak,  Ijut  he  is 
'Clay'  like  all  of  us." 

Another  experience  of  our  first  week  in  New  York 
was  witnessing  the  funeral  cortege  of  John  Quincy 
Adams  ])ass  through  the  city. 

On  this  trip  Brother  Joshua  acted  as  our  advance 
agent.     March  14th  mj^  diary  says  : 

"  We  gave  our  second  concert  last  night.  Had  a  jam.  We  are 
rather  glad  to  make  money  of  course,  but  not  so  fast  as  to  distract  our 
attention  from  the  great  subject  of  humanity.  This  evening  Jesse 
joins  us  in  song  for  the  first  time  since  we  left  the  Old  World." 


236  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

We  stayed  several  days  in  New  York,  giving  many 
concerts  in  tlie  city  and  vicinity,  nsnally  with  crowded 
houses.  Tlien,  with  concerts  in  Morristown  and  Tren- 
ton, we  went  to  Philadelphia,  the  city  we  had  left  so 
abruptly  the  year  before,  for  conscience  sake.  We  were 
unable  to  obtain  the  Musical  Fund  Hall  for  our  concerts, 
owing  to  our  determination  to  admit  an}^  colored  people 
who  were  likely  to  come ;  so  our  three  concerts  wei-e 
given  at  the  Assembly  Rooms.  All  were  largely  at- 
tended, and  to  our  surprise,  not  the  slightest  disappro- 
bation was  manifested.  In  Baltimore  two  concerts 
were  given  to  rather  unsympathetic  audiences,  and  here 
we  met  the  Hay  wards.  Love  joys,  and  other  cherished 
friends.  We  had  the  j)leasure  of  a  Sunday  with  that 
faithful  friend  to  the  cause  of  humanity,  Mr.  Snodgrass, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Washington. 

At  Washington  we  stopped  at  Willard's  Hotel.  We 
visited  the  capitol,  and  paid  our  respects  to  our  valued 
friend.  Senator  John  P.  Hale.  Congress  was  discussing 
resolutions  regarding  the  French  Revolution. 

At  our  first  concert,  where  we  sang  well  and  were  but 
little  hissed,  a  rather  laughable  episode  occurred.  Jud- 
son  was  singing  his  solo,  "  The  Humbugged  Husband," 
and  was  just  delivering  the  line,  ''  I'm  sadly  taken  in,"' 
when  the  platform  gave  way  under  his  feet,  and  he  was 
"'  taken  in  "  before  the  eyes  of  the  audience,  which  was, 
of  course,  convulsed  with  laughter  at  the  remarkalile 
coincidence.  He  fell  up  to  his  chin,  with  violin  in  one 
hand  and  bow  in  the  other,  outstretched  in  air. 

On  April  11th  we  took  a  trip  to  Mount  ^"ernon,  the 
home  of  Washington,  eight  miles  by  boat  and  the  rest 
in  a  hack,  ten  miles.  The  house  and  toml)  of  Washing- 
ton were  in  a  sadly  dilapidated  condition.  We  went 
into  the  mansion,  and  sang  "  The  Land  of  Our  Fathers" 


A    GOOD    TIME    COMING.  237 

to  old  Mrs.  Washington,  a  family  connection  of  the 
great  man,  cut  some  canes  for  souvenirs  and  came  away 
after  witnessing  the  squalor  of  the  slaves  of  the  Wash- 
ington famih^,  feeling  that  slavery  was  a  curse  to  our 
country,  indeed.  The  same  evening  we  went  to  the 
White  House  to  see  President  Polk.  '■'■  Shook  the  old 
fellow  by  the  hand,  and  found  him  to  be  nothing  but  a 
man,  and  rather  small  at  that,"  says  my  diary.  We 
met  James  Bowles  and  other  old  friends  there. 

The  next  day  we  went  to  the  capitol  again,  and 
heard  speeches  from  John  C.  Calhoun  and  others.  In 
the  afternoon  Judson  and  I  called  upon  Mr.  Tuck, 
Representative  from  New  Hampshire,  and  Joshua  R. 
Giddings,  who  was  still  doing  his  glorious  work  for  his 
fellow-men, 

Sunday,  the  16th,  we  had  as  company  all  day  Dr. 
Bailey  and  another  friend,  Mr.  Chaplin,  a  man  who  only 
the  night  before  had  succeeded  in  starting  seventy-seven 
fugitive  slaves  toward  a  land  of  freedom.  He  had 
kept  his  secret  well,  and  no  one  suspected  him  of  com- 
plicity in  a  plot  that  had  set  the  whole  city,  and  later 
the  country  at  large  in  an  uproar.  He  was  very  anxious, 
and  it  was  a  relief  to  confide  his  story  to  us.  The  next 
morning  I  had  business  at  the  American  Hotel.  The  man 
whose  guest  I  was  begged  me  to  excuse  the  absence  of 
a  bootblack  and  other  supernumeraries  of  the  establish- 
ment. He  said  the  servants  were  among  the  party  of 
fugitives  that  had  escaped.  He  did  not  seem  to  know 
the  manner  of  their  departure,  and  I  was  discreet 
enough  not  to  inform  him.  All  tlie  slaves  were  re- 
captured near  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac,  and  a  few 
days  later  were  auctioned  off  to  planters  farther  South, 
against  the  protests  of  Northern  papers,  as  a  punish- 
ment for  attempting  to  make  their  escape. 


238  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

"We  returned  from  Washington  via  Baltimore,  where 
two  more  concerts  were  given.  Dr.  Snodgrass  got  up  a 
fishing-party,  and  we  had  a  fine  time.  Rebecca  Cod- 
man,  a  woman  of  culture  and  public  spirit,  was  in  the 
compan}^  Then  we  went  back  to  New  York,  a  city 
where  we  were  always  successful.  In  fact.  New  York, 
with  Boston,  Hartford,  New  Haven,  Springfield,  Wor- 
cester and  Providence,  would  have  given  us  all  the 
business  we  desired  in  those  years.  The  other  places 
we  visited  were  usually  at  the  solicitation  of  admiring 
friends,  rather  than  by  our  own  volition. 

April  22d,  I  find  this  entry  in  my  diary  : 

"  Astor  House,  up  five  stories  from  the  ground,  sitting  at  a  table  by 
the  light  of  two  candles,  Jesse  on  one  liand  and  Asa  on  the  other,  one 
writing  to  Hale  of  the  senate,  and  the  other  to  that  good  man  Giddings 
of  Ohio,  words  of  congratulation  for  their  success  in  standing  for  the 
freedom  of  the  whole  human  race,  black  and  white.  I  wrote  a  word 
in  each  letter.  I  hope  we  may  do  something  in  this  great  and  glorious 
work  of  freedom.  .  .  .  These  are  great  times.  I  know  we  must  have 
a  revolution  in  less  than  six  months  and  our  slaves  must  be  set  free. 
"Tis  coming,'  sure.  I  am  thinking  the  second  coming  of  Christ  is  also 
near  on  the  earth.  Perhaps  the  millennium  is  about  to  dawn.  I  am 
full  of  hope  and  fear.  O  Lord,  hasten  that  glorious  time  when  we 
shall  live  in  peace  and  harmony  together ;  when  the  spirit  of  fraternal 
kindness  may  exist  between  all  nations  !  The  world  is  in  commotion. 
We  have  all  been  very  much  excited  for  the  past  week,  because  of  the 
news  of  the  day.  There  seems  to  be  a  mighty  shaking  up  amongst  the 
tyrants  and  slaveholders,  and  I  guess   the  '  good  time '  is  really  com- 


Four  days  later  I  wrote : 

"  The  Irish  hold  a  meeting  to-night  to  raise  troops  to  send  to  Ire- 
land. The  feeling  is  very  strong.  I  hope  Ireland  will  get  her  free- 
dom without  much  fighting,  for  the  people  there  are  determined  to 
have  a  republic.  Well,  I  can  say,  '  God  be  praised  for  doing  these 
great  and  good  things  for  his  creatures.'  This  boarding  at  the  Astor 
House  at  two  dollars  per  day  and  waiting  till  three  o'clock  for  one's 
dinner  isn't  exactly  the  thing.  But  there's  a  good  time  coming.  I  am 
glad  I  live  in  this  great  time.'' 


WKNJIKJ.L   I'HILUPS  -(p.  239, 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  239 

The  next  da}-: 

"  "We  had  our  good  friend  Dr.  William  Fatten  to  dine  with  us. 
Talked  about  the  glorious  revolution  in  the  world,  and  had  a  good 
time  of  it." 

After  this  we  went  home  for  a  week,  and  then  were 
off  to  New  York  again  to  attend  the  anti-shavery  anni- 
versaries. On  our  first  day  we  heard  John  P.  Hale  speak 
for  the  Liberty  party,  sang  at  the  American  Anti-Shivery 
Society  Anniversary,  and  in  the  evening  hstened  to  a 
lecture  by  Horace  Greeley.  The  next  day  we  went  to 
the  anti-slavery  breakfast  of  the  Liberty  party,  and 
later  proceeded  to  the  Minerva  Rooms,  where  the  anti- 
slavery  meeting  of  the  old  society  was  going  on.  We 
usually  took  these  meetings  in  on  the  wing,  as  we  were 
likely  to  come  in  late  or  go  out  early  to  attend  temper- 
ance meetings  or  fulfil  concert  eno-ao-ements,  and  so  had 
contracted  a  habit  of  sitting,  not  on  the  platform,  but 
about  two-thirds  down  the  hall,  in  seats  sufficiently  near 
together  so  that  we  could  strike  up  an  appropriate  song 
whenever  opportunity  presented  itself.  So  this  morn- 
ing we  followed  our  usual  custom.  Soon  we  sang 
"•  The  Slave's  Appeal."  When  we  had  finished,  Wen- 
dell Pliillips  immediately  took  the  platform,  and  re- 
marked that  if  the  song  that  had  just  been  sung  was  to 
be  understood  as  a  confession  of  sorrow  for  the  indis- 
cretion of  the  vocalists  in  singing  a  fulsome  song  in 
honor  of  that  apologizer  for  slavery,  Henry  Clay,  it 
would  be  welcomed.  This  remark  astonished  every- 
body, for  the  audience  was  in  ecstacies  over  the  song. 
The  usual  method  when  criticisms  were  indulged  in 
these  meetings  was  for  the  criticized  to  reply,  and 
Phillips  was  the  last  man  to  fear  an  answer  of  that  sort. 
AVlien  he  paused,  Brother  Jesse  started  to  rise  to  I'e- 
spond.     It  did  not  seem  to  me  that  that  was  the   best 


240  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

thing  to  do,  and  I  pulled  him  down  in  his  seat  again, 
saying,  "•  Let  us  sing ;  sing  '  Liberate  the  Bondman. '  " 
At  once  we  sang  the  song  that  had  for  so  many  years 
melted  hearts  and  converted  thousands  from  pro-slavery 
to  friendship  for  freedom.  It  was  the  inspiration  song 
of  many  a  campaign  for  the  down-trodden,  and  was  a 
far  inore  silencing  answer  to  allegations  of  lukewarm- 
ness  toward  the  bondmen  than  any  words  of  defence 
that  mio-ht  have  been  uttered.  When  we  ceased  sing-- 
ing  the  assembly  was  in  tears.  There  was  an  exhibi- 
tion of  the  deepest  feeling  I  had  ever  seen  in  such  a 
gathering.  Our  victory  over  our  critics  was  complete. 
Phillips  grasped  his  hat,  and  springing  to  the  platform, 
swung  it  over  his  head  as  he  shouted,  "  Three  cheers 
for  the  Hutchinsons  !  "  They  were  given  with  a  will. 
This  episode  closed  the  meeting.  Our  friends  gathered 
around,  and  we  were  showered  with  congratulations 
from  every  quarter.  Among  those  who  came  to  us 
was  Phillips.  He  was  immensely  pleased  at  the  way 
we  liad  completely  ignored  his  remarks,  and  won  our 
vindication  by  means  of  song.  This  closed  the  inci- 
dent as  far  as  we  were  personally  concerned.  Henry 
C.  Wright  wrote  an  elaborate  story  of  the  affair  to  the 
Liberator^  in  which  he  pictured  the  "  repentance  "  of 
the  Hutchinsons  in  such  colors  as  to  aroase  the  mirth 
of  Elizur  Wright,  and  he  replied  to  it  in  the  Chrono- 
type  at  considerable  length.  This  provoked  other  aiti- 
cles  in  the  Liberator^  Douglass'  North  Star,  the  Lynn 
Pioneer  and  other  papers. 

We  were  making  the  New  England  House  our  head- 
quarters on  tliis  trip.  I  gave  Frederick  Douglass  a  very 
cordial  invitation  to  become  my  guest  during  ni}^  staj^, 
informing  him  that  there  was  extra  room  and  a  bed  in 
our  suite  and  that  we  would  be  glad  to  have  him  occupy 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  241 

it.  He  was  rather  reluctant  at  first,  saying  he  did  not 
care  to  have  a  repetition  of  such  a  scene  as  had  oeeuned 
at, the  Pearl  Street  House  in  Boston.  I  told  liim  that  I 
would  leave  my  door  unlocked,  so  that  he  could  come 
in  at  any  hour  in  the  night  without  molestation.  He 
was  reassured,  accepted  my  invitation,  and  was  with  us 
during  the  convention. 

While  in  New  York  we  attended  a  meeting  of  tee- 
totallers at  the  Tabernacle.  Among  the  speakers 
were  John  P.  Hale,  a  Mr.  King  of  Duljlin,  and  a 
Frenchman  from  Lyons,  who  talked  in  his  own  lan- 
guage, and  was  interpreted  by  the  celebrated  Rev.  Dr. 
E.  N.  Kirk  of  Boston. 

On  May  12th  we  returned  to  Boston,  having  Mr. 
Hale  and  Christopher  Kobinson  of  Lynn  for  company. 
The  next  day  I  went  home.  On  May  31st,  witli  my 
wife  and  daughter  Viola,  and  in  company  with  the  rest 
of  the  family  —  father  and  mother,  brothers  and  sisters, 
fourteen  in  all,  and  in  our  own  teams  —  a  start  was  made 
for  Lvnn,  to  visit  Brother  Jesse  in  his  stone  cottasre  on 
High  Rock : 

"  In  the  State  of  Massachusetts  in  the  good  old  town  of  Lynn 
There's  a  famous  range  of  ledges  as  ever  eye  hath  seen  ; 
Two  hundred  feet  the  highest  ))oint,  looms  up  its  rugged  block, 
And  it's  known  throughout  New  England  as  '  Old  Iligli  Rock.'  " 

Brother  Jesse  gave  us  a  royal  welcome.  Wc  made  a 
happy  party,  although  a  rather  good-sized  one  for  the 
accommodations  of  the  larg-e  stone  cottage.  The  next 
day  Brothers  Andrew  and  Zephaniah  joined  us.  We 
spent  the  day  in  song  and  plays  like  so  many  children. 
We  were  a  hungry  and  happy  band.  On  tlie  following 
day  we  went  to  Swam})scott,  chartered  a  fishing  boat, 
and  went  to  the  "  Grounds,*'  where  we  had  rather  poor 
luck  as  fishermen.     Father  cauo-ht  the  most  of  all. 


242  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

I  remember  one  day  during  this  liappy  family  reunion 
we  all  gathered  in  a  big  cleft  about  half-way  up  the  face 
of  High  Rock,  and  sang  "  Land  of  Our  Fathers."  This 
was  an  appropriate  song  for  this  family  of  New  Hamp- 
shire birth  to  sing,  for  in  this  region  our  ancestors  for 
five  generations  had  lived,  and  father  was  born  only  a 
few  miles  awa}^,  though  removing  to  Milford,  N.  H., 
with  his  parents  when  only  a  year  old. 

The  next  day,  father,  mother,  David,  Noah,  Andrew, 
Zephaniah,  Caleb,  Joshua  and  Rhoda  went  home,  and 
the  remaining  brothers  separated  and  arranged  concerts 
in  Ipswich,  Beverly  and  Gloucester.  The  next  week 
we  cfave  our  entertainments  in  each  of  those  towns, 
with  good  success.  On  the  following  week  we  had 
arranged  for  concerts  in  Providence  and  Pawtucket,  a 
part  of  which  we  gave  ;  but  suddenly  I  had  word  from 
]\Iilford  tliat  little  Viola  was  very  sick.  My  wife  and 
Henr}^  were  with  me.  We  went  to  her  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, taking  Dr.  Kittredge  from  Boston  —  my  old  friend 
"Noggs"  —  with  us.  Skilful  nursing  for  a  few  days 
brought  ni}'  little  daughter  around  well  again,  and  I 
returned  to  Providence.  A  concert  was  advertised  for 
the  evening  I  arrived;  but  Asa  and  Judson,  thinking  I 
was  not  coming,  had  gone  to  Boston  with  their  wives, 
and  cards  of  postponement  were  out.  I  immediately 
liad  them  taken  down  and  availed  myself  of  the  benefits 
of  the  then  rather  new  magnetic  telegraph  to  reach  my 
brothers  and  get  them  back.  Our  concert  was  given 
that  night  to  a  crowded  house.  Concerts  in  Fall  River, 
Woonsocket  and  vicinity  were  given.  We  spent  a 
Sunday  in  Woonsocket  with  our  anti-slavery  friends, 
the  Adamses.  Also  had  some  pleasant  interviews  with 
our  friend  Blaisdell.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  delegate  with 
Garrison  and  Rogers  to  the  World's  Anti-Slavery  Con- 


■|l;ll'>l-;    "I'     -ll-^SK   AT    JlKiK    KOCK  —  ([..  242) 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  "243 

vention  in  London.  When  we  went  Ijack  to  Provi- 
dence I  met  Mr.  Chaplin,  who,  as  I  have  stated,  made 
an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  free  seventy-seven  slaves  in 
Washington.  We  gave  him  money  to  help  three  more 
to  freedom. 

One  of  the  pleasantest  friends  I  met  in  Providence 
was  Andrew  L.  Willard,  who  later  in  the  season  visited 
me  at  my  New  Hampshire  home.  Concerts  in  New 
Bedford  and  Taunton  followed.  At  the  former  city 
we  renewed  acquaintance  with  Joseph  Congdon  and  the 
Coffins,  with  whom  we  went  on  a  fishing  trip.  I  suffered 
a  good  deal  with  a  cough  and  other  bodily  ailments  on 
this  tour,  but  had  man}^  pleasant  times  notwithstanding. 

During  the  following  summer  I  sold  my  farm  in 
Amherst,  and  moved  to  a  new  home  in  the  village  of 
Milford  temporarily.  In  September  we  attended  a  Free 
Soil  Convention  in  Boston,  at  Tremont  Temple.  One 
of  the  chief  speakers  was  John  Van  Buren,  son  of  the 
ex-president,  who  had  also  taken  up  the  cause  of  free- 
dom. Mr.  Van  Buren  was  our  guest  a  part  of  the  time 
during  our  stay.  We  went  to  Lawrence,  then  a  very 
unfinished  city,  and  gave  a  concert  at  this  time.  Fol- 
lowing this  came  concerts  in  Manchester  and  Concord, 
the  great  Free  Soil  Convention  in  the  latter  city,  at 
which  we  sang,  and  then  a  great  concert  in  Boston. 
My  journal  says :  ''  hhid  a  full  house.  Friends,  or  at 
least  acquaintances,  came  in  at  all  hours  to  see  us  — 
and  get  tickets."  This  was  a  form  of  courtesy  that  we 
never  refused,  however  numerous  the  calls. 

This  was  the  start  for  a  trip  farther  west  than  we  had 
ever  been  before.  Perhaps  a  quotation  from  my  diary 
may  give  a  good  idea  of  how  we  felt  in  making  the  trip  : 

"  Worcester,  September  16,  1848.  —  Came  to  Worcester  to-day. 
Gave  a  concert  in  the  City  Hall.     Had  a  large  number  of  tlie   good 


244  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

peoi^le  to  hear  us  sing.  This  probably  is  the  last  time  but  once  we 
shall  sing  in  this  goodly  city.  Oh,  my  soul  is  full  of  poetry !  The 
recollections  of  the  past  rush  through  my  memory,  and  I  feel  both  sad 
and  joyous  at  times.  This  season  is  full  of  suggestions  to  call  forth 
the  emotions  of  the  soul.  We  have  to  leave  home,  separate  ourselves 
from  home  friends  and  wander  out  into  the  world  to  meet  and  form 
new  associations  and  friendsliips.  There  is  something  about  it  sad  to 
my  mind,  especially  the  uncertainty  of  meeting  those  at  home  again  in 
this  world.  Yes,  it  is  sad  to  leave  father  and  mother  and  all  the  home 
scenes,  to  die  out  West,  or  have  them  die  before  we  return.  AVe  can- 
not insure  our  lives  until  we  come  back.  Life  is  uncertain.  But  what 
makes  this  parting  doubly  sad  is  this :  We  have  left  our  brothers,  all 
of  whom  occupy  a  tender  spot  in  our  souls'  affections,  cherishing  hard 
feelings  toward  us.  God  forgive  me  if  I  have  ever  injured  any  of  my 
brothers.  I  have  always  wished  them  well,  and  now  I  would  gladly 
share  all  I  have  equally  with  them  all.  Oh,  what  a  happy  band  we 
miglit  make,  to  be  united  to  combat  the  world !  I  am  a  sinner,  but  a 
humble  man,  and  a  well-wisher  to  my  race.  I  have  longed  to  see  a 
state  of  things  brought  about  in  which  the  society  of  which  we  form  a 
part  might  grow  healthier,  richer  in  knowledge  and  brotherly  love. 
But  that  day  of  hope  and  sunshine  seems  to  be  about  passed  over,  and 
I  have  nearly  concluded  there  is  no  use  of  my  flattering  myself  any 
more.     So  God  have  mercy  on  me.     Thy  will  be  done. 

"  Sunday,  September  17th.  —  Our  concert  last  evening  was  a  good 
one,  and  we  sang  a  Free  Soil  song  that  brought  down  the  liouse,  in  a 
tremendous  cheering.  The  ball  truly  is  in  motion,  and  slavery  trem- 
bles. God  speed  the  right !  Our  visit  out  West  is  frauglit  with  some 
dangers,  and  we  must  take  care  of  ourselves,  or  fall  victims  to  the  un- 
healthy climate.  To-day  a  Mr.  AVashburn  gave  us  a  Free  Soil  song. 
Such  a  man  we  seJdom  find.     God  bless  him." 

This  Mr.  Washburn  was  a  brother  of  Israel,  Elihu  B. 
and  William  B.  Washburn,  and  one  of  a  family  of  gov- 
ernors, senators  and  diplomats.  From  Worcester  we 
went  on  to  Northampton,  where  we  gave  a  concert  in 
the  First  Congregational  church,  the  Baptist  church 
having  been  previously  engaged,  and  then  taken  from 
us,  the  authorities  fearing  desecration.  While  here  we 
saw  and  had  a  long  talk  with  Garrison,  and  were  more 
impressed  than  ever  Avitli  the  fact  that  he  Avas  a  very 
earnest  and  conscientious  man.     We  spent  two  days  in 


A   GOOD    TIME   COMING.  245 

Pittsfield,  giving  a  concert  in  a  hall  jammed  to  suffoca- 
tion. Among  our  pleasant  calls  wiis  one  from  Ex-Gov- 
ernor George  N.  Briggs  and  a  Mr.  Barr. 

From  here  Ave  proceeded  to  Albany,  and  stopped  once 
more  at  our  old  hotel  home,  the  Delavan  House.  Mr. 
Newland,  our  kind  friend  of  early  times,  had  failed,  and 
it  was  a  privilege  to  offer  him  our  assistance.  The 
next  night  we  sang  in  the  female  academy.  The  lights 
went  out  during  the  concert,  a  much  worse  misfortune 
than  a  few  hisses.  Hon.  Millard  Fillmore,  then  a  vice- 
presidential  candidate  with  "  Old  Zach.  Taylor,"  was 
present  at  the  concert,  as  at  others  we  gave  later.  John 
Van  Buren  was  also  there.  After  the  concert,  Fillmore, 
who  was  also  at  the  Delavan  House,  asked  us  into  his 
room  and  talked  very  freely  to  us,  giving  us  his  senti- 
ments on  anti-slavery.  He  reminded  us  that  as  a  mem- 
lier  of  Congress  he  was  recorded  in  some  test  votes  as  a 
friend  of  freedom.  This  conversation  pleased  us  very 
much,  but  Ave  recalled  it  Avith  feelings  of  regret  at  his 
change  of  front,  when  he  subsequently,  as  president, 
signed  the  "  Fugitive  Slave  Bill." 

The  next  day  I  called  on  Frederick  Douglass,  then 
visiting  Albany.  It  Avill  be  noticed  that  we  never  neg- 
lected to  pay  our  respects  to  the  abolition  leaders  Avlier- 
ever  Ave  found  them,  and  3'et  Ave  Avere  carrying  on  our 
Avork  for  the  emancipation  of  the  colored  race  in  our 
OAvn  Avay,  and  in  a  perfectly  independent  manner,  glad, 
howcA^er,  AAdiencA'er  Ave  could  giA'e  a  lift  to  those  carry- 
ing the  burden  of  the  great  agitation,  or  join  them  in 
felicitations  over  the  progress  of  the  cause  Ave  all  had  at 
heart. 

On  September  27th  Ave  attended  two  Aveddings,  one 
that  of  our  old  friend  Benjamin  Brier,  at  Albany ;  and 
then,  at  Troy,  that  of  Caroline  Pierpont,  daughter  of 


246  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

the  great  reformer,  John.  I  remember  how  our  joy  at 
the  hxtter  ceremony  was  tempered  by  the  reflection  that 
this  daughter  of  an  original  Abolitionist  had  linked 
her  fate  with  that  of  a  slaveholder. 

Our  route  next  took  us  through  Lansingburg,  Schnec- 
tady,  Utica,  Home,  and  on  to  Syracuse,  a  favorite  stop- 
ping-place with  us.  We  had  big  audiences  at  each  of 
the  places  mentioned.  While  in  the  cars  ew  route  to 
Syracuse,  Judson  feigned  insanity,  and  I  officiated  as 
his  keeper,  to  the  great  consternation  of  our  fellow- 
passengers.  While  in  this  city  we  attended  an  Indian 
funeral.  It  was  a  strange  experience  to  see  the  cere- 
monies, and  hear  the  moans  of  the  women.  We  rode 
to  Oswego  in  a  two-horse  carriage,  and  greatly  admired 
the  flour  country  through  which  we  passed,  with  log- 
huts  on  either  side  the  road.  The  great  flour  mills  we 
saw  were  equal  in  size  to  many  of  our  eastern  cotton 
mills.  From  here  we  went  back  to  Syracuse,  for  a 
second  concert,  and  then  went  to  Auburn.  We  fell  in 
with  a  conductor  on  the  train  who  took  us  hunting,  and 
we  got  some  squirrels,  after  a  five  or  six  mile  tramp. 
We  went  to  a  farmer's  house,  and  I  found  him  a  Mas- 
sachusetts man.  He  had  a  beautiful  farm,  and  I  talked 
with  him  about  getting  the  brothers  all  to  go  West,  a 
scheme  I  cherished  many  years,  though  those  of  us  who 
finally  aided  in  the  development  of  this  great  region 
were  much  farther  west  than  this  Auburn  farmer.  We 
spent  some  time  with  our  friends  the  Wrights,  in  this 
city  —  a  daughter  of  this  family,  niece  to  Lucretia  Mott, 
married  Wm.  Lloyd  Garrison,  Jr.  —  and  were  called 
upon  by  the  Messrs.  Clark,  good  fellows  and  first-rate 
singers.  Over  forty  years  after,  at  the  World's  Fair  in 
Chicago,  I  met  one  of  these  brothers.  He  was  still  giv- 
ing concerts. 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  247 

Our  trip  from  here  to  Geneva  Avas  by  four-horse  team 
between  Lakes  Seneca  and  Cayuga.  It  was  a  country 
as  rich  as  a  garden,  and  as  we  had  the  stage  to  our- 
selves, we  could  stop  as  often  as  we  pleased  to  pluck 
the  beautiful  flowers  beside  our  route.  Canandaigua 
came  next,  and  then  Rochester.  Douglass  was  at  this 
time  living  here  and  editing  his  paper,  the  North  Star, 
established  with  material  given  him  by  his  English 
friends.  He  came  to  see  us  as  soon  as  we  arrived. 
We  sang  in  Minerva  Hall  in  tliis  city.  I  recall  that 
Judson  sang  "The  Bachelor's  Lament"  to  such  good 
effect  that  a  child  in  the  audience  cried,  greatly  amus- 
ing everybody.  Buffalo  was  our  next  objective  point. 
We  sang  there  and  at  Lockport  during  our  stay.  We 
were  pretty  well  known  in  Buffalo.  We  had  a  habit  of 
grabbing  a  shovel  as  we  passed  the  men  at  work  on  the 
highways,  and  showing  them  that  we  knew  liow  to  han- 
dle the  implement.  Tlie  boys  in  the  streets  as  we 
passed  would  shout,  "  There  go  the  Hutchinsons  ! " 
The  anti-slavery  friends  were  few,  here,  however,  and 
as  my  diary  expresses  it,  our  songs  took  '"like  cold 
bread." 

Next  we  sang  at  Niagara  Falls.  I  had  another  op- 
portunity to  gaze  on  the  cataract,  and  recorded  my  re- 
flections in  my  diary  as  follows  : 

"  Roaring,  foaming  cataract !  Thou  seems't  to  me  nature's  noblest 
curiosity.  Thy  hurried  waters  for  ages  have  travelled  but  to  roll  and 
tumble  over  these  rocky  cliffs.  The  mist  that  rises  from  thy  spray  is 
caught  up  in  the  clouds  and  in  the  round  of  time  comes  again  with 
other  waters  to  fall  over  thy  brows.  Thou  flood  of  living  water,  roll 
on !  Eternity  is  the  length  of  thy  days,  and  of  it  thou  art  emblemati- 
cal. The  world  is  full  of  thy  praise,  thou  proud,  rolling  waters.  ^Ye 
leave  you  with  regret  as  thousands  do,  but  to  give  place  to  others  who 
learning  of  thy  beauties  come  hither  to  learn  wisdom.  Let  not  mortal 
man  attempt  to  imitate  thee.  Not  even  music,  'the  tlieme  of  every 
noble  heart '  can  represent  thee.     Niagara,  fare  thee  well !  " 


248  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

From  this  place  we  took  a  rnn  into  Canada.  Once 
more  we  gazed  upon  Englishmen  at  home.  At  Toronto, 
Ludlow  (Patton),  who  was  acting  as  our  advance 
agent  on  this  our  longest  trip,  left  us,  and  went  to 
Ohio  to  arransfe  for  our  comino'.  We  sano'  in  Toronto 
and  Hamilton  to  small  but  fashionable  audiences. 
Then  we  returned  to  Buffalo,  intending  to  depart  at 
once  for  Erie.  But  we  were  unable  to  get  a  ])oat,  and 
so  remained  over  nio-ht.  It  was  the  night  before  elec- 
tion  and  Ave  went  to  a  Free  Soil  meeting  in  a  big  stable 
and  sung  our  last  campaign  songs  for  the  time  being. 
The  next  day  the  Alleghanians,  a  popular  band  of  sing- 
ers, spent  a  good  deal  of  time  singing  with  us.  We  en- 
joyed all  this  very  much,  though  a  slightly  different 
face  was  put  upon  the  matter  a  few  weeks  afterward, 
when  we  found  they  had  fallen  in  love  with  our  songs 
to  the  extent  of  preceding  us  over  our  Ohio  route, 
singing  them  all  the  Avay. 

Well,  we  finally  reached  Erie,  and  found  the  people 
disappointed  at  our  delay  in  coming,  so  Ave  advertised 
and  gave  a  concert.  Then  we  Avent  on  to  Ashtabula  and 
Zanesville,  where  AA^e  had  croAvded  houses  and  seemed 
to  do  some  good,  and  after  a  chilly  ride  all  day  in  a 
closed  carriage  —  Ave  had  seen  a  man  shaking  Avith  the 
ague  and  AA^ere  more  than  afraid  of  it  —  arrived  in 
Cleveland.  We  gave  our  first  concert  November  15th. 
There  Avas  a  big  attendance.  We  found  CleA^eland  a 
thriving  and  rich  place,  and  met  many  friends.  We 
had  one  day's  pleasant  riding  Avith  Rev.  Mr.  Aiken,  I 
remember.  Our  second  concert  AA^as  CA^en  more  success- 
ful than  the  first. 

Elyria  Avas  our  next  stopping-place.  Here  Ave  had 
such  a  jam  that  it  Avas  almost  impossible  to  sing.  Peo- 
ple   came    fi'om  as    far  as  Oberlin,  seven    miles    aAvay. 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  249 

They  filled  the  aisles  of  the  church  where  we  sang, 
and  crowded  upon  the  platform  so  that  there  Avas 
hardly  room  to  stand.  A  son  of  Governor  Shade  of 
Vermont  came  many  miles  to  hear  us.  Next  Ave  went 
to  Sandusky. 

On  the  23d,  we  arrived  in  Cincinnati.  On  the  e\en- 
ing  of  the  same  day  we  sang  to  a  thousand  people. 
Here  Ave  met  Henry  Marvel  from  Milford,  N.  II.,  my 
cousin,  and  my  mother's  j'oungest  brother,  Kendrick 
Leavitt,  Avho  Avould  hear  of  nothing  but  that  his  dis- 
tinguished relatives,  Avhom  he  had  not  seen  for  tAventy 
years  —  in '  fact,  he  had  never  seen  Abl)y  —  should 
make  their  home  Avith  him.  We  found  him  a  good, 
Christian  man,  and  greatly  enjoyed  our  visit.  We 
made  side-trips  to  Hamilton,  Lawrenceburg  and  other 
places,  and  gave  many  concerts  in  Cincinnati.  We 
also  renewed  our  acquaintance  Avith  our  life-long 
friends,  the  Muzzeys  ;  Osgood  Muzzey  Avas  then  there 
Avith  his  father.  We  made  a  trip  to  Coventry,  Ky.,  by  a 
steamer  Ave  chartered  to  cross  the  riA^er.  The  slaA^e- 
holders  cheered  our  anti-slavery  songs,  and  Ave  had  a 
good  time,  though  the  concert  Avas  not  financially  re- 
muneratiA^e.  When  we  got  ])ack  Ave  Avere  made  happy 
by  the  arrival  of  Brother  Jesse  from  the  East.  We 
met  a  Dr.  Miles  here,  and  arranged  Avith  him  to  look 
up  some  land  upon  Avhich  the  family  might  settle.  We 
Avent  to  Dayton.  While  at  that  place  all  hands  took 
hold  and  made  a  song,  '•  A  Trip  to  Ohio,"  which  after- 
Avard  became  very  popular. 

Leaving  Cincinnati,  Ave  Avent  to  Springfield  and  Colum- 
bus, where  Ave  had  a  pleasant  time  Avith  members  of  the 
State  Legislature  and  others.  We  Avent  back  to  Uncle 
Kendrick's  for  Christmas.  On  December  30th  Ave  bid 
our  many  friends  a  long  farcAvell  and  took  the  boat  for 


250  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Wheeling,  stopping  at  Ripley  on  our  Avay  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Rankin,  a  noble  Abolitionist.  We  had  hardly  got 
aboard  when  we  were  shocked  by  news  of  cholera. 
Judson  was  especially  frightened,  and  at  once  an- 
nounced his  determination  to  go  home.  As  time  passed 
on,  the  excitement  subsided ;  but  Judson  had  made  a 
vow  to  return  home  if  spared,  and  we  could  not  move 
him.  We  had  a  service  on  board  the  vessel  on  Sunday, 
and  Ave  all  agreed  to  sing.  But  when  Judson  was  asked, 
he  solemnly  refused,  and  said  he  never  would  sing  with 
us  again.  When  w^e  reached  Pittsljurgh,  we  made 
another  effort  to  get  Judson  to  stay,  but  he  would  not 
and  went  off,  and  Jesse  went  after  liim.  We  still  had 
a  quartet  left,  for  Ludlow  was  a  good  tenor  singer;  but 
the  next  misfortune  was  the  illness  of  Asa,  which  made 
it  necessary  to  give  up  concerts  we  had  planned. 

My  birthday,  January  4,  1849,  was  spent  in  crossing 
the  Alleghanies  toward  Baltimore.  After  finding  that 
Jesse  and  Judson  had  gone  North,  we  left  Baltimore, 
and  went  to  Philadelpliia.  Here  Asa  left  us  for  New 
York  and  home.  From  here  the  trio  that  was  left  w^ent 
to  Bristol,  and  were  invited  to  give  a  concert.  Two 
evenings  later  Abby,  Ludlow  and  John  appeared  in 
concert  and  gave  good  satisfaction.  Forty-three  years 
later  the  same  trio  sang  together  at  the  funeral  of  John 
Greenleaf  Whittier.  It  was  our  last  public  song  to- 
gether. A  few  weeks  more,  and  our  darling  sister's 
human  song  was  huslied  forever. 

From  here  we  went  to  New  York,  where  Jesse  re- 
joined us,  but  that  was  the  end  of  our  singing  for  tlie 
time  being.  Three  days  later  I  was  in  Milford  again, 
more  than  happy  to  be  with  my  wife  and  children. 

On  Wednesday,  February  28, 1849,  Abby  and  Ludlow 
were  married  in  New  York  City.     In  a  few  days  they 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  251 

came  home,  and  during  the  following  week  had  their 
wedding-party.  We  Avere  all  there,  and  had  a  royal 
good  time,  singing  songs  and  otherwise  amusing  our- 
selves. I  was  anxious  to  go  on  the  road,  singing  again, 
and  a  good  many  hours  were  spent  planning.  Judson 
was  obdurate  for  a  time,  but  finally  yielded.  We  had  a 
big  family  conference,  and  endeavored  to  make  a  plan 
to  have  the  entii'e  family  own  property  and  practice  and 
oive  some  concerts  toorether.  The  idea  did  not  strike 
Jesse  favorably,  and  Ludlow  threw  cold  water  on  it ;  so 
nothing  definite  came  of  it.  Meanwhile,  David,  Judson, 
Asa  and  I  had  entered  into  a  compact  to  build  a  house  on 
the  Dr.  Fuller  place,  which  we  had  purchased.  This  was 
an  important  transaction,  by  the  Avay.  Dr.  Fuller  Avas 
stopping  in  another  place  Avith  a  son,  a  minister,  and  it 
Avas  known  that  he  Avas  A^ery  averse  to  selling  his  ^)rop- 
erty,  Avhich  Avas  in  the  centre  of  Milford,  especially  to 
any  Milford  man.  I  Avas  determined  to  have  it,  Iioaa^- 
eA^er,  and  recalling  that  m}'  friend  Cyrus  Bradley,  the 
painter,  had  been  aljle  to  buy  from  the  land  the  lot  on 
AAiiic'h  he  purposed  building,  rightly  decided  that  he 
Avould  be  the  best  agent  to  buy  the  property.  So  I  en- 
gaged Bradley  to  go  to  the  place,  and  put  in  a  Aveek  at 
painting,  or  anything  else,  but  to  see  and  talk  Avitli  the 
doctor  at  all  hazards.  He  Avent,  and  in  a  fcAV  days  re- 
turned Avith  the  good  news  that  he  had  bought  the 
place  for  me.  On  this  land  now  stands  the  Milford 
to\A'n-hall,  the  public  library,  the  bank  building,  the 
Ijrick  school-house,  and  numerous  stores  and  dwellings. 
Before  Ave  began  the  erection  of  the  house  of  Avhich  I 
haA'e  spoken,  Judson  sold  out  his  interest  to  the  other 
three  brothers  ;  and  as  tlie  Avork  Avent  on,  DaAdd  became 
the  agent  of  the  others  to  look  out  for  it. 

On  May  loth,  Ave   started   on  another   tour   of   the 


252  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

quartet,  which  for  so  many  years  had  been  before  the 
public.  Ludlow  went  with  Abby,  and  each  of  the 
brothers  took  their  wives.  We  sang  in  Lawrence, 
Concord  (Mass.),  Lexington,  Woburn,  Haverhill,  Ex- 
eter, Dover,  Great  Falls,  Rochester,  and  reached  Port- 
land June  1st.  We  spent  much  time  with  the  Dennetts, 
and  received  many  callers  at  the  United  States  Hotel, 
which  we  made  our  home.  While  here,  we  found 
Prof.  H.  W.  Longfellow  was  stopping  at  the  same 
hotel,  and  we  were  invited  into  his  a})artments,  where 
we  sang  three  songs,  the  words  of  which  were  com- 
posed by  him,  one  of  them  "  Excelsior."  Al)out  this 
time  I  invented  a  new  form  of  water-wheel,  and  put  it 
into  the  hands  of  my  friend  H.  F.  C'asson,  of  Nashua, 
wdio  happened  to  be  in  town.  Then  we  Avent  on  through 
Lewiston,  Augusta  and  Hallo  well.  At  the  latter  place 
I  went  fronting  and  for  my  first  fish  landed  a  big  fellow, 
weighing  two  pounds  and  two  ounces.  Asa  fished  for 
pickerel :  he  caught  23  pounds  in  all.  Thence  we  went 
to  Skowhegan,  and  to  Bangor.  Here  we  stayed  several 
days,  and  niade  hosts  of  friends.  Concerts  were  given 
here,  at  Orono,  Oldtown,  Bucksport,  Belfast,  East 
Thomaston,  West  Thomaston,  Daraariscotta,  Wiscasset, 
Bath,  thence  we  went  back  to  Portland  and  home. 

Soon  after  our  return  Sister  Abby  was  taken  seriously 
ill,  and  for  two  months  her  life  was  despaired  of.  Then 
she  went  to  Connecticut  with  her  husband,  and  we 
feared  that  was  the  end  of  her  concert  work  with  us. 

But  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  think  of  giving  up  a 
mode  of  life  I  enjoyed  so  well ;  and  so,  when  I  found 
that  my  brothers  were  averse  to  going  with  me,  I  de- 
termined to  strike  out  for  myself.  So  in  a  short  time  I 
went  to  Boston  and  had  some  hand-bills  struck  off. 
Then  I  went  back  to  Milford  and  advertised  a  concert. 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  253 

I  had  the  Milforcl  Brass  Band  to  assist  me,  and  had  a 
fairly  good  house.  I  sang  fifteen  songs,  and  recited 
"  The  Gambler's  Wife."  I  followed  this  up  with  con- 
certs in  Mason,  Townsend,  Hollis,  Lyndeboro,  Wilton, 
Hancock,  Peterboro,  Jaffrey  and  Mont  Vernon. 

At  about  this  time  I  made  a  California  venture.  A 
man  named  Darrow  in  our  town  wanted  to  S'o  to  the 
promised  land,  but  had  no  money.  He  came  to  me,  and 
I  lent  him  five  hundred  dollars,  stipulating  tliat  he 
should  give  me  half  of  his  earnings.  For  security,  I  in- 
sured his  life,  making  the  policy  payable  to  myself. 
He  was  gone  many  months,  and  I  heard  nothing  from 
him.  Then  some  one  told  me  he  was  earnino-  eio-ht 
dollars  a  day,  and  I  was  quite  willing  to  wait,  if  the  in- 
vestment was  to  bring  me  half  of  it.  Finally  his  wife, 
then  staving  in  Nantucket,  came  to  see  me,  and  Ijco-an 
negotiations  looking  towards  buying  me  off.  She  of- 
fered to  pay  the  loan  and  one  liundred  dollars  besides ; 
and  as  I  was  glad  to  get  even  tlie  principal  back,  re- 
gardless of  interest,  I  quickly  took  her  up,  accepted  the 
money  and  released  liim  from  his  agreement.  I  saw 
Darrow  in  California  in  later  j^ears.  At  one  time  he 
was  worth  a  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

My  success  in  concert-giving  "  on  my  own  hook  "  in 
New  Hampshire  gave  me  courage  to  strike  out  into 
other  fields ;  and  on  October  26th  I  left  home  and  went 
to  Boston.  From  there  I  went  to  Hartford,  where  Abby 
and  Ludlow  Avere  stopping.  I  at  once  made  an  arrange- 
ment with  Mr.  Patton  to  act  as  my  advance  agent. 
While  here  I  heard  Father  Mathew,  the  a]^)ostle  of  tem- 
perance, speak  several  times.  He  remembered  seeing  us 
in  Ireland.  It  was  a  great  comfort  to  me  to  be  near 
Abby,  but  I  felt  the  absence  of  my  brothers  Judson  and 
Asa  keenly. 


254  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

November  2d,  I  commenced  my  Connecticut  tour  with 
a  concert  in  Farmington.  Then  follov/ed  successively 
concerts  in  Plymouth  (which  were  repeated),  Bristol, 
Wolcottville,  Waterbury,  Meriden,  Waterbury  again, 
Wolcottville  again,  Meriden  again,  Middletown  (three 
successive  concerts,  audience  increasing  each  time), 
Farmington,  New  Haven  (where  I  was  very  unhappy, 
recalling  the  many  times  I  had  sung  there  with  my 
sister  and  brothers,  but  determined  not  to  despair), 
Bridgeport,  Springfield  (Mass.,  where  I  sung  for  the 
benefit  of  Henry  B.  Brown,  a  runaway  slave,  and  gave 
two  concerts),  New  Haven  again,  Hartford  (giving  two 
concerts),  Cabotville  (Mass.),  Chicopee  Falls  (Mass.), 
Winsted,  Terryville,  Wolcottville  once  more,  Winsted 
again  (I  had  trouble  here  with  rowdies  who  jeered  me 
as  an  aristocrat  because  my  tickets  were  twenty-five 
cents  instead  of  twelve  and  one-half  cents),  Litchfield 
(Brother  Jesse  met  me  here,  and  for  a  short  time  assisted 
me  on  the  business  end).  New  Hartford,  Litchfield 
again,  Meriden  again,  Hartford  again,  and  after  a  quick 
trip  to  Milford,  another  in  Hartford,  Willimantic, 
Windsor  Locks,  Willimantic  again,  Cabotville  again. 
North  Brookfield  (Mass.),  Worcester  (Mass.),  Lynn 
(Mass.),  Woburn  (Mass.). 

During  most  of  my  trip  in  Connecticut,  Avhich  lasted 
over  three  months,  1  made  my  headquarters  in  Hartford, 
either  at  a  hotel,  at  Rev.  Wm.  W.  Patton's  or  at  my 
friend  John  Comstock's.  The  principal  reason  for  this 
was  that  Abby  was  usually  in  that  city.  Not  all  of 
these  concerts  were  numerically  successf  id,  though  they 
averaged  well,  and  I  was  all  the  time  gaining  a  reputa- 
tion that  was  bringing  me  frequent  offers  from  other 
singers  to  join  with  them.  I  was  still  hopeful  of  again 
singing  with  my  brothers,  however,  and  paid  no  atten- 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  255 

tioii  to  these  offers.  Ludlow  and  Aljby,  and  Jesse 
when  he  came,  wei'e  able  to  write  the  folks  at  liome  of 
my  success.  My  health  was  fair,  but  loneliness  and 
homesickness  told  on  me,  and  I  had  days  of  physical 
weakness  when  the  future  looked  dark.  At  such  times 
I  would  write  farewell  words  in  my  diary,  for  it  seemed 
as  thouQ-h  I  was  never  to  see  the  dear  home  faces  ao-ain. 
But  this  was  usually  at  night,  and  in  the  morning  I 
would  remember  that  my  motto  was  "  Excelsior"  —  still 
higher —  and  wo  aid  go  at  it  again  with  new  courage. 

At  one  time  during  my  trip  my  wife  came  to  see  me, 
and  she  told  me  that  my  brothers  Asa  and  Judson  had 
l^een  to  our  house  and  inquired  very  particularly  as  to 
my  progress.  She  thought  the  tone  of  their  inquiries 
indicated  a  desire  to  be  with  me.  They  had  been  hard 
at  work  chopping  trees  in  my  absence,  and  probably 
concerting  looked  a  little  more  attractive  to  them  than 
it  did  when  on  the  road.  I  said  nothing,  but  waited 
developments.  After  my  concert  at  Woburn,  I  went 
home,  a  little  nettled,  I  rememljer,  at  a  rather  unusual 
habit  the  Woburn  selectmen  had  of  taking  in  an  enter- 
tainment tlirough  the  windows  of  the  hall.  A  stay  of 
a  few  days  and  I  was  off  again,  and  on  February  16th 
gave  a  concert  to  an  audience  of  six  hundred  people  in 
Lyceum  Hall,  Lynn.  Then  back  to  Milford  again, 
where  I  got  my  wife  and  son  Henry,  and  proceeded  to 
try  my  luck  in  Woburfi  once  more.  By  an  accident, 
the  notices  of  this  concert  were  not  put  out  until  my 
arrival,  but  I  sung  on  the  19th  to  a  small  house. 
On  this  occasion  Henry  sang  with  me,  his  first  appear- 
ance in  a  paid  entertainment,  though  he  had  previously 
sung  with  me  at  the  hall  in  Milforcl.  He  created  quite 
a  sensation. 

During  the  latter  trip  to  Lynn,  I  met  both  Judson 


256  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

and  Asa.  It  was  a  little  hard  getting  at  it,  but  in  the 
course  of  our  conversation  they  made  me  understand 
that  they  would  not  be  averse  to  doing  some  concert 
work.  I  suggested  that  they  should  sing  a  little,  and 
we  began.  They  had  had  no  practice  during  the  win- 
ter, and  I  was  grieved  to  perceive  that  their  voices 
were  a  little  rough,  and  that  we  did  not  blend  as  for- 
merly. Finally  I  stopped  playing,  and  looking  at  them 
said,  "  Boys,  I'll  sing  with  3'ou  again  on  one  condition, 
that  we  get  Abby."  "  Done,"  they  responded,  and  at 
once  Ave  laid  our  plans  to  go  to  her,  and  see  what  per- 
suasion would  do.  On  the  20th  of  February  we  all 
met  in  Boston  and  took  the  train  for  New  York. 
While  en  i-oute,  we  formulated  a  plan  of  giving  her  a 
serenade  to  announce  our  arrival ;  and  I  at  once  went 
to  work  and  composed  the  words  of  an  appropriate 
song.  When  we  reached  New  York  we  waited  until 
evening,  and  then  walked  up  to  her  boarding-place  to 
sing  our  serenade  to  Abl)y.  We  made  inquiries,  how- 
ever, and  were  disappointed  to  hnd  that  she  was  away. 
We  went  back  to  the  New  England  House  with  heavy 
hearts.  The  next  day  we  took  a  boat  up  the  Hudson 
forty  miles  to  Rockland  Lake,  where  we  had  learned 
Abby  was  likely  to  be  found.  Landing  three  miles 
from  the  place  we  took  supper  at  a  hotel,  and  then 
started  on  foot,  over  the  mountains  and  through  the 
mud,  for  our  objective  point.  We  found  the  house  in 
a  sightly  location,  overlooking  the  beautiful  lake.  The 
moon  was  shedding  her  lustrous  beams  over  lake  and 
mountain,  and  it  was  just  the  night  for  nocturnal  chor- 
isters to  warble  serenades. 

But  we  had  been  frustrated  once.  We  determined  to 
find  whether  our  bird  w^as  caged  Ijefore  we  began.  Asa 
boldly  ventured  to  the  door  and  rang   the  bell,  while 


A   GOOD   TIME    COMING.  257 

Judson  and  I  fell  back  into  the  shade  of  friendly 
shrubbery.  An  aged  gentleman,  Mr.  Duncan  McMar- 
tin,  came  to  the  door.  "  Can  you  direct  me  to  the 
steamboat  landing?"  asked  Asa.  "Certainly,"  was  the 
reply,  and  the  obliging  old  gentleman  closed  the  door, 
and  walked  down  to  the  gate  in  order  to  better  give 
the  information  desired.  It  was  correct,  for  we  had 
just  come  that  way  and  were  posted.  "  By  the  wa}^'' 
pursued  Asa,  "  there  is  a  man  named  Patton  stopping 
at  your  house,  is  there  not?"  ''Yes,  do  you  know 
him  ?  Won't  you  drop  in  and  see  him  ?  "  Asa  had 
met  him,  but  would  not  stop,  thank  you.  He  sup- 
posed Mrs.  Patton  was  there  also.  The  answer  was  in 
the  affirmative,  and  the  traveller  went  his  way. 

A  few  minutes  later  Mr.'McMartin  and  his  guests 
Avere  engaged  in  family  devotions,  Avhen  from  the  moon- 
lighted terrace  under  the  window  there  floated  up  the 
voice  of  song : 

"  Strains  of  love  our  hearts  are  bounding, 

Sister  dear,  sister  dear, 
As  on  you  tliese  strains  are  sounding. 

Sister  dear,  Abby  dear. 
Your  brothers  tliree  before  you  singing 
And  to  your  lieart  we  joy  are  bringing, 
Oh,  open  tlie  window  and  hear  the  ringing. 

Sister  dear,  0  sister  dear ! 

"  Once  more  on  earth  we've  come  to  greet  you, 

Sister  dear,  Abby  dear, 
And  happy  are  we  now  to  meet  you, 

Abby  dear,  sister  dear. 
Blissful  thoughts  do  now  inspire  us. 
As  now  this  scene  of  love  comes  o'er  us, 
Oh,  will  you  join  with  us  the  chorus. 

Sister  dear,  O  sister  dear  ?  " 

The  o-ood  man  reached  his  '*  amen  "  with  some  haste, 
and  in  an  instant  Abby  exclaimed,  '•  Oh,  my  brothers  I  " 


258  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

and  rushed  to  tlie  door  and  over  the  intervening  terrace. 
When  we  paused  she  broke  the  echoes  of  the  dying- 
strain  by  singing : 

"  Welcome,  brothers,  welcome." 

AVe  couhl  hardly  suppress  our  emotion  as  we  drew 
our  beloved  sister  to  our  hearts.  We  were  invited  into 
the  house,  and  royally  entertained  for  several  days.  It 
seemed  like  a  paradise  in  that  beautiful  home.  We  dis- 
cussed our  plans  with  Abby  and  Ludlow,  but  were  un- 
able to  get  a  promise  that  she  would  sing  with  us. 
Meanwhile,  I  drew  up  an  agreement  that  we  brothers 
would  stick  together  for  three  years,  for  I  had  had 
enough  of  uncertainty. 

Monday,  February  25th,  we  bid  Abljy  farewell  once 
moi'e,  with  sad  hearts,  for  we  liad  been  unable  to  get 
her  to  promise  to  sing  for  us.  We  went  to  Poughkeep- 
sie,  wliile  she,  Avith  Ludlow,  went  to  New-  York.  We 
gave  a  concert  three  days  later  to  six  hundred  people. 
A  few  days  after  we  gave  another  in  a  church.  People 
seemed  to  enjoy  us,  but  Al)by  was  not  with  us  and  we 
were  dissatisfied.  On  March  2d  we  sung  in  New- 
burg.  The  concert  seemed  to  go  harder  than  ever. 
The  boys'  instruments  sounded  harsh,  and  we  missed 
Abby's  voice  in  our  harmony.  I  Avent  back  to  my 
room,  sadly  disappointed.  What  should  we  do  ?  I 
sat  down,  and  soon  Judson  came  in,  looking  and  feel- 
ing morose  and  desperate.  Then  Asa  came  in,  threw 
down  the  bag  containing  our  evening's  receipts  on  the 
table,  remarking,  "  That  money  is  hard  earned."  This 
showed  that  he  felt  as  tlie  others  did.  Then  there  was 
an  awkward  pause.  None  of  us  cared  to  express  what 
was  in  our  hearts.     Suddenly  we  heard  a  voice  : 

"  Sing,  sing,  what  shall  I  sing  ? 
The  cat's  run  away  with  the  pudding-bag  string  !  " 


A    GOOD    TIME    COMING.  259 

"  That's  Abby  I "  Asa  exclaimed,  rushing  to  the 
door.  And  so  it  was ;  but  Avliere  was  she  ?  We 
hunted  through  the  corridors,  looked  under  the  win- 
dows, and  finally  under  the  bed,  where  we  found  the 
intruder,  together  with  Ludlow.  They  had  slyly  vis- 
ited the  concert-room,  heard  us  sing,  come  iu  ahead  of 
us,  had  beeu  let  into  the  room  by  the  clerk,  and  secreted 
themselves.  There  was  no  more  moping  that  night 
after  that  sweet  surprise.  She  could  not  joiu  us  riglit 
away,  but  gave  us  assurances  that  in  a  short  time  she 
would.  We  started  out  on  a  trip  to  fill  in  the  time 
with  light  hearts  after  that  good  news.  The  next  day 
was  Sunday,  and  she  sang  with  us  at  church  and  on  the 
following  evening  appeared  witli  us  in  concert  in  the 
same  place.  After  that  we  three  brothers  filled  engage- 
ments in  Fishkill,  Poughkeepsie  again,  —  where  by  a 
breakdown  of  our  cai-riage  we  smashed  Asa's  cello  all 
to  pieces,  and  were  compelled  to  walk  five  miles  into 
town  —  and  Kingston. 

During  this  rough  ride  Judson's  violin  bow  became 
loose  in  its  box,  and  kept  thumping,  thumping  on  the 
body  of  the  instrument,  until  it  nearly  wore  a  hole 
through  it.  Not  long  after  he  swap[)ed  it  off  for 
another  violin  witli  a  teacher,  who  twenty  years  later 
came  to  me  with  the  identical  instrument  and  offered 
to  sell  it.  I  bought  it  for  my  son  Jndson,  its  former 
owner's  namesake.  I  soon  recognized  in  it  an  old  friend, 
by  the  marks ;  and  within  a  week  of  this  writing  have 
played  upon  it  in  concerts. 

From  Kingston  we  went  to  Catskill  and  Hudson,  two 
big  concerts  in  each  place ;  and  then  back  to  Milford 
for  a  short  stay. 

On  Friday,  March  22,  1850,  we  opened  a  series  of 
concerts  in  New  York  City,  at  Niblo"s,  Abl)y  being  with 


260  THE    HUTCHINSOISr    FAMILY. 

US.  On  the  following  Sunday  we  sang  in  Plymouth 
Church,  Brooklyn,  for  Henry  Ward  Beecher.  The 
same  Aveek  we  gave  a  concert  in  that  church,  before  a 
thousand  people.  Later  we  gave  another.  We  stayed 
several  weeks  in  New  York  giving  concerts  in  Niblo's, 
the  Rutger's  Institute  and  the  Broadway  Tabernacle. 

March  12th  we  went  to  Albany.  On  the  following 
Sunday  we  sang  in  the  Congregational  church,  Mr. 
Beecher,  whom  I  had  seen  often  during  our  stay  in 
New  York,  and  learned  to  love  as  a  brother,  being  the 
preacher.  We  gave  concerts  in  All^any,  Troy,  Newark, 
Elizabethtown,  and  then  back  to  New  York  for  another 
series  of  concei'ts. 

During  this  season's  work  we  brought  out  two  songs, 
in  particular,  that  gave  great  satisfaction.  One  of  them 
was  Jesse's  song,  ''  Good  ( )ld  Days  of  Yore."  He  came 
from  home,  and  met  us  at  the  beginning  of  our  work  in 
Newburg.  On  the  following  day,  as  before  stated,  we 
went  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  he  went  with  us.  From 
there  he  went  ahead,  and  cared  for  our  Imsiness  interests 
through  the  season.  At  Poughkeepsie  he  produced  and 
read  to  us  the  words  of  his  beautiful  song,  written  while 
in  bereavement  Ijy  the  loss  of  a  little  child : 

"  How  my  heart  is  in  me  burning, 
And  my  very  soul  is  yearninij;, 
As  my  thoughts  go  backward,  turning 
To  the  good  old  days  of  yore, 
When  my  father  and  my  mother, 
And  each  sister  dear,  and  l)rother. 
Sat  and  chatted  with  each  other 
Round  that  good  old  cottage  door. 


"  Then  were  words  of  kindness  spoken, 
And  each  heart  renewed  the  token. 
Pledging  vows  not  to  be  broken. 
Broken  never,  never  more. 


,^^ 


JL'DSON'S   "STANDING   GOLLAK  "    SONG  -  (p.  litil) 


A   GOOD    TIME   COMING.  261 

And  though  now  asunder  driven, 
With  the  ties  of  childliood  riven, 
Still  we  cherish  pledges  given 
Round  that  good  old  cottage  door." 

There  were  four  verses  in  all,  and  they  affected  us 
deeply.  When  lie  had  finished,  and  while  we  were  each 
sitting  under  the  spell  of  the  sentiment,  I  said,  "  Jesse, 
cannot  you  carry  the  thought  a  little  farther  and  bring 
it  to  the  meeting  at  our  Heavenly  Father's  door?"  He 
thought  a  minute,  then  seized  a  pencil,  and  went  apart 
from  us.    In  a  short  time  he  returned  with  a  verse  added: 

"  Though  our  days  on  earth  are  fleeting, 
And  all  temporal  joys  retreating, 
Yet  we  hope  for  another  meeting  — 
Better  far  than  days  of  yore  — 
When  through  heavenly  courts  ascending, 
And  with  angel  voices  blending, 
We  shall  sing  on,  without  ending, 
At  our  Heavenly  Father's  door  — 
Sing  tlie  Xew  Song  forevermore." 

The  other  piece  referred  to  was  Judson's  "  Collar 
Song."  As  all  our  friends  know,  we  had  many  years 
before  adopted  the  wide  Byron  collar,  which  became 
a  distinctive  feature  of  our  dress.  While  we  were  in 
England,  the  standing  '••dicky"  became  so  popular  as 
to  be  universally  worn,  and  our  turn-down  collars  were 
sadly  out  of  date.  But  they  were  comfortable,  and 
we  continued  to  wear  them,  although  our  neckwear 
became  the  subject  of  a  good  deal  of  comment.  In  com- 
posing the  '^  Collar  Song,"  Judson  and  I  stood  before 
a  mirror  and  turned  up  our  collars,  thus  nearly  extin- 
guishing our  ears.     Verses  of  this  song  were : 

"The  standing  collar  is  all  the  rage, 
And  we  want  to  keep  up  with  the  spirit  of  the  age, 
And  we  know  not  how  high  the  fasliion  will  go, 
So  we  thouglit  we'd  make  'era  eight  inches  or  so  — 
Ri  tu,  di  nu,  di  nu,  etc. 


262  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

"  While  travelling  in  Europe  with  our  collars  turned  down, 
Whether  in  a  big  city  or  in  a  small  town, 
As  we  passed  through  tlie  streets  the  hoys  would  holler, 
'  Just  look  at  those  Yankees  with  the  great  wide  collar '  — 
Ei  tu,  di  nu,  etc." 

The  May  meetings  of  the  anti-slavery  people  were 
held  in  the  Broadway  Tabernacle  during  onr  second 
stay  in  New  York.  The  aggressive  pro-slavery  forces, 
instigated  by  certain  pro-slavery  papers  and  headed  by 
a  bright  tough  named  Isaiah  Rynders,  determined  to 
break  the  meeting  up.  On  the  morning  of  the  first  day 
of  the  convention  we  entered  the  great  ampitheatre  and 
took  our  places  in  the  centre  of  the  upper  tier  of  seats. 
Garrison  was  the  first  speaker.  He  was  very  radical  in 
his  utterances,  I  remember,  speaking  of  the  dead  and 
living  Christ.  Suddenly  Rynders  and  about  a  hundred 
of  his  satellites  swooped  down  upon  the  platform  and 
took  possession  of  the  meeting.  There  was  a  great 
uproar,  and  we  were  fearful  that  the  Abolitionists 
would  receive  bodily  harm.  The  police  were  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  disturbers,  and  no  help  could  be  ex- 
pected from  them.  I  thought  of  the  expedient  to 
which  we  had  resorted  in  so  many  previous  meetings 
when  the  debates  waxed  hot,  and  suggested  that  we 
sing.  So  the  quartet  struck  up  a  selection.  I  have 
often  since  heard  Frederick  Douglass  describe  the  effect 
of  the  song.  The  uproar  ceased  immediately,  and  all 
eyes  Avere  turned  to  us.  This  did  not  suit  Boss  Rynders 
at  all.  He  desired  to  monopolize  attention.  •  He  left 
the  platform,  and  strode  up  the  aisle  toward  us,  and 
when  he  got  near  enough  to  be  heard,  shook  his  fist  and 

shouted,  "  Stop  that psalm  singing  !  "     As  our  only 

idea  was  to  create   a  diversion  from  the  crisis  on  the 
platform,  and  that  had  been  done,  we  subsided,  when 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  263 

the  end  of  tlie  verse  was  reached.  Then  Rynders  pro- 
ceeded. Calmly  ignoring  Mr.  Garrison,  he  called  on 
an  alleged  scientist  in  tlie  gang  to  lecture  on  the  close 
connection  between  the  '"  nigger "  and  the  monkey. 
His  argument  was  received  with  great  delight  by  his 
sympathizers.  He  concluded.  "  Now,"  said  Ryndei's, 
turning  to  Douglass, ''you  may  speak."  I  shall  never 
forget  the  fine  sarcasm  in  Douglass's  voice  and  manner 
as  with  a  low  ])ow  he  acknowledged  the  "'  royal  permis- 
sion "  vouchsafed  him  to  defend  his  race  from  the  asper- 
sions of  science,  falsely  so-called.  It  was  a  glorious 
effort  and  the  anti-slavery  people  were  delighted.  Not 
so,  Rynders.  He  stopped  the  oratoi*,  remarking  that  he 
was  not  a  "  nigger  "  anyway,  but  more  than  half  white. 
Douglass  retorted:  "Then  hy  jonv  roi/al  permission  — 
(bowing  low)— ^I  will  introduce  a  man  who  is  not 
guilt u  of  having  a  drop  of  white  blood  in  his  veins." 
Ward,  the  great  colored  orator,  who  afterward  shook 
the  dust  of  this  compromising  countrj^  from  his  feet  and 
went  to  Liberia,  then  to(jk  the  platform,  and  talked 
until  Rynders  adjourned  the  meeting.  The  next  day 
the  contest  was  renewed,  the  mob  taking  possession, 
but  I  was  not  there.  The  excitement  and  anxiety  of 
the  first  day  upset  me,  and  I  took  to  my  l)ed  for  the 
first  time  in  nine  years,  where  I  suffered  from  prostra- 
tion several  days. 

It  was  during  this  stay  in  New  York,  also,  that  we 
made  a  trip  to  the  "•  North  American  Phalanx "  in 
New  Jersey,  the  community  founded  by  Horace  Greeley, 
and  in  which  he  took  so  much  interest.  We  went  on  a 
Saturday,  remaining  until  the  following  Monday.  Mr. 
Greeley  and  Mr.  Spring,  one  of  the  chief  promoters  of 
the  enterprise,  went  with  us.  We  found  tlie  commu- 
nity not  as  large  as  that  at  Florence,  but  with  a  nmch 


264  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

finer  farm  than  that,  and  far  more  comfortably  housed 
than  the  people  engaged  in  the  Brook  Farm  experi- 
ment. On  Saturday  evening  there  were  dramatic 
representations  in  the  big  kitchen,  and  on  Sunday  we 
had  services  in  the  same  apartment,  Mr.  Greeley  giving 
an  address,  we  contributing  some  songs.  Sunday  was  a 
stormy  day,  but  we  greatly  enjoyed  it.  On  Saturday 
we  had  a  chance  for  a  good  game  of  football.  This 
year  we  had  more  fun  with  this  game  than  any  other. 
In  many  of  the  towns  visited  I  organized  clubs.  The 
rubber  footballs  I  took  with  me  were  novelties,  and 
often  a  collection  would  be  taken  and  I  would  be  com- 
missioned to  buy  tliem  a  Ijall  in  New  York. 

Another  incident  of  this  period  was  a  call  from  a 
man  named  Martin,  who  had  invented  a  sewing-ma- 
chine. He  bargained  with  us  for  the  right  to  sell  in 
the  county  of  Hillsboro,  N.  H.,  and  gave  Jesse  the 
right  in  Lynn.  Jesse  took  a  macliine  to  Lynn  with 
him,  highly  elated,  but  never  did  anything  definite  to- 
wards introducing  it,  and  it  finally  went  to  decay. 
Hillsboro  County  never  saw  it. 

May  23d  we  left  New  York  for  Bridgeport,  Conn., 
where  we  called  on  P.  T,  Barnum  at  liis  beautiful 
home,  "  Iranistan,"  afterwards  destroyed  by  fire.  He 
talked  to  us  of  his  project  of  bringing  Jenny  Lind  to 
this  country,  and  showed  us  the  wine  bottles  he  had 
taken  from  his  cellar  and  smashed,  he  having  become  a 
temperance  man.  We  sang  some  songs  in  his  music- 
room.  After  a  concert  here,  we  went  to  New  Haven, 
wdiere  I  was  shown  great  courtesy  by  my  friend  Gov- 
ernor Seymour,  the  hero  of  Chapultepec,  who,  when  we 
reached  Hartford,  a  little  later,  devoted  much  of  his 
time  to  entertaining  me.  We  had  a  game  of  football, 
I  recall,  with  two  legislators. 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  2G5 

We  sang  for  a  few  weeks  in  many  Connecticut  cities, 
and  in  Spiingtield  and  Worcester  in  Massachusetts. 
Then  we  went  home  for  a  time.  In  June  the  three 
brothers  started  on  a  tour  without  Abby.  We  sang  in 
Salem,  Danvers,  iNIarblehead,  ]Milford  (Mass.),  Holy- 
oke,  Northampton,  Amherst,  Deerfield,  West  Spring- 
iield,  Westfield,  Pittsfiekl,  Great  Harrington,  New  Brit- 
ain, Norwich,  Phiinfield,  and  thence  returned  home. 

During  the  summer  we  made  a  short  trip,  first  to 
Stonington,  where  we  not  only  gave  some  pleasing  con- 
certs, Abby  being  with  us,  but  had  some  very  happy 
days  with  Rev.  Dr.  William  Patton,  Sr.,  and  his  family. 
We  had  a  bluefishing  trip  to  Block  Island  ;  I  was  sea- 
sick, fearfully  so,  l)ut  wlien  our  small  boat  reached  the 
fishing  grounds,  and  I  heard  Asa  scream  out,  ''  I've  got 
a  bite  I  "  I  revived  at  once.  When  Dr.  Patton  caught 
one  and  shouted  to  me  to  take  his  line,  I  responded 
with  alacrity.  Soon  I  was  pulling  a  real  Ijluefish  to- 
wards the  boat.  Oh,  how  he  did  pull !  He  would 
take  a  tack  and  draw  hard  on  the  line,  but  all  the  time 
I  was  getting  him  nearer.  Then  he  would  hop  out  of 
the  water  to  extricate  himself ;  but  he  was  hooked  fast, 
and  in  about  one  minute  I  had  him  in  the  boat.  We 
caught  forty  all  told,  my  catch  being  nine,  and  tlien  we 
had  another  siege  of  seasickness  getting  home.  But 
the  fun  was  worth  it.  Dr.  Patton  had  quite  a  number 
of  ministerial  friends  with  him  on  this  trip.  While  we 
were  going  over  to  Block  Island  all  the  compan}^  were 
seated  in  the  middle  of  the  boat,  when  Judson  sud- 
denly jumped  upon  the  forward  deck,  and  waving  his 
hat,  shouted,  "  Come  up  out  of  the  mighty  deep  !  "  In- 
stantly a  big  fish,  apparently  ten  feet  long,  leaped  out 
of  the  water  and  seemed  to  stand  on  his  tail  for  a  mo- 
ment and  then  disappeared.     We  were  not  partial    to 


266  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

sharks,  and  fearing  it  might  be  one,  armed  ourselves  for 
resistance  if  he  shoukl  chance  to  leap  up  again  and 
come  aboard.  The  dominies,  meanwhile,  gazed  on  Jud- 
son  with  new  resjject,  as  on  one  gifted  with  prophetic 
powers,  and  it  was  evident  ever  after  that  Dr.  Patton 
considered  that  lie  had  an  unusual  gift  in  that  direc- 
tion. The  next  trip  we  made  to  Block  Island  was  on 
an  excursion  steamer,  there  being  some  four  liundred 
on  board.  We  ao-reed  to  g'o  for  one-fourth  of  the  re- 
ceipts,  and  sang  at  intervals  in  different  parts  of  the 
boat  to  admiring  audiences. 

Next  we  went  to  New  London,  my  first  visit.  Here 
we  sang  to  general  acceptance,  and  had  some  very 
pleasant  experiences.  Then  we  proceeded  to  Norwich, 
gave  a  largely  attended  concert  (where  we  had  the 
vexatious  experience  of  seeing  the  gas  fail  us  and  hav- 
ing to  substitute  candles,  which  smoked),  and  visited 
the  grave  of  Uncas,  the  Indian  chief,  and  the  birth- 
places of  Benedict  Arnold  and  Mrs.  Sigourney.  Leav- 
ing Norwich,  we  sang  in  Worcester,  then  in  Provi- 
dence, where  our  former  triumphs  were  repeated,  it 
l?eing  impossible  to  get  all  who  came  into  the  hall,  and 
on  to  Newport,  where  we  found  it  hard  to  reconcile  our 
simple  songs  and  ways  to  the  spiiit  of  aristocracy  we 
found  j)revailing.  So  we  went  back  and  gave  another 
concert  in  Providence  and  then  went  home. 

In  the  interval  between  the  last  trips  recorded  I  suc- 
ceeded in  arousing  an  interest  in  Milford  to  hear  our 
old  friend.  Rev.  John  Pierpont.  By  invitation  of  many 
townfolk  he  came  up  and  spent  a  few  days,  preaching 
in  the  town  hall  on  '^  The  Resurrection,"  Joshua, 
Caleb,  Asa,  Judson  and  I  forming  the  choir  for  the  oc- 
casion ;  he  also  gave  a  temperance  lecture,  touching 
particularly   on    the    tobacco    question.     AVhen   we    re- 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  267 

turned  from  Providence  I  found  great  results  from  his 
work,  a  large  number  of  3'oung  men  having  sworn  oft' 
from  the  use  of  the  weed. 

On  September  l-lth,  Judson,  Asa  and  I  left  home 
once  more  for  a  musical  trip.  Joshua  went  ahead  as  ad- 
vance agent.  We  had  an  accident  as  we  started.  The 
stage-driver  turned  his  horses  with  a  flourish  and 
threw  Asa's  'cello  from  tlie  roof  of  the  stage ;  it 
was  badly  smashed,  box  and  all.  That  old  bass-viol 
had  a  good  many  smashings  during  our  experiences, 
but  it  is  said  to  improve  such  an  instrument  to  glue  it 
occasionally.  We  had  much  rather  have  our  instru- 
ments l)roken  than  our  l)ones.  It  is  a  matter  for  con- 
gratulation that  in  all  the  years  of  our  journeyings  to 
and  fro,  we  never  Avere  in  a  railway  or  steamboat  ac- 
cident of  any  account,  and  none  of  us  suffered  any 
personal  injury.  We  sang  in  Manchester,  Concord, 
Groton,  and  Milford,  Mass.  Then,  after  a  short  rest  at 
home,  we  went  to  New  York.  All  New  York  was  in  a 
furore  over  Jenny  Lind.  In  company  with  P.  T.  Bar- 
num,  who  was  the  projector  of  her  wonderful  tour  in 
this  country,  we  visited  her  at  her  hotel  and  sang  her 
Jesse's  song  of  welcome,  which  became  so  popular  in 
our  concerts  : 

"  From  the  snow-clad  hills  of  Sweden, 
Like  a  bird  of  love  from  Eden, 
Lo,  she  comes  with  songs  of  freedom  — 

Jenny  comes  from  o'er  the  sea  ! 
Though  afar  from  home  endearing, 
Yet  her  heart  no  danger  fearing, 
For  she  hears  a  nation  cheering  — 

'  Jenny,  welcome  to  the  free  ! ' 

"  While  the  great  and  honored  hear  you, 
Let  the  poor  oppressed  be  near  you; 
Then  will  every  heart  revere  you  — 
Jenny,  sing  for  liberty. 


268  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Thou,  indeed,  art  not  a  stranger 
To  the  pahice  or  the  manger; 
Welcome,  friend,  and  fear  no  danger  — 
'  Jenny,  welcome  to  the  free.' " 

She  seemed  to  be  very  much  pleased  with  the  song, 
spoke  of  her  home  and  how  she  k;)nged  to  go  back  to 
it,  and  shook  our  hands  warmly  when  we  parted.  The 
same  evening  we  heard  her  sing  to  eight  thousand 
j)eople.  I  cannot  exj^ress  the  joy  I  felt  in  hearing  her 
sing,  with  such  a  rich  voice  and  sympathetic  manner.  I 
sang  the  song  quoted  above,  by  the  way,  at  the  Swedish 
building  during  the  World's  Fair. 

September  23d  we  sang  in  Newburg,  Abby  having 
joined  us.  From  there  we  went  to  Poughkeepsie, 
where  we  sang  to  a  crowded  house.  Next  we  sang  in 
Catskill,  Albany  and  Utica.  At  the  latter  place,  I  re- 
member, we  succeeded  in  getting  a  tune  for  our  "  Cold 
Water "  song,  which  liad  been  waiting  for  an  appro- 
priate setting  for  many  months. 

October  1st  we  sang  in  Syracuse.  The  mayor  of  the 
city  with  a  party  of  officials,  and  General  Wool,  the 
Mexican  hero,  were  in  our  audience.  We  sang  in  a 
church,  and  were  rather  cramped  in  our  accommodations 
in  the  pulpit.  Oswego  came  next.  We  sang  at  an 
anti-slavery  meeting  at  which  Gerrit  Smith  spoke,  and 
gave  a  concert  to  a  fine  audience.  Auburn  was  next 
visited.  I  sang  the  "  wax-work "  song,  the  words  by 
George  W.  Putnam.  This  for  many  years  was  a  favor- 
ite wdth  our  audiences.  It  told  the  story  of  two  Yan- 
kees who  were  visiting  the  South  on  a  speculative  tour 
and  got  short  of  money.  They  concluded  to  perpetrate 
a  sell  on  the  populace,  and  so  advertised  an  exhibition 
of  wax-work.  Previous  to  the  show  they  provided 
themselves  with  a  couple  of  pounds  of  shoemaker's  wax. 


A   GOOD   TIME   COMING.  269 

The  most  gentlemanly  of  the  two  stood  at  the  door  and 
received  the  money  of  the  people,  which  came  in  liber- 
ally. The  other,  who  for  the  purposes  of  the  show  was 
temporarily  without  a  palate,  gave  the  lecture  and  ex- 
hibition. He  talked  "youn  yin  ees  yote "  —  that  is, 
down  in  his  throat: 

•'  Of  course  the  people  thought  to  see 

A  mighty  show  of  tigures  — 
Of  Napoleon,  Byron,  George  the  Third, 

And  lots  of  foreign  gentlemen  ; 
Of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  you  know, 

And  monks  in  black  and  white, 
And  heroes,  peasants,  potentates, 

In  wax-work  brought  to  light." 

But  when  the  curtain  was  drawn  aside,  our  friend 
without  a  palate  was  disclosed  with  his  shoemaker's 
wax  in  his  hands.  This  he  pulled  as  one  would  pull 
candy,  and  as  he  began  to  '■'•  work "  it,  addressed  his 
audience : 

"  Said  he,  '  My  friends,  how  some  folks  clieat, 

I  never  could  conceive, 
But  this  is  the  real  wax-work. 

For  I  stoop  not  to  deceive ; 
This  is  the  real  wax-work. 

For  your  quarters  and  your  twelves  ; 
Ladies  and  gentlemen,  please  walk  up, 

And  examine  for  yourselves.'  " 

The  wondering  people  soon  saw  the  joke,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  make  preparations  to  ride  him  on  a  rail,  but 
he  had  an  open  window  and  a  ladder,  and  as  he  went 
out  of  siglit  turned  and  held  his  wax  up  to  view,  saying 
with  a  saucy  grin  : 

" '  My  friends,  there's  no  deception. 

For  I  scorn  to  take  you  in, 

This  is  the  real  wax-work,'  "  etc. 


270  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

In  this  song  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  mimic  the 
pahxteless  man,  and  also  to  seemingly  work  the  wax, 
this  pantomine  having  much  to  do  with  the  success  of 
the  piece.  I  have  had  auditors  ready  to  swear  that  I 
had  wax  in  my  hands,  this  being,  I  considered,  quite  a 
compliment  to  the  realistic  character  of  my  perform- 
ance. 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  271 


CHAPTER   VII. 

LIGHTS   AND   SHADOWS. 

Ox  Saturday,  October  5,  1850,  we  reached  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  and  were,  as  my  diary  says,  "  among  the  spirits." 
Perhaps  I  can  illustrate  the  peculiar  condition  of  our 
minds  at  this  time  by  a  quotation  from  my  diary,  writ- 
ten while  there  : 

"  What  is  conscience  ?  'Tis  no  substance,  but  an  article  of  merclian- 
dise  that  can  be  bought  and  sold.  Still,  it  comes  with  intelligence.  I 
think  it  altogether  a  matter  of  circumstance  with  every  one.  It  is 
good  or  bad  according  to  education.  Still,  I  think  it  may  be  made  up 
of  departed  spirits,  who  dictate  to  us,  according  to  their  characters. 
An  erroneous  idea  of  the  commitment  of  deeds  is  the  suggestion  to  us 
of  evil,  while  the  promptings  to  good  are  the-  suggestions  of  good 
spirits.  Truth  is  never  ashamed.  It  takes  a  bold  front  in  the  war  with 
sin  and  falsehood.  The  absence  of  truth  causes  fear.  The  connnit- 
ment  of  one  evil  act  will  cast  a  shadow  of  darkness  over  a  multitude  of 
honest  impulses.  The  honest  man  is  brave  in  good  works.  Intelligence 
is  tlie  key  to  human  progress." 

It  was  natural  for  us,  brothers  and  sisters,  to  be 
radical.  We  were  "real,  live  Yankees,"  and  were  con- 
stantly in  association  with  the  })rogressive,  radical  ele- 
ment which  had  so  much  to  do  Avitli  shaping- the  thouglit 
of  New  England  in  the  two  decades  that  preceded  tlie 
war.  If  there  was  one  man  we  worshipped  more  than 
Beecher,  it  was  Theodore  Parker.  Horace  Greeley, 
with  his  pronounced  views  on  the  anti-slavery  question, 
on  the  community  system  and  on  Spiritualism,  was  one 
of    our  idols.     We  were  quite  accustomed  to  the  ex- 


272  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

treme  utterances  of  Garrison,  of  Rogers,  and  other  men 
who  had  by  their  devotion  to  emancipation  won  our 
hearts.  Earnest,  Christian  parents  had  brought  us  up 
to  love  God  and  hate  sin ;  but  tlie  compromising  and 
hesitating  attitude  of  the  churches  on  tlie  crucial  ques- 
tions of  the  hour  had  naturally  tried  our  faith  and  our 
patience.  A  gradual  change  in  our  views,  the  result  of 
constant  contact  with  the  radical  spirits  who  were  so 
stirring  New  England  and  the  North,  had  led  some  of 
us  who  were  younger  members  of  the  family  to  with- 
draw from  the  church  associations  of  our  early  days. 
I  think  I  was  the  first  "  come-outer  "  in  New  Hampshire. 
We  were  waiting  for  great  developments  in  the  line  of 
social  and  ethical  progress.  We  believed  that  old  sys- 
tems of  society  —  including  slavery  —  of  theology  and 
practice,  wei'e  to  be  done  away.  We  were  looking  for 
the  new  light  with  eager,  longing  gaze,  determined  that 
no  one  should  welcome  it  sooner  or  more  heartily  than 
ourselves.  Some  one  has  said  the  Ilutcliinsons  were 
"highly  subjective."  This  dedicate  suggestion  perhaps 
covers  the  ground  as  well  as  pages  of  explanation. 
Nearly  every  one  of  ray  older  brothers  had  eml^raced 
the  new  doctrine  of  Spiritualism.  My  brother  Jesse  was 
enthusiastically  devoted  to  it.  It  also  took  a  strong- 
hold upon  some  of  us  who  were  younger. 

The  romantic  story  of  Dungeon  Rock,  in  Lynn,  has 
often  been  told.  Whether  it  is  history  or  legend,  few 
can  read  the,  traditions  of  the  pirate  band  —  which 
sailed  up  the  narrow  Saugus  River  in  the  early  days  of 
the  settlement,  hid  for  months  in  the  almost  impene- 
trable thicket  of  "■  Pirates'  Glen,"  and  finally  found  a 
refuge  from  the  laAV  in  the  cave  in  Dungeon  Rock,  now 
the  outpost  of  the  beautiful  park,  ''  Lynn  Woods,"  where 
a  famous  and  authenticated  earthquake  is  supposed  to 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADO^yS.  273 

have  swallowed  them  up  with  their  boot}^  the  mouth 
of  the  cave  being  closed  forever  —  without  a  tingling 
of  interest.  Soon  after  he  began  to  believe  in  the 
spiritualistic  philosophy,  Jesse  conceived  the  idea  that 
there  could  be  no  more  convincing  proof  of  its  truth 
than  to  find  that  supposed  treasure  through  spiritual 
guidance.  He  therefore  went  at  the  woi-k  with  drill 
and  powder,  seeking  light  from  mediums  in  his  effort. 
His  active  temperament  was  not  adapted  to  such  la- 
borious processes,  however,  and  he  soon  abandoned  the 
task,  it  being  later  assumed  b}^  Hiram  Marble,  who 
devoted  the  rest  of  his  life  to  it,  in  conjunction  with  his 
son  Edwin,  who  continued  to  work  at  it  after  liis  fatlier's 
death  until  his  own  demise,  over  a  generation  of  time 
being  given  to  the  search  for  the  liidden  treasure,  under 
mediumistic  guidance.  Hiram  Marble  told  me  he 
would  either  prove  the  truth  of  Spiritualism  or  dig  its 
grave.  So  for  decades  those  earnest,  honest  men,  wliom 
the  world  may  call  mistaken,  drilled  and  dug  and 
tunnelled,  until  they  had  made  a  gallery  in  the  solid 
porphyry  for  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet,  tnrning, 
twisting  to  the  right  or  left  or  up  and  down,  as  the 
mediums  directed.  The  Avork  was  done  by  lamp-light, 
and  the  stone  was  carried  out  in  buckets.  There,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  tunnel  —  which  is  large  enough  for  two 
men  to  walk  abreast  and  erect  for  its  entire  lengtli  — 
it  remains,  an  eloquent  evidence  of  what  men  will  do  to 
prove  their  faith.  The  l)ones  of  Tom  Veal  and  his 
pirate  band  still  moulder  undisturbed  in  the  cave,  if 
cave  there  is.  Jesse  is  dead.  Hiram  and  Edwin  Marble, 
too,  are  gone,  and  the  truth  of  Spiritualism,  so  far  as 
Dungeon  Rock  goes,  is  still  a  matter  of  faith.  The 
rock  came  into  the  hands  of  the  city  soon  after  Edwin 
Marble's  death. 


274  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

I  am  a  firm  believer  in  the  future  life.  I  believe  too, 
in  the  ministry  of  angels,  and  that  the  spiritual  world  is 
a  present  reality.     To  quote  Mi-s.  Stowe : 

"  It  lies  around  us  like  a  cloud, 
A  world  we  do  not  see  ; 
Yet  the  sweet  closing  of  an  eye 
Maj'  bring  us  there  to  he." 

I  liave  full  S3'mpathy  with  ]>ong-fellow's  sentiment : 

"  There  is  no  deatli !    What  seems  so  is  transition  ; 
This  life  of  mortal  breath 
Is  but  the  suburb  of  tliat  life  elysian, 
Whose  ]>ortal  we  call  Death." 

And  with  liidwer  l>ytton"s  even  more  poetic  thought, 

"  There  is  no  death;  the  stars  go  down, 
To  rise  upon  some  fairer  shore  ; 
Where,  bright  in  Heaven's  jewelled  crown 
They  shine  foreverniore. 

"  There  is  no  deatli ;  the  leaves  may  fall. 
The  flowers  may  fade  and  ])ass  away ; 
They  only  wait,  through  wintry  gloom 
The  coming  of  the  May. 

"  There  is  no  death  ;  an  angel  form 

Walks  thro'  the  earth  with  silent  tread, 
He  bears  our  hestdoved  friends  away, 
And  then  we  call  them  dead. 

"Born  into  that  undying  life, 

They  leave  us,  but  to  come  again  ; 
With  joy  we  welcome  them,  the  same. 
Except  in  sin  and  pain." 

Brother  Asa,  before  his  death,  did  not  hesitate  to 
bear  testimony  against  Spiritualism,  and  attril)ute  to  it 
whatever  of  disappointment  and  loss  the  brothers  ex- 
perienced for  many  years.  The  belief  was  too  dear  to 
those  who  have   gone,  many  of  them  dying   in  fullest 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  li7o 

sympathy  with  the  doctrine,  for  me  to  desire  to  say  a 
word  in  adverse  criticism  of  it.  That  it  lias  been  mis- 
represented and  injured  by  many  who  professed  to  be 
its  exponents,  every  spiritualist  believes.  It  is  still  a 
subject  to  be  tested  and  like  every  other  honest  in- 
quirer I  am  to-day  as  ever  '^  hjoking  for  a  test."'  As  to 
myself,  for  many  years  I  have  made  it  my  motto  to  live 
in  one  world  at  a  time,  and  I  simply  refer  to  the  ques- 
tion at  this  time  because  as  a  truthful  historian,  I  could 
not  tell  the  story  of  the  months  v/hich  followed  and 
leave  it  out. 

Judson  was  a  man  of  the  most  ardent,  loving  and 
susceptible  nature.  11  is  nerves  Avere  always  tuned  to 
concert  pitch,  and  he  could  stand  no  more  than  the  or- 
dinary limit  of  excitement  in  our  eventful  experiences 
without  breaking.  He  Avas  deeply  impressed  with  such 
spiritualistic  phenomena  as  Ave  Avere  able  to  obserA^e 
on  this  trip,  but  the  effect  on  his  mental  and  nerA'ous 
temperament  Avas  to  make  him  the  prey  of  sensations 
he  had  ncA^er  experienced  before,  and  linally  to  unht 
him  for  the  task  we  had  set  ourseh^es  in  starting,  and  so 
to  make  the  trip  a  failure.  We  all  saw  it  Avilh  sorroAV, 
except  Jesse.  The  latter,  sanguine,  enthusiastic,  and 
ardently  devoted  to  the  ncAV  idea,  saAV  in  Judson's  ex- 
periences ncAV  proofs  calculated  to  establish  the  truth 
of  Spiritualism. 

He  urged  him  on  to  neAv  tests.  Judson,  ahvays 
thinking  elevated  and  noble  thoughts,  Avas  lifted  by 
the  clairvoyant  or  mesmeric — -Ave  to-day  should  say 
hypnotic  —  state  in  Avhich  he  often  found  himself,  to  a 
height  far  above  connuon  humanity,  seeing  in  his  neAV 
sensations  the  beginning  of  a  new  dispensation. 

Immediately  on  our  arrival  at  Rochester  avc  called  on 
our  old   friend    Frederick    Douglass,  then    editing  his 


276  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

})aper  in  the  place,  and  saw  his  wife  and  "  little  black 
children,"  as  my  diary  pnts  it.  Perha[)S  it  will  be  well 
to  qnote  portions  of  the  diary  for  tlie  days  which  fol- 
lowed : 

October  6th.  Spent  the  evening  with  some  friends  who  are  engaged 
in  spiritual  rajiping.  Not  very  interesting,  owing  to  some  disturbance 
by  some  spirits  which  Avere  not  congenial.  "We  returned  to  our  hotel 
feeling  quite  weary. 

Monday,  October  7th.  We  spent  the  forenoon  at  Mrs.  Fish's,  hear- 
ing the  rappings.  Judson  was  very  much  wrought  up.  Cried.  We 
were  all  much  excited  with  tlie  demonstrations.  We  thought  we  were 
conversing  with  spirits  of  departed  friends,  who  jirofessed  to  be  our 
guardian  spirits.  A  minister  was  present  and  was  melted  to  tears,  for 
he  was  conversing  with  departed  souls. 

Octol>er  8th.  We  had  a  second  time  at  the  rappings.  Much  excite- 
ment. After  the  added  excitement  of  a  concert  Judson  and  I  went  to 
Mrs.  Fish's  after  Abby's  parasol.  She  took  his  liand  and  he  seemed 
to  be  falling  into  a  magnetic  state,  when  I  made  some  objection  and 
she  ceased  and  withdrew  her  influence.  She  told  some  stories  re- 
specting her  experience  in  mocking  tlie  spirits,  etc.  We  retired  feel- 
ing quite  excited. 

October  0th.  Took  the  cars  to  Buffalo.  On  the  way  Judson  came 
in  from  another  car,  stating  the  case  of  a  poor  fugitive  slave  on  his 
Avay  to  Canada.  Raised  six  dollars  for  him  and  bade  him  God-speed. 
Sang  to  a  full  house.  This  was  the  best  concert  we  ever  gave,  for  we 
were  all  united  in  spirit  and  happy.    Judson  was  particularly  interested. 

October  lOth.  Took  steamboat  Queen  City  for  Cleveland.  Judson 
was  quiet,  but  did  not  feel  like  laughing  and  i)laying  witli  us.  Sev- 
eral times  he  got  Abby  to  magnetize  him. 

October  lltli.  On  our  arrival  at  Cleveland  .lesse  met  us  with  spirits 
of  enthusiasm.  After  dinner  we  went  to  the  house  of  a  friend  of 
Jesse's.  While  we  were  in  the  parlor  waiting,  the  gentleman  came  in, 
and  his  presence  caused  Judson  to  feel  badly.  He  went  to  the  door 
to  get  air.  I  went  and  exerted  myself  over  liim.  Our  host  said, 
"  Come  in  and  I  will  remove  all  the  bad  effect  of  this  meeting." 
Jesse  manifested  a  desire  to  see  something  remarkable  done.  The 
clairvoyant  was  sent  into  the  spirit  land.  She  said  she  saw  some  spir- 
its about  Judson.  They  were  magnetizing  him.  Judson  seemed  very 
much  excited  and  was  liaiii)y.  He  wanted  to  go  home  to  heaven.  He 
saw  the  blessed  spirits,  heard  the  music  of  heaven,  the  harps,  etc.  He 
was  recalled,  but  was  quite  bewildered  with  excessive  joy. 

October  12th.     Jesse  took  Judson  to  that  place  again,  and  he  got 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  277 

into  a  bad  state.  In  the  evening  we  gave  a  concert,  but  it  was  a  total 
failure.  Judson  was  all  out  of  spirits.  The  influence  was  iipon  liini, 
and  if  I  looked  at  him  he  would  shiver  and  tremble.  He  refused  to 
sing  any  comic  songs,  and  I  had  to  struggle  tlirough  the  best  I  could. 
Friends  tliink  strange  of  our  depreciation.  What  is  tlie  matter?  Oh, 
how  I  felt !  Judson  quit  chewing  tobacco.  .  .  .  Sad,  sad !  I  visited 
Jesse,  and  charged  him  to  leave  town  and  get  away  from  Judson.  He 
said  he  should  do  nothing  of  tlie  kind.  Soon  Judson  was  in  great 
ag(jny.  We  called  a  pliysician.  No  relief,  until  Mr.  Clark  was  sent 
for,  wlio  ministered  to  his  wants  and  quieted  him.  All  night  we  were 
in  sorrow  for  him. 

October  13th.  Got  a  carriage  to  take  Judson  to  ride.  He  would  not 
go.  Jesse  and  he  were  together  all  day.  Later  I  rubbed  Judson's 
head,  and  he  was  much  better.  He  went  to  dinner,  hurried  through 
and  left  the  table  with  Jesse  before  tiie  rest  were  done.  We  went  to 
liis  friend's.  He  had  Judson  in  a  magnetic  state.  Hurried  him 
through.  We  went  to  Mr.  Severance's,  and  from  there  to  one  of  liis 
neiglibor's  where  we  sang.  On  our  way  to  Mr.  Bradburn's,  our  next 
stopping  place,  Judson  hurried  ahead,  and  went  without  mucli  cere- 
mony into  the  house  and  to  tlie  room  where  a  poor  girl  lay  dying  in 
consumption.  Sympathy  caused  Judson  to  try  to  do  her  good.  She 
was  frightened.  She  left  the  room,  .Judson  remaining  and  making 
passes  across  his  chest  to  relieve  her.  He  magnetized  water  and  sent 
to  her.  We  watched  tiie  movements  with  intense  anxiety  and  sorrow 
of  heart.  We  succeeded  in  getting  him  home  after  much  trouble. 
All  niglvt  he  called  for  Jesus  Clirist,  Mr.  Clark,  and  others.  He 
had  no  rest.     It  was  a  terrible  niglit. 

October  14th.  Postponed  concerts.  Disappointment  seems  to 
mark  our  progress  out  West.     Judson  worse.     We  are  much  used  up. 

October  15th.  Took  Judson  to  Mr.  Severance's.  Jesse  will  keep 
him  in  his  company.  He  tliinks  he  can  do  him  good  no  doubt.  How 
kind  of  Mr.  S.  to  have  invited  us  !  Asa  and  I  went  into  the  garden 
and  wept  bitterly.     IMany  good  friends  came  to  comfort  us. 

October  17th.  Judson  no  better.  A  niagnetizer  called  to  see  him. 
We  talked  on  the  subject  of  spirits  all  the  evening.  Judson  was  quite 
easy.  At  ten  o'clock  he  got  out  of  bed,  stood  in  tlie  hall,  and 
preached  for  an  hour.  At  four  o'clock  (18th)  Mr.  Severance  and  I 
went  for  the  doctor.  Judson  was  worse.  At  two  o'clock  that  after- 
noon we  took  sail  for  home  with  our  brother.  We  watched  him  all 
the  time,  fearful  of  his  jumping  off.  He  did  work  well  to  deceive  me. 
( Jnce  I  liad  to  take  him  into  the  cabin  by  main  force. 

On  our  arrival  at  Buffalo  we  found  we  had  missed 
the  express  train,  and  so  a  little  later  wc  took  another 


278  THE    HUTCHlNSOlSr    FAMILY. 

train  for  Syracuse.  As  we  passed  through  Rochestei', 
Avhere  he  was  first  magnetized,  we  had  hard  work  to 
prevent  Judson  from  jumping  from  the  train.  At 
Syracuse  we  stayed  several  da3's.  We  were  going  on, 
when  friends  suggested  that  we  try  a  magnetizer,  and 
see  if  we  coukl  not  get  Judson  out  of  his  unnatural 
state  in  the  way  he  got  into  it.  The  effort  was  of  no 
avail.  Our  old  friends  Dr.  Weating,  Rev.  Samuel  J. 
May  and  his  son  John,  with  others,  were  very  kind  to 
us.  One  day  Mr.  May  invited  us  to  bring  Judson  to 
visit  him.  Judson  was  so  charmed  with  his  visit  that 
he  refused  to  I'eturn  to  his  hotel,  and  it  finally  took  tlie 
united  strength  of  four  men  to  secure  him,  and  take 
him  l)ack,  he  having  gone  part  of  the  way  and  then  re- 
fused to  go  furtlier.  He  was  conveyed  in  a  wagon. 
Dr.  Weating,  Mr.  May  and  his  son  drawing  the  con- 
veyance, while  Asa  and  LudloAv  pushed  it,  and  I  sat 
in  the  vehicle  and  attended  to  the  stricken  man. 

On  October  21st  Ave  started  for  home.  By  using 
anodynes  Judson  Avas  kept  quiet,  and  Ave  made  the 
journey  Avitliout  difticulty.  In  a  fcAV  days  Ave  Avere  all 
at  Milford  again ;  and  in  the  time  Judson  recovered,  so 
that  we  Avere  able  to  resume  our  singing. 

On  November  loth  I  made  a  trip  to  Boston,  in  com- 
pany Avith  my  Avife,  and  in  the  evening  Avent  to  Faneuil 
Hall  to  hear  our  friend  George  Thompson,  the  great 
English  Abolitionist,  speak.  He  Avas  not  permitted  to 
lecture.  A  mob,  Avith  pro-slaA-ery  procliAdties,  from 
the  North  End,  completelj^  filled  the  body  of  the  hall, 
standing,  as  is  the  usual  custom  in  that  historic  place.  I 
sat  in  the  gallery  Avith  my  Avife.  Mr.  Thompson  Avould 
begin  :  "  Gentlemen,"  and  then  the  mob  Avould  sway 
back  and  forth  and  groan,  so  that  his  voice  Avould  be 
inaudible.     Over  and  over  he  Avould  repeat  that  rather 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  279 

misapplied  word,  "  (Tentlenien,"  but  it  was  of  no  use. 
Mr.  Garrison  observed  me  in  the  balcony,  and  called  on 
me  to  sing,  hoping  thereby  to  quell  the  tumult,  but  I 
was  alone ;  Avithout  my  brothers'  voices  with  me  I  felt 
myself  unequal  to  battling  with  such  forces  of  disorder. 
It  grieved  me  deeply  that  I  was  unable  to  extend  a 
Avelcome  in  song  to  this  noble  man.  This  scene  has 
often  been  described  at  length  by  historians. 

Early  in  November  I  sang  alone  in  Nashua  to  a 
full  house.  The  next  week  I  gave  two  concerts  in 
Lowell.  November  28th  I  gave  another  in  Andierst. 
December  4th  came  another  in  Pembroke.  Then  I  went 
to  Concord  and  arranged  with  Messrs.  Burr,  ^^  ho  were 
lecturing,  to  have  the  use  of  their  hall  one  night.  I  gave 
one  concert  in  the  Manchester  city  hall,  my  little  son 
Henry,  who  had  been  brouglit  over  by  his  mother,  as- 
sisting me,  and  then  went  back  to  Concord  to  fulfil  my 
engagement.  At  this  concert  a  rather  interesting  in- 
cident occurred.  The  hall  was  full  and  in  a  conspicuotis 
place  sat  "  Squire  Whipple "  a  noted  Democrat.  At 
this  time  a  delegation  of  prominent  Sottthern  politicians 
had  come  to  New  Hampshire  to  confer  with  Franklin 
Pierce  in  regard  to  his  acceptance  of  a  nomination  to  the 
presidency,  and  some  of  them,  with  their  wives,  were  in 
^Ir.  "Whipple's  party.  At  one  part  of  the  programme,  I 
had  sung  this  song,  Henry,  with  his  shrill  treble,  joining 
in  the  chorus  : 

"Come  freemen,  listen  to  my  song,  a  story  I'll  relate; 
It  hai^pened  in  the  valley  of  the  old  Carliny  State ; 
They  marched  me  to  the  cotton-fields  at  early  break  of  day. 
And  worked  me  there  from  morn  till  night,  without  a  bit  of  pay. 

Chorus. 
"  They  worked  me  all  the  day, 
Without  one  bit  of  ]iay  ; 

So  I  took  my  flight  in  tlie  middle  of  the  night, 
When  the  moon  had  gone  away." 


280  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

At  the  close  of  this  selection,  Mr.  Whipple  arose,  and 
remarked  that  he  did  not  come  to  hear  an  anti-slavery 
sermon,  and  protested  against  such  songs  being  sung. 
The  audience  hissed  this  demonstration,  and  he  sat 
down.  But  my  indignation  was  Avrought  up  to  the 
highest  pitch,  and  later  in  the  evening  I  stepped  to  the 
front  and  recited  "  The  Bigot  Fire,"  a  poem  by  my 
friend  John  Ramsdell,  a  native  of  Milford : 

"  Oh,  kindle  not  that  bigot  tire, 

'  Twill  bring  disunion,  fear  and  sliame ; 
^  Twill  rouse  at  last  the  Southron's  ire 
And  burst  our  starry  band  in  twain. 

"Their's  is  the  high,  the  noble  worth  — 
The  very  soul  of  chivalry  ; 
Rend  not  our  blood-bought  land  apart 
For  such  a  thing  as  slavery. 

"  This  is  the  language  of  the  Nortli, 
I  blush  to  say  it,  but  'tis  true  ; 
And  anti-slavery  calls  it  forth 

From  some  proud  jiriests  and  laymen  too. 

(To  make  my  reljuke  more  effective,  I  substituted 
"politicians,"  for  "proud  priests"  in  the  last  line.) 

"  What !  bend  forsooth  to  Southern  rule  1 

What !  cringe  and  crawl  to  Southern  clay  1 
To  be  the  base,  the  sujiple  tool 
Of  hell-begotten  slaverj^  7 

"No,  never!  while  the  free  air  plays. 

O'er  our  rough  hills  and  sunny  fountains 
Shall  proud  New  Hampshire's  sons  be  slaves 
And  clank  the  fetters  round  their  mountains. 

"  Go,  if  you  will,  and  grind  in  dust 
Dark  Afric's  poor,  degraded  child; 
Wring  from  his  sinews  gold  accursed  — 
Then  boast  your  gospel,  warm  and  mild !  " 

How  the  audience  did  cheer  at  the  conclusion ! 
Whipple,  immediately  arose  and  left  the  hall,  leaving 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  281 

liis  wife  and  friends,  remarking  to  the  doorkeeper  tliat 
he  had  got  as  much  as  he  could  stand.  I  never  received 
more  genuine  compliments  than  for  this  act. 

Leaving  Concord,  I  sang  at  Franklin,  Sanl)ornton 
Bridge,  Meridith  Bridge,  and  closed  the  week  witli 
another  concert  at  Concord,  where  the  audience  asked 
for  a  repetition  of  the  song  that  had  so  aroused  Mr. 
Whipple's  ire.     It  was  cheered  handsomely. 

Next  week's  concerts  opened  at  Fisherville,  and  then 
I  went  to  Plvmouth,  where  I  renewed  old  friendships 
with  John  R.  French  and  others  of  the  Bogers  Family. 
Another  concert  at  Concord  and  one  at  Nashua  closed 
this  trip. 

Next  came  a  trip  to  Boston  to  attend  the  anti-slavery 
fair.  I  again  recited  ^  The  Bigot  Fire."  December 
28th,  I  gave  a  concert  in  Lyceum  Hall,  Lynn,  where 
Judson  and  Asa,  who  were  there  at  the  time,  sang  two 
selections.  This  was  followed  by  concerts  of  the  tfiree 
brothers  in  JNLirblehead,  again  in  Lynn,  in  Salem,  Bev- 
erly, Newburyport,  Dover,  Portsmouth,  Exeter,  and 
then  we  went  home. 

At  all  these  latter  concerts  my  brothers  sang  with  me, 
always  with  success,  but  with  some  very  peculiar  oc- 
currences sprinkled  in,  occasioned  by  the  whimsical 
workings  of  Judson's  mind.  An  example  Avas  at  New- 
buryport, where  he  was  impressed  that  it  was  his  duty 
to  do  something  for  the  poor  of  the  town,  and  therefore 
proceeded  to  diaw  from  his  pockets  handfuls  of  silver 
half-dollars,  previously  secured,  which  he  threw  into  the 
broad  aisle,  requesting  LLiiniah  F.  Gould,  the  poetess, 
who  was  present,  to  act  as  almoner  and  see  that  tlie 
money  went  to  the  wortliy  poor  only.  Sometimes  he 
would  speak  as  if  inspired,  to  the  astonishment  and  de- 
light of  the  auditors.     Sometimes  his  s[)eech  would  be 


282  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

of  a  comicall}"  edifying  nature.  More  often  than  other- 
wise, it  Avould  be  an  address  on  the  sinfuhiess  of  eating 
flesli,  or  wearing  any  garment  that  necessitated  the 
killing  of  animals  for  its  construction.  Because  of  these 
theories  he  had  discarded  boots  and  shoes,  clothing  his 
feet  in  socks.  His  food  was  fruits,  cereals  and  honey. 
However,  though  his  idiosyncrasies  caused  the  rest  of 
us  a  good  deal  of  uneasiness,  they  were  never  of  a 
nature  to  harm  any  one,  or  to  seriously  shock  an 
audience. 

In  February,  1851,  while  singing  in  Chelsea,  we  re- 
ceived word  of  the  sei'ious  illness  of  both  my  father 
and  mother.  After  a  few  days,  mother  recovered,  but 
it  was  my  father's  last  illness.  He  had  always  been  a 
very  Avell  man.  We  learned  when  we  went  home,  which 
was  as  soon  as  the  trains  could  take  us,  that  a  neigh- 
bor's barn  had  Ijeen  set  on  fire  by  a  disaffected  son.  He 
had  purchased  cattle,  and  his  father  had  refused  to  let 
him  keep  them  in  the  barn ;  hence  the  act.  When  the 
alarm  was  given,  fatlier  hitched  up  the  old  mare  and 
rushed  over  to  render  assistance.  He  reached  there  in 
time  to  help  save  the  granary,  and  was  of  course  in  great 
excitement  at  the  act  of  the  undutif  ul  son.  He  got  into 
a  perspiration  and  then,  riding  home  in  the  severe 
weather,  took  cold.  He  tried  hard  to  overcome  the  ef- 
fects of  the  cold,  but  was  unable  to  do  so,  though  he 
still  kept  about  the  house  attending  to  his  "■  chores." 
One  day  he  was  bringing  in  a  basket  of  green  wood, 
when  he  was  seized  with  paralysis,  and  fell  over  the 
wood.  He  was  taken  up,  put  to  bed,  and  it  was  found 
that  his  frame  Avas  nearly  all  paiulyzed,  and  his  speech 
almost  so.  He  lingered  several  days  (about  a  week), 
roused  occasionally,  and  one  day  asked  to  have  his 
revered  friend,  Deacon  Pearsons  of  the  Baptist  church. 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  283 

come   in  and   pray  with    liini.     On    Sunday,    Febiuaiy 
IGtli,  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  : 

"  How  blest  tlie  righteous  when  lie  dies, 
When  sinks  the  weary  soul  to  rest  ; 
How  calmly  Ijeam  those  closing  eyes, 
How  gently  heaves  tlie  expiring  breast." 

"  Uncle  Jesse,"  as  he  Avas  called  affectionately  l)y  all 
the  people  of  the  town,  of  which  he  was  a  selectman  for 
many  years,  v.as  all  his  life  long  a  faithful,  humble, 
devout  Christian  man.  He  was  gifted  ^^■ith  a  resonant, 
high-pitched  voice,  and  loved  music  as  passionately  as 
any  member  of  his  famil}'.  He  was  all  his  life  a  farmer, 
and  for  many  years  wliiled  away  the  hours  of  toil  sing- 
ing many  old  ballads  and  hymns,  in  which  his  boys, 
mowing  and  raking  at  his  side,  joined  him  heartily.  He 
Avas  always  proud  of  tlie  success  of  his  family,  l)ut  also 
solicitous  for  its  welfare  in  the  truest  sense.  For  this 
reason  he  sometimes  questioned  whether  the  life  of 
travelling  vocalists  was  as  healthy  antl  happy  a  one  as 
we  might  live  in  other  Avays,  and  his  A'oice  Avas  always 
in  faA'or  of  a  life  of  contentment  on  the  farm.  Not- 
withstanding this,  he  sometimes  gave  CA'idence  by  his 
own  disposition  to  go  out  into  the  Avorld  and  lift  up  his 
brothers,  that  he  Avas  in  no  small  degree  responsil)le  for 
the  zeal  for  reform  shoAvn  b}'  his  children.  He  A\'as  a 
man  Avho  pondered  much  on  his  own  spiritual  condi- 
tion. It  gricA^ed  him  to  feel  that  his  religious  joy  and 
fervor  Avas  not  sometimes  as  great  as  at  others,  and 
lie  was  more  than  Avilling  to  sacrifice  himself  to  gain 
peace  of  soul.  A  AA^hile  before  his  death  he  talked  Avith 
Brother  Judson  about  this  sidjject,  and  his  son's  advice 
Avas  to  give  up  eating  pork  and  cheAving  tobacco,  as 
a  means  of  grace.  The  good  old  man  thought  the 
adAdce  AA^as  timely,  and  at  once  he  quit  both.     A  good 


284  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

many  of  our  neighbors  had  a  feeling  that  his  giving  up 
]30i'k  in  the  winter  season,  when  he  had  been  in  the 
habit  of  eating  it  all  his  life,  shortened  his  days,  as  it 
deprived  him  of  a  means  of  nutrition  which  was  essen- 
tial to  his  well-being.  There  was  quite  a  discussion 
concerning  this  for  some  time  after  his  deatli  among  the 
townspeople. 

The  funeral  was  in  the  school-house  near  our  home, 
as  it  furnished  better  accommodations  than  the  house 
for  the  laro-e  luimbers  of  sorrowino-  friends  wlio  sfath- 
ered.  Mother  was  still  in  bed,  and  the  sons  tenderly 
carried  the  bod}'  to  her  room,  and  she  gazed  for  the  last 
time  on  the  loved  face.  It  was  a  sorrowful  scene,  but 
hope  buoyed  us  up,  and  kept  us  from  despair.  At  the 
school-house  Hev.  Mr.  Pearsons,  })astor  of  the  Baptist 
church,  led  in  prayer  and  read  a  hymn.  Then  Judson 
spoke  of  the  causes  of  disease  and  death,  Andrew  on 
the  course  of  sin  and  death,  and  Joshua  tenderly  re- 
ferred to  the  love  of  tlie  father  for  his  children.  Then 
Ave  all,  l)rothers  and  sisters,  joined  in  singing  ''My  days 
are  gliding  swiftly  by."  After  that  the  ten  sons  bore 
the  body  to  the  grave.  Aljl)y  A\'as  overcome  with  grief. 
Then  each  returned  to  his  own  home. 

Soon  we  took  up  the  work  of  concerting  once  more. 
We  were  gratified  in  two  senses  in  this  work.  First, 
our  amijition  was  gratified,  because  fame  and  fortune 
came  to  us,  sweetened  by  the  reflection  that  it  Avas  won 
in  a  good  cause.  Again,  we  knew  we  were  battling  for 
the  right,  and  though  Ave  took  some  chances  of  loss,  yet 
the  militant  spirit  Avithin  us  Avas  often  so  aroused  that 
we  rejoiced  to  meet  and  overcome  opposition: 

"For  right  is  right,  since  God  is  God, 
And  right  the  day  must  win; 
To  dou1)t  would  he  disloyalty, 
To  falter  would  be  sin." 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  285 

We  sang  first  in  Pawtucket,  then  in  Woonsoclvet, 
Attleboro,  Tannton,  Valley  Falls,  Foxborougli,  Stougli- 
ton  and  Providence,  where  we  gave  several  concerts  to 
andiences  numbering  fifteen  hundred  and  eigliteen  hun- 
dred people.  Until  our  arrival  at  Providence  the  con- 
certs were  given  Iw  Judsoii,  Joshua  and  Jolui,  There 
Caleb,  Asa  and  Jesse  joined  us. 

Our  next  concerts  were  at  Worcester,  Springfield, 
New  Haven,  and  so  to  New  York,  where  we  were  joined 
by  our  older  brothers,  David  and  Noah.  Our  first  con- 
cert Avas  given  at  the  Tabernacle  and  we  found  our  old 
friend  Rynders,  the  rowdy,  there  to  hear  us.  He  had 
some  of  his  crew  witli  him  and  there  was  a  slight  dis- 
turbance. David  and  Noah  did  not  sino-  with,  us,  but 
Avere  active  in  assistance  in  other  Avays.  While  on  this 
trip  Ave  attended  a  seance  by  the  Fox  sisters,  Avith  Mr. 
and  ]\lrs.  Greeley.  It  Avas  an  exciting  time.  About 
tliis  time  our  dividends  began  to  dinnnish  in  a  manner 
Ave  Avere  unaccustomed  to  in  New  York.  Brother  Judson 
had  decided  that  our  tickets,  at  fifty  cents  each,  Avere 
too  high.  He  refused  to  sing  unless  Ave  placed  them  at 
twelA^e  and  one-lialf  cents.  We  Avere  usually  Avilling  to 
agree  to  any  scheme  broached  by  any  of  the  brothers  if 
it  Avas  not  too  wild,  so  doAvn  the  price  Avent.  The  result 
Avas  that  people  Avould  not  come,  and  so  in  that  big- 
Tabernacle,  Avhere  Ave  had  been  in  tlie  habit  often 
of  having  nine-hundred-dollar  houses,  the  attendance 
dwindled  to  thirty,  and  our  dividend  Avas  one  dollar 
each.  That  settled  it.  Judson  Avas  satisfied,  the  price 
Avas  again  put  up,  and  the  attendance  at  once  rcAfived. 
At  the  next  concert  there  Avere  tAveU'e  hundred  present. 
At  tlie  concert  following  there  Avere  a  good  many  hisses 
for  our  anti-slaA'ery  songs.  Judson  squelched  them  by 
remarkino-  that  he  Avas  done  eatiuQ-  o'cese. 


286  THE    HUTCHINSOX    FAMILY. 

We  met  AAdtli  more  opposition  in  New  York  City  that 
year  than  ever  before.  ]\Iueh  fault  was  found  with  our 
cheap  prices,  and  certain  elements  Avere  shocked  by  our 
calling  our  fellow-beings  men  and  women,  instead  of 
"  o-entlemen  and  ladies."  We  well  understood  that  the 
root  of  all  the  opposition  was  because  of  our  steady  blows 
at  the  system  of  slaver}^,  and  as  the  criticisms  all  came 
from  pro-slaver}^  puljlications,  Ave  kept  our  temper,  and 
pushed  our  good  work  steadily  on.  As  a  sample  of  the 
kind  of  ''  Ijlows  "  some  papers  gave  us,  and  as  indicat- 
ing the  ingenuity  and  ability  displayed  in  the  attempt 
to  prejudice  the  public  against  us,  the  following  is  per- 
haps as  typical  as  any  that  could  be  quoted : 

THE  HUTCHINSON  FAMILY. 

"  Last  evening  at  the  Tabernacle  the  Hutchinsons  gave  one  of  their 
most  agreeable  concerts.  A  new  song,  written  for  a  California  com- 
pany, was  introduced,  in  which  was  a  very  happy  allusion  to  tlie 
strong  Free-Soil  influence  which  prevails  among  the  emigrants  to  that 
country.  This  was  received  with  great  applause ;  but  while  tliey  were 
singing  the  next  one,  which  contained  a  contrast  between  freedom  and 
slavery,  it  was  utterly  impossible  for  the  audience  to  restrain  their 
feelings,  and  before  the  song  was  concluded,  the  Tabernacle  rung 
again  with  the  plaudits  of  tlie  company.  These  musicians  will  leave 
to-day  for  Albany,  and  will  be  here  again  the  latter  part  of  this 
month." —  Ereninij  Po^t . 

^Vritten  by  one  of  the  prodiges,  and  paid  for  at  the  rate  of  ten 
cents  a  line.  Now  then,  it  so  haj^pens  that  the  Hutchinsons  advertised 
that  they  would  sing  twenty  songs,  and  sung  only  ten,  with  two  aboli-  < 
tion  lectures,  which,  by  tlie  way,  were  liisstd  tremendously.  This  we 
are  told  by  a  friend  wJio  was  present,  there  being  no  one  about  the 
Merchant's  Da/j  Book  who  cares  enough  for  that  particular  sort  of  en- 
tertainment to  waste  his  time  "sitting  out  "  one  of  the  Hutchinsons' 
concerts,  or  listening  to  an  abolition  lecture  hy  any  of  William  Lloyd 
Garrison's  disciples. 

P.  S.—  Since  writing  the  above  we  have  received  the  following 
notice  of  the  Hutchinsons,  written  not  by  one  of  this  "  serious  family  "  : 

"  The  'Tabernacle  was  tolerably  filled  Wednesday  evening  to  hear 
these  pinks  again.     The  audience  was  composed  of  people  of  color. 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  287 

white-cravated  Abolitionists,  moral  reformers.,  Grahamites,  temper- 
ance lecturers,  with  a  large  sprinkling  of  women  of  varied  situations, 
whose  faces,  from  exposure  in  the  great  cause  of  moral  reform,  bear  a 
striking  affinity  to  an  old  hide  well  exposed  to  the  weather  on  a 
crooked  fence.  As  near  as  '  a  man  of  the  world'  could  juilge,  seven- 
eighths  of  this  family  are  now  engaged  in  procuring  ilannel  shirts  and 
moral  tracts  for  every  new  born  nigger  baby.  (Vide  Burton.)  Seri- 
oush%  'tis  the  most  shallow,  not  to  say  sickening  affair  that  has  yet 
succeeded  in  gulling  Gotham.  A  sensible  person  having  seen  them 
once  will  wonder  why  other  people  are  such  dunces.  The  truth  is, 
hundreds  i)a_y  their  half-dollar  as  tiiousands  did  their  quarters  to  see 
Barnum's  woolly  horse — fooled  into  it  by  the  first  victims  and  gulled 
into  it  by  others  who,  having  received  tickets  for  their  own  family,  ad- 
vise their  brethren  and  sisters  to  help  the  cause  along.  It  is  the  prac- 
tice of  the  '  family '  to  send  tickets  to  all  the  clergy,  heads  of  schools, 
abolition,  tract,  temperance  and  moral-reform  societies.  Who  can 
wonder  that  with  all  these  deadheads  and  their  intluence  that  the 
'  family '  can  make  three  or  four  hundred  dollars  a  night,  although 
there  is  not  a  line  of  poetri/  nor  a  strain  of  music  in  their  composition  ? 
Better  rhyming  can  be  got  at  Thompson's  or  Jlarshall  &  Clark's  — 
confectionery  included  —  for  three  shillings  a  pound.  The  singing  is 
just  what  is  found  in  every  well-regulated  school  district  where  the 
master  boards  round  and  a  singing  school  is  kept  twice  a  week  at 
three  dollars  a  quarter.     Positively  no  better. 

"Now  here  is  a  specimen  or  two  of  the  songs  that  brought  out  the 
greatest  demonstrations,  as  all  will  acknowledge  who  were  present. 
The  '  family,'  it  must  be  known,  wear  their  own  collars  turned  down 
and  of  the  size  and  shape  of  an  open  spelling-book : 

"  '  Song.  — "The  Standixg  Collar." 

"  '  When  first  we  went  to  England 
The  boys  all  about  the  town 
Kept  boUerin'  out,  "See  them  Yankees 
With  then'  collars  all  turned  down." 

This  verse  is  the  most  witty  in  the  song  and  was  greatly  admired, 

"  '  SoxG.  —  "  Eight  Dollars  a  Day." 

"  '  In  the  great  city  of  Washington 

The  Congress  members  will  have  their  sway. 
But  what  do  you  s'pose  they  are  thinking  about?  — 

Why,  it  is  eight  dollars  a  day. 
The  members  from  the  Southern  States, 

Where  black  slavery  has  a  say, 
Talk  ill  of  Seward,  Douglass,  Hale,  — 

Why?  for  eight  dollars  a  day  !  !  ' 


288  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

"The  conclusion  of  this  verse,  so  touchingly  anti-shivery  and  withal 
so  caustic  and  witty,  caused  a  tremendous  sensation.  Tlie  largest 
])art  of  the  listeners  fairly  leaped  and  screamed,  and  the  feminines 
clapped  and  stamped.    It  was  a  great  time,  and  this  is  a  great  countrj-." 

About  this  time  my  diary  remarks  that  old  friends 
steer  clear  of  us,  a  little  afraid  of  their  own  popularity, 
but  we  kept  right  on  about  our  business. 

On  April  17th  we  went  down  to  tlie  steamer  Baltic 
to  see  Horace  Greeley  sail  for  Europe.  The  start  Avas 
made  in  a  storm  which  was  the  fiercest  for  a  long  time, 
and  tiding's  came  in  thick  and  fast  of  disasters  aloup" 
the  coast.  We  were  particularly  anxious  for  the 
safety  of  the  man  in  "  the  old  white  coat,"  and  were 
solicitous  for  fear  he  was  suffering  unusual  inconven- 
ience from  seasickness,  after  liis  departure. 

Api'il  22d  the  six  brothers  then  in  New  York  sat  for 
a  group  picture,  which  I  still  have  and  cherish  highly. 
It  shows  Jesse,  Caleb,  Joshua,  Judson,  John  and  Asa  as 
they  appeared  at  that  time. 

At  the  close  of  this  season's  concerts,  which  were 
profitable,  notwithstanding  all  our  unusual  experiences, 
some  of  the  boys  went  home,  Judson  Avent  to  a  hydro- 
pathic institution  in  Brattleboro,  A^t.,  in  search  of 
health,  and  I  made  arrangements  for  a  tour  on  my  own 
account  to  the  far  West.  I  secured  lithographic  por- 
traits, and  other  unusual  advertising  devices,  and  in 
these  preparations  took  quite  a  little  time.  Meanwhile 
I  spent  much  of  my  time  with  Sister  Abby,  at  her  home 
in  New  York  City,  and  also  visited  my  good  friend  Prof. 
O.  S.  Fowler. 

jNIy  intention  to  go  alone  on  this  trip  was  changed  by 
the  discovery  that  Judson  cherished  a  desire  to  go  with 
me. 

So  I  made  a  trip  to  Brattleboro  with  my  material, 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  289 

found  Jiidson  convalescent  and  we  united  again  and 
sent  express  word  to  Brother  Jesse  at  Lynn  to  also  go 
with  us  to  the  glorious  AVest.  lie  responded  with 
alacrity. 

Holding  a  successful  concert  at  Bennington  and  one 
at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  we  reached  Cleveland.  Here  we  came 
in  association  with  Judge  Spaulding  and  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  who  made  known  the  project  of  holding  a  mass 
convention  at  Ravenna  on  June  2oth,  and  desired  us  to 
unite  Avith  them  in  the  enterprise.  As  they  expressed 
it,  "  We  desire  to  mass  the  democracy  on  the  side  of 
liberty  and  against  the  slavery  of  the  country.'' 

AVe  arranged  to  return  after  a  visit  to  St.  Louis,  and 
to  our  Brother  Zephaniah,  who  resided  hfty  miles  away 
in  Greenville,  Bond  County,  HI.,  and  join  them  in  this 
attempt  to  turn  the  tide  of  popular  prejudice  into  the 
channel  of  sympathy  for  the  slave  and  free  slave  move- 
ment. We  stopped  on  our  visit  to  Akron  to  attend  the 
first  Woman's  Rights  Convention  in  Ohio.  Li  fact  it 
was  the  first  in  the  country  except  one  in  Worcester  a 
short  time  previous. 

Leaving  our  friends  after  a  few  concerts  in  Cleve- 
land, we  took  a  steamboat  at  Cincinnati  and  floated 
down  the  Ohio  River  to  Louisville,  where  a  man  was 
taken  on  board,  a  sort  of  colporteur,  who  had  three 
thousand  large  volumes,  a  '•'•  Bible  Defence  of  Slavery." 
These  he  was  ordered  to  distribute  all  along  shore, 
though  most  were  designed  for  Missouri.  Without  re- 
garding possible  consequences,  we  entered  into  a  dis- 
cussion, criticizing  him  for  his  sacrilegious  attempt  to 
bolster  up  the  nefarious  traffic  in  human  souls  by  com- 
promising tlie  Scriptures  in  its  defence.  Occasionally 
we  would  introduce  a  song  on  our  side  ,  this  caused 
quite  a   sensation,  but  while  the  peddler   was  wrathy, 


290  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

some  passengers  expressed  themselves  warmly  in  favor 
of  the  principles  we  enunciated. 

The  sequel  of  this  affair  was  somewhat  against  our 
financial  success,  for  he  gave  information  concerning  us 
to  the  authorities  on  arriving  at  St.  Louis.  However, 
we  arranged  affairs  in  our  usual  manner  —  advertis- 
ing in  the  papers  and  posting  in  the  city.  The  pro- 
prietor of  the  hall,  Mr.  Wymaii,  was  a  Massachusetts 
man  (a  Yankee),  and  lie  boasted  he  was  horn  under 
the  shadow  of  Bunker  Hill,  so  we  supposed  we  should 
have  success  in  our  dealings  with  him. 

Leavinof  the  matter  in  his  hands,  we  left  for  our  visit 
to  Brother  Zephaniah,  fifty  miles  away,  with  the  expec- 
tation of  returning  in  one  week  and  filling  the  engage- 
ment. 

Through  Egypt  (so-called  in  that  part  of  Illinois) 
we  travelled  with  carriage  and  span,  and,  like  the  Is- 
raelites, wandered  about  for  days,  depending  upon 
the  heathen  to  direct  us  to  the  land  of  Canaan. 

After  being  misdirected  scores  of  times,  we  came  to 
the  farm  cottage  on  a  Sunday  and  saw  one  of  our  tribe, 
Zephy,  leading  his  daughter  up  the  lane  through  a 
grove  from  the  school-house  where  they  had  attended  a 
prayer  and  conference  meeting.  We  embraced  each 
other,  and  tears  of  joy  flowed  as  we  spoke  to  him  of 
home  and  New  England,  and  sad  were  we  all  again,  as 
he  tenderly  inquired  concerning  the  death  of  our  be- 
loved father,  who  had  passed  "  over  the  river  "  since  we 
last  met. 

We  conversed  on  the  welfare  of  our  tribe,  and  spoke 
of  farming  on  the  prairie  so  far  from  market.  We 
talked  of  the  politics  of  Illinois  and  the  condition  of 
the  anti-slavery  sentiment  ;  and  Avell  I  remember  liow 
his  countenance  brightened  when  he  said,  "  We  have 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  291 

the  coming  man  in  the  person  of  Abraham  Lincoln ; 
He  will  sliine  and  become  a  leading  star  to  guide  the 
bondman  out  of  slavery  and  save  the  country."  lie 
had  seen  him  and  came  en  rapport  with  his  kindly 
magnetic  influence.  And  so  Ave  found  Lincoln,  for  the 
country  and  the  slave,  a  mighty  power  in  the  hands  of 
the  Mighty  One,  to  bring  joy  to  four  million  hearts  and 
save  the  Laiion.  We  met  this  great  patriot  later  in 
Springfield,  111.,  and  afterwards  many  times. 

While  we  were  at  our  brother's  one  day  we  walked 
out  into  a  sparsely-grown  grove  on  his  farm.  Suddenly 
we  noticed  a  great  commotion  among  some  robins. 
They  would  fly  toward  tlie  ground  and  then  back 
again,  apparently  in  great  distress.  We  looked  up  in 
the  top  of  a  sixty-foot  tree,  and  there  saw  a  big  black 
snake,  which  had  climbed  up  and  was  devouring  a  nest 
of  young  robins.  We  tlu'ew  stones  and  sticks  at  him,  but 
failed  to  dislodge  him.  Then  Zephaniah  hurried  back 
to  his  house  and  procured  an  axe,  and  soon  we  had  the 
tree  felled  and  despatched  the  serpent. 

We  spent  several  days  in  sweet  conversation  and 
song,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  neighbors  gathered 
them  in  to  hear  us.  Zephaniah  had  several  young  un- 
shod horses ;  and  when  the  time  approached  for  us  to 
start  to  fulfil  our  engagement,  we  mounted  them  and 
rode  through  the  forest  to  Greenville  Centre,  six  miles 
and  a  half  from  his  house,  where  he  was  ^Yl^\\  known. 
It  was  the  county-seat,  and  a  large  number  came  out  to 
a  concert  Avhich  wq  gave  in  the  evening. 

From  there  Ave  moved  on  to  a  place  not  far  from 
GreeuAdlle,  AAdiere  Ave  spent  the  night.  During  that 
time  the  Avind  blcAV,  the  thunder  rattled  as  1  never 
heard  it  before,  and  the  rain  fell  in  torrents.  How- 
ever, in  the  morning  Ave   mounted   our  ponies,  and   at- 


292  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

tempted  to  ride.  They  would  slip  so  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  stay  on  their  backs.  We  found  slielter  in  a 
little  old  shanty,  and  waited  until  a  Missourian  came 
along,  with  four  mules  draAving  a  picturesque  vehicle 
known  as  a  ''  prairie  schooner."  He  agreed  to  carry  us 
throuQfh  to  the  river. 

After  a  lunch  in  the  shanty  we  bade  a  long  farewell 
to  Zephaniah,  our  brother,  who  had  in  the  years  before 
shared  with  us  so  many  of  our  toils  and  triumphs.  He 
had  acted  as  our  advance  agent  in  some  of  our  most 
successful  engagements,  and  was  always  a  sympathetic 
and  whole-souled  man.  It  was  our  last  meeting  with 
him.     In  1853  he  passed  away. 

As  we  rode  along  toward  Alton,  where  Lovejoy  met 
a  martyr's  death,  we  observed  many  people  and  teams 
hurrying  a^Aay.  Probably  lifty  teams  passed  ns.  They 
told  us  cholera  was  raging  in  the  town.  So  a  mile  out- 
side the  place  we  took  lodgings  and  stayed  until  moyn- 
ing,  when  holding  our  breath  for  fear,  we  hurried 
through  the  plague-spot  to  our  boat. 

We  were  quite  solicitous,  for  Brother  Judson  had  for 
several  days  been  threatened  with  an  attack  of  the 
same  scourge,  but  we  were  relieved  l)y  his  convales- 
cence :  so  reaching  our  destination  ten  miles  away  (St. 
Louis),  we  hastened  to  inform  our  Bunker  Hill  Yan- 
kee Ijoaster  of  our  arrival.  We  found  liim  at  his  home 
in  quite  a  reticent  mood.  " Well,  ANatchman,  what  of 
the  nio'ht?"  Then  we  learned  he  liad  committed  a 
cowardly  act,  for  tlie  slave  })OAA'er  would  drive  all  man- 
hood out  of  any  Xorthern  dough-faces.  Some  spy 
had  betrayed  us,  and  we  were  informed  by  this  Mr. 
Wyman  that  he  could  not  let  us  have  the  liall,  for  the 
papers  had  spoken  against  ns,  but  if  the  mayor  would 
give  us  a  license  or  a  permit  he   would  open  the  hall. 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  293 

We  later  found  he  had  arranged  previously  with  the 
mayor  to  prohibit  our  singing.  On  our  way  to  the 
mayor's  office  we  were  advised  of  the  circumstances. 
This  lessee  had  been  induced  to  make  a  public  an- 
nouncement at  the  hall  a  niglit  previous  —  that  this 
Hutchinson  Family  was  not  the  real  family  he  had 
read  of;  that  he  had  been  misinformed,  and  tlierefore 
no  concert  would  be  given  by  this  company.  Then  we 
found  scurrilous  articles  in  the  papers,  calling  upon  the 
people  to  put  us  down  and  not  permit  the  concert. 
But  still  we  repaired  to  the  office  of  the  mayor.  Ad- 
dressing ourselves  in  a  courteous  manner  to  His  Honor, 
Ave  asked  a  permit  to  go  on  witli  the  concert.  Rushing 
out  from  behind  his  desk,  and  doubling  up  his  fist  in  a 
pugilistic  way,  he  dashed  up  to  us  like  a  furious  cur, 
with  a  threat :  "  You  are  Abolitionists ;  you  have  no 
business  here ;  we  will  give  you  no  protection.  Get 
out  of  the  city  as  quick  as  you  can." 

No  expostulations  would  appease  his  wrath,  and  we 
were  ol)liged  to  withdraw  from  his  presence.  Notic- 
ing groups  of  strangers  at  tlie  corners  of  the  streets, 
with  angry  countenances  and  indulging  in  deriding 
remarks  as  we  passed  b}',  we  were  convinced  we  were 
in  great  peril.  We  hastened  to  arrange  our  affairs, 
settling  bills  that  liad  been  contracted  on  account  of 
the  concert  to  the  amount  of.  one  hundred  dollars,  dis- 
patched our  baggage  to  the  river,  and  went  al^oard  the 
steamboat  bound  to  Chicago.  The  song  "  America," 
"  My  country,  'tis  of  thee,  sweet  land  of  liberty,"  we 
were  in  a  position  to  quote  in  ridicule,  as  a  satire  upon 
our  "  liberties." 

Our  loss  was  probabl}^  not  less  than  two  thousand 
dollars,  but  in  the  midst  of  our  disappointment,  some 
ray  of  hope  would  beam  in  upon  our  despondenc}',  and 


294  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

we  were  consoled  by  the  reflection  that  our  consciences 
were  clear.  The  time  would  soon  arrive  when  our 
boasted  patriotism  would  cease  to  be  a  mockery  in  the 
face  of  true  liberty.  We  felt  that  freedom  and  slavery 
could  not  exist  under  the  stars  and  stripes,  and  that  the 
conflict  was  inevitable. 

We  felt  we  were  favored  in  having  so  peaceful  an 
exit,  and  soon  were  facing  towards  the  North  Star.  We 
thought  how  many  poor  fugitive  bondmen  had  left  the 
Southern  plantations,  seeking  for  liberty ;  and  by  this 
incident  were  more  than  ever  flred  with  zeal  in  our 
holy  crusade  against  this  slave  traffic.  We  felt  the 
time  would  surely  come,  and  in  some  way  the  Lord 
would  provide  "a  way  of  escape.''  And  it  did  come 
afterwards,  when  near  the  close  of  the  war,  wliich  was 
fourteen  years  later,  we  were  welcomed  back  to  this 
slave-ridden  country  and  extended  the  freedom  of  the 
city,  for  by  the  proclamation  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  Mis- 
souri had  become  a  free  State.     But  I  anticipate. 

The  news  of  this  defeat  reached  the  ear  of  William 
Lloyd  Garrison,  and  on  our  return  to  Boston,  meeting 
him  on  State  Street,  he  referred  to  the  affair  and  said, 
"  Another  feather  in  your  cap,  my  friends." 

It  was  June  12,  1851,  when  we  shook  the  dust  of  St. 
Louis  from  our  feet,  and  sailed  awa}^  up  the  Mississippi. 
A  very  intimate  acquaintance  and  friend,  Hon.  Amos 
Tuck  from  New  Hampshire,  ex-member  of  Congress, 
with  his  lady  came  forward  to  greet  us,  and  as  we 
related  our  adventures  they  expressed  their  indigna- 
tion at  such  treatment.  They  were  going  to  Chicago, 
having  just  returned  from  Minnesota,  and  they  spoke 
in  praise  of  the  glories  of  that  upper  land,  while  they 
importuned  me  to  go  and  settle  with  them.  No  slavery 
there  !   freedom  to  worship  God  ! 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  295 

We  had  an  ocular  demonstration  of  steamboat  racing. 
Another  steamer  followed  us  up  for  several  hours,  en- 
deavoring to  get  ahead;  but  our  craft  was  not  willing 
that  she  should  run  us  down,  so  oar  boat  fired  up  — 
turpentine,  tar,  pitch,  rosin,  were  tlu'own  under  the 
boiler  to  raise  the  steam.  The  danger  of  our  boat  and 
crew  was  imminent;  all  were  on  deck  ready  with  life- 
preservers  to  meet  a  catastrophe,  realizing  the  dtmger, 
yet  hoping  our  antagonist  would  be  humbled.  After 
several  attempts  to  run  by,  the  boats  came  together ; 
then  there  was  a  crash  and  our  boat  having  the  advan- 
tage, held  her  bows  to  the  demolished  guard,  crowded 
her  rival  to  the  bank  and  lield  her  for  a  while ;  then 
leaving  the  whipped  craft  we  sailed  away  up  the 
Illinois.  Then  we  sang  the  victor's  song,  and  after 
some  pleasant  conversation  with  our  New  Hampsliire 
friend,  thanked  God  for  safety  and  returned  to  our 
stateroom. 

The  Illinois  River  runs  slowly ;  we  shouted  to  the 
people  on  the  banks,  and  they  came  down  to  the  boat 
to  learn  what  such  music  meant.  By  request,  in  the 
evening  we  sang  to  quite  an  audience  in  the  cabin.  A 
great  flood  overflowed  the  banks,  many  villages  were 
inundated,  and  thousands  were  rendered  homeless  by 
the  spread  of  tlie  waters.  We  took  a  canal  boat  from 
Naples.  The  sleeping  arrangements  were  ugly,  with 
three  narrow  apartments  on  a  side.  I  could  have  slept, 
but  a  neighbor  snored  so  loudly  that  I  gave  up  the 
attempt.  We  saw  numerous  birds  just  right  for  game, 
and  a  dozen  were  soon  on  the  ground.  It  w-as  just  my 
luck  to  have  sold  my  gun  a  short  time  before  the  game 
came  in  sight. 

Arrived  in  Chicago  and  meetino-  friends,  we  made 
known  our  experience  in  St.  Louis.     Immediately  our 


296  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

case  was  taken  up,  the  papers  were  full  of  indignation 
at  this  uncivil  conduct,  and  plans  were  made  for  a 
public  demonstration.  Tremont  Hall  was  engaged,  and 
the  citizens  turned  out  ew  masse,  crowding  the  largest 
room  in  the  city.  It  was  a  benefit  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars.  This  was  a  substantial  aid,  and  we 
weie  happy. 

After  more  concerts  we  took  a  boat  for  Racine,  and 
meeting  with  success  took  a  carriage  to  Milwaukee, 
where  we  sang  to  a  full  house  ;  then  bade  adieu  and 
took  a  boat  again  for  Chicago.  On  board  a  robbery 
was  committed :  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  were 
taken  away  from  a  poor  fellow,  but  the  robbers  were 
discovered  and  induced  to  refund  what  they  had  taken 
and  the  matter  was  compromised. 

At  Chicago  we  met  a  true  friend  in  the  person  of  a 
Mr.  S.  T.  Mann,  who  proved  a  lover  of  the  Hutchinson 
Family  and  continued  to  be  the  same  wherever  we  met 
him.  Bidding  adieu  to  the  cit}^  of  mud,  we  took  a  boat 
for  New  Buffalo,  Mich.  On  the  way  we  met  a  ]\Ir. 
jNIaynard  whose  daughter,  Caroline  B.  Maynard,  had 
shown  us  great  courtesy  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  He  gave  us 
good  notices  in  his  paper  in  the  latter  city. 

Arriving  in  Detroit,  June  21st,  Ave  took  a  l^oat  for 
Cleveland,  and  retired  at  once  to  our  berths,  all  in  one 
stateroom.  The  night  was  warm,  and  having  to  leave 
the  door  ajar,  I  took  the  precaution  to  put  my  money 
under  my  pillow,  while  Judson  had  his,  fifty  dollars 
in  gold,  loose  in  his  pocket,  and  this  left  in  an  ex- 
posed position.  About  midnight  I  was  in  a  half-con- 
scious state,  and  thought  I  saw  the  shadow  of  a  man 
leaving  the  stateroom.  Judson  awoke  and  said,  "  Who 
w^ent  out?  ''  "•  Can't  tell ;  look  to  your  monc}-."  "  'Tis 
gone,'"  said  he.    He  kept  it  in  his  watch-pocket.    Surely, 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  297 

the  gold  was  gone.  Cautiously  I  dressed,  and  stepping 
out  upon  the  deck  I  saw  some  person  returning  towards 
our  door.  I  stepped  up  to  him  and  said,  "  Sir,  do  you 
belong  to  this  boat?"  He  was  "mum,"  and  I  was  sure 
that  this  was  the  thief.  I  kept  close  on  the  lookout 
and  right  b}'  him,  and  soon  my  two  brothers  came  to 
my  aid.  Judson  being  satisfied  that  this  was  the  thief, 
accosted  him  thus :  "  Give  me  my  money  ? "  We  fol- 
lowed him  close,  and  Jesse  notified  the  officers  of  the 
boat.  I  said  to  the  culprit,  "  Give  back  the  money,  and 
we  will  let  you  go."  He  denied  having  taken  it. 
"  Give  it  up  quick  :  the  officers  are  coming."  He  })ulled 
out  a  ]T)il  of  bills,  and  offered  it  to  Judson.  '*  Don't 
want  that ;  give  me  gold."  Then  with  a  long  sigh, 
he  slo^^"ly  drew  from  his  pocket  the  identical  money 
he  liad  but  a  few  moments  before  stolen  from  my 
brother.  The  officers  confined  the  culprit,  and  when 
we  arrived  in  Cleveland,  he  was  handed  over  to  the 
authorities  and  jailed.  We  called  on  him  in  jail,  and 
cheered  liim  witli  songs.  Next  day  he  was  tried,  and 
we  endeavored  to  get  him  good  counsel,  our  friend  Burr, 
whom  I  liad  met  in  Concord ;  and  he  Avas  released  on 
the  ground  of  having  connnitted  the  act  in  doubtful 
waters,  between  the  States  and  Canada,  so  we  were  re- 
lieved from  suspense  and  the  poor  fellow  was  at  large. 

Then  came  some  more  concerts  at  Cleveland,  and 
visits  to  our  dear  friends  the  Severances,  and  on  Mrs. 
Burr,  a  very  intelligent  lady,  Avho  later  divorced  from 
Burr,  married  a  Mr.  Burleigh  and  became  a  Unitarian 
preacher  in  Brookline,  Conn. 

Alwut  tliis  time  the  Bloomer  dress  was  coming  into 
vogue  and  many  of  our  female  reformers  vied  witli  eacli 
other  to  indorse  the  peculiar  costume,  and  would  smile 
when  the  men  would  compliment  the  style.     ^Nlrs.  Sev- 


298  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

erance  and  Mrs.  Burr  were  foremost  in  the  city  to  wear 
the  garment  openly.  I  was  pleased  with  the  conven- 
ience 6f  it,  and  wrote  to  my  wife,  sending  her  some  pat- 
terns.    I  later  found  she  at  once  donned  the  dress. 

While  at  Mrs.  Severance's  we  met  with  one  of  the 
best  of  women,  Mrs.  Francis  D.  Gage,  the  poet  and 
philanthropist.  She  handed  me  a  new  production, 
"  One  Hundred  Years  Hence,"  and  at  the  meeting  next 
day  at  Ravenna  it  formed  })art  of  the  programme.  Be- 
fore we  left  Cleveland,  Salmon  P.  Chase  came  in,  on 
his  way  to  our  promised  convention.  We  took  cars, 
and  arriving  at  the  hotel  preparations  were  made  and  a 
procession  formed ;  we  three,  Judson,  Jesse  and  John  tak- 
ing the  lead.  We  sang  as  we  rode  to  the  grove,  where 
the  meeting  was  called  to  order.  Some  Whig,  paper 
remarked  later :  "  Tlie  procession  consisted  of  three 
people  led  off  by  the  Hutchinson  Famil}^"  Among 
the  speakers  were  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  S.  P.  Chase, 
Judge  Spaulding,  Rev.  Mr.  Mahan,  Professor  at  Ober- 
lin  College,  and  the  Hutchinson  Family.  We  sang 
songs  appropriate  to  the  occasion  between  the  speeches ; 
one  song  was  written  by  ]Mr.  Day,  a  colored  man.  Jesse 
spoke  a  few  words,  and  read  the  song  given  me  by  ^Irs. 
Gage,  which  was  well  received.  The  meeting  continued 
without  adjournment  about  four  hours,  until  four  o'clock, 
when  the  speakers  vacated  the  platform  and  took  seats 
among  the  audience  and  we  had  the  field  and  the  faces 
and  hearts  of  the  intelligent  peojile.  We  sang  our 
usual  programme,  about  twelve  or  fifteen  selections  in 
number,  retaining-  tlie  audience  about  one  hour  and  a 
half,  and  though  they  had  sat  so  long,  the  expressed 
regret  at  the  closing  was  that  we  could  not  sing  more. 

Our  friends  Messrs.  Chase  and  Spaulding  seemed  very 
well  satisfied,  and  pronounced  the  convention  a  success. 


FKKKDO.M'S    CHA.ALPIUXS  —  (p.  298) 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  299 

We  received  for  coinpensatioii  the  income  from  the  sale 
of  our  song-books,  about  eighty  clolhirs  ;  and  as  we  re- 
treated from  the  field  to  our  hotel,  all  comi)letely  ex- 
hausted, we  thouo-ht  the  switching  of  the  Democratic 
political  car  on  to  the  tracks  of  Free  Soil  was  a  success, 
and  like  the  matchless  senative  would  use  up  the  Whigs 
and  pro-slavery  men  and  leave  nothing  but  the  hat  and 
boots.  So  we  went  to  rest  believing  in  the  good  time 
coming. 

June  2Gth  we  took  the  cars  at  Hudson,  and  sang 
another  concert  to  the  people.  How  gratifying  to  us 
this  opportunity  to  utter  in  song  the  sentiments  of  our 
hearts,  for  we  Ijoldly  declared  our  opinion  of  the  I'eform 
of  the  day,  whether  they  Avould  hear  or  forbear. 

Then  we  went  again  to  Ravenna,  for  the  people  wished 
to  hear  more  of  our  music.  Judson  preached  some  on  the 
evils  of  toljacco  and  pork-eating.  My  diary  says  at  this 
point:  '' O  God,  purify  my  mind  I  I  will  trust  in  Thee. 
Let  me  to-day  promulgate  some  new  truth,  is  the  prayer 
of  my  heart." 

]\lany  young  men  came  to  say  farewell,  Avhen  we  re- 
turned to  Cleveland  and  held  another  popular  concert 
in  the  Melodeon.  Our  concerts  were  disturbed  by  the 
ringing  of  tlie  nine-o'clock  Ijells,  so  dearly  revered  by 
the  generation  which  commands  a  salary,  and  feels  a 
glory  in  rolling  o'er  the  human  heart  a  stone.  What  a 
nuisance  it  is  to  the  sensitive  ear,  just  as  one  is  pouring 
out  his  very  soul  in  affectionate  sympathy,  to  hear  this 
banging  of  iron  bells,  dispelling  every  vista  of  harmony 
and  sublimity,  thus  being  compelled  to  close  witli  disgust, 
mingled  with  shame  at  such  lack  of  public  appreciation. 

June  29th  we  had  a  real  welcome  at  the  house  of  T. 
C.  Severance,  who  always  extended  his  hospitality  to  us 
poor  pilgrims. 


300  THE    HUTCHINSOK    FAMILY. 

Brother  Asa,  who  had,  since  we  parted  in  New  York 
in  the  spring,  spent  his  time  at  tlie  old  homestead  in 
New  Hampshire,  came  to  join  us  once  more,  and  our 
trio  was  complete.  Judson  and  I  welcomed  our  bass 
singer,  and  rejoiced  to  mingle  our  voices  once  again. 
Good  news  came  from  home ;  mother  was  well  and  our 
wives  prospeiing. 

June  30th,  another  concert  in  Cleveland,  Asa  joining 
with  us,  and  Brother  Jesse  attending  to  the  business. 
Many  bouquets  wei'e  bestowed  upon  us,  and  the  singing 
was  all  a  success.  Many  young  ladies  admired  our 
cause  and  showed  us  courtesy,  and  luany  a  souvenir  was 
pressed  upon  us. 

We  went  to  Elyria,  where  we  were  greeted  with  a 
fine  audience,  and  the  good  people  received  us  gladly 
and  bade  us  God-speed.  Away  again  in  the  weary 
stage  to  Oberlin.  Many  students  came  out  to  greet  us, 
and  congratulated  us.  We  went  upon  the  green  in  the 
afternoon  with  them  and  joined  in  our  favorite  sport, 
''  Fox  and  Geese."  This  game  served  a  double  purpose, 
giving  us  athletic  sport  and  lessening  the  monotony  of 
our  calling. 

Here  we  found  a  true,  radical  spirit  of  reform,  anti- 
slavery,  temperance  and  woman's  equality.  I  believe 
this  the  first  college  where  a  black  man  was  recognized 
as  a  brother  and  both  women  and  men  could  be  e(hi- 
cated  and  graduated  together.  Some  eight  liundred 
students  and  citizens  gathered  into  the  Tabernacle.  Jud- 
son's  remarks  were  well  received,  and  the  radical  songs 
were  loudly  applauded.  President  Finney  spoke  in  an 
approving  manner  of  them. 

These  ha[)py  da^^s  we  contrasted  with  the  scourging 
we  received  at  poor  St.  Louis,  and  so  took  courage. 
Here  we  met  Miss  Mary  White,  who   was  the  soprano 


THK    'Jl;J()   OF    JUtOTHKKS  — (11.300) 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  oUl 

of  the  choir —  a  h:)vely  spirited  had}-  whose  voice  seemed 
to  blend  with  our's  Hke  that  of  our  dear  Sister  Abhy, 
who  was  still  away  from  the  circle  at  her  home  in  New 
York.  So  we  consulted  Avith  ^liss  White  about  joining- 
with  us,  but  the  son  of  President  Finney  gave  an  en- 
couraging word  for  love's  sake,  and  we  left  them  alone 
to  their  love-making  and  passed  on,  a  disappointed  trio, 
back  to  Cleveland  and  took  a  steaml)o;it  to  Painesville, 
for  no  Lake  Shore  Railroad  was  yet  built. 

On  Jul}-  4th  we  had  a  rather  peculiar  experience  in 
Painesville.  Arriving  at  the  town  on  tlie  preceding 
day,  we  found  our  old  friends  of  the  Baker  Family  also 
there.  Soon  after,  we  were  waited  upon  by  a  committee-, 
man  named  Steele,  who  desired  to  know  if  we  would 
not  sing  for  the  celebration  of  Independence  Day,  in  a 
beautiful  grove  near  by.  We  declined.  He  wished  us 
to  set  a  price,  but  we  refused  to  do  that. 

We  were  just  then  feeling,  as  did  many  other  Abo- 
litionists, that  to  join  in  the  celebration  of  the  natal 
day  of  the  country  was  to,  in  a  sense,  approve  its  recog- 
nition of  the  system  of  slavery,  and  we  could  not  do 
that.  Nevertheless,  Ave  loved  the  land  of  our  birth,  and 
hated  to  refuse,  so  Jesse  told  him  that  if  we  had  the 
spirits  of  singing  on  the  following  day,  we  would  come 
and  give  the  company  gathered  one  song.  On  that 
day,  therefore,  after  a  ride  into  the  country  Avith 
the  Bakers,  Jesse  composed  an  appropriate  song,  and  we 
went  to  the  grove  to  sing  it ;  but  the  committee  in- 
formed us  they  had  made  other  arrangements.  There 
were  three  thousand  people  in  the  gathering.  Soon,  to 
our  astonishment,  the  announcement  Avas  made  from  the 
platform  that  the  Ifutclunsons  had  agreed  to  sing,  and 
had  then  backed  out,  unless  the  people  would  pay  tliem 
seventy-five    dollars.     Tliis    was    untrue,    and    we     felt 


302  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

deeply  the  attempt  to  injure  us.  We  resolved  to  refute 
the  imputation,  and  taking  our  stand  by  the  platform, 
Jesse  requested  an  opportunity  to  make  a  statement. 
The  committee  held  a  consultation,  and  refused  to  grant 
the  privilege.  We  then  determined  to  cry  out,  whether 
or  no,  and  just  as  the  assembly  was  dismissed,  Judson 
stated  in  loud  tones  that  the  Hutchinsons  had  been  be- 
lied. Jesse  also  denied  the  slander,  as  did  Asa.  Steele 
made  a  lame  attempt  at  an  answer.  We  went  to  dinner 
witli  friends,  and  on  our  way  back  found  the  people 
still  assembled,  listening  to  toasts  and  speeches.  Jesse 
mounted  the  platform,  and  made  a  short  speech  in 
favor  of  brown  bread,  and  then  said  the  Hutchinsons 
were  present  and  would  favor  the  company  with  a  song. 
"  A  song,  a  song  I  "  rang  through  the  trees,  and  we  at 
once  becfan  to  sinp-  our  "  Cold  Water  Sono-,"  but  were 
prevented  from  concluding  it  by  some  of  the  ugly 
partisans  of  the  committee.  We  left  the  stage,  and  re- 
turned to  the  hotel.  Then  the  committee  waited  on  us 
in  relation  to  the  church  we  had  engaged  for  om^  con- 
cert. They  told  us  Ave  should  have  it,  but  said  there 
had  been  some  effort  made  to  cheat  us  out  of  it.  We 
concluded  it  was  wise  to  stay  indoors  until  six  o'clock, 
and  then  we  went  to  the  church.  The  doors  were 
locked.  I  hurried  to  one  of  the  trustees,  and  asked  the 
reason.  He  said  it  was  Ijecause  we  had  refused  to  sing 
during  the  day,  and  fuithermore  that  the  mob  would 
disturb  us  if  we  went  into  the  house.  I  calmly  told  him 
I  did  not  fear  a  moh.  Finally,  Ave  got  his  permission  to 
sing  on  tlie  steps  of  the  church.  Accordingly,  we 
mounted  them,  and  asked  the  peojjle  gathered,  OA^er  a 
thousand,  if  Ave  should  sing.  A  united  shout,  "  Yes,"  was 
enough  to  thrill  us  to  action,  ami  we  commenced,  and 
continued  for  two  hours,  procuring  our  instruments  to 
aid  us. 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  308 

While  we  were  in  the  middle  of  the  song,  "•  Behold, 
the  Day  of  Promise  comes,"'  we  saw  a  crowd  of  roughs 
coming  near,  making  a  good  deal  of  noise.  We  ex- 
pected difficulty,  as  they  joined  the  group  of  listeners 
gathered  near  the  steps  of  tlie  church  that  each  auditor 
might  get  every  note  of  our  songs.  But  as  soon  as  they 
came  within  hearing  of  our  music,  they  quieted  down, 
mingled  Avith  the  orderly  ones,  and  we  went  on  and 
finished  our  programme.  Afterwards  one  fellow  said  he 
had  intended  to  '*  hreak  us  up,"  and  do  us  injur}',  but 
when  he  caught  the  sound  of  our  harmou}",  he  was  en- 
tirely thwarted.  He  had  a  stone  to  throw,  but  dropped 
it  suddenly.  After  the  concert  was  over,  many  offered 
to  pay  us,  and  large  numljcrs  attempted  to  put  a  quarter 
into  our  hands,  but  we  refused  all  such  kindnesses. 
When  we  had  finished  singing,  we  visited  a  ladies'  fair, 
and  contril)uted  our  mite  towards  putting  blinds  on  the 
church  .to  which  we  had  been  refused  admittance.  Ever 
after  that  when  we  visited  Painesville  we  were  received 
with  great  Sclat.  The  next  night  we  were  at  Chardon, 
and  some  fifty  people  came  down  from  Painesville  to 
hear  us.  From  thence  we  travelled  tlu'ough  several 
Ohio  towns  until  we  came  to  Jefferson,  the  home  of 
Joshua  R.  Giddings. 

The  following  interesting  statement  in  regard  to  the 

Painesville    riot  was  written  in    1874,   ])y  Col.    J.    F. 

Morse,  the  oldest  member  of  that  celebrated  Fourth  of 

July  committee  : 

Painesville,  September  28,  1874. 

Dear  Sir:  —  Complying  with  your  request  coming  from  sources 
which  I  respect,  I  will  proceed  to  write  an  imperfect  narrative  of  some 
events  which  transpired  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  when  the 
people  of  Lake  County,  Ohio,  assembled  at  the  village  of  Painesville  on 
the  Fourth  of  July  to  celebrate  the  seventy-fourth  anniversary  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence. 


304  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

On  this  day,  consecrated  to  universal  freedom,  there  was  a  violent 
outburst  of  pro-slavery  passion  and  fury  quite  incredible  when  contem- 
plated from  the  standpoint  of  the  present  time. 

When  some  time  previous  to  the  fourtli  day  of  July,  1852,  the 
citizens  of  Painesville  began  to  make  prei^arations  for  celebrating  that 
day,  it  was  suggested  the  songs  and  music  of  tliose  unrivalled  singers, 
tlie  Ilutcliinsons,  would  form  an  attractive  and  appropriate  feature  of 
the  commemorative  exercises,  if  tlieir  consent  could  be  obtained.  It 
was  known  that  tliey  were  to  sing  at  an  anti-slavery  meeting  to  be  held 
at  Ilavenna,  Portage  County,  O.,  prior  to  the  Fourtli  of  July;  and 
several  persons  from  Painesville  attended  the  meeting  at  Ravenna  with 
tlie  view  of  making  sucli  an  arrangement  witli  the  Hutchinsons  as 
would  secure  to  the  people  who  joined  in  the  celebration  the  rare  en- 
joyment afforded  by  the  music,  the  wit  and  humor  of  these  renowned 
artists.  No  definite  engagement  was  made  with  the  Hutchinsons  at 
the  interview  luid  with  them  at.  Eavenna  by  these  people,  Messrs. 
Rockwell,  Jennings,  Steele  and  Morse.  Tiie  Hutchinsons  could  do  no 
more  tlian  say  to  tliose  gentlemen  that  if  subsequently  they  found  it  com- 
patible with  tlieir  other  engagements  they  would  sing  at  Painesville  on 
the  corning  Fourth  of  July.  The  question  was  subsequently  settled  by 
a  correspondence  with  the  Hutchinsons,  C.  C.  Jennings  and  J.  F. 
Morse  acting  as  a  committee  for  that  purpose,  the  former  agreeing  to 
give  a  concert  in  Painesville  on  the  day  of  the  celebration,  and  the 
latter  agreeing  to  procure  a  church  or  hall  to  be  used  for  the  concert- 
With  his  usual  promptitude  Mr.  Jennings  obtained  the  written  consent 
of  five  of  the  six  trustees  of  the  IMethodist  church,  so  that  it  could  be 
used  by  the  Hutchinsons.  They  arrived  in  Painesville  in  time  to  fulfil 
their  engagement. 

In  the  programme  of  exercises  for  the  day  the  committee  of  arrange- 
ments advertised  that  the  Hutchinsons  would  sing  certain  songs  or 
pieces  selected  by  themseh^es.  To  this  the  Hutchinsons  objected. 
They  would  only  consent  to  sing  during  the  public  exercises  pieces  of 
their  own  selection  or  composition. 

A  majority  of  the  active  members  of  the  committee  of  arrange- 
ments were  determined  to  exclude  everything  from  the  proceedings 
which  could  give  offence  to  the  sensitive  pro-slavery  people  who  might 
be  present  at  the  celebration,  and  would  not  yield.  Neither  would  the 
Hutchinsons,  as  without  the  expression  of  the  sentiment  which  they 
cherished,  their  singing  would  lack  the  inspiration  which  was  its 
greatest  charm.  The  committee  of  arrangements  were  enraged  and 
excited  in  a  most  extravagant  and  unreasonable  manner  at  this  non- 
compliance of  the  Hutchinsons,  and  were  determined  to  prevent  their 
holding  a  concert,  by  which  it  was  expected  that  they  would  receive 
some  compensation  for  the  time  and  money  expended  in  meeting  an 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  305 

engagement  entered  into  for  the  gratification  of  their  friends  and  the 
public  in  tliis  section  of  the  State. 

Tlie  committee  succeeded  in  communicating  to  a  large  crowd  of 
peoi^Ie  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of  time  tlie  fury  of  their  own 
causeless  indignation,  so  that  the  timid  became  alarmed  for  the  safety 
of  their  property  if  not  of  their  lives.  The  trustees  of  the  Methodist 
church  withdrew  their  consent  to  the  occupancy  of  their  building  by 
the  Hutchinsons,  alleging  that  tliey  were  apprehensive  of  its  destruc- 
tion by  an  infuriated  and  incensed  people.  Mr.  Jennings  asserted  his 
right  to  the  occupancy  of  the  church  upon  the  faith  of  the  written 
consent  of  the  trustees  and  agreed  to  indenniify  them  for  the  loss  of 
the  church  if  it  was  destroyed. 

When  the  time  came  for  admission  to  the  concert,  a  crowd  of  people 
were  collected  around  the  door  of  the  Methodist  church.  Some  were 
seeking  admission  ;  others  were  trying  to  repel  them  by  noisy  and 
threatening  demonstrations.  Mr.  Jennings,  disregarding  all  this  oj)- 
position,  took  a  position  at  the  door  of  the  church  to  receive  the  en- 
trance fees.  Very  few  had  gone  in  when  he  was  confronted  by  a 
stalwart  and  determined  member  of  the  committee  of  arrangements 
with  threats  of  being  ejected  from  the  church  by  force,  ilr.  Jennings 
is  a  man  of  large  statue,  possessing  moral  and  physical  courage  not 
likely  to  fail  him  in  any  emergency.  He  met  those  threatening  dem- 
onstrations with  such  firmness  of  deportment  that  the  assailant  sub- 
sided without  attemi^ting  any  violence.  In  the  meantime,  the  Hutch- 
insons arrived  at  the  door  of  the  church.  Undismayed  they  surveyed 
the  crowd  in  front  of  them,  and  after  taking  in  the  situation,  they 
changed  the  programme  from  indoors  to  an  outside  free  concert  for 
the  entertainment  of  both  willing  and  unwilling  hearers. 

All  attempts  of  the  latter  to  drown  the  tuneful  harmony  of  their 
voices  by  the  rapid  firing  of  cannon  from  an  adjacent  eminence  or  by 
shouting  and  throwing  fire-crackers  and  other  hissing  and  explosive  mis- 
siles among  the  listening  throng  were  ineffectual  to  silence  or  discon- 
cert these  courageous  men.  They  said  their  say,  and  sung  the  songs  of 
their  own  selection  without  discriminating  between  friends  and  enemies. 

This  jiarox^'sm  of  pro-slavery  madness  speedily  subsided  and  left 
those  who  were  so  violently  affected  by  it  to  reflections  not  unmingled 
with  shame  and  regret.  Some  of  the  gentlemen  most  conspicuous  in 
exciting  the  disorders  on  this  occasion  subsequently  made  ample 
apologies  to  the  Hutchinsons  for  their  mistaken  zeal. 

Very  cordially  yours,  etc.,  J.  F.  Morse. 

We  made  our  lieadquaiiers  with  tlie  great  Al)olition- 
ist,  Giddings,  during  our  stay  in  Jefferson.     He  was  very 


306  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

courteous  toward  us.  We  plaj'ed  ball  for  old  acquaint- 
ance sake,  and  talked  of  the  slavery  question  and  the 
23rospects  of  Daniel  Webster.  Giddings  considered  tlie 
great  expounder  of  the  constitution  politically  dead. 
The  lapse  of  time  showed  that  he  was  right.  I  thought 
of  the  reflections  in  my  diary  after  my  first  meeting 
with  the  great  statesman,  when  he  was  so  attracted  by 
the  wine-glass,  wlien  Giddings  told  me  that  at  one  of 
Jenny  Lind's  concerts  in  Washington,  Webster  shocked 
the  audience  by  three  times  rising  and  profoundly  bow- 
ing to  the  Nightingale,  at  very  inopportune  moments, 
the  explanation  being  that  the  noted  man  was  irre- 
sponsil)le  for  his  acts.  At  Ashtabula  we  found  the 
story  of  our  experience  in  Painesville  had  prejudiced 
the  people  against  us,  a  very  annoying  circumstance. 
Stopping  at  the  hotel  I  overheard  some  young  men  talk- 
ing of  us.  They  said  the  song,  "  Man  the  Life-Boat," 
was  a  good  one,  but  so  many  "isms"  would  not  go 
down.  We  went  to  Detroit,  where  we  gave  two  con- 
certs. We  took  tea  at  the  house  of  the  ex-maj^or,  Mr. 
Ladore,  and  met  several  old  acquaintances,  Messrs. 
Tucker,  Palmer  and  others.  After  a  concert  at  Ann 
Arbor,  we  returned  to  Detroit,  and  from  there  went  to 
Buffalo.  Here  we  settled  with  Jesse  and  he  went 
home.  I  sent  fifty  dollars  to  him  at  the  depot  by  a  boy. 
Later  I  ffot  a  telesfram  that  he  had  not  received  it.  We 
looked  up  the  boy,  and  he  confessed  that  he  had  opened 
the  letter,  given  forty  dollars  to  another  boy,  and  spent 
the  rest.  We  hunted  up  the  other  sinner  and  recovered 
fifteen  dollars  of  our  money.  Then  we  took  the  note  of 
the  first  boy,  Sammy,  and  took  him  along  Avith  us  for 
security,  hoping  to  do  him  good.  He  sold  song-books 
at  the  door,  and  made  himself  generally  useful.  We 
had  fine  houses    at   Auburn,  Rochester   and  Syracuse. 


LIC4HTS    AND    SHADOWS.  307 

In  Rochester,  the  year  before,  we  liad  postponed  two 
concerts,  one  to  prevent  interfering  Avith  Jenny  Lind, 
and  the  other  to  accommodate  a  benefit  by  Madame 
Anna  Bishop.  For  the  hitter  act  we  were  thanked  by 
the  Firemen's  Benefit  Association,  and  now  it  showed 
itself  bread  cast  on  the  Avaters,  for  the  fire  hiddies  and 
others  crowded  out  to  our  entertainment  in  such  num- 
bers that  Ave  were  obliged  to  adA'^ertise  a  return  concert 
a  few  days  later.  It  took  us  forty-fiA^e  minutes  to  get 
throuo-li  the  crowd  of  ten  thousand  seeking  admission. 
Then  came  concerts  at  Oswego,  Sacket  Harl)or;  and 
with  our  last  Rochester  concert  our  season  ended. 

The  summer  A\'as  spent  in  Milford,  in  our  usual  man- 
ner. I  made  an  attem^^t  to  establish  a  "  union ""  store,  I 
remember,  and  was  rather  chagrined  at  the  slow  AA^ay  in 
Avhich  the  townspeople  took  the  matter  up.  In  Septem- 
ber the  trio  of  brothers  made  another  start,  and  gaA'e 
concerts  all  through  Southern  Xew  Hampshire  and 
Vermont.  It  was  successful,  and  the  only  unusual 
incident  AA'as  the  mortifying  discovery  that  our  youth- 
ful proteye,  Samuel,  Avho  Avas  Avith  us,  had  repaid  our 
attempt  to  saA'e  him  from  a  life  of  viciousness,  by  rifling 
my  trunk  of  the  contents  of  a  bag  of  silver  (one  lum- 
dred  and  t^^■ent3'-five  dollars),  and  left  tlie  bag  stuffed 
Avith  Avads  of  paper.  This  Avas  in  Greenfield,  and  Ave 
soon  got  upon  his  track  and  found  him  nine  miles  away 
headed  for  Korthampton.  He  Avas  sent  to  the  Reform 
School,  to  see  Avhat  virtue  there  Avould  be  in  that  course 
of  treatment. 

We  made  some  lasting  friendships  on  this  trip,  as 
well  as  rencAving  others.  At  Keene  we  stayed  some 
days  with  ]M.  T.  Tottingham,  a  prominent  business  man, 
president  of  the  Cheshire  County  iNIusical  Association, 
and  Avere  also  handsomely  entertained  by  William  P. 


308  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Chamberlain,  who  for  many  years  held  a  leading  posi- 
tion in  musical  circles  of  the  town.  He  took  us  to  his 
father's  farm,  a  few  miles  out,  where  my  Avife  and  I 
spent  a  very  pleasant  day.  At  Hanover,  one  of  the 
students,  Clinton  Averill,  showed  us  a  good  deal  of 
attention.  At  Northfield,  Vt.,  Governor  Paine  was 
particularly  kind  to  us.  At  Burlington  the  poet  humor- 
ist, John  G.  Saxe,  was  at  our  concert,  and  in  fact  accom- 
panied us  on  the  journey  from  Montpelier.  He  was  a 
jolly  companion,  and  we  enjoyed  his  society  very  much. 
We  also  took  tea  with  our  friend  Allen  and  his  wife, 
whom  we  knew  from  the  lady's  former  residence  in 
Hancock.  ]Mr.  Conant.  of  Brandon,  put  us  under  obliga- 
tions by  his  kindness.  At  Castleton  we  found  our 
townsman  John  Fuller.  My  little  daughter  Viola  was 
with  me  on  this  tour. 

We  got  home  October  80th,  and  by  November  9th 
Judson  had  notified  me  he  was  ready  to  start  out  again. 
November  25th  we  were  off.  After  a  few  days  of 
preparation  in  Boston  Ave  sang  to  an  immense  audience 
in  South  Boston.  We  also  gave  concerts  in  the  Melo- 
deon  and  in  Chelsea.  Jenny  Lind  Avas  giving  concerts 
at  this  time,  and  Ave  lent  her  the  Melodeon  three  even- 
ings, postponing  our  own  concerts. 

This  Avas  after  her  contract  Avith  Barnum  had  expired. 
Her  agent  came  to  Boston,  and  in  looking  for  a  suitable 
hall,  could  find  none  that  pleased  him  so  Avell  as  the 
Melodeon.  We,  however,  had  a  contract  for  it.  In 
those  days,  an  evening  in  a  Boston  hall  was  Avorth 
many  hundreds  of  dollars  to  us.  But  we  released  it  to 
him,  he  paying  us  three  hundred  dollars,  the  rent  of  the 
hall,  and  giving  us  thirty-dollars-worth  of  tickets  to  the 
prima  donna's  concerts,  so  Ave  heard  Jenny  to  our  hearts' 
content.     She  had  a  A^ery  bright,  ringing,  silvery-toned 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  309 

voice,  accompanied  ^yitll  depth  and  strength.  Singing 
in  Chaiiestown,  later,  Judson  and  Asa  took  bad  cohLs. 
The  consequence  was  that  when  we  readied  Providence 
we  were  quite  hampered  in  our  work.  At  our  first  con- 
cert, whei'e  there  were  sixteen  hundred  people,  Jud- 
son was  so  hoarse  he  broke  down.  The  concert  was 
postponed,  and  on  the  evening  substituted  seventeen 
hundred  came.  He  was  no  better,  and  the  people  got 
their  tickets  back.  Then  we  went  to  Boston  in  search 
of  relief.  We  had  a  date  for  a  concert  tliere,  and  filled 
it,  though  Asa  and  I  alone  entertained  the  sixteen  hun- 
dred auditors.  Then  Judson  went  home  to  Milford, 
while  I  went  to  Lowell  to  postpone  another  concert. 
From  Milford  we  had  to  send  a  messenger  to  Provi- 
dence to  postpone  the  postponed  concert.  Finally, 
December  17th,  we  were  able  to  start  again,  going  to 
Boston,  Newton  and  Providence,  where  our  long-delayed 
entertainment  came  off.  While  here  we  heard  un- 
pleasant news  from  Jesse.  He  had  lost  his  wife,  Susan, 
a  few  montlis  before.  They  had  buried  all  of  their  five 
children  previously.  When  we  began  our  fall  singing, 
we  were  unable  to  agree  on  the  terms  by  which  he 
should  act  as  our  advance  agent ;  we  now  learned  that 
he  had  started  out  as  manager  for  our  friendly  rivals, 
the  Alleghanians.  The  result  of  this  arrangement  was 
that  as  he  knew  all  our  routes  Ave  came  into  frequent 
conflict,  often  reaching  the  same  city  simultaneously. 
We  still  loved  our  brother  and  wished  him  success,  but 
we  Avere  grieved.  We  went  next  to  Pawtucket,  Groton 
and  Lowell.  At  the  latter  city  both  my  children  sang 
in  the  concert  "  The  Yankee  Boy."  Viola  Avas  hardly 
five  years  old.     This  Avas  her  first  public  appearance. 

From  Lowell,  bidding  our  families  good-by,  Ave  pro- 
ceeded, by  Avay  of  Hartford  and  Ncav  Haven,  Avhere  of 


310  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

course  we  sang,  to  New  York.  Here  we  found  Jesse, 
Abb}'  and  Ludlow,  and  many  friends.  Jesse  was  mak- 
ing plans  for  a  Californian  trip  with  his  company. 
After  some  weeks  singing  in  the  city  and  vicinity,  we 
went  to  Albany,  where  great  enthusiasm  was  mani- 
fested over  our  singing.  On  January  28,  1852,  the 
State  temperance  convention  occurred  in  Albany.  On 
that  evening  we  sang  to  at  least  three  thousand  people, 
in  three  different  churches,  it  being  impossible  to  get 
all  our  temperance  friends  into  any  one  building.  The 
Maine  law  was  just  becoming  popular  with  these  people, 
and  great  things  were  expected  of  it.  I  recorded  my 
belief  that  the  glorious  day  was  surely  coming,  and  that 
this  law  would  drive  King  Alcohol  from  the  country. 
Then  we  went  to  Troy,  and  coming  back  to  Albany, 
introduced  for  the  first  time  the  song,  "  Do  a  Good 
Turn  when  You  can."  This  song  Jesse  had  found 
somewhere  on  his  travels,  and  had  put  it  in  an  envelope 
and  mailed  it  to  us ;  we  receiving  it  at  our  hotel  in  New 
York  a  few  days  before  this  concert.  We  at  once  set  it 
to  music.     The  words  were  as  follows : 

"  It  needs  not  great  wealth  a  kind  lieart  to  display, 
If  the  hand  be  but  willing,  'twill  soon  find  a  way ; 
And  the  poorest  one  yet,  in  the  humblest  abode, 
May  help  a  poor  brother  a  step  on  the  road. 
Then  if  we  enjoy  life,  why,  the  next  thing  to  do 
Is  to  see  that  another  enjoys  his  life  too ; 
And  tliough  poor  be  our  purse,  and  though  narrow  our  span, 
Let  us  all  try  to  do  a  good  turn  when  we  can. 

"The  fair  bloom  of  pleasure  may  charm  for  a  while. 
But  its  beauty  is  pale,  and  inconstant  its  smile ; 
Wiiilst  tlie  beaut}'  of  kindness,  immortal  in  bloom. 
Sheds  a  sweetness  o'er  life,  and  a  grace  o'er  the  tomb. 
Then  whatever  of  fortune  a  man  may  have  won, 
A  kindness  depends  on  the  way  it  is  done ; 
And  though  poor  be  our  purse  and  tliough  narrow  our  span. 
Let  us  all  try  to  do  a  good  turn  wlien  we  can." 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  311 

This  trip  up  the  river  for  a  week  was  very  proiit- 
able  for  us.  We  weut  back  to  New  York  for  another 
series  of  concerts,  and  then  proceeded  to  Pliihidelphia. 
We  found  Joslnia  there,  giving  concerts,  and  attended 
one  as  soon  as  we  arrived,  singing  one  song  by  request  of 
the  people,  and  to  sliow  our  good-will.  Joshua's  con- 
certs, we  found,  Avere  giving  good  satisfaction.  We 
always  looked  for  trouble  in  the  city  after  the  attempt 
of  the  mayor  to  shut  out  the  colored  people ;  but  dur- 
ing this  visit  we  had  many  of  them  in  our  hall  without 
the  slightest  attempt  to  disturb  them  or  us.  We  greatly 
enjoyed  visits  at  the  homes  of  the  Mitchells  and 
Samuel  Brainard,  a  good-hearted  Quaker.  Our  con- 
certs were  given  in  Sansom  Street  Hall,  and  there  were 
eight  or  nine.  We  also  sang  in  Rev.  Mr.  Moore's 
church,  for  the  Philharmonic  Society,  and  at  a  monster 
temperance  meeting  to  three  thousand  people.  Other 
]3laces  visited  during  this  time  were  Norristown  and 
Westchester. 

Baltimore  was  visited  next.  A  rather  unpleasant 
reception  awaited  us.  Some  young  men  of  pro-slavery 
tendencies  had  placarded  the  streets  with  appeals  to  the 
citizens  not  to  allow  us  to  sing.  We  went  to  the  mayor, 
and  he  sent  fifty  police-officers  to  the  hall  on  the  evening 
of  our  concert.  The  attendance  was  small,  and  the  blue- 
coats  awed  the  rouglis  so  much  that  tliere  was  no  dis- 
order. We  felt  these  things  hard  to  bear,  as  we  went 
on  to  Washington,  but  consoled  ourselves  with  the  re- 
flection that  the  bright  spots  would  come  by-and-by. 

In  Washino-ton  we  took  lodo'ino-s  in  the  National 
Hotel,  where  Henry  Clay  was  stopping.  We  repaired 
to  tlie  Capitol  early,  as  usual,  and  heard  an  address  by 
William  H.  Seward.  Soon  after  our  arrival  we  had  a 
letter   from    President    Fillmore,  politely  declining  an 


312  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

invitation  to  attend  one  of  our  concerts.  I  met  onr 
friend  Gicldings  as  usual,  and  he  introduced  me  to 
Horace  Mann,  witli  whom  I  had  an  hour's  conversation 
on  Spiritualism.  Salmon  P.  Chase  also  took  me  undei 
his  wing,  and  introduced  me  to  many  of  the  senators, 
one  of  whom  was  Charles  Sumner.  At  one  of  the 
president's  levees,  I  met  "  Grace  Greenwood,"  Ole  Bull, 
Daniel  Webster  and  others. 

Next  we  went  to  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  my  wife 
joined  me.  Proceeding  to  Pittsburgh,  we  spent  sev- 
eral days.  On  Sunday  we  sang  "  Where  shall  the 
Soul  find  Rest  "  in  one  of  the  churches.  The  clergy- 
man in  charge  responded  '^  Yes,  yes  ! "  as  we  concluded, 
fell  backward,  and  was  so  affected  for  some  time  that 
he  could  not  go  on  with  the  service.  His  wife  and 
children  were  so  frightened  that  they  rushed  up  the 
pulpit  stairs  to  aid  him.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  ex- 
citement. We  considered  it  a  grand  development  and 
demonstration.  Mr.  Giddings  was  with  us  during  our 
stay  in  Pittsburgh.  We  stayed  in  Pennsylvania  for 
some  time.  My  wife  often  sang  with  us,  making  a 
quartet,  as  in  the  days  when  Abby  sang.  She  had 
given  up  the  bloomer  costume  before  this  period,  as  she 
was  more  or  less  annoyed  by  the  comments  of  rude  boys 
as  she  passed  through  the  streets.  Later  we  went  to 
Cleveland,  where  our  good  friends,  the  Severances,  en- 
tertained us,  and  to  Columbus,  Avhere  we  met  Gough 
once  more.  At  Columlnis  no  church  would  allow  us  to 
sing,  and  the  most  available  hall  was  under  restrictions 
regarding  the  colored  race,  so  we  sang  in  the  dissecting- 
room  of  the  new  medical  college,  the  tables  being  re- 
moved. The  Legislature  then  took  the  matter  up,  and 
tried  to  pass  an  order  to  allow  us  the  use  of  tlie  Repre- 
sentatives' chamber,  but  it  failed  b}^  a  small  majority, 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  313 

and  we  returned  to  our  dissecting-room.  There  was 
great  good-will  shown,  and  we  had  as  happy  a  time  as 
though  we  had  been  permitted  to  let  our  songs  ring 
through  the  halls  of  legislation.  Concerts  in  San- 
dusk}',  Springtield,  Erie,  Buffalo,  Auburn  and  Utica  fol- 
lowed, and  then  Judson  went  home,  and  the  rest  soon 
followed.  I  was  rather  discouraged,  for  Judson  had 
announced  that  he  would  sing  no  more  with  us,  and  we 
felt  that  we  had  g-iven  our  last  concert  too-ether.  We 
were  mistaken.  A  short  stay  in  New  York  for  shop- 
ping, and  then  we  were  in  Milford  once  more. 

June  9th  we  all  went  to  Concord,  sang  in  a  big  tem- 
perance convention,  with  Gen.  Neal  Dow  and  Rev.  E.  H. 
Chapin,  D.D.,  of  New  York,  as  speakers,  and  gave  two 
concerts. 

Then  came  an  interval  of  farming.  Viola  came 
doAvn  with  scarlet  fever,  and  that  made  days  and  nights 
of  anxiety  and  watching.  In  August  we  gave  some 
concerts  in  Nashua,  Manchester,  and  other  places. 
One  day  I  started  from  Concord  for  Meredith  Bridge, 
where  I  was  to  give  a  concert  in  the  evening.  By  mis- 
take I  got  in  a  car  bound  for  Claremont,  and  was  forty 
miles  out  of  m}'  way  before  I  discovered  the  fact.  I 
had  Ijeen  busy  talking  with  an  acquaintance  in  the 
train,  whom  I  assumed  Avas  also  bound  to  my  destina- 
tion. Suddenly  glancing  out  of  the  window,  I  saAV  a 
train,  moving  in  an  opposite  direction.  "•  Where's  that 
train  going?  "  I  asked.  "  To  Meredith  Bridge,"  was  the 
reply.  "Then  where  does  this  go?"  asked  I.  "To 
Claremont."  "  Well,  I  want  that  train,"  I  exclaimed, 
as  I  grasped  my  bag  and  I'an  for  the  door.  The  train 
was  then  some  distance  off,  but  the  engineer  of  the 
train  I  had  left  saw  my  dilemma,  and  sounded  his 
whistle.     "  The  train's  gone  ;  you  can't  get  it,"  said  a 


314  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

man  whom  I  passed.  "  Well,"  said  I,  "  I'm  going  to 
try."  The  engineer  of  the  Meredith  Bridge  train, 
hearing  the  whistle,  stopped  it  tliree-quarters  of  a 
mile  away.  It  was  against  the  rules  of  the  road  for 
the  train  to  go  back,  but  Conductor  Wright  left  it, 
and  coming  to  meet  me,  took  my  bag  and  my  arm,  and 
assisted  me  to  it.  This  same  Mr.  Wright  has  been  in 
Washington  for  thirty  years,  acting  as  superintendent 
of  the  street-cleaning  department.  I  iilled  my  engage- 
ment that  night.  Tlien  followed  a  series  of  concerts 
among  the  mountain  resorts.  My  wife's  serious  illness 
called  me  home.  She  recovered  after  many  days  of 
suffering. 

October  15th  we  started  out  on  a  short  trip  through 
Vermont  and  New  Hampshire.  We  visited  Rutland, 
Brandon,  Middleton,  Poultney,  Bennington,  Brattle- 
boro,  Fitzwilliam,  Winchendon  (Mass.),  and  some 
other  places.  Then  we  spent  some  weeks  trying  to 
settle  a  mixed  state  of  affairs  at  home,  resulting  from 
Brother  Caleb's  illness. 

On  December  9th,  in  company  with  my  wife,  I  went 
to  Andover  and  being  joined  by  the  brothers  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  gave  a  concert.  We  called  on  Harriet 
Beecher  Stowe,  the  author  of  *■'  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,*'  at 
the  home  of  Professor  Stowe,  her  husband,  then  con- 
nected with  the  theological  seminary.  She  suggested 
the  feasibility  of  public  readings  of  her  book,  inter- 
spersed with  some  of  our  anti-slavery  songs.  On  our 
way  home  in  the  cars  a  young  girl  who  dressed  in  male 
attire  was  put  off  the  train.  I  was  very  indignant,  for 
I  believed  it  the  right  of  a  woman  to  dress  just  as  she 
chose.  Next  we  sang  in  Dover,  and  then  in  Salmon 
Falls.  Stopped  witli  our  friend  Jolni  Sawtell.  While 
here,  Sunday,  December  19th,  we  sang   at  a  baptismal 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  315 

service.  One  convert  was  sprinkled,  and  three  taken  to 
tlie  river,  two  being  immersed  and  one  baptized  by  pour- 
ing. The  ice  on  the  liver  was  so  thick  tliat  it  bore  the 
greater  part  of  the  two  hundred  who  attended  the  service. 
It  was  a  bitter  cold  day.  Concerts  in  Haverhill  and 
Georgetown  followed,  and  then  we  once  more  turned 
our  faces  '•  down  East."  Biddeford,  Portland,  Bath, 
Hallowell,  Augusta,  and  Gardiner  listened  to  our  songs. 
At  the  latter  town  we  came  into  competition  with  my 
much-admired  friend,  Prof.  O.  S.  Fowler.  As  his  lect- 
ure was  free,  he  got  the  largest  audience.  He  called 
on  us  after  the  concert,  and  my  diary  forgivingly  re- 
marks that  phrenology  is  a  true  science. 

We  went  on  to  Waterville,  Lewiston,  Portland  again, 
Saco,  Bath  again,  Biddeford  again,  Kennebunk,  where 
we  sang  in  a  hotel,  fitting  up  a  stage  of  an  old  gate 
from  a  fence  in  the  yard.  January  19,  1853,  we  sang 
once  more  in  the  old  Cameneium  Hall,  where  we  had 
given  one  of  our  early  concerts,  ten  years  before.  My 
diary  contains  a  sad  reference  to  the  fact  that  my  old 
friend  Knowlton,  who  was  very  kind  to  us  at  our  first 
visit  to  the  city,  was  sleeping  in  the  church-yard. 

January  13th  we  sang  at  Amesbury.  We  went  to 
the  home  of  John  G.  Whittier.  The  poet  was  in 
ill  health  and  unable  to  attend  our  concert,  but  his  sis- 
ter was  there. 

After  this  we  spent  a  week  in  the  vicinity  of  Bos- 
ton. During  this  period  we  dined  one  day  with  Mrs. 
Richard  Hildreth.  She  had  just  completed  a  craj^on 
likeness  of  Judson.  Her  husband  was  at  that  time  at 
work  on  his  celebrated  history  of  the  United  States. 

Then  we  started  on  another  trip.  One  of  our  first 
stops  was  at  Newburyport.  During  the  night  there 
was  a  cr}'  of  fire,  and   our  doorkeeper,  Mr.    Hastings, 


316  THE   HDTCHINSOIS    FAMILY. 

supposing  it  to  be  a  summons  to  rise  and  proceed  on  his 
journey,  hastily  dressed  himself,  and  seizing  his  valise, 
started  for  the  door.  Tlien  he  found  to  his  chagrin 
that  it  was  onl}^  midnight,  and  the  rest  of  us  were 
soundly  sleeping. 

Soon  after  we  were  in  Fall  River.  The  landlord  of 
our  hotel  very  politely  started  to  show  our  rooms.  He 
forgot  himself,  however,  and  instead,  ushered  us  into 
the  room  where  he  kept  his  liquors.  I  told  him  we 
preferred  a  bedroom  to  a  bar-room,  and  he  appeared 
quite  nonplussed.  At  New  Bedford,  at  the  request  of 
our  friend  Colonel  Hatch,  we  sang  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Methodist  church,  Lucy  Stone's  name  also  being  on  the 
programme.  The  great  advocate  of  universal  suffrage 
dressed  in  bloomer  costume  in  those  days,  and  was  at 
the  zenith  of  her  popularity.  We  sang  several  selec- 
tions, then  she  talked,  and  we  iinished  the  meeting 
with  songs. 

Up  to  this  time  Lucy  Stone  had  taken  no  money  at 
her  lectures.  She  sometimes  took  up  a  collection  to 
assist  in  paying  expenses,  but  seemed  to  have  an  im- 
pression that  as  she  was  advocating  somewhat  unpopu- 
lar reforms,  the  people  would  not  pay  to  hear  them  pre- 
sented. I  told  her  differently.  "  They'll  pay,"  said  I, 
''  and  be  converted  just  as  fast  as  if  you  crowded  it 
down  their  throats  for  nothing."  I  realized  that  the 
matter  of  her  lectures  was  of  a  most  interesting  char- 
acter, and  well  worthy  of  pecuniary  reward.  She  fol- 
lowed my  advice,  charged  twenty-five  cents  thereafter, 
and,  at  a  little  later  date,  meeting  her  in  New  York 
State,  I  found  that  she  was  making  money.  We  spent 
quite  a  period  in  concerting  on  Cape  Cod.  At  Har- 
wich we  Avere  the  guests  of  our  old  friend  Franklin 
Sears,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Charles  C.  Bur- 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  317 

leig'h,  reminding  us  forcibly  of  the  joy  of  meeting  a 
friendly  face  in  a  strange  land.  Our  hall  was  very 
much  crowded.  Mr.  Burleigh  was  compelled  to  sit  on 
the  stage,  using  my  melodeon  box  for  an  opera  chair. 

March  14,  1853,  this  tour  ended.  We  went  home 
and  at  once  began  negotiations  with  Hay  ward  Hutchin- 
son, son  of  my  oldest  brother  David,  to  go  out  on  the 
road  as  our  advance  agent.  He  did  not  go,  but  soon 
after  went  to  Baltimore  and  commenced  a  business 
career  that  made  him  both  famous  and  wealth}^  As  it 
turned  out,  some  time  passed  before  we  sang  again. 
April  6th  we  received  news  that  Jesse  was  at  Cincin- 
nati, sick.  He  had  previously  taken  the  Alleghanians 
to  California,  and,  after  a  successful  tour,  severed  his 
connection  with  them.  Remaining  in  the  gold  countr}^ 
for  a  time,  he  finally  took  passage  home,  coming  by 
way  of  Panama.  When  part  way  on  his  journey  some 
one  of  the  company  discovered  thafa  trunk,  containing 
twenty  thousand  dollars  in  gold,  had  been  left  beliind 
on  the  isthmus.  He  volunteered  to  return  for  it. 
Going  back,  he  secured  the  trunk,  but  missed  connec- 
tion with  the  next  returning  boat  by  a  half-hour.  The 
consequence  was  that  he  had  to  wait  three  weeks  for 
another.  When  he  finally  left,  he  had  contracted  the 
fever  which  carried  off  so  many  men  who  braved  the 
unaccustomed  climate  of  the  isthmus,  and  was  barely 
able  to  reach  Cincinnati  alive. 

Here  he  found  good  friends  in  our  Uncle  Kendrick 
Leavitt  and  his  family.  As  soon  as  possible  after  we 
learned  of  the  circumstances,  Judson  went  to  Cincin- 
nati, and  as  his  reports  were  discouraging,  Asa  and  I, 
with  our  wives,  soon  decided  to  go  also.  We  stopped  a 
few  days  at  New  York,  and  then  went  to  Sister  Abby's 
house  in  Orange,  New  Jersey,  for  further  news.     Just 


318  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

before  that,  while  we  were  in  New  York,  Brother 
Josliua  came,  on  his  way  from  Philadelphia  to  his 
home.  We  had  some  pleasant  interviews.  While 
talking  with  him  on  the  grounds  of  the  Croton  Reser- 
voir, where  we  had  gone  for  a  A^-alk,  I  remember  speak- 
ing of  an  impression  that  a  little  later  he  and  I  would 
be  doing  certain  things  together  and  some  of  the  boys 
would  be  gone.  While  at  Abby's  one  day  —  it  was 
April  27th — I  tipped  back  in  my  chair,  and  slept.  I 
dreamed  some  one  came  in  and  handed  me  a  letter. 
The  only  thing  I  could  make  out  in  it  were  the  charac- 
ters ''  Z.  K."  I  awoke  with  the  dream  troubling  me  a 
little,  and  at  once  took  the  train  for  New  York.  Going 
to  my  hotel,  the  landlord  gave  me  a  letter.  I  was  still 
thinking  of  my  dream,  and  had  meantime  recalled  the 
fact  that  in  our  boyhood  days  we  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  calling  Brother  Zephaniah  ''  Z.  K."  On  opening 
the  note,  it  proved  to  be  from  Josliua,  and  said  ''  Z.  K. 
is  dead.  Died  the  19th  of  April."  How  glad  was  I  to 
think  that  his  brothers  h^id  made  their  visit  to  him  be- 
fore his  death  ;  and  now  another  brother  was  Avaiting 
the  summons.  A  few  days  later  I  went  on  to  Cincin- 
nati, with  my  wife.  Then  followed  days  and  nights  of 
watching  and  of  alternate  hope  and  despair.  Our 
brother  Jesse  Avas  cheerful,  but  dangerously  sick. 
Some  clays  he  Avould  rally  and  we  would  begin  to  hope. 
His  three  brothers  would  take  turns  in  caring  for  him. 
He  liad  been  removed  to  a  Avater-cure  a  little  outside 
the  city,  in  hope  that  he  Avonld  recoA^er.  The  days 
Avore  on  until  May  l(3th,  Avhen  just  as  I  Avas  preparing 
to  leaA^e  Uncle  Kendrick's  to  relieve  Asa,  Avord  came 
from  him  that  Jesse  Avas  dead.  He  died  easily,  retain- 
ing his  faculties  to  the  last.  The  next  day  Ave  left  for 
home  Avith  the  body.  The  funeral  occurred  at  Lynn  on 
the  20th. 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  319 

In  justice  to  Jesse  and  to  his  faith  I  ouglit  to  say 
here  that  his  belief  in  Spiritualism  Avas  a  comfort  to 
him  in  the  supreme  hour.  At  intervals  during  his  sick- 
ness he  would  look  up  with  the  greatest  delight,  and 
converse  with  liis  wife  and  children,  who  had  passed  on 
hefore,  and  whom  he  quite  evidently  thought  he  saw. 
'•  Here's  .linnnie,"  ''  Here's  Charlie,"  he  would  say. 
When  a  more  normal  condition  from  this  of  ecstatic  joy 
came,  he  would  say :  '^  Oh,  .John,  I've  seen  my  wife  and 
my  children !  They  have  appeared."  He  spent  much 
time  from  day  to  day  in  making  verses  and  rhyming. 

It  was  the  work  of  many  Aveeks  to  settle  the  estates 
of  our  brothers.  Meanwhile,  I  remained  at  Milford. 
One  day  I  had  a  conversation  with  Oliver  Lull,  the  vil- 
lage lawyer,  on  slavery.  He  spoke  in  pacific  terms  of 
the  South.  I  said :  "  I  suppose,  in  keeping  with  your 
Democratic  proclivities,  if  war  Avas  incAntable,  you,  sir, 
Avould  be  inclined  to  favor  your  Southern  allies,  and 
draw  your  sword  in  defence  of  their  rights  as  against 
the  North."  I  can  never  forget  his  reply,  as  raising 
himself  to  his  full  height  from  his  seat,  he  ansAvered, 
'•  No,  ncA'er  I  I  Avould  be  a  volunteer  in  the  armies  of 
the  North,  and  fight  for  liberty  and  union."  For  thirty 
years  his  Avidow  has  been  clad  in  the  liabiliments  of 
mourning  for  a  brave  husband,  soldier  and  patriot,  Avho 
sacrificed  his  life  in  defence  of  his  country.  All  Avho 
fought  under  Colonel  Lull  cherish  his  memory. 

About  this  time  my  mother  Adsited  New  York,  to  see 
Abl)y,  in  company  Avith  Sister  Rhoda.  When  she  re- 
turned to  ]Milford,  Ave  met  her  at  the  depot  Avitli  our 
horse  handsomely  trimmed  Avith  laurel,  in  honor  of  tlie 
CA^ent.  Brotlier  Calelj's  health  gave  Avay  during  this 
period,  and  Ave  could  not  help  being  impressed  with  our 
slender  hold  upon  life. 


320  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

July  1st  and  2d  we  varied  the  monotony  of  a  farmer's 
life  with  concerts  in  Pepperell  and  Townsend,  and  on 
the  Fourth  Ave  joined  in  the  local  celebration,  singing 
in  the  town  hall.  On  the  21st  we  gave  a  concert  at 
Manchester,  Mass.,  and  the  following  night  sang  in 
Gloucester.  Remaining  on  Cape  Ann  a  few  daj^s  we 
spent  a  delightful  Sunday  at  Annisquam,  and  on  the 
following  day  tried  to  catch  fish  in  Ipswich  Bay.  They 
did  not  bite,  and  we  therefore  sailed  up  the  Essex 
River  to  the  town  of  Essex,  hailing  the  carpenters  in 
the  shipyards  with  songs,  landed,  and  in  the  evening 
gave  a  concert. 

After  this  we  spent  a  good  deal  of  time  at  High  Rock, 
giving  concerts  at  near-by  places.  Our  singing  was 
mostly  as  a  quartet,  the  place  so  long  filled  by  Sister 
Abby  being  taken  by  Abby  Marvel.  Slie  was  our 
cousin,  niece  of  my  mother,  and  took  her  musical 
ability  from  the  Leavitts.  The  "Lynn  Bard,''  Alonzo 
Lewis,  was  a  frequent  visitor  on  High  Rock.  He  com- 
posed several  songs  for  us,  but  they  lacked  the  singable 
quality  ^^'e  desired,  and  none  of  them  Avere  ever  given 
in  public.  He  was  a  good  wood-carver,  and  when  we 
first  started  public  singing  made  a  cut  of  us  in  our  con- 
cert gear  —  which  was  then  a  blouse  with  belt  and  flow- 
ing sleeves,  and  giving  the  effect  of  the  costume  of  the 
pilgrims  — -  which  was  used  on  our  announcements  for  a 
long  period. 

In  August,  Brother  Asa  with  liis  wife  went  to  Nan- 
tucket, and  Judson  and  I  thought  it  a  good  opportunity 
to  go  to  Martha's  Vineyard  camp-ground  and  give  a 
concert  at  Edgartown. 

We  left  New  Bedford  on  Saturday,  in  the  yacht  of 
our  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tal)er.  We  hailed  a  New 
Bedford  whaler  on  the  way,  and  found  her  returning 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  321 

from  a  thirty-months'  voyage,  with  three  hundred  bar- 
rels of  oil.  After  lishing  around  (xay  Head  a  while,  we 
bid  the  crew  of  our  boat  adieu,  and  started  on  our  way 
to  the  camp-ground.  When  it  Avas  too  late  to  go  back, 
we  discovered  that  we  had  been  landed  at  the  wrong- 
point,  and  so  lost  our  way  to  Holmes  Holl.  We  asked 
the  advice  of  some  friendly  Indians,  and  they  told  us  to 
pursue  a  certain  course  until  we  came  to  a  creek,  whicli 
we  must  cross.  It  was  late  when  we  reached  the  creek. 
The  ferryman  had  gone  in  for  the  niglit,  and  on  seeking 
him  out  we  found  him  deaf  and  dumb.  We  were  un- 
able to  make  him  understand  what  we  wanted,  and  be- 
gan to  despair,  when  we  found  some  small  boys  with  a 
boat,  crab  hunting.  For  eighteen  cents  they  agreed  to 
take  us  over  the  stream.  Then  we  were  directed  to  the 
house  of  a  man  who  would  row  us  down  the  creek  to 
the  camp-ground,  fifteen  miles. 

We  took  supper  with  him  and  then  tried  to  sleep.  It 
was  a  hot  night,  and  the  mosquitos  were  so  thick  that 
we  were  driven  out  of  doors  by  thera.  Finally  we  took 
our  sheets  and  used  them  as  curtains  for  our  l)ed,  and 
thus  got  some  slight  relief.  It  was  impossible  to  sleep, 
however,  and  we  counted  tlie  hours  —  one,  two,  three, 
four,  —  and  at  half  past  four  we  rose,  prepared  to  resume 
our  journey,  and  pushed  off.  It  was  a  tedious  route, 
and  we  were  well  brushed  by  overhanging  bushes  most 
of  the  way.  At  the  camp-ground  a  friend  to  wliom  Ave 
were  introduced  invited  us  into  his  modest  hut,  or  cot- 
tage, and  we  got  some  sleep-  We  were  courteously  re- 
ceived by  the  good  Methodists,  listened  to  the  services, 
and  at  night  went  to  Edgartown. 

Here  Asa  joined  us  ;  and  though  I  had  been  sick  all 
day,  on  Monday  evening  we  gave  a  concert,  and  then 
concerts  in  Xew  Bedford,  Newport,  Bristol,  Providence, 


322  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Pawtucket  and  Mystic  Bridge.  At  the  latter  town, 
we  found  on  aiiival  that  no  bills  had  been  circulated. 
Asa  at  once  borrowed  a  big  bell.,  and  while  the  rest  of 
us  put  out  bills  he  proclaimed  the  concert  through  the 
streets,  thus  getting  out  a  good  audience.  Other  Con- 
necticut towns  visited  were  New  London,  Stonington 
and  Mystic. 

September  2d.  High  Rock  was  sold  at  public  auction 
and  became  the  property  of  Asa  and  myself.  We  at 
once  made  aiiangements  to  remove  oui-  belongings  from 
Milford  to  the  stone  cottage  that  had  been  built  on  the 
rock  by  our  brother.  It  was  in  a  sightly  location  just 
under  the  face  of  the  rock,  and  is  still  one  of  the  pret- 
tiest of  the  many  cottages  that  adorn  the  property. 
Before  he  built  it,  there  was  some  speculation  whether 
Brother  Jesse  would  have  any  water,  building  on  a 
rock  some  two  hundred  feet  high.  He  called  in  the 
aid  of  a  clairvoyant,  mIio,  walking  out  on  the  sward 
pointed  to  a  certain  spot  and  told  him  to  dig  down  a 
stipulated  number  of  feet.  He  would  then  find  three 
rocks  peculiarly  placed,  and  on  removing  them  would 
find  beneath  a  living  spring.  He  followed  the  direc- 
tions minutely,  found  the  three  rocks  and  the  spring, 
which  has  never  failed  all  these  years. 

We  made  arrangements  with  a  family  to  occupy  the 
cottage  and  board  us,  with  our  wives  and  children. 
From  that  time  High  Rock  became  fully  identified 
with  us  as  the  home  of  the  Hutchinsons. 

"  In  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  in  the  good  old  town  of  Lynn, 
There's  a  famous  range  of  ledges,  as  eye  hath  ever  seen  ; 
Two  hundred  feet  the  liigliest  point  looms  up  this  rugged  block. 
And  it's  known  throughout  New  England  as  '  Old  High  Rock.' 

"  Upon  this  noted  eminence,  far  o'er  the  ocean  blue  — 
And  a  hundred  miles  of  landscape  the  eye  can  clearly  view  — 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  323 

Rocks,  mountains,  seas  and  rivers  the  painter  here  could  chalk, 
And  sketcli  a  scene  the  world  to  vie,  from  'Old  High  Rock.' 

"Just  half  a  century  ago  we  sought  this  sightly  spot, 
And  underneath  its  lofty  dome  my  brother  built  his  cot ; 
And  liere  the  tribe  of  Jesse  sang,  and  made  the  people  talk 
Of  the  friends  of  right  and  progress,  at  '  Old  High  Rock.' 

"This  rock  had  noted  visitors  in  stirring  days  of  yore  — 
Garrison,  Rogers,  Douglass,  Phillips  and  manj'  more  ; 
Upon  its  lofty  summit  for  freedom  they  would  talk  — 
Ah,  those  were  proudest  moments  in  the  story  of  High  Rock  ! " 

Saturday,  October  8tli,  we  went  to  Lowell  and  opened 
her  most  famous  audience-room,  Huntington  Hall. 
Soon  after  we  started  for  Springfield  and  other  western 
Massachusetts  towns,  Hartford,  New  Haven  and  New 
York.  It  was  a  repetition  of  other  years'  experiences 
—  large  audiences,  many  meetings  with  old  friends. 
AVe  stayed  a  while  with  a  Dr.  Wellington.  Suddenly 
his  daughter  came  down  with  small-pox,  and  we  sought 
the  friendly  shelter  of  the  home  of  Mrs.  Van  Vleet, 
where  Ave  had  often  stayed  before.  While  at  Dr.  Wel- 
lington's I  liad  a  talk  one  day  with  Frederick  Doug- 
lass and  Chai'les  C.  Burleigh,  who  were  calling,  in  re- 
gard to  dramatizing  "  Uncle  Tom's  Calnn.''  I  believed 
a  great  deal  of  good  would  come  from  so  doing.  I 
wrote  to  Mrs.  Stowe  in  regard  to  the  matter,  after 
finding  they  agreed  with  me.  She  wrote  in  reply  that 
she  did  not  think  public  sentiment  sufficiently  ad- 
vanced to  warrant  success  in  dramatizing  the  book. 
The  immense  success  in  the  presentation  of  the  play 
that  came  later  fully  vindicated  my  judgment.  Dur- 
ing this  season  in  New  York,  I  became  very  much  at- 
tached to  Frank  B.  Carpenter,  the  artist  and  author, 
whose  famous  painting  of  tlie  signing  of  the  emanci- 
pation  proclamation    now    hangs  in    the    Capitol,    and 


324  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Avho.se  other  greiit  painting  of  the  signing  of  the  tieaty 
of  Washington  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Queen  Vic- 
toria. In  my  diary  for  November  2otli  I  speak  of  going 
to  liis  house  to  tea,  and  viewing  his  portrait  of  Sister 
Abby.  This  portrait  now  hangs  in  the  room  where 
these  words  are  written.  In  after  3^ears  it  was  given 
by  Sister  Abby  to  my  son  Henry,  he  having  given  her 
another  handsome  portrait  of  herself,  painted  at  a  later 
date. 

How  shall  I  describe  this  picture  ?  It  is  of  Abby, 
the  youngest  child  of  the  Tribe  of  Jesse  —  "  the  inno- 
cent, affable,  genial,  loving,  charming  Abby,  the  house- 
hold pet.''  So  one  of  her  brothers  desciibed  her,  in  a 
published  tribute.  But  its  writer  Avas  not  one  of  the 
brothers  who  was  her  constant  companion  for  so  many 
years  of  artistic  and  moral  triumj^h.  Joshua  knew 
Abby,  and  loved  her  well ;  but  he  could  not  know  as  I 
knew  the  inspiration  of  her  presence  in  the  hour  when 
together  we  faced  cheering  thousands  in  the  excitement 
of  some  of  our  greatest  efforts  ;  the  courage  she  imparted 
when,  a  fearless,  queenly  soul,  without  the  slightest  sus- 
picion of  unwomanliness,  she  stood  shoulder  to  slioul- 
der  with  us  while  maddened  men  hissed  our  utterances 
for  emancipation ;  the  cheer  of  her  presence  when  we 
all  were  wearied  with  the  exacting  demands  of  con- 
stant rehearsals  —  the  bane  of  a  musician's  life  ;  the  sol- 
ace of  her  presence  when  exhausted  by  days  and 
nights  of  travel  and  the  strain  of  renewed  appearances 
in  concert.  Abby  was  strong  in  her  convictions,  earn- 
est in  her  faith,  cultured  in  her  performances,  gentle  in 
her  manner,  full  of  hope,  full  of  soul,  full  of  love. 
However  her  brothers  might  Ije  criticised,  Abby  dis- 
armed criticism.  With  her  full  share  of  faults,  for  she 
was  human,  she  had  charms  of  manner  and  a  heart  full 


'^^ 


fmm^ 


ji»#^«. 


\ 


ABIiY    ]ir-J-<'lllXS(.iX  — (p.3'J4) 
(From  Painting;  by  Carpenter; 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  325 

of  virtues  that  totally  eclipsed  her  failings  and  made 
every  friend,  man  or  woman,  her  lover  in  tlie  purest 
sense.  Looking  back  through  the  mists  of  those 
beautiful  years,  I  realize  that  the  words  set  to  her  own 
music,  that  have  been  sung  b}^  the  children  of  America 
for  nearly  a  half  century,  were  more  than  a  sentiment 
of  her  heart,  —  they  Avere  the  expression  of  her  life  : 

"  Bright  things  can  never  die, 

E'en  though  they  fade; 
Beauty  and  minstrelsy 

Deathless  were, made. 
What  though  the  summer  day 
Passes  at  eve  away, 
Doth  not  the  moon's  soft  ray 

Silver  tlie  niglit  ? 

"  Kind  words  can  never  die; 

Cherished  and  blessed, 
God  knows  how  dee.p  they  lie 

Stored  in  the  breast. 
Like  childhood's  simjjle  rhymes 
Said  o'er  a  thousand  times  ; 
Aye,  in  all  years  and  climes, 

Distant  and  near." 

Gifted,  earnest,  noble,  true,  with  a  magnificent  voice, 
the  light  of  our  lives,  the  joy  of  our  hearts,  does  any  one 
wonder  that  it  Avas  a  crushing  l)low  to  her  brothers  — 
a  life-long  sorrow  —  when  one  who  did  so  much  to  make 
the  family's  work  successful  \\-as  compelled  by  her  de- 
votion to  the  man  to  whom  she  had  given  her  heart  to 
witlidraw  from  it?  From  that  time  until  she  died, 
wherever  she  was  —  Hartford,  New  York,  Orange,  Italy, 
the  Holy  Land,  Africa,  Alaska  —  was  the  Mecca  to 
which  our  hearts  turned.  As  the  jeavs  passed  by  the 
dark  hair  silvered,  marks  of  age  clianged  the  youthful 
texture  of  the  skin,  but  it  only  inade  her  more  lovely  to 
us,  and  we  might  appropiiatel}' have  repeated  the  words 


326  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

written  in  compliment  to  some  otber  such  gracious  soul, 
wlio  had  grown  beautiful  in  age : 

"  Die  when  you  will,  }'0u  need  not  bear 
To  Heaven's  gate,  a  form  more  fair 
Than  beauty  here  on  earth  has  grown. 
Keep  but  the  lovely  looks  we  see, 
The  voice  we  hear,  and  you  will  be 
An  angel,  ready-made  for  Heaven." 

But  it  is  the  Abby  of  long  ago  tliat  looks  at  us 
with  speaking  eyes  from  this  canvas.  It  is  an  accurate 
aid  to  memory  in  reproducing  the  face  and  form  of  our 
dearest  sister.  If  Carpenter  had  never  painted  the 
works  that  have  made  his  fame  world-wide,  this  portrait, 
accidentally  discovered  perhaps,  as  many  a  noted  Copley 
portrait  has  been  found,  would  some  day  have  given  its 
painter  posthumous  glory.  It  is  a  lialf-length,  life-size 
portrait.  The  snl)ject  sits  in  a  natural  posture,  her 
guitar  in  her  hand,  the  lingers  in  jDosition,  as  though 
just  preparing  to  sing.  The  head  is  erect,  and  she 
seems  about  to  open  the  full,  red  lips,  to  ex})ress  some 
noble  sentiment  eitlier  in  song  or  speech.  But  it  is  not 
to  the  beholder  she  is  addressing  lierself.  The  lai'ge, 
expressive  eyes  do  not  follow  one  as  is  the  case  of  many 
a  famih^  portrait  whicli  has  terrorized  the  small  bo}^  or 
girl  left  alone  with  it  at  dusk.  She  has  paused,  per- 
haps, and  looked  away  from  you  an  instant,  as  she  con- 
siders whether  it  shall  be  "  Jamie's  on  the  Stormy  Sea '' 
or  some  other  favorite  ballad  that  shall  be  sung.  Her 
abundant  brown  hair  is  parted  simply  in  the  middle, 
brushed  back  from  the  high,  intellectual  forehead,  and 
in  careless  waves  half  covers  the  shapely  ear  on  either 
side,  being  cauglit  at  the  neck,  and  forming  a  fit  setting 
for  the  well-rounded  cheek  aud  chin.  Abby  never 
changed  the  dressing  of  her  hair,  materially,  as  long  as 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  327 

she  lived.  It  is  as  it  was  when  I  dressed  it  for  her  Ije- 
fore  every  concert  in  Great  Britain.  The  artist  has  not 
neglected  a  detail  of  her  features.  The  hnely  formed 
nose,  the  classically  penciled  eyebrows,  the  statuesque, 
yet  perfectly  natural  pose  of  head  and  neck,  the  phy- 
sically perfect  outline  of  face  and  form,  are  all  there  to 
the  life.  The  light  is  from  above,  slightly  shadowing 
the  right  cheek.  The  dress  is  rich  in  its  simplicit}-. 
The  shoulders  are  clothed  in  white,  of  some  gauzy 
material,  half-concealing  the  flesh-tint  beneath,  gathered 
at  the  throat  in  a  plain  collar  of  the  same  fabric,  and 
with  flowing  sleeves,  turned  back  at  the  wrist.  There 
is  an  overdress  of  blue  brocaded  silk,  with  open  sleeves, 
and  waist  well  calculated  to  bring  into  prominence  the 
perfection  of  tlie  figure.  Tlie  finely-modelled  hands 
are  emphasized  by  the  shadow  of  the  finger-board  of  the 
guitar  falling  across  the  left.  A  ^^'rap  of  reddisli  hue, 
shading  on  brown,  falls  over  one  arm  and  rests  on  the 
lap.  All  these  details  of  color  add  to  the  general  effect 
while  detracting  nothing  from  tliat  face,  which  would 
arrest  attention  anywhere.  There  has  been  the  closest 
attention  to  values,  in  bringing  out  the  delicacies  of 
texture  in  the  garments  and  accenting  the  beauty  of 
complexion  and  feature,  but  these  are  nothing  beside 
the  triumph  of  art  in  the  reproduction  of  the  soul  of 
the  sitter  speaking  from  tliose  eyes  and  that  lovely 
countenance.  All  these  details  might  have  been  painted 
and  still  it  would  not  have  been  Abby.  But  far  beyond 
the  artistic  worth  of  the  portrait  is  tlie  fact  that  it  is 
my  sister's  preciously  cherished  self  that  seems  to  be 
there.  I  love  to  sit  and  contemplate  it  when  the  after- 
noon sun  sheds  a  mellow  radiance  through  my  soutli- 
west  window.  Tlien  the  sun  seems  to  bring  into  strong 
relief  every  detail  of  the  figure,  and  it  seems  as  if  my 


328  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

sister  must  speak  again.  If  photograpliy  can  do  it,  my 
readers  shall  have  its  best  reproduction  of  this  portrait, 
but  it  needs  a  Yiew  of  the  original  painting  to  obtain  a 
correct  idea  of  the  real  beauty  of  the  work,  for  photog- 
raphy fails  here,  as  it  always  does  in  portraiture,  when 
compared  with  the  brush  in  the  liands  of  the  master.  I 
am  blessed  in  its  possession,  for  it  is  a  continual  reminder 
of  that  gentle,  though  strong  presence  that  for  sixty 
years  made  my  life  richer.  Though  I  think  of  her  with 
tears,  often  they  are  tears  of  gratitude  and  joy  mingled 
with  sorrow  and  loneliness,  for  it  is  no  small  comfort  to 
feel  that  one  has  enjoyed  communion  with  such  a  spirit 
for  a  lifetime : 

"  Oh,  though  oft  distressed  and  lonely, 
All  our  cares  are  laid  aside, 
If  we  but  remember,  only. 

Such  as  these  have  lived  and  died." 

January  IGth,  while  Ave  were  still  giving  concerts  in 
New  York  State,  our  brother  Caleb  died.  It  had  been  his 
lot  to  spend  most  of  his  life  in  Milford,  but  still  he  had 
frequently  sung  with  the  family  in  anti-slavery  and  tem- 
perance work,  and  was  fully  identified  with  them  in  his 
sympathies.  It  began  to  seem  as  thougli  death  Avas 
surely  on  our  track  ;  and  full  of  care  as  Ave  Avere,  Ave 
felt  keenly  our  loss. 

Our  concerts  in  Ncav  York,  Ncav  Jersey  and  Pennsyl- 
A'ania  continued  for  many  weeks.  A  notable  feature  of 
them  was  my  solo,  the  "  Ship  on  Fire."  I  think  I  have 
already  referred  to  the  unusual  effect  it  often  had  on 
our  audiences.  It  may  be  Avell  to  giA^e  a  short  history 
and  description  of  the  song. 

Almost  eA'ery  day,  someAvliere  on  the  bi-oad  seas  of 
our  planet,  may  be  Avitnessed  the  tragedy  of  a  ship  on 
fire.     Every  mariner  has  seen  the  conflagration  AAdiich 


LIGHTS   AND   SHADOWS.  329 

has  destroyed  valuable  cargoes  and  endangered  the  lives 
of  the  men  and  women  aboard.  The  song  first  repre- 
sents the  vessel  at  sea  encountering  a  storm  of  thunder 
and  lightning,  tlie  i^assengers  and  crew  falling  on  their 
knees  and  pleading  for  mercy.     It  commences  thus  : 

"  Storm  o'er  tlie  ocean  flew  furious  and  fast, 
And  the  waves  rose  in  foam  at  the  voice  of  tlie  blast, 
And  heavily  laden  the  gale-beaten  ship 
Like  a  stout-hearted  swimmer,  the  spray  at  his  lip. 
And  dark  was  the  sky  o'er  the  mariner's  path, 
Except  when  the  lightning  illum'ed  it  in  wrath. 
A  young  mother  knelt  in  the  cabin  below, 
And  pressing  her  babe  to  her  bosom  of  snow. 

She  prayed  to  her  God  'mid  the  hurricane  wild 

'  ( )  Father  ;  have  mercy*;  look  down  on  my  child  ! ' " 

Five  hundred  times,  at  least,  I  sang  that  song,  with  my 
brothers  Judson  and  Asa  playing  the  accompaniment, 
and  interested  audiences  listening.     Tlie  story  o-oes  on  : 

"  It  passed,  the  fierce  whirlwind  careered  on  its  way. 
And  the  ship  like  an  arrow  divided  the  spray; 
Its  sails  glimmered  white  in  the  gleam  of  the  moon, 
And  the  wind  up  aloft  seemed  to  whistle  a  tune. 
There  was  joy  in  the  ship  as  she  furrowed  the  foam 
And  the  fond  hearts  within  her  were  dreaming  of  home; 
The  young  mother  pressed  her  fond  babe  to  her  breast, 
And  sang  a  sweet  song  as  she  rocked  it  to  rest, 
And  the  husband  sat  clieerily  down  by  her  side 
And  looked  with  delight  on  the  face  of  his  bride. 
'O  happy,'  said  he,  'when  our  roaming  is  o'er 
We  shall  dwell  in  our  cottage  that  stands  by  the  shore; 
Already  in  fancy  its  roof  I  descry, 
The  smoke  from  its  hearth  curling  up  to  the  sky  — 
Its  gardens  so  green  and  its  vine-covered  wall, 
And  kind  friends  are  waiting  to  welcome  us  all  — 
And  the  children  that  sport  by  the  old  oaken  tree'  — 
O,  gently  tlie  ship  glided  over  the  sea." 

At  this  point  in  the  song  the  scream  of  ''  Fire  !  "  was 
heard.     Judson's  voice  sounded  it   ventriloquilly.      In- 


330  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

stantly    I   would    turn  my  head  in  the  direction  from 
which  it  Avas  supposed  to  proceed.     Asa  would  follow 
Avith  a  rumble  on  his  viol,  in    exact  imitation   of  the 
roll  and   I'attle  of    a  fire-engine  hurrying  through  the 
streets.     The  effect  on  the  audience  was  always  elec- 
trical.      Often     there    would   be    a    stampede.      They 
would  rise  in  groups  from  their  seats  until  the  whole 
audience  was  ready  to  start  for  the  door.     Meanwhile  I 
would  continue   the  song,  and  sometimes   it  would  ar- 
rest their  attention  and   they  would    quiet   down,  but 
usually  it  was  with  some  difficulty  they  would  be  per- 
suaded to  I'emain  long  enough  to  find  it  was  an  illusion. 
At  one  place,  Utica,  we  sang  [n  a  church,  and  the  sex- 
ton was  in  the  gallery.     We   observed   that  he  started 
on  a  run  for  the  bell-rope.     Tie  had  grasped  it,  and  was 
just  giving  it  a  vigorous  pull  when  he  was  seized   by 
two  people  Avho  assured   him  that   tliere  was    no    fire. 
By  the  ordinances  of  Utica  five  dollars  went  to  the  per- 
son who  first  rang  in  an  alarm  of  fire,  and  he  was  very 
unwilling   to    loosen   his    grasp,  believing  his  tenacity 
would  be  rewarded.     Another  case   was   in    Vermont. 
This  was  also  in  a  church,  and  an  influential  citizen  sat 
in    the    bod}^    of  the    house    in    the    centre    of    a    pew. 
When  we  had  reached  the  point  in  the  song  I  have  in- 
dicated, he  arose,  and  climbing  over  the  people,  rushed 
down  the  aisle  and  out  of  the  edifice,  shouting  "Fire !  " 
at  the  top  of  his  voice.     Soon  he  found  his  effort  Avas  a 
solo,  and  returning  to  the  church,  he  stood  in  the  vesti- 
Ijule  until  we  had  finished  the  song,  and  partial  quiet 
had    been     restored.     Tlien    in     came    the     six-footer, 
his  head  hanging,  and  filled  Avith  chagrin.     As  he  re- 
entered his  pcAV,  he  looked  up  and  said:   "•  ]Mr.  Hutchin- 
son, if  you"ll  sing  that  again,  I'll  agree  not  to  disturb 
this  audience !  " 


LIGHTS    AND    SHADOWS.  331 

At  Kingston,  in  New  York,  the  audience  made  a 
simultaneous  rush  for  the  door,  and  it  was  with  great 
difficulty  we  got  it  quieted.  Tlien  there  was  a  hearty 
hiugh  to  tliink  how  they  had  all  gone  out  for  an  airing. 
Next  day  a  New  Englander  had  occasion  to  call  on  the 
local  judge,  who  was  present  at  the  entertainment. 
He  remarked,  "  I  saw  you  were  at  the  concert  last  even- 
ing."      Tlie    judge's    only    reply    was,  "  Yes ;    it    was 

a Yankee    trick."      We  always  had   to  have   this 

song  on  our  programmes,  for  if  Ave  did  not,  it  was  called 
for.  At  Oswego,  N.  Y^.,  during  this  tour,  the  peo- 
ple threw  up  the  Avindows  and  looked  for  the  fire.  At 
Canton,  Penn.,  they  rushed  out  of  the  hall  to  the 
fire-engine  house  and  had  the  machine  out  on  the 
street  before  they  Avere  reassured.  At  Springfield  a 
similar  scene  of  disorder  Avas  enacted.  The  song- 
closes  as  folloAVS : 

"  '  Fire  !  fire  !  fire ! '  it  Avas  raging  above  and  below, 
And  the  cheeks  of  the  sadors  grew  pale  at  the  sight, 
And  tlieir  eyes  glistened  wild  in  the  glare  of  the  light. 
'  Twas  vain  o'er  the  ocean  tlie  waters  to  drip, 
The  pitiless  flame  was  the  lord  of  the  ship, 
And  the  smoke  in  thick  wreaths  mounted  higher  and  higher  — 
0  God,  it  is  fearful  to  perish  by  fire  ! 
Alone  in  destruction,  alone  on  the  sea, 
'  Great  Father  of  Mercy,  our  hope  is  in  Thee  ! ' 
Sad  at  heart  and  resigned,  yet  undaunted  and  brave, 
They  lowered  the  boat,  a  mere  speck  on  the  wave. 
First  entered  the  mother,  enfolding  her  child. 
It  knew  she  caressed,  it  looked  upward  and  smiled. 
Cold,  cold  was  the  night,  as  they  drifted  away, 
And  mistily  dawned  o'er  their  pathway  the  day. 
And  they  prayed  for  the  light,  and  at  noontide,  about^ 
The  sun  o'er  the  waters  shone  joyously  out. 
'  Ho,  a  sail !  ho  !  a  sail ! '  cried  the  man  o'er  the  lea, 
'  Ho,  a  sail ! '  and  they  turned  tlieir  glad  eyes  o'er  the  sea, 
'They  see  us,  O  they  see  us,  the  signal  is  waved. 
They  bear  down  upon  us,  they  bear  down  upon  us. 
Thank  God,  we  are  saved  !'  " 


332  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Our  engagements  took  us  to  Washington,  where  we 
heard  Seward  and  Sumner  speak  on  the  Nebraska  bill. 
A  little  later,  during  the  same  year  we  brought  out  our 
famous  anti-slavery  song,  '•'•  Nebrascality,"  which  sub- 
jected us  to  a  great  deal  of  criticism  and  caused  some 
disturbances  in  our  concerts.  At  Salem,  Ohio,  during 
April,  we  were  guests  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Barker, 
whom  we  had  met  in  England,  a  man  who  seemed  to 
me  one  of  the  greatest  reformers  I  had  seen.  As  we 
sat  by  the  tire  one  day  I  fell  asleep,  for  a  half-hour. 
When  I  woke  Mr.  Barker  told  me  I  was  not  aware 
that  I  had  been  sleeping  seven  years,  and  playfully 
went  on  to  enumerate  the  changes  that  had  occurred  : 
Woman  had  her  rights,  the  slaves  were  free,  the  cause 
of  temperance  had  advanced,  there  was  a  millennium  on 
earth,  and  Christ  had  in  reality  begun  to  reign.  His 
optimistic  prophecy  as  yet  is  largely  unfulfilled.  Here 
we  also  met  Henry  C.  Wright,  an  old  soldier  in  the 
good  cause  of  human  rights,  and  the  author  of  the 
famous  story  of  the  "•  Hutchinsons'  Repentance.''  At 
Pittsburgh,  we  greatly  ap})reciated  the  society  of  Al:)by 
Anna  Wade,  the  poetess  and  scholar.  Keeping  on 
through  Ohio,  we  in  the  course  of  time  reached  Cleve- 
land, "  our  Western  home,"  where  we  spent  many  days. 
At  the  house  of  the  Severances  there  were  many  pleasant 
discussions,  none  of  us  agreeing  entirely,  but  all  being 
united  in  spirit.  Here,  also,  we  met  Abby  Kelley  Fos- 
ter and  Dr.  Snodgrass  of  Baltimore.  Coming  back 
tlirough  New  York  State,  we  met  at  Binghamton  Sena- 
tor Dickinson,  and  also  visited  S.  F.  B.  Morse,  the  in- 
ventor of  the  telegraph.  Our  series  of  concerts  closed 
May  29th,  having  lasted  nearly  eight  months. 

We  had  not  been  back  on  High  Rock  three  days 
when  every  drop  of  blood  in  otir  veins  was  made  to  boil 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  333 

by  the  excitement  in  Boston  over  the  rendition  of  Bnins, 
the  fno-itive  shive.  Asa  and  I  went  to  Boston,  and  ooiuo- 
up  Court  Street  at  lirst  secured  a  stand  in  the  window 
of  a  dry-goods  store  opposite  the  court-liouse.  It  was  a 
stirring  tliongli  disgraceful  scene  we  gazed  upon.  Sev- 
eral regiments  of  militia  had  been  ordere<l  out  l)y  the 
Governor,  to  prevent  disorder,  and  the  United  States 
troops,  Avitli  fife  and  drum,  were  also  out.  There  were 
bands  of  music,  and  cannon,  to  awe  the  people  wlio  it 
was  feared  would  make  a  strike  for  liberty  and  free  that 
poor  miserable  black  man.  Every  avenue  leading  into 
the  street  was  crowded  with  people,  and  every  window 
and  roof  was  black  with  them.  It  was  estimated  that  a 
hundred  thousand  were  massed  about  the  street,  silent, 
quiet,  but  indignant  that  Boston  was  compelled  to  wit- 
ness such  an  outrage,  the  logical  result  of  the  fugitive 
slave  law.  ^Mcanwliile,  the  unfortunate  colored  man 
was  cowering  in  the  court-house,  a  few  rods  away,  trem- 
blingly waiting  for  the  signal  to  escort  him  througli 
State  Street  to  the  United  States  gunboat  bound  South. 
The  excitement  was  at  the  highest  pitch,  and  none  were 
more  excited  than  I.  I  felt  I  must  do  something.  As 
I  passed  out  of  the  building,  looking  towards  Wash- 
ington Street,  I  saAv  stretched  across  it,  above  the  heads 
of  the  people,  a  huge  coffin,  suspended  by  ropes,  bearing 
upon  it  the  significant  word,  "  Liberty."  I  was  enthused. 
Here  we  Avere  in  siglit  of  Bunker  Hill,  Avhere  my  ances- 
tors had  fought  for  this  very  idea  of  Liberty !  Pressing 
my  way  across  the  street,  into  the  court-house,  past  the 
guards  at  every  turn  —  I  wore  a  tall  white  hat,  and  had 
bundles  of  papers  under  my  arm,  and  presume  tliey 
thought  me  on  official  l)usiness  —  I  had  nearly  reached 
the  room  where  the  fugitive  was  confined,  before  a  sen- 
tinel bade  me  ''turn  back."'     I  had  a  notion  I  could  ex- 


334  THE    HUTCHINvSON    FAMtLY. 

change  clotlies  with  him  and  I'emain,  while  he  escaped, 
bnt  I  was  foiled.  Then  the  procession  moved,  more 
like  a  funeral  cortege  than  anything  else,  the  musicians 
hanging  their  heads  as  they  played,  for,  though  in  per- 
formance of  their  duty,  they  were  men  of  free  New 
England,  and  their  hearts  were  with  the  prisoner. 

The  soldiers  passed,  and  soon  we  went  home.  That 
night  from  the  piazza'  of  the  stone  cottage  on  High 
Hock,  we  told  the  story  of  the  day  to  a  large  gathering 
of  Lynn  people.  We  also  sang  many  abolition  songs. 
Finally  some  one  suggested  that  Commissioner  Luring, 
who  gave  the  order  that  the  man  should  be  sent  back, 
be  hung  in  elhgy.  At  once  clothing  was  procured,  and 
being-  taken  to  our  stable,  was  stuffed  with  straw.  Two 
stakes  were  placed  in  the  ground  on  the  summit  of 
Prospect  Rock,  a  sightly  eminence  fronting  the  cottage, 
and  with  a  rope  around  tlie  figure's  neck,  it  was  sus- 
pended from  a  cross-bar.  Soon  some  one  shouted,  ^  Let's 
burn  ! "'  and  a  match  was  touched  to  it.  Thus  tlie  judge 
was  both  hung  and  burned  in  effigy  on  old  High  Rock. 
Li  referring  to  this,  my  diary  says : 

"  How  we  cheered  when  the  body  was  hanging !  We  sang  some 
songs  to  the  crowd  which  liad  been  gathered  by  the  sight  of  tlie  flames. 
I  hate  slavery  and  shall  pray  with  all  my  might  for  the  poor  slave. 
God  of  Heaven  :  Shall  tyranny  always  usurp  the  sway  ?  No  !  The 
good  time  will  soon  come  and  we  shall  have  a  free  country." 

Then  followed  many  happy  Aveeks  at  High  Rock.  I 
record  the  fact  in  my  diary  that  we  were  "getting  to  be 
Know-Nothings,"  but  most  of  the  space  is  taken  up 
with  stories  of  fishing  parties  and  social  gatherings. 
Amono-  those  who  came  to  sta}^  with  us  was  Frank  B. 
Carpenter,  and  many  a  pleasant  walk  I  had  with  him  in 
"  Rocks  Pasture " :  noAV  the  beautiful  and  populous 
Lynn  Highlands ;  then  a  barren,  rocky  tract,  as  its  name 


LIGHTS   AND    SHADOWS.  335 

implies.  John  Lewis  Robinson,  my  life-long  friend,  was 
usually  in  our  fishing-parties.  Wendell  Phillips  came 
down  to  preach  for  the  "  Free  church "  which  for  so 
many  3-cars  after  had  the  ministrations  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Johnson,  that  staunch  fiiend  of  human  and  religious 
freedom,  and  we  gave  concerts  in  aid  of  the  building- 
fund  of  the  chapel  of  the  societ}',  which  still  stands  on 
Oxford  Street.  Another  loved  friend  who  came  and 
later  established  his  home  in  Lynn,  was  Lloj^d  Glover. 
He  was  an  engraver  on  steel,  and  was,  unless  I  am  mis- 
taken, the  designer  of  the  "greenback."  His  home  was 
afterward  located  on  Ocean  Street,  where  his  wife  died. 
He  prospered  in  business,  and  after  a  time  had  flattering 
offers  from  Chicago,  which  he  accepted,  and  went  West. 
He  met  his  death  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun, 
as  he  was  getting  into  his  boat  on  a  hunting  expedition. 
While  he  was  on  the  visit  to  High  Rock  to  which  I 
refer,  we  one  evening  sang  a  song  expressing  the  senti- 
ment, "I  would  not  die  in  springtime,''  "summer,"  etc. 
He  followed  our  song  up  with  a  verse  of  his  own,  con- 
cluding with  the  thought,  "  I  would  not  die  at  all." 

But  changes  were  coming  for  us,  of  which  another 
chapter  shall  treat. 


336  THE    HUTCHINSOK    FAMILY. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

IX   THE   GREAT   WEST. 

"  The  brave  in  every  nation  are  joining  heart  and  hand, 
And  flocliing  to  America,  the  real  promised  land  ; 
And  Uncle  Sam  stands  ready  with  a  child  upon  each  arm, 
To  give  them  all  a  welcome,  to  a  lot  upon  his  farm. 

"  Then  come  along,  come  along,  make  no  delay, 
Come  from  every  nation,  come  from  every  way  ; 
Our  lands  they  are  broad  enough,  don't  feel  alarm, 
For  Uncle  Sam  is  rich  enough  to  give  us  all  a  farm." 

The  early  months  of  1855  were  devoted  to  singing 
on  the  New  Eiighmd  circuit,  and  to  duties  at  home. 
No  particidar  incidents  recur  to  my  mind  for  record 
here.  Then  followed  a  tour  in  New  York,  and  after 
that  a  summer  rest  on  High  Rock  and  at  Milford. 

Tlie  Kansas  excitement  was  then  at  its  height.  It 
led  to  action  on  our  part  which  resulted  in  the  establish- 
ment of  a  new  town,  Hutchinson,  in  Minnesota,  though 
it  was  many  years  after  that  I  assisted  in  setting  in 
motion  the  influences  that  resulted  in  founding  Hutchin- 
son, Kansas.  The  story  of  Kansas  is  a  thrilling  one, 
for  the  territory  was  during  these  years  the  theatre  of 
much  of  the  slavery  agitation. 

Franklin  Pierce  was  inaugurated  President  of  the 
United  States  on  March  4,  1853.  He  congratulated 
the  country  on  the  peace  it  was  enjoying ;  on  the  cessa- 
tion of  strife  because  the  Clay  compromise  of  1850  had 
settled  many  mooted  questions,  and  assured  his  country- 
men this  repose  should  suffer  no  shock  if  he  had  power 


IN   THE   GllEAT    WEST.  337 

to  prevent  it.  Time,  however,  demonstrated  that  he  did 
his  full  share  to  upset  these  reposeful  conditions.  A 
short  time  before,  the  Kansas  agitation  had  begun,  and 
it  raged  practically  without  abatement  until  war  times. 

On  Tuesday,  August  28th,  there  came  to  Lynn  a 
gentleman  named  Thayer,  of  Worcester,  who  was  acting 
as  agent  for  the  Emigration  Society,  endeavoring  to 
secure  recruits  to  swell  the  number  of  Free-Soil  emi- 
grants in  Kansas.  He  lectured  in  Lyceum  Hall,  ex- 
plaining the  necessities  of  the  case.  The  Missouri  Com- 
promise having  been  set  aside,  and  the  territory  opened 
to  settlement,  there  was  a  great  demand  that  the  New 
England  spirit  should  arouse  and  answer  tlie  call  of 
"  Bleeding  Kansas."  Asa  and  I  sung  at  this  gathering, 
which  was  large  and  enthusiastic.  As  I  listened  to  the 
appeal,  I  determined  to  go  home  and  arrange  my  af- 
fairs, and  emigrate  to  Kansas.  On  the  way,  I  saw  Asa. 
"Asa,''  said  I,  "what  do  you  think  of  it?"  "I  think 
well  of  it,"  was  his  response.  We  at  once  hurried  to 
our  house,  packed  up  a  few  things,  got  out  our  Iniggy, 
and  at  10.30  started  over  the  road  to  Milford,  fifty 
miles,  to  find  Juclson,  and  enlist  him  in  the  enterprise. 
All  night  we  took  turns  in  driving,  one  sleeping  mean- 
while. When  we  got  there  and  told  our  story,  Judson 
at  once  said,  "  Boj's,  I  am  ready." 

So  in  September  we  commenced  a  tour  fraught  with 
unusual  incidents.  We  crossed  Vermont  and  New  York 
States,  giving  concerts  all  the  way,  and  thence  pro- 
ceeded through  Ohio,  Michigan  and  Illinois  to  Wis- 
consin. 

Wlien  we  reached  Rockford,  111.,  we  met  an  old  ac- 
quaintance, William  Butler.  He  had  been  on  a  tour 
up  the  Mississippi.  We  told  him  w^e  were  going  to 
Kansas.     He  said,  "  I  beg  you  Avill  not  go  there  until 


338  THE    HITTCHIXSON    FAMILY. 

you  have  seen  the  upper  Mississippi  River."  The  result 
of  this  advice  was  a  change  of  plans.  We  brothers 
often  disagreed  in  our  discussions,  but  it  was  always  our 
custom  to  let  the  majority  rule  in  the  final  decision. 
In  this  case,  I  was  very  loth  to  give  up  our  plan  of  tak- 
ing part  in  the  Kansas  crisis,  l)nt  Judson  and  Asa  were 
favorable  to  clianging  our  route,  and  I  finally  acquiesced. 
Our  concerts  consumed  two  months.  On  November 
9th  we  reached  St.  Paul.  We  gave  a  concert,  netting 
us  good  returns,  and  made  the  acquaintance  of  Colonel 
John  H.  Stevens,  B.  E.  Messer,  with  others  who  joined 
enthusiastically  in  our  scheme.  Meanwhile,  I  was  re- 
luctant, still  longing  to  do  something  practical  in  Kan- 
sas. After  a  few  days  spent  in  looking  up  land 
warrants,  we  started  on  Friday,  November  16th,  in 
search  of  a  town  site.  In  tlie  party  were  Judson,  Asa, 
John,  E.  E.  Johnson  (our  agent),  L.  N.  Parker,  B.  E. 
Messer,  John  H.  Stevens,  Lewis  Harrington,  Henry 
Chambers,  I.  H.  Chubb,  John  F.  Califf  and  Roswell 
Pendergast.  We  had  two  wagons  and  four  horses. 
We  started  from  Minneapolis,  and  our  first  halt  was  at 
Fort  Snelling,  for  supplies,  one  hundred  dollars'  worth. 
There  were  four  hundred  soldiers  in  the  place.  Next 
we  stopped  at  Shakt>pee.  We  stayed  at  Gibson's  hotel, 
and  gave  a  concert  at  an  hour's  notice.  As  soon  as  it 
was  found  we  were  willing  to  give  an  entertainment, 
Judson  Blanchard,  a  brother  of  Hon.  vStillman  S. 
Blanchard,  in  1894  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Senate,  mounted  a  horse  and  rode  through  Shakopee, 
announcing  the  fact.  At  this  place  Chambers  was 
loading  the  traps  for  the  morning  start.  Among  them 
were  a  number  of  rifles  and  shotguns.  In  pulling  the 
guns  from  a  stack,  the  heaviest  loaded  rifle  was  acci- 
dentally discharged.     The  ball  grazed   his  head,  went 


IN    THE   GREAT    WEST.  339 

through  the  floor  above,  through  another  room,  and 
lodged  in  a  rafter.  As  we  proceeded,  we  saw  an  abun- 
dance of  flowers  and  plenty  of  game.  On  November 
17th,  at  night,  we  camped  in  the  woods.  It  was  cold, 
but  we  had  a  good  tire  in  front  of  our  camp,  and  were  a 
company.  We  had  game  for  food,  and  after  supper  jolly 
enjoyed  songs  and  Indian  dances  for  a  while  and  then 
laid  down  together.  The  next  night  we  reached 
Glencoe.  Here  we  received  two  additions  to  our  com- 
pany, Andrew  J.  Bell  and  W.  S.  Chapman.  Colonel 
Stevens  was  another  of  the  settlers  of  this  new  town,  as 
was  Mr.  McLeod,  for  Avhom  the  county  was  named.  It 
had  been  settled  the  May  before,  and  at  this  time  had 
but  a  dozen  houses,  mostl}^  log  cabins.  We  had  a  room 
to  sleep  in,  but  the  windows  were  not  glazed,  having 
cotton  cloth  only  partially  covering  them.  The  weather 
continued  very  cold.  Our  objective  point  was  only 
fourteen  miles  awa3%  and  the  next  da^-  found  us  en- 
camped upon  our  claim,  on  the  bank  of  a  murmuring 
stream,  the  middle  fork  of  the  Hassan  River.  We  shot 
some  game.  Harrington  shot  an  otter.  The  animal 
formed  a  part  of  our  breakfast,  and  the  skin,  worth  eight 
dollars,  he  gave  to  Judson,  who  afterwards  wore  it  for 
a  tippet.  The  next  morning,  while  getting  breakfast, 
Johnson  shot  a  partridge.  It  dropped  nearly  into  the 
frying-})an  and  was  soon  plucked  and  cooked  for  lireak- 
fast.  A  little  later  most  of  the  party  went  on  a  scout- 
ing expedition.  I  did  not  feel  well  enough  to  go 
prospecting,  and  so  stayed  beliind,  and  made  prepara- 
tions to  l)uikl  oui'  pre-emption  cabin,  striking  the  tirst 
blow  of  an  axe  to  any  tree  on  the  claim.  While  at 
work  I  lost  a  highly  prized  picture  of  my  cliildren, 
Henr}'  and  Viola.  It  remained  there  all  winter,  and 
was  found  next  year  in  making  a  clearing.     I   have  it 


840  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

now,  tlie  cover  eaten  off  by  some  Avild  beast,  but  the 
picture  as  good  as  ever.  While  the  party  was  out, 
they  came  upon  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  which  they 
named  '*  Judson  Lake.''  It  still  bears  the  name.  In 
the  evenino-  we  held  a  meeting^  and  decided  on  the  ex- 
act  spot  for  tlie  town  site.  \\e  voted  to  establish  two 
towns,  on  eitlier  bank  of  tlie  stream,  one  to  be  called 
"  Hutchinson"  and  the  other  ''  Harmony." 

The  next  day  Ave  took  a  survey  of  the  town.  We 
w^ere  given  our  choice  of  farms,  adjacent  to  the  town 
sites.  I  was  not  able  to  select  one  above  another,  but 
finally  took  one,  mostly  all  woodland.  Judson  made 
the  lirst  claim  on  the  west ;  Asa's  was  on  the  east ; 
mine  on  the  north.  The  next  day  "sve  started  on  our 
return  journey  to  Minneapolis.  After  making  con- 
tracts for  the  erection  of  caljins  for  our  occupancy 
Avhen  we  returned  to  Hutchinson,  we  went  on  with  our 
singing  tour. 

J\lr.  Dix,  the  family  historian,  tells  the  story  of  the 
founding  of  Hutchinson  as  follows  : 

"In  Decemljer,  of  the  vfar  1855,  .Judson,  John  and  Asa  Hutchinson 
resolved,  after  due  deliberation,  to  visit  the  great  West,  and  accord- 
ingly proceeded  to  the  new  territory  of  Minnesota,  where  the  fertility 
of  the  land  and  the  beauty  of  the  country  —  as  well  as  the  advanta- 
geous prospects  held  out  to  settlers  —  induced  them  to  take  up  some 
prairie  lands  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi  River,  about  sixty-five 
miles  from  the  city  of  St.  Paul.  Here  they  founded  a  settlement, 
which  they  called  after  their  own  name ;  and  the  town  of  "  Hutchin- 
son "  was  added  to  the  many  others  that  were  constantly  springing  up 
on  the  prairie  and  in  the  wilderness  of  the  West.  [It  was  the  second 
town  on  the  great  Prairie.] 

"  At  that  time  ^Minnesota  was  considered  as  not  only  the  land  of  as- 
pirations and  dreams,  but  the  land  where  aspirations  and  dreams  were 
realized.  Fact,  poetry  and  romance  all  combined  to  lavish  eulogy  on 
the  growing  territory,  whose  healthful  atmosphere  seemed  to  resemble 
the  fabled  fountain,  wliich  restored  the  youth  of  man  ;  and  whose 
generous    soil,  to    use  Douglas  Jerrold's  pithy  expression  with  refer- 


IX    THE    GREAT    WEST.  341 

ence  to  that  of  Australia,  was  so  rich,  tliat  if  you  tickled  the  earth 
with  a  hoe,  slie  would  laugh  with  a  harvest.  The  Falls  of  Minnehaha 
had  been  immortalized  in  flowing  verse,  while  the  beautiful  Indian 
maiden,  Winona,  like  the  New  England  Madawiska,  was  honored  by 
tradition  as  a  heroine. 

"  Joiui  W.  Hutchinson  cut  the  tirst  tree  that  had  ever  fallen  by  the 
hand  of  the  white  nnin  in  those  regions,  and  it  was  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  their  log  cabin.  Around  this  nucleus  of  a  settlement, 
other  cabins  arose,  and  the  town  of  "  Hutchinson"  continued  to  gradu- 
ally grow  and  extend  until  1857, —  in  fact,  at  that  time,  it  was  becom- 
ing quite  a  large  settlement.  A  hotel,  that  almost  first  want  of  a  new 
place,  early  provided  '  good  entertainment '  for  travellers.  Farms  ap- 
peared one  after  another,  and  all  in  that  productive  section  were 
soon  in  a  thriving  condition.  The  Ilutchinsons  worked  with  untiring 
energy,  and  corn  and  grain  of  all  kinds  were  extensively  cultivated  by 
them,  and  also  by  the  other  settlers.  Sheep  and  cattle  dotted  the  pas- 
tures, and  the  vocalists  became  successful  farmers.  But,  notwith- 
standing their  agricultural  avocations,  they  did  not  altogether  abandon 
singing,  having  quite  too  much  music  in  them  for  that.  So  they 
started  off  occasionally  to  give  concerts,  and  exchange  the  music  of 
the  flail  for  that  of  the  platform.  And  while  they  were  thus  singing, 
the  crops  were  growing !  They  had  taken  with  them  to  the  West  a 
superabund£i,nce  of  Yankee  energy,  and  it  found  vent  in  vocalism." 

The  St.  Anthony  Express  of  that  year,  speaking  of 
this  enterprise,  said  : 

"  In  addition  to  several  well-known  citizens  of  the  territory 
(printed  at  the  opening  of  the  article)  in  the  above  list  our  readers 
will  observe  that  the  Hutchinson  Family,  with  their  agent,  E.  E. 
Johnson,  are  included  in  the  enterprise,  which  is  a  sure  guarantee  of 
the  success  of  this  new  and  interesting  embryo  city — even  without 
the  help  and  influence  of  those  names  which  have  been  so  long  known 
to  never  look  back  from  the  plough  when  once  hold  of  the  handle. 

"  The  company  have  now  about  twenty  men  in  their  employ,  erect- 
ing houses  and  public  buildings.  Messrs.  Harrington  and  Bell  have 
completed  the  survey  of  the  town  site.  The  several  proprietors  of  the 
town  have  subscribed  liberally  for  different  objects.  The  site  is  situ- 
ated in  Town  116,  Range  29,  in  Davis  County,  U  miles  west  of  Glen- 
coe.  The  Ilutchinsons  will  be  on  early  in  the  spring  to  occupy  their 
claims.  Judson  expects  to  return  in  March,  Asa,  John  and  Joshua 
will  be  here  on  the  first  boat,  at  which  time  their  houses  will  be  com- 
pleted.    j\Ir.  Chambers  has  men  at  work  on  them  now. 


342  THE    HUTCHINSOX    FAMILY. 

"  The  town  is  to  be  on  the  libei-al  order.  No  sectarianism  will  be 
tolerated.  All  churches  are  to  have  their  rights.  The  schools  are  to 
be  on  the  union  plan.     No  lots  will  be  disposed  of  for  grog  shops. 

"From  all  we  have  been  able  to  gather,  we  are  satisfied  they  have  a 
beautiful  jiortion  of  the  territory  for  their  future  home.  Glencoe  is 
the  key  of  all  future  towns  in  that  part,  but  we  learn  that  Hutchinson 
is  most  pleasantly  located  in  the  valley  of  the  "  Hassari "  (Indian 
name  for  Crow)  a  clear,  rapid  stream  of  water  about  four  rods  wide, 
surrounded  with  beautiful  groves  and  fertile  prairies.  Game  is  rei^re- 
sented  to  be  very  plenty.  The  workmen  about  the  town  often  see 
deer,  elk,  bear,  wolves  and  otter.  A  carpenter  stamped  one  of  the 
latter  animals  to  death  last  week.  As  many  as  ten  otter  have  been 
seen  playing  at  once  on  the  ice  that  divides  the  village  site. 

"With  a  clear  sky  above,  the  rich  land  below,  wo  may  expect  to  see 
in  a  short  time  a  large  town  built  up  in  Hutchinson." 

The  name  "  Harmony "  for  tlie  north  half  of  the 
town  was  soon  given  up,  as  the  Legislature  passed  an 
act  permitting  larger  town  sites.  I  sent  to  Boston,  and 
secured  four  hundred  dollars  in  gold.  With  this  I 
went  to  St.  C^roix,  and  after  giving  a  concert,  which 
Judge  Flandreau  —  the  United  States  official  whose 
dut}'  it  was  to  enter  town  sites  —  attended,  invited 
that  dignitar}^  to  my  room  at  the  hotel.  He  was 
clearly  much  pleased  with  the  concert,  for  when  I  told 
him  I  had  a  town  for  him  to  enter,  and  asked  his 
charge,  he  said  seventy-five  dollars.  There  was  no 
limit  to  the  fees,  and  I  was  well  aware  he  might  have 
charged  five  hundred  dollars  if  he  chose.  Judge 
Flandreau  was  an  able  and  brave  man,  as  his  subse- 
quent acts  in  leading  the  settlers  in  defending  the  ter- 
ritory against  hostile  Indians  fully  demonstrated. 

When  we  returned  to  Minneapolis  we  learned  to  our 
consternation  that  the  Mississippi  was  frozen  over  so 
that  boats  could  not  sail.  We  were  therefore  obliged 
to  charter  a  team  to  go  down  the  river  bank.  As  we  had 
an  extra  seat,  we  invited  a  passenger  to  accompany  us. 


IN    THE    GEEAT    WEST.  €543 

This  man  was  Charles  G.  Ames.  He  is  to-day  known 
as  one  of  Boston's  leading  clergymen  of  the  Unitarian 
faith  and  had  been  preaching  in  the  new  conntry. 
He  was  my  bed-fellow  twelve  nights,  and  we  had  some 
very  interesting  talks.  On  our  way  down  the  river  we 
held  a  number  of  meetings  and  gave  several  concerts. 
Ames  tended  the  door,  and  made  interesting  remarks. 
At  one  place  our  songs  were  hissed  by  a  land  agent  in 
the  audience.  Ames  promptly  silenced  him  by  a  few 
sharp  comments.  One  Sunday  we  spent  in  Rochester, 
now  a  large  city,  then  containing  onl}^  three  cabins. 
We  sang  wherever  we  found  inhabitants.  By  the  time 
we  reached  modern  means  of  conveyance,  it  was  so  late 
we  had  to  return  East  to  fill  our  engagements,  and  so 
we  did  not  reach  Kansas  at  all  that  year. 

I  am  reminded  that  I  have  not  yet  mentioned 
"Blucher";  Blucher  was  a  dog.  Before  leaving  j\Iin- 
neapolis  for  the  wilderness,  as  I  expected  to  encounter 
bears,  wolves  and  other  wild  animals,  I  determined  to 
buy  a  dog.  My  inquiries  were  soon  met  with  a  large, 
noble  bull  dog,  for  Avliich  I  paid  fifteen  dollars,  and  at 
once  named  him  Blucher.  I  found  him  a  very  useful 
com[)anion  in  Hutchinson.  At  one  time  I  was  driving 
cattle  across  the  Crow  River,  but  after  they  got  into  the 
water,  they  refused  to  come  out,  notwithstanding  my 
pleading  and  yelling.  In  this  emergency  I  called 
Blucher,  and  addressed  him  somewhat  like  tins : 
"  Blucher,  you  see  the  predicament  I  am  in  ;  you  see 
those  cattle  in  the  stream  ;  now,  I  want  you  to  go  into 
the  water  after  them  and  bring  them  to  this  side  ;  but 
I  do  not  want  you  to  bite  at  them  or  bark  at  them  ; 
simply  drive  them  out  of  the  river."  Blucher  seemed 
to  comprehend  this  appeal  to  his  intelligence,  and  he 
started.     He  obeyed  instructions  to  the  letter,  except 


344  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

an  occasional  growl  at  an  unrnly  animal ;  and  lie 
brought  all  of  the  cattle  out  of  the  river  as  requested. 
Blucher  remained  faithful  to  every  duty  required  of 
him  for  the  year  and  a  half  of  his  life  at  Hutchinson, 
at  one  time  singling  out  a  heifer  he  was  directed  to 
get  and  holding  her  from  the  herd,  and  at  another  time 
seizing  a  dangerous  ox,  in  pi'otection  of  his  master,  but 
he  finally  came  to  an  untimely  end  in  my  absence,  by 
being  shot  for  having  visited  the  original  log -cabin 
home,  which  I  have  mentioned.  I  had  turned  it  over 
to  an  emigrant  family,  and  small-pox  broke  out  among 
them.  jNIy  noble  Blucher,  through  the  fear  of  spreading 
the  disease,  thus  became  a  sacrifice  for  the  good  of 
mankind.  It  cost  me  sixty  dollars  for  his  keeping  one 
Avinter.  The  man  who  boarded  him  for  me  had  to 
bake  Indian  cakes,  and  l)reak  them  up  for  his  food. 

We  reached  Lynn  once  more  on  April  1,  1856.  A 
short  trip  to  jNIilford  and  concerts  in  Boston  and  Provi- 
dence, and  our  season  ended.  A  few  days  ^^•ere  spent 
in  attending  to  business  matters  and  packing.  Tlie  old 
ocean  never  looked  so  jileasant.  On  April  21st,  we 
left  Lynn,  as  my  diary  put  it,  "forever."  Judson 
joined  Fanny  and  me  at  Painesville,  O.,  and  we  gave 
songs,  on  our  Avay  to  St.  Paul,  at  Adrian,  Hillsdale, 
Coldwater,  Mich.,  at  each  place  having  to  apologize  for 
the  absence  of  Asa,  Avho  for  some  reason  failed  to  con- 
nect with  us  anywhere  on  the  road.  Finally  we  reached 
St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  and  here  Asa  joined  us.  It 
rained  for  fifteen  successive  days,  and  Ave  had  trouble  in 
getting  off  to  our  home  beyond  the  woods.  Finally  the 
brothers  Avent  on,  and  I  stayed  some  little  time  in  the 
Adcinity  of  Minneapolis,  and  Avent  120  miles  up  the  riA^er 
to  Little  Falls,  Avliere  I  entered  some  land  at  St.  Cloud. 
Giving  concerts,  May  29th  I,  too,  reached  Hutchinson. 


IN    THE    GllEAT    WEST.  345 

The  next  few  weeks  were  full  of  hard  work,  ploughing, 
and  getting  in  crops.  I  was  accustunied  to  it,  however, 
and  the  soil  yielded  better  than  that  of  Milford.  Had 
an  unruly  ox  that  got  away  from  me  occasionally,  as  I 
have  said  before.  June  23d  I  was  off  again,  to  Chicago, 
where  my  wife  —  liaving  occupied  m}^  claim  with  me,  ac- 
cording to  law  —  left  for  the  East.  The  brothers  were 
there  too,  and  we  gave  several  concerts  in  Chicago, 
thence  travelling  to  leading  places  in  Illinois,  loAva 
and  Michigan.  At  St.  Paul  we  sold  a  share  in  our 
town  to  Ole  Bull.  We  returned  to  Hutchinson  in  a 
big  wagon.  One  night  we  spent  with  a  Dutchman, 
Asa  and  I  sleeping  on  his  haj'-mow,  and  Judson  and 
Jerusha  using  the  wagon  for  a  boudoir.  The  next  day 
we  came  across  some  Winnebao'o  Indians,  and  sano- 
them  some  songs.  We  Avent  in  swimming  with  one  of 
them.  We  enjoyed  witnessing  his  manner  of  diving 
and  swimming.  Wlien  we  reached  Hutchinson  again, 
we  proceeded  to  occupy  our  claims.  We  had  comfort- 
able log  cabins,  covered  with  bark.  Asa  and  I  occa- 
sionally made  tlie  situation  a  little  less  dreary  by  sleep- 
ing together,  half  the  night  on  each  claim.  It  was  a 
satisfaction  to  see  the  town  growing  very  fast.  Within 
a  fortnight  of  this  time  we  were  sino-ing  before  over- 
flowing  audiences  in  Saratoga,  and  the  big  towns  inter- 
vening, and  less  than  a  week  later  were  again  on  High 
Rock. 

Then  followed  a  summer  of  coml)ined  work  and  play. 
It  was  mostly  woi'k,  hoAvever.  We  vil)rated  between 
Lvnn  and  Milford.  On  one  eveniuQ"  I  was  sino-ino-  in 
^Milford,  the  next  forenoon  talking  to  my  wife  in  the 
Stone  Cottage  in  Lynn,  and  hy  niglit  singing  in  Fitch- 
burg.  We  l)rothers,  witli  Sister  Abby,  made  a  sliort, 
singing  tour  of  the  White  Mountain  region,  and  with- 


346  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

out  her,  travelled  across  the  New  England  States  and 
New  York  as  far  as  Buffalo.  Then  followed  many 
weeks  of  hard  Avork  improving  the  property  at  High 
Rock.  The  only  tour  for  singing  that  season  was  one 
as  far  as  Bangor  made  late  in  December.  This  was 
followed  up  by  concerts  in  the  early  months  of  1857  in 
southern  New  England,  New  York  City,  Philadelphia, 
Rochester,  Elmira,  Buffalo,  Cleveland,  Toledo,  Chicago, 
Racine,  Madison,  Rockford,  Galena,  Dubuque,  Kansas 
City,  La  Crosse,  and  intervening  points  to  St.  Paul, 
from  which  place  we  set  out  once  more  for  our  toAvn, 
Hutchinson,  which  we  reached  May  10th.  Then  came 
days  of  hard  labor  shingling  and  boarding  the  new 
house  on  my  claim,  setting  on  foot  a  movement  for  a 
new  school-house,  and  caring  for  various  other  inter- 
ests. While  in  the  town  the  year  before,  a  clergyman 
took  up  a  claim,  and  on  Sundays  he  would  preach  to  the 
people,  if  it  did  not  happen  that  a  minister  came  in 
from  Glencoe.  This  year,  however,  there  was  no  min- 
ister, and  so  on  Sundays  I  got  in  the  habit  of  gathering 
meetings,  where  I  was  not  only  chorister  but  preacher. 
The  subject  usually  turned  on  the  thought  of  the  good 
time  coming.  Meanwliile  the  saw-mill  machinery  we 
purchased  the  previous  year  in  one  of  our  many  trips 
away  from  the  town  had  been  set  up,  and  when  I  was 
not  finishing  my  house  or  preaching  I  took  my  turn  at 
running  the  saw.  In  June  I  took  a  trip  to  St.  Paul, 
and  invested  in  many  acres  more  of  Minnesota  land  in 
Scott  County.  Tlien  I  went  back  to  Hutchinson, 
where  in  a  few  days  we  were  able  to  house  our  Sun- 
day meeting  temporarily  in  a  new  store.  The  monot- 
ou}'  of  life  at  the  saw-mill  was  sometimes  varied  by  the 
appearance  of  a  bear,  when  all  hands  would  drop  work 
and  give  chase,  usually  with  no  success.     In  July  we 


IN    THE    GREAT    WEST.  347 

sold  shares  in  the  mill  to  Lewis  HaiTington,  Chubl)  and 
Chambers,  and  a  company  was  formed.  Soon  after  we 
all  took  a  trip  to  Lynn,  wliere  we  spent  Septeml)er,  and 
by  the  middle  of  October  had  sung  our  way  ])ack  to 
Hutchinson.  Li  about  a  week  I  was  off  singing  again, 
without  Asa,  and  soon  was  joined  l)y  Judson,  who  came 
on  from  the  East.  We  sang  all  winter,  mostly  in  Min- 
nesota and  Wisconsin  towns  and  as  far  east  as  Colum- 
bus. 

Of  course,  we  made  man}^  trips  to  Hutchinson  from 
time  to  time,  though  it  was  long  years  before  the  place 
became  the  thriving  town  it  now  is.  During  war  times 
it  nearly  became  extinct  because  of  its  practically  total 
destruction  by  hostile  Sioux. 

Li  1862  there  were  not  only  reservations  of  Winne- 
bagos  in  ]\Lnnesota,  but  of  Sioux  and  Chippewas.  hi 
the  spring  and  summer  of  that  year,  the  United  States 
Government  at  Washington  received  information  from 
various  sources  that  convinced  it  that  the  Indian  tribes 
of  L^tah,  Colorado,  Dakota  and  western  Xeljraska  were 
likely  to  ravage  the  territories  and  frontier  States.  It 
seemed  that  emissaries  from  the  Southern  Confederacy 
and  adventurers  from  Canada, —  the  latter  acting  on  the 
theory  that  war  with  England  was  inevitable, —  had 
been  at  Avork  among  them  endeavoring  to  get  them  to 
make  troul)le  so  as  to  create  a  diversion  from  tlie  war 
that  was  engaging  the  Government's  attention.  In 
addition  to  this  dastardly  conspiracy,  the  Indians  were 
themselves  irritated  because  of  the  action  of  the 
agents  in  paying  their  annuities  in  legal  tender  notes 
instead  of  the  gold  provided  by  the  Government,  and 
because  of  delay  in  payments  on  the  })art  of  the  Indian 
Bureau.  As  a  result  of  its  information,  the  Interior 
Department  early  in  the  summer  issued  an    advertise- 


348  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

ment  waniiiig  the  public  of  danger  in  taking  the  over- 
land route  to  the  Pacific. 

The  settlers  in  Minnesota,  notwithstanding  these 
warnings,  were  as  a  rule  unsuspicious.  It  happened 
that  I  was  at  Hutchinson  a  week  dui'ing  August,  and 
liaving  come  from  Washington,  where  there  w^as  an  ex- 
cellent chance  to  become  acquainted  with  the  rumors, 
T  warned  the  people  against  troul)le  that  might  come. 

I  met  a  United  States  recruiting  officer  the  day  before 
I  left  Hutchinson,  and  told  him  he  ought  not  to  take 
any  more  of  our  3'oung  men  away,  for  the  Indians,  still 
holding  their  ancient  grudge  against  the  settlers,  would 
suddenly  appear.  I  then  felt  that  I  should  call  a  meet- 
ing and  inform  the  three  hundred  inhabitants  of  my 
suspicions.  The  settlers  gathered,  and  began  to  con- 
sider the  wise  course  to  adopt,  and  plans  of  escape  in 
jcase  of  an  attack  were  suggested.  The  people  were 
thus  put  upon  the  alert,  althougli  no  definite  action  was 
taken  at  the  time.  The  gathering  was  mostly  women. 
When  the  uprising  was  more  imminent  another  meeting 
was  held,  and  the  settlers  decided  to  leave  for  Glencoe, 
fourteen  miles  distant.  But  at  this  point  one  settler, 
named  ]McCuen,  came  in  from  his  cabin,  and  in  agitated 
tones  declared  that  his  daughter,  who  was  very  sick  in 
the  cabin,  could  not  l)e  moved  with  safety  across  the 
country.  "  I  must  staj^  and  perish  with  my  daughter, 
if  necessary,"  said  he.  At  this  the  whole  council  de- 
clared that  they  would  stay  with  him  and  defend  them- 
selves. At  once  a  strong  fort  was  begun  in  the  public 
square,  and  it  was  soon  completed.  This  timely  pre- 
caution saved  many  lives,  though  it  did  not  prevent  the 
devastation  of  the  town. 

On  August  14th  four  drunken  Sioux  Indians  Avere 
roaming  through  the  western  part  of  the  territory,  being 


IX    THE   GREAT    WEST.  o-iO 

intoxicated  on  whiskey  obtained  from  a  white  man. 
They  had  a  violent  altercation  as  to  which  was  the 
bravest,  and  determined  that  the  test  should  be  the 
killing  of  a  white  man.  In  their  condition,  it  did  not 
take  long  for  several  murders  to  be  committed.  Then 
becoming  sober,  the  savages  fled  to  their  village,  lied 
Wood,  and  told  their  chief.  Little  Crow,  what  they  had 
done.  Little  Crow  was  one  of  those  in  the  conspiracy 
for  the  general  uprising,  he  being  the  head  of  that  por- 
tion of  the  Sioux  on  the  Minnesota  reservation.  He  at 
once  saw  that  retaliation  Avould  come  for  the  act  of  the 
drunken  murderers,  and  planned  to  forestall  it  by  taking 
the  initiative  in  the  attack  that  had  been  agreed  upon. 
On  August  18th  lie  started  out  with  a  band  of  from 
two  hundred  and  lifty  to  three  hundred  waniors,  and 
went  to  the  agency  at  Yellow  Medicine,  and  commenced 
a  slaughter  of  all  the  Avhites  there.  The  agent,  Mr. 
Galbraith,  was  absent,  but  his  family  fell  victims  to 
the  tomahawk.  Word  reaching  Fort  Ridgely,  a  force 
of  forty-five  soldiers  was  dispatched  to  Yellow  Medicine. 
They  were  ambushed,  and  half  the  number  were  slain. 
Then,  flushed  with  victory,  the  savages  began  again  their 
work  of  fire  and  slaughter,  violating  and  killing  wo- 
men, beating  out  the  brains  of  infants,  or  nailing  them  on 
doors,  and  in  fact  perpetrating  every  species  of  atrocity 
their  fiendish  natures  prompted.  On  the  21st  they 
attacked  the  village  of  New  Ulm  in  Brown  County,  but 
were  driven  back.  The  Chippewas  began  to  be  uneasy 
also,  l_)ut  did  not  join  Little  Crow,  and  in  fact  in  a  few 
days  offered  to  fight  the  Sioux,  but  the  authorities  de- 
clined the  proffered  aid. 

While  matters  were  in  this  condition  Governer  Alex- 
ander Ramsey  sent  four  companies  of  the  Sixth  Regi- 
ment of    A^olunteers    from    Fort    Snellino-.     Two    days 


350  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

later  seven  more  companies  were  sent.  Colonel  (later 
General)  H.  A.  Sibley  was  detailed  to  command  the 
forces,  and  mounted  volunteers  were  called  for.  Many 
responded.  It  fortunately  liap})ened  that  the  Third 
Minnesota  Regiment  was  on  parole  at  St.  Louis,  and 
on  September  4th  it  arrived.  On  August  23d  New 
Ulm  Avas  again  attacked,  and  Judge  Flandreau,  whom  I 
liave  before  mentioned,  headed  a  company  of  citizens 
Avho  j-epulsed  the  savages.  On  the  next  day  a  detach- 
ment under  Colonel  Sibley  came  to  their  relief,  and 
raised  the  siege,  and  two  thousand  women  and  children, 
who  had  sought  refuge  in  the  village  were  taken  to  a 
place  of  greater  security.  Colonel  Sibley  then  went  to 
the  relief  of  the  little  garrison  at  Fort  Ridgely,  which 
had  been  resisting  the  siege  nine  days.  The  Indians  then 
proceeded  northward,  burning  and  killing  in  the  scattered 
farms  as  they  went.  There  was  a  massacre  in  Breck- 
enridge,  and  then  a  siege  of  Fort  Abercrombie,  in  Da- 
kota Territor3^ 

On  September  3d  a  force  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
Indians  suddenly  appeared  at  Cedar  City,  in  McLeod 
County.  Tliey  attacked  a  company  of  volunteers  and 
drove  them  to  Hutchinson.  Simultaneously  another 
band  attacked  Forest  City,  but  Avere  repulsed  by  the 
citizens.  The  band  at  Hutchinson  burned  the  house  of 
Dr.  J.  Benjamin  on  Section  18,  four  miles  north  of 
Hutchinson,  first  taking  out  what  they  wanted  1)}''  Avay 
of  bedding  and  clothing,  then  went  over  tlie  hill  to  the 
house  of  W.  W.  Pendergast  and  ti-eated  it  the  same 
way.  Two  or  three  unoccupied  houses  near  by  Avere 
also  burned.  A  fcAV  days  later  the  savages  returned  to 
Hutcliinson,  burned  the  mill  Ave  brothers  had  built  in 
1857,  the  fine  house  of  Mr.  Chesley,  the  school-house, 
and  all  other  buildings  excepting  tAvo  houses  and  also 


IN    THE    GREAT    WEST.  351 

attacked  the  fort.  Happily,  they  were  repulsed,  and  the 
scenes  of  violence  which  had  occurred  elsewhere  did  not 
come  in  Hutchinson.  The  Indians  retired  in  the 
direction  of  the  Iowa  border,  and  Colonel  Flandreau 
was  sent  after  them,  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  men. 
An  extra  session  of  the  legislature  was  called,  and 
Major-Cxeneral  Pope  was  sent  to  take  connnand  in  the 
war.  The  Indians  retreated  before  him,  and  were  en- 
gaged in  a  final  battle,  September  22d,  at  Wood  Lake. 
Little  Crow  escaped  across  the  border  with  his  women, 
but  five  hundred  warriors  were  captured.  They  were 
tried,  and  three  hundred  were  condemned  to  death  by 
hanging.  Only  thirty-eight  were  executed,  however. 
One  of  the  number  was  a  negro  named  Godfrey,  who 
had  shown  more  cruelty  than  any  redskin.  It  was  as- 
certained that  between  one  and  tw^o  thousand  Indians 
were  engaged  in  the  massacres.  The  killed  numbered 
some  five  hundred,  and  from  twenty  to  thirty  thousand 
fled  for  their  lives.  The  property  loss  was  something 
like  three  million  dollars,  and  seven  thousand  homeless 
people  were  dependent  on  charity  for  their  subsistence 
the  following  winter. 

During  the  months  that  followed.  Little  Crow  was 
occasionally  heard  from  in  Canada,  to  which  he  made 
at  least  two  trips,  one  to  get  a  new  reservation  for  his 
people,  the  other  to  purchase  firearms.  Both  requests 
were  refused.  On  July  3,  1863,  a  Mr.  Lamson,  of 
Hutchinson,  was  a  short  distance  from  his  farm  with  his 
son,  hunting  deer.  Mr.  Lamson  was  in  a  thick  growtli 
of  hazel  brush.  His  son  was  a  short  distance  away, 
both  looking  for  deer.  Mr.  Lamson,  while  gazing  a 
little  distance  ahead,  to  a  ridge  of  land  fringed  with 
hazel  brush,  saw  an  Indian  picking  berries.  He  was 
takino'   no    chances,    in   the    excited   condition    of   the 


35,2  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

country  on  the  Indian  question,  and  so  crawled  up  to  a 
small  oak-tree,  took  deliberate  aim,  and  fired.  The 
Indian  was  wounded,  and  Mv.  Lamson  at  once  dropped 
on  his  hands  and  knees  and  fled  back  into  the  bushes, 
and  out  upon  a  ••'  hay  road,"  leading  down  into  a  hay 
meadow.  He  crossed  this  road  into  a  prickly-ash 
thicket,  where  he  remained.  His  son  stayed  in  the 
bushes  on  the  opposite  side.  The  Indian  recovered 
from  the  shock,  and  came  down  the  hay  road  in  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Lamson.  His  son  rose  in  the  brush,  and 
fired,  hitting  the  savage  in  the  breast,  and  killing  him. 
Before  he  died,  the  Indian's  son  came  out  and  talked 
with  him.  As  soon  as  he  was  dead,  he  took  his  father's 
pou}',  rifle  and  ammunition  and  fled  toward  tlie  north. 
Lamson  and  his  son,  as  soon  as  the  darkness  came  on, 
returned  to  Hutchinson  greatly  frightened,  and  told 
their  story.  The  next  day  a  party  went  out,  secured 
the  Indian's  body,  which  was  soon  identified  by  General 
Sibley  as  Little  Crow,  by  his  double  wrists.  The  son, 
who  succeeded  to  his  father's  dignity,  was  soon  taken 
by  the  soldiers  in  a  starving  condition  near  Eagle 
Lake.  Little  Crow's  scalp  now  hangs  in  the  rooms  of 
the  State  Historical  Society  at  St.  Paul. 

On  leaving  Hutchinson,  in  1862,  I  went  down  to 
Owatonna,  south  of  St.  Paul,  some  seventy-five  miles. 
As  we  were  entering  the  town  we  heard  of  the  trouble 
at  New  Ulm.  In  the  next  town  as  our  stage  passed  the 
hotel,  we  saw  two  teams  loaded  with  volunteers  going 
to  the  defence  of  the  threatened  town,  bearing  firearms 
and  flags.  It  was  a  tearful  scene  as  the  women  gathered 
around  their  husbands  and  lovers,  bidding  tliem  farewell. 
One  mean  fellow  on  the  coach  was  unkind  enough  to 
harrow  up  the  feelings  of  the  anxious  listeners  by  alleg- 
ing that  the  Indians  liad  attacked  St.  Paul,  and  made 


IN   THE   GREAT   WEST.  353 

Governor  Ramsey  a  prisoner.  The  attack  upon  Hutch- 
inson seriously  retarded  the  growth  of  the  town.  ]Many 
went  away,  and  wlien  I  chanced  into  the  place  some 
months  later  it  seemed  to  me  the  property  was  practically 
worthless.  Soon  a  word  came  that  a  quarter-section  of 
it  was  to  be  jumped,  it  having  been  ascertained  that 
Chambers,  who  pre-empted  the  town  site,  was  not 
naturalized.  Wm.  E.  Harrington,  therefore,  pre-empted 
the  quarter-section  again,  and  my  son  Henry  furnished 
the  land  warrant,  receiving  as  compensation  twent^'-five 
acres  which  are  now  in  the  centre  of  the  town. 


354  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE   SWARMING. 

"  What  need  of  all  this  fuss  and  strife, 

Each  warring  with  his  brother  ; 
Wliy  need  we,  in  the  crowd  of  life, 

Keep  trampling  down  each  other? 
Is  there  no  goal  that  can  be  won 

Without  a  squeeze  to  gain  it ; 
No  other  way  of  getting  on 

But  scrambling  to  obtain  it? 

"  Oh,  fellow  men  !  remember  then, 
Whatever  chance  befall, 
The  world  is  wide  in  lands  beside, 
There's  room  enough  for  all." 

The  year  1858  marked  a  period  of  nearly  two  decades 
since  the  Hutcliinsons,  spurred  on  by  the  restless  ambi- 
tion and  musical  enthusiasm  of  the  younger  members  of 
the  family,  and  captained  by  Brother  Joshua,  gave  their 
opening  concert  in  the  ]\lilford  church.  The  condition 
in  life  of  each  had  greatly  changed  in  that  time.  Father 
and  four  brothers  had  passed  into  the  great  Beyond ; 
every  one  of  the  original  quartet  Avas  married,  and 
the  marriage  of  Abby  had  resulted  in  her  practical  re- 
tirement from  the  concert  platform,  though  her  love  of 
music  and  progress,  as  well  as  her  affection  for  her 
brothers,  led  to  occasional  tours  with  them  of  short 
duration.  Meanwhile,  families  Avere  growing  up  about 
us.  Our  wives  were  musical.  Jerusha,  Judson's  wife, 
had  no  ambition  to  appear  in  concert;  but  Lizzie,  Asa's 
wife,  and  my  wife,  Fanny,  were  both  singers  of  experi- 
ence, and  pleasing  to  the  public.     Judson  had  a  daugh- 


THE   SWARMING.  oO£) 

ter,  Kate,  who  was  gifted  with  a  remarkably  musical 
voice,  and  without  exception  the  children  of  Asa  and 
John  were  singers  of  liigh  promise.  Each  brother  saw  in 
his  little  family  the  germ  of  a  successful  concert  troupe. 

I  have  before  referred  to  the  strongf  resfard  for  the 
family  institution  and  love  of  doinesticity  that  charac- 
terized us.  It  was  this  that  made  a  loadstone  of  home, 
and  however  attractive  the  successes  of  the  concert  plat- 
form, drew  us  thousands  of  miles  back  again,  wherever 
we  wandered.  I  had  \on<r  before  become  as  attached  to 
High  Rock  as  ever  Jesse  was,  and  the  farther  I  got 
from  it,  the  stronger  seemed  the  influence  that  drew  me 
back  to  it.  Asa  in  time  made  a  permanent  home  in 
Hutchinson,  and  lies  buried  on  the  banks  of  the  Hassan, 
the  river  he  loved,  but  though  I  at  one  time  lived  in 
Hutchinson  long  enough  to  gain  a  voting  residence,  my 
heart  was  in  Lynn,  and  soon  I  was  again  permanently 
located  on  the  beautiful  highlands  I  so  dearly  loved. 
In  this  year,  1858,  I  began  the  erection  of  Daisy  cottage, 
on  High  Rock,  the  house  in  which  I  lived  until  the 
building  of  Tower  cottage,  my  present  home,  on  the 
same  property.  At  this  time,  and  for  many  years  after, 
Asa  lived  in  the  Bird's  Nest  cottage,  built  by  Jesse  some 
time  previous  to  his  death,  just  east  of  the  Stone  cottage. 
Daisy  cottage  is  west  of  the  original  stone  house. 
Judson  never  removed  from  Milford.  At  this  time  he 
had  built  a  sightly  house  in  that  town. 

It  was  natural  that  each  of  the  brothers  should  enjoy 
having  their  families  with  them,  in  their  concert  tri- 
umphs. It  is  also  self-evident  that  such  a  plan  would 
be  cumbersome  and  rather  expensive.  It  was  agreeable 
to  all  concerned  that  the  wives  should  travel  with  the 
part}^  but  the  children  were  rather  out  of  the  question. 
And  then  another  difficulty  arose.     Abby  had  demon- 


356  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

stratecl  the  feasibility  of  uniting  one  female  voice  with 
ours  successfully.  For  a  long  time  Lizzie  had  been 
taking  vocal  lessons,  and  was  clearly  a  candidate  for 
Abby's  place.  My  wife,  however,  was  a  good  alto 
singer,  had  often  sung  with  us,  and  it  became  evident 
to  Asa's  mind  that  so  long  as  he  cherished  objections  to 
Fanny's  singing  in  the  quartet  it  was  hardly  wise  for 
him  to  propose  that  Lizzie  should  do  so.  So  he  began 
to  cogitate  the  subject  of  concerts  by  the  ''  Tribe  of 
Asa,"  his  children  Abby  and  Fred  joining  their  father 
and  mother  in  song.  Judson  had  no  desire  to  sing 
apart  from  us.  His  was  an  affectionate,  clinging  nature, 
and  he  could  hardly  bear  the  thought  of  leaving  the 
brothers  he  depended  upon  so  much.  As  for  myself,  I 
firmly  believed  the  correct  policy  of  the  brothers  would 
be  to  stick  together.  The  conditions  were  more  potent 
than  my  theories,  however,  and  though  I  fought  against 
them,  the  final  result  of  the  changes  so  soon  to  come  to 
us  was  to  give  the  country  several  bands,  simultaneously 
singing  in  various  localities.  Of  course  these  great 
changes  were  not  brought  about  without  some  friction, 
but  that  is  in  tlie  past,  and  only  needs  the  merest  men- 
tion in  this  record. 

Towards  the  close  of  1857  Judson  and  I  started 
from  Hutcliinson  Avith  the  intention  of  singing  our 
way  East.  Asa  was  not  through  fixing  up  his  farm, 
and  so  stayed  behind,  later  coming  on  with  his  team  to 
Cliicago,  where  we  had  our  pictures  taken  in  a  group. 
Asa  was  expecting  his  wife,  and  as  soon  as  she  came, 
instead  of  joining  us  as  we  had  hoped,  he  started  off 
on  a  concerting  tour  with  her,  giving  most  of  liis  enter- 
tainments in  Maine.  Judson  and  I  went  to  St.  Paul, 
and  from  tliere  I  went  to  Stillwater,  to  give  a  concert 
and    enter   our   claim    for   that  ])ortion  of  Plutchinson 


THE   SWARMING.  357 

called  in  those  days  "  Harmony,"  while  Judson  went 
down  the  river.  It  was  getting  late  in  the  season,  and 
I  fonnd  I  mnst  go  on  or  be  frozen  in.  Taking  the  ])oat, 
I  met  a  friend  named  Martha  Loomis.  She  was  a  seer. 
She  told  me  Judson  was  wailing  to  see  me  in  Madison. 
He  was  in  distress,  she  said,  and  desired  to  see  me  very 
much.  As  we  approached  Prairie  du  Chien  the  water 
was  freezing  so  fast  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  the 
boat  Avas  brought  to  the  wharf.  Here  she  stuck  fast 
and  remained.  However,  we  were  able  to  land  and 
took  the  cars  at  night  for  Madison.  Here  I  found  Jud- 
son and  his  wife.  He  was  very  glad  to  see  me,  and  we 
at  once  made  arrangements  to  sing  a  while  together. 
The  following  day  was  Sunday.  My  diary  simply  savs 
we  spent  the  day  singing  together,  and  writing  letters 
to  family  and  friends,  the  weather  being  very  cold. 
(The  next  day  it  Avas  ten  degrees  below  zero.)  The 
"  singing "  referred  to  was  the  composition  of  the  fa- 
mous song  "  Mrs.  Lofty  and  I,"  which  was  soon  after 
brought  out  by  Sister  Abl)y,  and  for  many  years  —  in 
fact,  has  always  —  remained  popular.  Judson  com- 
posed the  melody.  The  words  were  placed  on  my 
melodeon,  and  while  he  stood  at  my  side  with  liis 
violin  and  made  the  tune,  I  accompanied  him.  The 
words  of  the  song  were  written  by  Mrs.  Gildersleeve 
Longstreet,  of  Buffalo : 

"  Mrs.  Lofty  keeps  a  carriage, 

So  do  I ; 
She  has  dapple  grays  to  draw  it, 

None  have  I ; 
She's  no  prouder  with  lier  coachman 

Tlian  am  I, 
"With  mj^  blue-eyed,  laughing  baby. 

Trundling  by. 
I  hide  his  face,  lest  she  should  see 
The  cherub  boy,  and  envy  me. 


358  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

"  Mrs.  Lofty  has  her  jewels, 

So  liave  I ; 
Her's  slie  wears  upon  her  bosom, 

Inside,  I ; 
She  will  leave  hers  at  death's  portals 

By  and  by ; 
I  shall  bear  the  treasure  witli  me, 

When  I  die  ; 
For  I  have  love,  and  she  has  gold  ; 
She  counts  her  wealth,  mine  can't  be  told. 

"  She  has  those  that  love  her  station, 

None  have  I ; 
But  I've  one  true  iieart  beside  me. 

Glad  am  I ; 
I'd  not  cliange  it  for  a  kingdom, 

No,  not  I ; 
God  will  weigh  it  in  his  balance. 

By  and  by  ; 
And  then  the  difference  'twill  define, 
'Twixt  Mrs.  Lofty's  wealth  and  mine."  ■ 

From  Madison  we  went  on  giving  concerts.  We 
made  a  proposition  to  Sister  AbLy  after  a  while,  to  get 
Asa  back  and  liave  her  join  ns  in  a  series  of  concerts  by 
the  original  and  ever-popular  quartet.  She  consented, 
and  Asa  wrote  us  he  would  come.  Abby  joined  us  in 
Buffalo,  but  Asa  changed  his  mind,  and  didn't  appear. 
So  we  gave  trio  concerts  in  New  York  State  and  Ver- 
mont for  a  number  of  Aveeks.  Mr.  William  V.  Wallace 
attended  to  our  business.  Meanwhile  Judson  was  ex- 
ceedingly anxious  and  woj-ried  al)out  Asa.  Abby  left 
us ;  and  Judson,  still  excited  and  worried  about  Asa, 
conceived  several  impracticable  schemes  to  till  our 
company.  One  was  to  hire  a  celebrated  German  j)ian- 
ist  of  Milwaukee,  to  tour  with  us,  and  another  was  to 
add  an  entire  colored  minstrel  troupe  to  our  combina- 
tion. I  told  him  we'd  better  not  hire  anybody.  Finally 
he  grew  tired  of  waiting,  and  left  me.     Just  after  he 


THE    SWAKMING.  359 

had  gone,  Asa  and  his  wife  came.  Meanwhile  my 
family  had  come  on  from  Lynn,  and  Asa  taking  his 
wife  and  I  my  children,  we  went  to  Philadelpliia  and 
gave  some  concerts.  Then  we  separated  and  with  my 
wife,  Henry  and  Viola,  I  gave  quite  a  series  of  concerts 
through  New  Jersey  and  PeniLsylvania.  It  was  a  ter- 
ribly broken  year,  as  I  rememl)er  it.  The  conditions 
that  culminated  in  the  John  Brown  raid  at  Harjjer's 
Ferry  and  his  subsequent  execution,  were  staring  us  in 
the  face,  and  the  long-expected  war  was  imminent. 

Judson,  meanwhile,  tried  his  hand  at  concerts.  With 
his  daughter  Kate,  and  William  Vincent  Wallace,  he 
started  out.  His  announcement  was  a  curious  literary 
effort,  but  it  brought  him  lots  of  business.  I  have  be- 
fore me  as  I  write  a  hand-bill  reading^  as  follows  : 

CONCERT. 


"  Music  hath  charms  to  soothe  tlie  savage  breast, 
liend  a  rock,  or  calm  a  hornet's  nest." 

The  original 
JUDSON  J.   HUTCHINSON  and   KATE   L.   HUTCHINSON, 

of  the  Hiiteliin.son  raniily, 
witli  the  acconiplisliL'd  Pianist  and  Tuner, 

WILLIAM  V.   WALLACE, 

Would  most  respectfully  say,  that  they  are  coming  this  wa^', 

and  on  a  certain  day,  or  evening,  intend  to 

sing  and  i^hiy 

At Hall,  to  rich  and  poor  and  all,  who  listen  to  this  call. 

The  time  to  commence  is  eigiit  o'clock. 

Before  that  time  the  people  can  talk;  and  those  who  come 

must  be  in  at  eight — it  is  apt  to  disturl)  if 

you  come  in  late. 

The  price  of  a  ticket  is  fifteen  cents,  and  none  wlio  listen  will 

grudge  the  expense.     The  programme  contains  tlie 

very  best  songs  ;  each  one  introduced  just 

wliere  it  belonus  : 


36U  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

"  The  Good  Time  Coming ;  "   "  Tlie  Good  Time  Come ; " 

When  men  will  drink  water  and  eease  drinking  rmn  ; 

"  Zekle  and  Huldy  "  and  "  Old  Unele  Ned  ;  " 

The  song  of  the  outcast  in  the  street  found  dead; 

"  'Tis  sweet  to  be  remembered  where'er  we  may  be ; " 

"  I  live  for  those  friends  who  live  to  love  me;  " 

"The  Shells  of  the  (V'ean,"  and  "My  Mary  Ann;" 

"The  Little  Maid"  and  the  "Humbugged  Man;" 

"Millions  Lie  Bleeding;"   "The  Italian  Song;" 

"  We  All  Wear  Cloaks  ;  "    "  Kight  over  Wrong ; " 

"  Hard  Case  of  the  Lone  One ;  "   "  Mrs.  Lofty  and  I ;  " 

"  Forty  Years  Ago  ; "  "  Carry  Me  Back  to  Die ; " 

"  Come  This  Way,  Father ;  "   "  Sword  of  Bunker  Hill ; " 

And  quite  enough  more  three  half-hours  to  fill. 

Tickets  obtained  where  "they're  left  to  be  sold !    And  those  who've 
no  i^aper,  or  silver,  or  gold,  can  leave  with  the 
door-keeper  as  they  pass  in,  the  amount 
in    jewelry,    jews-hari)s  or  qin- 
ger;  children's  shoes,  jack- 
knives,  dry-goods  or 
honey,  or  any- 
thing else, 

EXCEPT    BOGUS    MONEY  ! 

Children  who  are  pledged  not  to  cry  or  to  laugh,  can  come  in  with 

their  ])arents  for  seven  cents  and  a  half.     The  blind  and 

cripples  pass  free  at  the  door;  and  the  rich  must 

buy  tickets  and  give  to  the  poor. 

The  Melodeon  is  splendid,  and  as  will  be  seen. 

Comes  from  the  liead  of  firms,  Fstey  dt  Greene; 

The  prices  are  easy,  and  all  those  in  want. 

Can  have  them  supplied,  at  Brattleboro,  ^^ermont. 

We  can  tune  your  pianos,  and  all  early  callers, 

Can  have  them  tuned  good  for  from  one  to  three  dollars. 

All  lovers  of  music  take  your  families  hither, 

NO    POSTPONEMENT    ON    ACCOUNT    OF    BAD    WEATHER. 

But  notwithstanding  the  hilarity  of  the  announce- 
ment, Judson  couldn't  stand  being  alone.  He  longed 
to  be  with  his  brothers.  I  had  been  singing  with  my 
folks  in  Maine,  and  they  wanted  me  to  go  on,  when  a 
despatch  came  from  Hutchinson  for  me  to  go  West  to 
divide  the  town.  Leaving  my  family  I  went,  and 
stayed  five  or  six  weeks.  All  the  shareholders  in  the 
town  received  their  lots.  Judson  was  worried  about 
our  affairs ;  and  with  his  Avife,  and  Asa  and  wife,  we 
held  a  meeting.     Asa  wouldn't  consent  to  go  concert- 


THE    SWARMING.  361 

ing  unless  his  wife  could  sing  too.  Jeruslia,  Judson's 
wife,  was  opposed  to  Asa's  wife  and  wouldn't  allow 
him  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  scheme.  Judson 
was  exceedingly  excited  about  the  matter.  Meanwhile, 
I  wanted  to  go  on.  Judson  took  Andrew  Hutchinson, 
his  wife's  brother,  and  Jerusha,  and  went  off  singing. 
Asa  had  a  team,  and  for  a  while  I  sang  with  him  and 
his  wife.  I  had  to  leave  them  at  Rochester,  JMinn., 
and  then  went  to  meet  Judson.  Found  him  at  Janes- 
^'ille,  Wis.  It  was  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  I 
arrived.  About  this  time  I  received  word  to  come 
home.  I  was  building  Daisy  Cottage,  as  I  have  said, 
and  was  needed.  I  left  Judson  with  the  hope  I  would 
return.  He  Avas  waiting,  hoping  Asa  would  come  and 
meet  him.  Jerusha  was  still  opposed  to  his  singing 
with  Asa,  and  so  he  told  me  to  bring  Kate.  I  told  him 
to  keep  on  with  his  single  concerts  until  our  return. 
When  I  reached  Lynn  I  found  a  good  deal  to  engage 
my  attention  in  regard  to  my  house.  Fanny  wanted 
me  to  sing  for  the  benefit  of  the  Free  Church,  and  I 
agreed  to  give  a  concert  there.  I  was  nearly  ready  to 
start  West  again,  wlien  to  my  surprise,  Judson  came  to 
me.  We  gave  the  concert  at  the  Free  Church  together. 
Judson  was  thoroughly  discouraged.  He  had  brought 
home  some  songs,  one  of  which  was 

"  Hark,  I  hear  an  angel  sing, 
Angels  now  are  on  the  wing." 

Though  my  family  were  anxious  to  go  to  singing 
with  me  again,  I  decided  to  start  out  Avith  Judson. 
Times  were  bad,  and  expenses  going  on,  and  I  did  not 
see  any  other  way  to  do.  I  noticed  in  Judson  a  deep 
settled  melancholy.  Tlie  disappointments  of  the  world 
had  preyed  upon  liis  mind  so  tliat  it  was  impossible  to 


obZ  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

know  what  to  do  for  him.  Our  concert  for  the  church 
was  given  in  Sagamore  Hall,  by  the  two  brothers  with 
the  assistance  of  Kate  and  my  children,  on  January 
8,  1859.  It  was  on  Saturday.  On  Monda}^  I  observed 
Judson  standing  motionless  in  a  moody  state.  I  en- 
deavored to  wake  him  up,  rubbed  him,  and  did  all  pos- 
sible to  cheer  him.  The  next  day,  Tuesday,  I  went 
over  to  Daisy  Cottage  with  him.  The  masons  had 
plastered  it,  and  as  tlie  furnace  had  been  put  in,  I  tried 
to  keep  his  mind  employed  by  having  him  prepare  the 
wood  for  a  fire  to  dry  the  walls.  There  was  a  cold  east 
wind,  and  the  mercury  was  below  zero.  At  dinner 
Judson  ate  heartily.  I  had  a  severe  headache,  and 
stayed  in  my  home  in  tlie  Stone  Cottage  all  that  after- 
noon. My  reflections  were  not  pleasant,  for  I  was  wor- 
lied  about  my  brother.  He  had  become  so  despondent 
that  he  had  distinctly  said  he  would  never  go  to  Mil- 
ford  again.  What  to  do  I  did  not  know.  Tea-time 
came.  Meanwhile,  my  iieadache  had  grown  worse,  and 
I  was  in  a  profound  perspiration.  Fanny  called  me 
to  tea.  I  roused  myself  up,  and  seated  myself  at  the 
table.  "  Has  any  one  called  Judson  ?  "  I  inquired.  He 
had  not  been  seen  for  some  time.  I  told  Henry  to  go 
over  to  Daisy  Cottage  and  try  to  find  him.  The 
thought  came  to  me  like  a  flash  that  he  had  made  way 
with  himself.  Henry  came  back.  He  had  not  found 
him.  "  Did  you  go  down  in  the  basement?"  Tasked, 
for  I  remembered  that  Judson  had  been  at  work  there. 
I  hurried  over  to  the  house,  and  descended  the  ladder 
into  the  basement,  for  the  stairs  had  not  been  built,  and 
looking  toward  the  furnace  in  the  dusk,  I  could  see  his 
form,  apparently  standing  as  though  he  was  in  one  of 
his  moody  fits  of  abstraction.  As  I  got  within  a  few 
feet  of  him  I  saw  a  line  about  his  neck,  and  knew  that 


THE    SWARMING.  363 

my  fears  were  realized.  I  grasped  him  and  took  him 
down.  Spoke  to  him,  but  ahxs  I  there  was  no  re- 
sponse. Just  then  somebody  came  in  above.  It  was 
my  hired  man,  there  to  watch  the  fires.  I  called  liim, 
and  continued  to  i"ub  Judson,  hoping  to  bring  back  the 
life  that  had  fled.  With  grief  and  agony  of  soul  I 
assisted  in  carrying  the  body  up  the  ladder  and  home. 
The  funeral  was  held  at  Milford  on  the  following  Sat- 
urday. I  sang  Judson's  new  song,  "Hark,  I  hear  an 
ano-el  sincr." 

Those  were  dark  days,  and  I  hasten  to  change  the 
subject.  My  mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  and  my  im- 
mediate family  never  seemed  more  dear  than  then. 
Judson,  my  dear  Judson,  had  gone  home.  To  my 
mind  a  star  of  brightest  magnitude  had  been  added 
to  the  immortal  constellation.  The  shadow  that  had 
been  over  him  ever  since  the  days  when  his  mind 
first  became  clouded,  nearly  a  decade  before,  I  be- 
lieved was  removed,  and  that  noble  soul,  that  had  in 
it  so  much  that  could  help  and  uplift  humanity,  was 
released  from  a  bondage  that  had  so  hindered  its  fullest 
development.  It  is  idle  to  discuss  further  the  causes  of 
our  sorrow.  Had  reason  been  enthroned,  mv  brother 
would  have  been  the  last  man  to  hurry  his  own  exit 
from  a  world  where,  however  great  might  have  been 
his  own  private  trials,  he  was  an  instrument  for  bright- 
ening and  blessing  so  many  other  hearts. 

Not  long  after  this  I  made  an  arrangement  with 
Brother  Joshua  to  do  some  singing  with  me.  With 
my  children,  we  gave  our  first  concert  in  Ipswich,  fol- 
loAving  with  others  in  Maiden,  Charlestown,  Beverly, 
Danvers,  Essex,  Cambridgeport,  Abington,  Pl3miouth, 
East  Abington,  North  Abington  (where  we  met  INIrs. 
Mary  Wales,  the  lady  the  brothers  had  unsuccessfully 


364  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

tried  to  have  join  with  them  in  Abby's  place,  at  Ober- 
lin,  a  few  years  previously.  We  stopped  with  her  over 
a  Sunday),  Hanover,  and  so  on  through  man}^  southern 
Massachusetts  towns,  and  thence  into  Connecticut. 
We  spent  a  little  while  in  June  at  New  York  and 
Orange,  N.  J.,  visiting  Sister  Abby  and  mother,  who 
spent  a  long  time  with  her  daughter  at  this  period. 

The  summer  was  spent  at  High  Rock,  making  im- 
provements. Asa  came  on  from  the  West,  and  for  a 
while  I  had  a  visit  from  Abb}'.  In  September,  with 
my  Avife  and  children  I  started  concerting  again,  first 
visiting  southern  New  Hampshire  and  then  central 
and  western  Massachusetts.  This  series  of  concerts 
consumed  the  rest  of  that  year.  Meanwhile,  the 
slavery  agitation  was  slowly  but  surely  reaching  a 
crisis.  On  the  night  of  October  IGth  John  Brown, 
with  eighteen  companions,  seized  the  United  States 
armory  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  a  day  later  it  was  re- 
taken by  Colonel  Robert  E.  Lee  and  a  company  of 
marines  sent  from  Washington.  When  captured,  Cap- 
tain Bjown's  band  had  been  reduced  to  six,  and  he  was 
wounded  and  apparently  dying.  The  honest  old  man, 
lying  on  his  pallet,  made  no  attempt  to  conceal  his  de- 
sio-n,  a  wholesale  liberation  of  slaves.  In  December  of 
the  previous  year  he  had  made  a  raid  from  Kansas  into 
Missouri  and  carried  off  eleven  slaves,  conducting 
them  to  Canada.  During  the  civil  war  in  Kansas,  he 
had  been  an  active  participant,  defending  Ossawatomie 
from  the  Missouri  invaders.  Two  of  his  sons  were 
among  the  killed  when  Harper's  Ferry  was  retaken. 
Brown  was  tried  for  treason  and  murder.  He  showed 
his  earnest,  upright  spirit  in  his  remarks  at  the  trial, 
where  he  denied  any  purpose  to  promote  insurrection 
among  the  slaves,  but  did  not  hesitate  to  say  that  he 


THE    SWARMING.  365 

had  hoped  to  free  them.  He  was  convicted,  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  executed  December  2d,  at  C'liarleston. 
The  day  was  solemnly  observed  throughout  the  coun- 
try by  the  friends  of  freedom,  meetings  being  held, 
bells  tolled,  and  other  evidences  of  grief  for  the  brave 
martyr  for  fi'eedom  being  shown. 

On  the  niglit  before  the  execution,  we  were  singincf 
in  Barre,  Mass.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  conservatism 
in  the  town.  Before  closing  the  entertainment,  I  men- 
tioned that  the  fatal  deed  would  take  place  on  the 
morrow.  The  concert  was  given  in  the  town  hall,  and  I 
invited  the  people  to  gather  at  the  steps  of  that  ediiice 
in  convention  at  the  liour  when  the  execution  would 
presumably  occur.  At  the  a[)pointed  time  the  audience 
assembled.  We  sang  an  ap[)ropriate  song  or  two.  We 
Avere  fortunate  enough  to  liave  Avitli  us  a  young  man, 
John  G.  Crawford,  whose  native  toAvn  was  Lancaster, 
N.  H.,  who  had  been  in  Kansas  with  John  Brown,  and 
who  knew  liim  well.  He  made  some  very  appropriate 
remarks.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century  since  he  has  oc- 
casionally turned  up  in  towns  where  I  have  given  con- 
certs and  told  the  story  of  this  Bari-e  meeting  to  the 
audiences.  The  meeting  closed  at  about  half-past  ten. 
The  execution  Avas  to  take  place  between  certain  hours. 
Finding  it  would  be  impossible  to  obtain  the  keys  of 
any  of  the  conservative  churches,  I  had  arranged  witli 
some  eight  likel}'  boys,  of  whom  my  son  Henry  A\as  one, 
to  see  to  it  that  every  church  bell  was  rung  at  a  speci- 
fied hour.  They  went  off  in  couples,  and  every  one 
managed  to  get  access  to  a  bell-rope.  As  the  gathering 
dispersed  the  bells  tolled  mournfully  for  about  live 
minutes.  The  boys  found  their  Avay  from  the  churches 
as  they  had  entered,  and  none  Avere  molested.  The  raid 
and  execution  of  John  BroAvn  caused  a  variety  of  emo- 


366  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

tions.  Garrison  and  the  peace  Abolitionists,  did  not 
countenance  the  act,  but  approved  the  motive  which 
prompted  it.  Many  of  the  more  militant  Free-Soilers, 
like  Colonel  Higginson  and  others  who  were  in  the 
plot,  gloried  in  it,  though  deploring  its  fatal  conse- 
quences. The  leaders  of  the  new  Republican  party, 
notably  Henry  Wilson,  felt  that  it  was  a  set-back  for 
the  cause  they  advocated.  Some  time  after  I  recall 
meeting  Wilson  at  Litchfield,  Conn.  We  talked  the 
situation  over,  and  he  expressed  the  opinion  that  John 
Brown  had  done  great  injur}^  to  the  cause  by  his  unwise 
action.  I  differed  with  him.  It  seemed  to  me,  that 
however  imprudent  the  act,  it  had  been  the  prelude  to 
a  great  work,  soon  to  be  accomplished.  John  Brown  was 
in  the  skirmish  line  of  the  forces  of  freedom,  that  grand 
army  of  the  republic  that  was  linally  to  secure  emanci- 
pation. I  was  well  acquainted  with  Wilson.  A  year 
previous  his  friends  had  come  to  our  hotel  in  Boston 
to  ask  us  to  go  to  the  State-house  and  sing.  The  con- 
test that  culminated  in  his  election  as  United  States 
senator  was  on,  find  they  evidently  expected  us  to  sing 
some  abolition  songs  to  cheer  and  unite  the  voters. 
We  went  up  and  sang  "  Where  shall  the  Soul  find 
Rest."     • 

It  was  April,  1860,  before  we  again  saw  Lynn,  the 
intervening  time  being  occupied  with  concerts  in  Con- 
necticut and  western  Massacluisetts.  After  a  stop  at 
home  of  a  day  or  two  only,  we  left  for  New  York,  and 
travelled  through  the  northern  part  of  that  State  for 
many  weeks.  Then  we  went  into  New  Jersey,  and 
after  sinCTinsr  a  while  there,  returned  to  New  York, 
where  we  stayed  until  October.  A  hurried  trip  to  Lynn 
and  Milford  and  Ave  were  again  in  harness,  singing  with 
Sister  Abby  in   New  York  State  once  more — singing 


THE    SWARMING.  oGT 

for  freedom,  and  urging  lovers  of  freedom  to  unite  in 
the  election  of  Lincoln,  whom  avo  believed  Avould  eman- 
cipate the  slaves,  as  he  did. 

Meanwhile,  Asa  had  commenced  in  the  West  a  career 
with  his  tribe.  For  many  years  he  sang  with  Lizzie, 
his  daughter  Abby,  his  son  Fred,  and  later,  Dennett. 
Alas !  the  latter  is  now  the  only  one  left  of  the  "  Tribe 
of  Asa,"  but  only  a  day  or  two  before  writing  this  I  re- 
ceived word  that  he  had  put  his  own  Hutchinson  Family 
into  the  field  for  concerts,  under  the  name  of  the 
"  Hutcliinson  Family  Young  Folks."  So  the  name  and 
the  fame  of  the  Tribe  of  Jesse  will  he,  I  trust,  perpetu- 
ated through  him. 

The  remainder  of  this  history  will  largely  deal  with 
the  experiences  of  the  Tribe  of  John,  because  the  mate- 
rials are  at  hand,  and  I  am  more  familiar  with  the  details, 
but  it  will  be  seen  from  time  to  time  that  the  various 
tribes  united  for  a  while,  though  never  permanently. 
Joshua,  with  Kate,  Judson's  daughter,  and  Walter 
Kittredge,  spent  many  seasons  in  concerts  in  northern 
New  England.  At  one  time  he  was  concerting  there, 
the  Tribe  of  John  was  in  central  and  western,  and  the 
Tribe  of  Asa  in  southern  Massachusetts.  It  also  some- 
times happened  that  Asa  would  give  concerts  in  the 
West,  and  that  I  would  strike  into  the  same  circuit  the 
following  season.  As  time  went  on,  however,  we 
manasred  to  avoid  coming  into  collision. 

Perhaps  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  for  me  to  give  at 
this  point  one  or  two  quotations  from  tlie  newspa[)ers 
printed  at  the  time  of  our  starting  out  in  tribes  of  our 
own,  to  indicate  how  we  were  received  : 

A  correspondent  of  a  New  England  journal  Avrote : 

"Long  years  have  passed  since  I  heard  tlicm'  (tlie  brothers  and 
Abby),  sing  together  tlieir  brave  songs  of  liuman  freedom,  of  temper- 


368  THE    HUTCHINSOX    FAMILY. 

ance  advocacy  and  universal  brotherhood,  and  I  had  for  many  years 
lost  siglit  of  the  matchless  "  elder  brother  "  wlio  was  the  guide  and 
counsellor  of  the  rest.  Judge  then  of  my  surprise,  when  traversing  tlie 
streets  of  your  quiet  village,  I  was  attracted  by  a  placard,  announcing 
that  the  '  Hutchinsons '  with  John  at  tlieir  head,  would  give  a  concert 
at  Phoenix  Hall  on  Wednesday  evening.  He  had,  at  last,  '  turned  up.' 
Tlie  hand  of  the  man  whose  heart  throbbed  so  much  in  sympathy  with 
my  own,  would  again  meet  mine  in  friendship's  grasji  —  liis  voice 
again  awaken  memories  '  of  the  old  time  entombed.'  I  lost  no  time  in 
calling  on  him  at  his  hotel,  and  found  him  as  hearty,  genial,  and  whole- 
souled  as  ever,  with  a  '  family  '  of  his  own,  to  do  the  singing  a  la  Hutch- 
inson. I  need  not  say  I  attended  the  concert  —  money  would  not  have 
hired  me  to  stay  away  —  and  I  hope  I  am  not  supposed  to  be  able  to 
transmit  to  paper  all  the  pleasure  I  felt  in  listening  to  tlieir  harmoni- 
ous vocalization.  I  really  could  not  do  justice  to  the  subject.  The 
'  brothers  and  sister '  it  seemed  to  me,  never  in  their  jjalmiest  d.iys,  ex- 
celled these  'parents  and  children.'  The  father's  voice  has  grown  rich 
and  mellow  with  time,  while  his  love  of  fun,  and  his  ability  to  'raise 
it,'  lias  in  nowise  decreased.  The  children  are  chips  of  the  old  block» 
cliock  full  of  music,  and  never  so  happy  as  when  enjoying  it  out,  for  the 
edification  of  those  who  have  the  taste  to  appreciate  it." 

The  Boston  Journal  said : 

"  The  Hutchinsoxs.  —  A  new  feature  was  introduced  in  the  concert  of 
this  well-known  family  (or  rather  that  portion  of  them  still  left  in  New 
England)  at  the  Mercantile  Hall,  last  night,  by  the  performance  of  two 
young  members  of  the  '  family  '  from  a  later  generation  ;  children,  we 
believe,  of  John  Hutchinson,  the  funny  man,  and  chips  of  the  old 
block  ;  imperturbable  and  easy  while  singing  the  most  laughable  comic 
songs  any  one  could  wish.  They  are  pretty,  keen-eyed  youths,  possess- 
ing voices  rarely  attained,  and  evincing  great  discipline  in  the  cultiva- 
tion." 

A  Connecticut  paper  said  : 

"The  sweet  voices  of  John  and  his  children,  Henry  and  Viola,  not 
omitting  the  alto  of  Mrs.  H.,  seemed  to  carry  us  back  in  remembrance 
to  the  days  when  the  old  family — three  brothers  and  Abby,  too  — 
made  light  so  many  sad  hearts  with  tlieir  songs.  We  have  always 
thought  the  Hutchinsons  of  the  days  gone  by  were  superior  to  any 
other  band  of  singers.  When  we  say,  then,  that  the  present  troupe 
possess  almost  the  same  wonderful  harmony  and  blending  of  voice, 
with  full  as  much  originality  of  style,  we  need  not  further  express  our 
admiration  for  their   singing.     They  do   not  need   the   praise  —  they 


THE   SWARMING.  369 


would  certainly  scorn  the  tlattery  of  any  critics.     Their  music  speaks 
for  itself." 

Another  paper  said : 

"  The  memory  of  the  sweet  and  pathetic  tones,  together  with  the  noble 
and  benignant  countenance  of  the  senior,  John  Hutchinson,  will  never  be 
effaced  from  the  mind  of  any  person  present.  His  countenance  in  sing- 
ing is  love  and  benignity  itself,  and  his  voice  sweetness  and  majesty. 
At  times  the  tones  are  charming  beyond  description.  The  son  and 
daughter  are  superb  singers,  and  their  manner  exceedingly  pleasing." 


370  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 


CHAPTER   X. 


IN    AVAll    TIME. 

"  We  wait  beneath  the  furnace-blast 
The  pangs  of  liansfonnation  : 
Not  painlessly  doth  God  recast 
And  mould  anew  the  nation. 
Hot  burns  the  fire 
Wliere  wrongs  expire ; 
Nor  spares  tlie  hand 
Tliat  from  the  land 
Uproots  the  ancient  evil. 

"  Then  let  the  selfish  lip  be  dumb, 

And  hushed  the  breath  of  sighing; 
Before  the  joy  of  peace,  must  come 
The  pains  of  purifying. 
God  give  us  grace 
Each  in  his  place 
To  bear  liis  lot, 
And,  murmuring  not, 
Endure  and  wait  and  labor  !  " 


The  election  of  Lincoln,  and  the  strong  sentiment 
for  freedom  and  union  tliat  made  it  possible,  were  fire- 
brands to  the  spirit  of  secession  that  had  been  so  long 
smouldering  in  the  South.  For  many  months  the  dis- 
loyal cabinet  of  Buchanan  had  been  plotting  to  give 
the  Slave  States  the  advantage  in  the  impending  con- 
flict, by  storing  munitions  of  war  and  supplies  in  the 
South,  while  the  pussillanimous  president  looked  help- 
lessly on.  I  remember  singing  in  Springfield  during 
this  period,  and  visiting  the  armory.  The  people  there 
were  all  quiet,  not  a  word  was  spoken,  but  many  of 
them  were  packing  guns  to  send  away.  I  asl-^ed  the 
reason,  and  all  the  answer  I  got  was  that  it  was  done  at 


ABRAHAM    J.JNCULN  —  (i..  370) 


IN    WAR    TIME.  371 

the  command  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  John  B.  Floyd, 
and  probably  they  were  to  be  used  to  figlit  Indians.  I 
was  suspicious  of  their  reticence,  and  thought  the  pub- 
lic should  know  of  the  circumstance,  and  so  acquainted 
the  Sprin<jfiel(.J  Repiihlican  with  what  I  had  seen. 

To  the  minds  of  all  but  the  over-sanguine,  the  elec- 
tion of  Lincoln  meant  secession,  and  secession  meant 
war.  It  was  a  peculiar  fact,  however,  that  even  after 
many  States  had  held  conventions  and  formally  passed 
resolutions  withdrawing  from  the  Union,  a  desire  to 
avoid  a  conflict  seemed  to  blind  the  eyes  of  the  people 
to  the  real  situation.  I,  however,  was  convinced  that 
war  was  inevitable  when  Fremont  was  defeated  by 
Buchanan. 

During  the  campaign  that  had  resulted  in  the  elec- 
tion of  Lincoln,  I  had  been  very  industrious  in  his  be- 
half. Wherever  I  was,  in  railroad  trains,  at  hotels,  at 
the  door  of  concert  halls,  on  the  street  —  in  fact,  at  any 
place  where  I  could  get  a  group  of  hearers,  I  had 
been  urging  the  election  of  "  Honest  Abe."  We  had 
been  singing  in  New  York  State,  and  along  the  line  of 
the  Harlem  railroad.  Abby  had  been  temporarily  sing- 
ing with  us,  and  we  were  now  preparing  for  city  con- 
certs. I  found  myself  to  be  overworked.  The  care  of 
the  concert  tour  and  of  my  two  children  had  worn 
upon  me.  It  had  been  my  habit  nightly  to  stand  at 
the  door  and  take  tickets  and  money,  following  this 
labor  up  by  stationing  a  substitute  there,  and  going  on 
the  stage  to  sing  and  manage  the  concert. 

For  our  series  of  concerts  in  New  York  and  Brook- 
lyn we  secured  the  largest  halls  to  be  had.  After  a 
few  concerts  the  labor  had  been  so  great  that  I  was  ob- 
liged to  take  a  rest,  and  during  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber,   1860,    and   a   part  of  January,  1861,  I  was   very 


372  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

much  affected  by  pulmonary  troubles.  I  took  a  severe 
cold,  and  was  threatened  with  pneumonia  and  quick 
consumption  ;  but  by  dint  of  perseverance  in  exercise 
and  a  proper  diet,  I  soon  began  to  recuperate.  My 
sister  Abby  invited  me  to  Orange,  N.  J.,  and  there, 
with  good  care,  I  completely  recovered.  Then  I  re- 
solved to  go  to  Washington.  My  brothers  David  and 
Andi'ew  had  attended  the  inaugurals  of  Pierce  and 
Buchanan,  they  being  Democrats.  I  now  desired  to 
view  the  inauguration  of  tlie  man  of  my  choice. 

I  remember  going  over  to  the  depot  in  Jersey  City  on 
the  day  Lincoln  left  New  York  for  Washington.  The 
train  not  being  made  up  on  his  arrival  at  the  station, 
he  sat  in  an  open  barouche  a  short  time,  surrounded 
by  his  friends.  Meanwhile,  we  Avere  in  a  balcony  of 
the  building.  During  the  interval  of  waiting  we 
struck  up  a  song  : 

"Behold  tlie  clay  of  promise  comes  —  full  of  inspiration  — 
The  blessed  day  by  prophets  sung, —  for  the  healing  of  tlie  nation. 
Old  midnight  errors  flee  away  :  they  soon  will  all  be  gone; 
While  heavenly  angels  seem  to  say,  '  The  good  time's  coming  on.' 

Coming  right  along, 

Coming  right  along, 
The  blessed  day  of  promise  is  coming  right  along. 

"Already  in  the  golden  east  the  glorious  light  is  dawning, 
And  watchmen  from  the  mountain  tops  can  see  the  blessed  morning. 
O'er  all  the  land  their  voices  ring,  the  harvest  now  we're  reaping. 
Awake,  sad  heart,  now  comes  the  morn,  arouse,  there's  no  more  weeping. 

Coming  right  along, — 
Oh !  I  hear  the  angel  voices  — '  We're  coming  right  along.' 

"The  captive  now  begins  to  rise  and  burst  his  chains  asunder. 
While  politicians  stand  aghast,  in  anxious  fear  and  wonder. 
No  longer  shall  the  bondman  sigh  beneath  the  galling  fetters, — 
He  sees  the  dawn  of  freedom  nigh,  and  reads  the  golden  letters, — 

Coming  right  along, 
Behold  the  day  of  freedom  is  coming  right  along !  " 


IN    WAR    TIME.  873 

When  Lincoln  heard  onr  song,  the  good  sonl  looked 
up  -and  recognized  us.  He  seemed  to  be  very  much 
pleased.  He  had  attended  our  concerts  in  Springfield, 
his  liome,  and  of  course  was  aware  of  our  sentiments 
on  the  great  questions  agitating  the  land,  which  had 
led  to  his  election.  The  presidential  party  seemed  to 
linger  until  our  song  was  sung,  and  then  passed  to  the 
train.  Then  Lincoln  went  on  to  his  great  work  in 
Washington,  the  journey  being  accomplished  with 
safety,  though  there  was  great  anxiety  on  the  part  of 
his  friends.  He  was  established  in  Seward's  home  and 
watched  over  with  the  most  tender  and  vigilant  solici- 
tude. 

On  my  Avay  to  Washington,  I  passed  through  Balti- 
more, and  staj-ed  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  Nehemiah 
Haj'ward.  His  family  were  still  in  sympathy  with  the 
system  of  slavery,  and  had  one  or  two  slaves  at  their 
command.  I  said  to  Mrs.  Hayward,  "  I  am  going  to 
Washington  to  help  inaugurate  an  anti-slavery  presi- 
dent. We  are  going  to  liberate  the  slaves."  "  Why, 
Mr.  Hutchinson,"  said  she,  "do  you  mean  it?"  I  an- 
swered that  I  did,  and  a  further  discussion  ensued  on 
the  way  this  was  to  be  accomplished.  My  idea  was 
that  the  means  might  be  a  war  measure,  or  some  peace- 
ful method  that  might  be  devised,  but  I  was  sure  the 
good  time  of  emancipation  was  very  near  at  hand. 

While  in  Baltimore,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  learning 
the  origin  of  the  term  ''  Secesh."  Two  drunken  men 
were  on  the  street,  staggering  along,  when  one  said  to 
the  other,  '•  If  they  Ava-nt  to  secesh,  let  u-u-m  se-se-cesh  I  " 
and  the  other  thick-voiced  gentleman,  addressing  his 
companion,  declared  '^  if  you  are  secesh-h,  I  am 
secesh-h-h-es-h  too  I if  I  ain't  !  " 

Li  compan}"  with  a  friend  I  arrived  in  Washington 


374  THE    HUTCHINSOX    FAMILY. 

on  the  morning  of  March  4th,  Inauguration  Day.  The 
word  was  soon  passed  around  that  General  Scott  had 
phiced  his  forces  on  many  of  the  roofs  of  the  buildings 
along  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  with  guns  loaded,  ready 
to  discharge  upon  the  mob  if  it  should  show  itself  dis- 
posed to  interfere  with  the  progress  of  the  procession. 
The  soldiers  could  be  seen  peering  over  the  edges  of 
the  roofs.  Soon  the  procession  started,  proceeding 
through  the  avenue  between  lines  of  soldiers,  acting 
as  a  guard,  its  entire  length.  Arriving  at  the  Capitol, 
after  the  president-elect  and  suite  had  succeeded  in 
coming  down  the  steps  upon  the  platform,  they  found 
themselves  in  the  midst  of  a  gathering  of  twenty  thou- 
sand people,  with  scarcely  standing  room  for  them- 
selves. Looking  from  the  crowd  we  could  observe  on 
the  platform  the  familiar  form  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
who  had  disputed  the  great  national  questions  with 
Lincoln  on  the  stump  in  Illinois  in  a  famous  senato- 
rial contest  a  few  years  before.  As  Mr.  Lincoln  re- 
moved his  hat,  Douglas  stepped  forward,  politely 
took  it,  and  held  it  during  the  delivery  of  the  inau- 
gural. As  the  oath  was  administered,  a  colored  man, 
who  stood  at  one  corner  of  the  platform  by  a  flagstaff, 
seemingly  inspired  by  the  momentous  act,  seized  the 
halj^ards  and  raised  the  stripes  and  stars  to  the  peak. 
As  it  floated  proudly  in  the  breeze  over  their  heads, 
the  incident  seemed  prophetic  to  me.  The  negro 
seemed  to  be  helping  in  the  ceremonies  that  were  to 
pave  the  way  to  his  own  emancipation.  After  a  few 
sentences  uttered  by  Lincoln,  I  was  pained  to  hear  his 
deliberate  statement  that  he  would  prove  true  to  the 
Constitution,  and  would  carry  out  the  law  of  the  land 
in  regard  to  the  return  of  fugitive  slaves.  The  re- 
mark filled  me  with  consternation,  but  I  did  not  then 


IN    AVAR   TIME.  875 

consider,  as  afterward,  certain  facts.  lie  was  sur- 
rounded b}^  the  bitterest  traitors,  who  had  dogged  his 
steps  from  his  home  in  Illinois  to  the  capital,  putting 
him  all  the  time  in  danger  of  assassination.  I  was 
later  convinced  that  his  announcement  of  the  obliofation 
resting  upon  him  rendered  him  comparatively  safe,  and 
enabled  him  to  take  the  oath  of  office. 

The  same  day,  after  the  inauguration  I  returned  to 
Baltimore. 

When  I  reached  the  depot  in  Washington  I  found  it 
full  of  men  who  seemed  completely  possessed  with  a 
spirit  of  evil.  They  had  had  no  chance  to  kill  a  '-'•  nigger  " 
all  day.  They  were  "  plug  ugiies  "  and  as  they  swarmed 
about  the  station  they  kept  up  in  a  grim,  growling, 
nasal  tone,  the  refrain  of  '•  Dixie  "  : 

"  In  Dixie's  land  I'll  take  my  stand, 
And  live  and  die  in  Dixie, 

Away,  away, 
Away  down  Soutli  in  Dixie." 

From  Baltimore  I  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  after 
some  successful  concerts  in  that  city  and  adjoining 
places,  I  determined  on  one  more  season  in  New  York 
City.  The  excitement  over  the  rebellion  had  reached  a 
fever  heat.  I  conceived  the  idea  of  showing  ni}-  patri- 
otism by  having  a  big  star-spangled  banner  printed  as  a 
part  of  the  poster  announcing  my  concerts.  It  was 
quite  a  task  to  engrave  it  on  wood  and  print  it  in  colors, 
much  more  than  it  would  be  to-day,  with  our  improved 
chromatic  printing  devices.  It  was  done,  however,  and 
a  few  weeks  later,  when  the  flag  of  Sumpter  was  fired 
upon,  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  my  device  become 
popular.  In  the  three  weeks  after  that  event,  my 
printer  realized  eight  hundred  dollars  by  printing  im- 
pressions from  that  same  flag-ljlock,  the  calls  for  tliera 


376  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY, 

being  numerous  from  all  over  the  loyal  States.  I  also 
had  a  very  handsome  shield,  with  stars,  designed,  and 
printed  in  colors.  This  cost  me  sixty  dollars.  On  this 
the  announcements  of  concerts  were  printed. 

There  was  the  most  intense  excitement  in  New  York, 
and  earnest  solicitude  for  the  weal  of  the  Union.  The 
storm  was  fast  gathering,  and  finally  we  read  on  the 
bulletin  boards,  "  Our  flag  is  dishonored  !  Fort  Sumpter 
in  Charleston  has  been  fired  upon  this  verj^  day  ! '" 
It  was  true.  The  rebels  under  Beauregard  had  begun 
their  work.  Then  followed  scenes  on  Nassau  Street 
such  as  had  never  been  seen  before.  A  rushing  to  and 
fro,  showing  great  intensity  of  feeling,  deep  sjnnpathy 
and  high  resolve.  In  my  OAvn  heart,  however,  I  rejoiced, 
for  I  felt  the  end  was  near,  and  to  find  a  sympathizing 
friend  to  talk  to,  went  into  the  Independetit  office.  One 
of  the  editors,  Mr.  Joshua  Leavitt,  sprang  from  his 
chair  and  embraced  me.  He  said,  "  I  am  no  more  an 
Abolitionist.  The  war  spirit  will  take  care  of  aboli- 
tion. '  Whom  the  gods  would  destroy  they  first  make 
mad.' " 

There  was  great  enthusiasm.  A  hall  was  soon  se- 
cured, and  recruits  were  solicited.  Some  one  saw 
me  and  said,  "•  Come  in  and  sing  '  The  Star-Spangled 
Banner.'  "  As  I  raised  the  tune  their  voices  took  it  up, 
and  it  was  glorious  to  hear  them  sing 

"  And  the  star-spangled  banner  in  triumpli  shall  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 

It  was  folly  to  attempt  to  give  popular  concerts  amid 
such  excitement  in  the  city.  Though  I  had  engaged 
the  noted  basso,  Carl  Formes,  to  sing  with  me,  and  se- 
cured a  hall  that  would  seat  two  thousand,  I  gave  it  up, 
and  rested  easy  for  a  while.     Meanwhile  I  sent  my  chil- 


IN   AVAK   TIME.  377 

dren  to  school  at  Eagles  wood,  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J.,  an 
institution  kept  by  Theodore  D.  Weld. 

When  the  Eighth  Massachusetts  Kegiment  reached 
New"  York,  on  its  way  to  Annapolis  and  Washington,  I 
stood  on  Broadway  as  it  passed.  One  of  the  officers,  a 
Marblehead  man,  whom  I  recognized,  inc^uired  the  way 
to  the  Park,  and  I  at  once  responded  by  taking  a  posi- 
tion by  his  side  and  marching  along  with  the  brave 
Essex  County  soldiery.  I  had  one  of  the  flags,  of  Avliich 
I  have  spoken,  furled  on  a  stick.  Suddenly  a  soldier 
stepped  forward  from  the  ranks,  seized  the  flag,  and 
swinging  it  lound,  unfurled  it.  He  then  passed  it  Ixick 
and  returned  to  liis  place.  I  heard  some  of  the  talk  of 
the  volunteers,  such  as  :  ''  We'll  whip  them  out*'  in  so 
many  days,  etc.  I  wept  to  hear  it.  When  I  thought  of 
my  own  experiences  in  the  South  and  my  observation 
of  the  spirit  of  secession,  I  said,  "  O  boys,  you  don't 
know  Avhat  you  have  got  to  meet !  " 

"  Brave  boys  are  they, 

Gone  at  their  country's  call ; 
And  yet,  and  yet,  we  cannot  forget 
That  many  brave  boys  must  fall." 

After  a  while  we  started  out  to  sing  in  Connecticut. 
I  published  an  announcement  that  for  the  present  the 
profits  of  our  concerts  would  l)e  devoted  to  the  soldiers' 
aid  societies,  and  issued  editions  of  our  songs  for  sale  to 
aid  tlie  same  object.  We  were  comparatively  success- 
ful, and  sang  along  up  to  the  Fourth  of  July.  On  that 
morning  I  passed  from  the  town  where  I  had  just  sung 
at  a  very  early  hour.  I  heard  a  unusual  noise,  like  the 
rumble  of  battle.  It  did  not  sound  like  thunder,  but 
like  the  discharge  of  nuisketiy  and  artillery,  floating- 
over  my  head.  It  seemed  like  the  echo  of  a  terrible 
conflict.     AVe    spent  the    day  at  West    Colchester.     It 


378  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

was  being  celebrated  by  a  Ing  drum  corps,  which  had 
taken  possession  of  the  town  halL  We  went  in  and 
joined  in  the  observance,  singing  "  The  Star-Spangled 
Banner"  several  times.  In  the  middle  of  July  we 
settled  down  once  more  at  High  Rock,  and  endeavored 
to  rest  our  voices.  I  devoted  myself  to  building  a  re- 
taining wall  along  the  Essex  Street  front  of  my  premises. 
I  was  at  work  for  some  weeks  on  this  wall,  and  during 
this  time  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  occurred.  "■  Mr. 
Hutchinson,"'  said  a  man,  "  are  you  building  a  fortifica- 
tion?" I  thought  High  Rock  was  quite  a  fortification 
in  itself.  This  wall  was  superseded  by  the  "  Centennial 
wall,"  built  in  1876.  August  lltli  we  all  drove  over  to 
Lynnlield,  where  the  Twenty-second  Regiment,  recruited 
by  Hon.  Henry  Wilson,  was  encamped  and  here  had  our 
first  experience  in  singing  in  camp.  We  tried  to  sing 
such  songs  as  would  give  new  courage  to  the  daunted, 
stimulate  the  hesitating,  and  comfort  those  who  were 
leaving  home  and  all  that  was  dear  to  endure  the  un- 
known issues  of  battle.  Mau}^  words  of  thanks  and 
praise  were  spoken  by  officers  and  men.  I  was  enter- 
tained by  Wilson's  attempts  to  drill  the  regiment.  It 
seemed  much  more  like  the  work  of  a  raw  recruit  than 
that  of  an  ex-general  in  the  State  militia.  A  drill-mas- 
ter stood  at  his  side  and  prompted  him  in  giving  the 
orders.  He  had  quite  a  time  trying  to  tell  the  recruits 
to  "  right  shoulder,  shift."  Of  course,  however,  it  had 
never  been  intended  that  Wilson  should  take  the  field. 
He  did  good  service  in  raising  and  getting  two  regi- 
ments ready  for  the  army,  but  his  best  work  Mas  as 
chairman  of  the  Senate  jNIilitar}'-  Committee. 

On  August  23d  I  sang  at  the  memorial  of  Theodore 
Parker  in  Boston,  spending  the  night  at  the  home  of 
Samuel  Gould  on  Worcester  Square.     The  next  day  I 


3    d 


IN   WAR    TIME.  379 

took  my  first  ride  from  Boston  to  Lynn  in  the  liorse-car 
"•  over  the  marshes/'  It  was  a  tiresome  journey  then  to 
what  it  is  to-day  in  the  swift  moving  electrics  of  the 
Lvnn  and  Boston  road.  During  the  following  autumn 
1  visited  the  Lynnfield  camp  man}-  times,  with  Asa  and 
our  families,  singing  sougs  of  patriotism  and  courage. 
In  November  the  Tribe  of  John  went  singing  througli 
New  Hampsliire  and  ]Maine,  and  in  December  while 
singing  in  Haverhill  and  LaAvrence,  I  "  had  a  call "  to 
go  to  Washington.  I  left  the  team  in  which  we  travelled, 
for  my  wife  and  children  to  drive  home,  and  started  at 
once.  I  found  the  field  was  open  for  us  to  sing  at  the 
Capital,  for  many  meetings  were  being  lield,  and  the 
war  spirit  was  high  in  every  quarter.  So  I  sent  for  my 
children  to  come  to  me,  and  also  secured  the  services  of 
Frank  Martin,  son  of  a.  ministerial  friend,  to  sing  with 
us  as  l^ass.  A  friend,  by  the  name  of  George  W.  At- 
wood,  whom  I  had  met  in  England  many  years  before, 
recommended  that  we  take  the  Smithsonian  Institution 
for  our  entertainments,  and  he  assisted  me  in  getting  up 
a  concert  at  that  place,  which  was  very  successful. 
Soon  after  my  arrival  in  Washington,  I  sought  out 
Salmon  P.  Chase,  Secretary  of  the  Treasur}-.  He  ex- 
pressed himself  as  very  much  pleased  that  I  liad  come 
to  the  city.  I  had  often  met  him  at  Columl)us,  Cin- 
cinnati and  other  places,  and  was  at  the  conference 
when  he  Avas  first  nominated  for  Congress.  He  had 
been  a  true  Abolitionist,  and  with  my  uncle,  Kendrick 
Leavitt,  was  on  a  committee  to  form  the  first  anti-slavery 
society  in  that  region. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  I  met  Chaplain  R.  B.  Yard,  of 
the  First  New  Jersey  Regiment.  He  was  tlien  located 
amid  thirty  thousand  troops  near  the  Fairfax  Seminary 
in  A^irginia,  and  tliough  he  was   aware  there  was  some 


380  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

risk  in  the  venture,  invited  me  to  come  there  and  give  a 
concert  to  his  '"•boys  in  blue."  I  told  him  I  would 
come  as  soon  as  I  could  get  the  requisite  pass  within 
the  lines,  and  at  once  set  to  work  to  get  it. 

Meanwhile  we  gave  concerts  in  Washington,  and 
kept  our  eyes  open  to  the  notable  events  transpiring. 
On  one  evening  after  giving  a  concert  at  Georgetown 
we  were  driven  to  the  White  House.  The  occasion 
was  a  levee.  President  Lincoln  at  once  recognized 
me.  Both  he  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  treated  us  with  great 
kindness,  and  in  the  course  of  the  evening  asked  us  to 
sing.  We  sang  "The  War-drums  are  Beating  —  Up, 
Soldiers,  and  Fight !  "  We  suffered  under  a  slight  in- 
convenience in  singing.  Tlie  key  of  the  piano  could 
not  be  found.  As  a  contemporary  writer  put  it,  "  The 
instrument  belonged  to  the  mansion,  and  possibly,  in  the 
latter  part  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  occupancy,  more  discord 
than  harmony  prevailed  in  the  presidential  dwelling." 
When  the  key  was  discovered,  it  was  found  that  the 
piano  was  in  shocking  bad  tune.  No  music  stool  could 
be  found,  and  altogether  it  was  evident  that  Mr.  Lin- 
coln and  his  family  were  thinking  of  something  else 
than  music  in  those  da}'s.  The  same  writer  says : 
"• '  There's  nae  luck  aboot  tlie  house,'  might  perhaps 
have  been  played  upon  the  rattling  old  keys,  but  it 
would  have  been  little  less  than  treason  to  have  at- 
tempted '  Yankee  Doodle '  on  such  a  rickety  box  of 
wires."  At  President  Lincoln's  request,  I  sent  for  my 
melodeon,  and  sang  the  "  Ship  on  Fire,"  he  having 
heard  me  sing  it  before  at  Springfield,  111.  I  can 
seem  to  see  our  martyred  President  now,  as  he  stood, 
only  a  few  feet  from  me,  holding  his  sweet  boy,  "  Tad," 
by  the  hand.  We  were  warmly  applauded  as  our  songs 
concluded.     The  room  was  as  full  as  it  could  be. 


IN    WAR    TIME.  381 

It  was  natural  that  in    my  dilemma  over  ohlainiiio- 

permission  to  visit  the  camps,  I  should  again  seek   out 

my  old  friend  Salmon  P.   Chase.     He  was   more   tliaii 

willing  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  smooth  our  patliw  ay  for 

us,  and  at  once  sent  me  to  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of 

War,  with  just  the  right  sort  of  introduction  to  secure 

the  coveted  pass.     Cameron  courteously  furnished  us  tlie 

following  document,  jocosely  remarking :    "  But   mind 

you  don't  sing  secesh  !  " 

War  Department,  January  14,  18(12. 
Permit  the  "  Hutchinson  Family  "  to  pass  over  bridges  and  ferries, 
and  witliin  tlie  main  lines  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.     They  will  be 
allowed  to  sing  to  the  soldiers,  and  this  permit  will  continue  good  until 
1st  February,  18G2.  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of  War. 

Wliile  I  was  getting  the  pass,  I  turned,  and  there  by 
the  window  stood  General  B.  F.  Butler.  He  seemed  to 
be  in  deep  thought.  I  think  now  that  he  was  hoping 
to  be  appointed  Secretary  of  War,  for  so  far  as  I  can 
learn,  tlie  issuance  of  this  permit  was  Cameron's  last  of- 
ficial act.  The  next  day  he  was  superseded  by  Edwin 
M.  Stanton. 

Then  followed  our  visit  to  the  camps.  Crossing  the 
long,  carefull}^  guarded  bridge  over  the  Potomac  from 
Washington,  we  soon  passed  the  guard  to  General 
Franklin's  division,  under  convoy  and  patronage  of 
Chaplain  Yard.  We  had  intended  to  give  a  con- 
cert on  the  same  afternoon,  but  unforeseen  ol)stacles 
prevented.  One  was  given  in  a  magnificent  church, 
that  evening,  on  the  elegant  grounds  connected  with 
the  Fairfax  Seminary,  meanwhile  taking  quarters  and 
messing  with  Chaplain  Yard  and  Surgeon  Welling, 
where  we  were  most  hospitably  entertained. 

We  had  fixed  the  price  of  admission  to  the  entertain- 
ment at  one  dime.  The  church  would  comfortably  seat 
one  regiment,  so  we  arranged  tliat  one  regiment  at   a 


382  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

time  should  come.  The  First  New  Jersey  Regiment 
was  to  hear  us  on  this  first  evening.  Another  New 
Jersey  regiment  had  expected  to  hear  us  in  the  after- 
noon, and  many  of  its  members  therefore  came  to  tlie 
evening  concert.  The  result  was  a  very  large  crowd, 
soldiers  sitting  on  the  floor  in  the  aisles,  and  standing 
in  the  rear  of  the  pews  and  around  the  walls.  It  was 
an  enthusiastic  and  largely  sympathetic  audience,  and 
the  programme  went  off  splendidly,  until  we  sung  the 
famous  hymn  by  John  G.  Whittier,  which  I  had  adap- 
ted to  music,  two  verses  of  which  head  this  chapter. 
Of  course,  we  were  aware  that  the  army  of  the  Union 
did  not  entirely  consist  of  Abolitionists.  Many  of  the 
brave  men  who  composed  our  audience  had  enlisted  to 
save  the  Union,  but  had  yet  to  learn  the  lesson  that 
time  only  taught  Lincoln,  that  the  backbone  of  seces- 
sion must  l)e  broken  by  the  abolition  of  the  system  it 
was  inaugurated  to  sustain.     The  song  was  this : 

EIX  FESTE  BURG  1ST  UNSER  GOTT  (Luther's  Hymn). 

We  wait  beneath  the  f  urnace'blast 
The  pangs  of  transformation  : 
Not  painlessly  doth  God  recast 
And  mould  anew  the  nation. 
Hot  burns  the  fire 
Where  wrongs  expire ; 
Nor  spares  the  hand 
That  from  the  land 
Uproots  the  ancient  evil. 

The  hand-breadth  cloud  the  sages  feared 

Its  bloody  rain  is  dropping  ; 
The  poison  plant  the  fathers  spared 
All  else  is  overtopping. 

East,  West,  South,  North, 
It  curses  earth ; 
All  justice  dies, 
And  fraud  and  lies 
Live  only  in  its  shadow. 


IX   AVAR    TIME.  383 

"What  gives  the  wheat-fields  blades  of  steel  ? 

"What  points  the  rebel  cannon? 
"What  sets  the  roaring  rabble's  heel 
On  the  old  star-si^angled  pennon? 
What  breaks  the  oath 
Of  the  men  of  the  South'? 
Wliat  whets  tlie  knife 
For  the  Union's  life?  — 
Hark  to  the  answer  :  Slavery! 

Then  waste  no  blows  on  lesser  foes 

In  strife  unworthy  freemen  ; 
God  lifts  to-day  rhe  vail  and  shows 
The  features  of  the  demon  ! 
0  North  and  South, 
Its  victims  both, 
Can  ye  not  cry, 
"  Let  slavery  die  ! " 
And  union  find  in  Freedom? 

What  though  the  cast-out  spirit  tear 

The  nation  in  his  going, 
We  who  liave  shared  the  guilt  must  share 
The  pang  of  his  overthrowing  ! 
What'er  the  loss, 
Whate'er  the  cross, 
Shall  they  complain 

Of  present  pain  • 

Who  trust  in  God  liereafter? 

For  who  that  leans  on  His  right  arm 

AVas  ever  yet  forsaken  7 
What  righteous  cause  can  suffer  liarni 
If  He  its  part  hath  taken? 
Though  wild  and  loud, 
And  dark  the  cloud, 
Behind  its  folds 
His  hand  upholds 
The  calm  sky  of  to-morrow  ! 

Above  the  maddening  cry  for  blood. 

Above  the  wild  war-drumming, 
Let  Freedom's  voice  l)e  heard,  with  good 

The  evil  overcoming. 


384  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Give  prayer  and  purse 

To  stay  the  curse 

Whose  wrong  we  share, 
Whose  shame  we  bear, 
Whose  end  shall  gladden  Heaven! 

In  vain  the  hells  of  war  shall  ring 

(Jf  triumphs  and  revenges. 
While  still  is  spared  the  evil  thing 
That  severs  and  estranges. 
But,  blest  the  ear 
That  yet  shall  hear 
The  jubilant  bell 
That  rings  the  knell 
Of  slavery  forever ! 

Then  let  the  selfish  lip  be  dumb, 

And  hushed  the  breath  of  sighing; 
Before  the  joy  of  peace,  must  come 
The  pains  of  purifying. 
God  give  us  grace 
Each  in  his  place 
To  bear  his  lot, 
And  murmuring  not, 
Endure  and  wait  and  labor  ! 

What  a  prophet  Whittier  was,  and  how  clearly  he 
saw  what  so  many  of  his  countrymen  were  slow  in  see- 
ing !  His  prophecy  was  addressed  to  just  such  patriots 
as  those  to  whom  we  were  singing,  but  it  needed  just 
such  opposition  as  it  met  to  draw  the  attention  of  the 
army  and  the  country  to  its  truth.  It  might  have  saved 
us  trouble  to  omit  it,  but  it  was  not  a  characteristic  of 
the  Hutchinsons  to  forbear  when  a  message  was  put  in 
their  lips.  It  seemed  a  testing-time  for  us,  but  it  also 
served  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  country  to  the  devotion 
to  the  "  peculiar  institution,"'  the  opposition  to  emanci- 
pation, and  consequent  lukewarmness,  not  to  say  trea- 
son, of  men  in  high  places  in  the  army,  who  were  then 
the  hope  of  the  nation  in  tlie  hour  of  its  extremity,  and 


IN    WAR    TIME.  385 

a  forlorn  hope  at  that.  No  sooner  had  we  finislu'd  the 
verse : 

"  Wliat  gives  tlie  wheat-fields  blades  of  steel  !  "  etc., 

than  a  solitary-  hiss  was  heard,  from  a  corner  of  the 
room.  Major  Hatfiehl,  commanding-  the  regiment,  was 
seated  in  a  front  pew  of  the  church,  and  immediately 
rose,  and  turning  to  the  part  of  the  room  from  whence 
the  sign  of  disapprobation  had  proceeded,  indignantly 
said  that  if  the  interruption  was  repeated  the  offender 
would  be  put  out  of  the  house.  "If  there  is  to  be  any 
putting  out,  3"ou  had  better  begin  with  me,"  retorted 
Surgeon  Oakley  of  his  own  connnand,  evidently  the 
culprit.  The  major,  to  whom  the  surgeon  had  made 
threats  of  disturljance  before  the  concert  commenced, 
then  said,  "  I  can  put  you  out  —  and  if  I  cannot,  I 
have  a  regiment  that  will  I  "  At  this  the  soldiers  rose 
to  a  man,  amid  much  confusion  and  cries  of  "-Put  him 
out  I "  But  no  force  was  resorted  to,  and  order  was 
finally  restored.  The  surgeon  was  lieard  sending  a 
messenger  for  his  pistols  to  defend  himself.  We  at 
once  bethought  ourselves  of  our  old  expedient,  and 
soon  the  soldier  boys  were  melted  to  tears  by  the  beau- 
tiful song,  "•  No  Tear  in  Heaven." 

"  No  tear  shall  be  in  heaven  ;  no  gathering  gloom 
Shall  o'er  that  glorious  landscape  ever  come  ; 
No  tear  shall  fall  in  sadness  o'er  those  flowers 
That  breathe  their  fragrance  thro'  celestial  bowers." 

Chaplain  ]Merwin,  a  chaplain  at  large,  had  used  his 
good  offices  to  help  restore  quiet,  and  there  was  no 
further  disturbance,  but  after  the  concert  certain  per- 
sons refused  to  mess  with  the  conciliatory  chaplain. 
Major  Hatfield,  Avho  interfered  so  decidedly  in  our 
favor,  was  afterwards  killed,  during  McClellan's  re- 
treat from  before  Riclunond. 


386  THE    HUTCHINSOiSr    FAMILY. 

After  the  concert  we  retired  to  our  quarters.  We 
could  hear  loud  talking  in  those  adjoining,  and  could 
see  nothing  but  trouble  ahead.  Soon  General  Birney, 
brother  of  James  G.  Birney,  the  noted  Abolitionist, 
came  into  the  place,  with  others,  in  full  sympathy  with 
us.  We  freely  sang  our  radical  pieces  to  them.  Sub- 
sequently Birney  told  me  he  just  escaped  a  challenge 
to  fight  a  duel  because  of  the  matter.  We  felt  that  we 
had  done  nothing  wrong,  and  our  consciences  were 
clear.  The  hour  was  late,  but  Ave  understood  a  chap- 
lain to  have  full  control  of  his  quarters,  and  so  sang 
as  long  as  our  callers  desired. 

The  next  morning  Chaplain  Yard  received  a  message 
to  appear  before  General  Kearney  (afterwards  killed  in 
battle).  When  he  returned  it  was  with  a  sad  counte- 
nance. Very  great  excitement  liad  been  caused  by  the 
proceedings  of  the  night  before,  he  said.  Surgeon  Oak- 
ley had  complained  of  our  singing  ;  and  the  authorities 
had  gone  so  far  as  to  take  the  keys  of  the  church  from 
him.  It  Avas  doubtful  if  the  concerts  would  be  per- 
mitted to  proceed.  Soon  there  came  a  second  message, 
calling  for  both  chaplain  and  singers  at  General  Kear- 
ney's headquarters.  We  at  once  tramped  through  rain 
and  mud  to  that  place.  General  Kearney  rebuked  the 
chaplain  and  vocalists  for  singing  Avithout  first  sub- 
mitting a  programme  of  tlieir  songs  to  the  authorities, 
and  added  that  he  "  could  not  alloAV  the  concerts  to 
go  on." 

"  General,"  I  said,  "  I  have  a  j^ermit  from  the  Secre- 
tary of  War  to  sing.  We  are  no  strangers  to  the  sol- 
diers, many  thousands  of  whom  knoAV  and  haA^e  heard 
us  —  Avhatever  the  officers  may  think  and  feel  on  the 
subject." 

"■  I  rule  supreme  here,"  remarked  the  general  quickly. 


IX    WAIl    TIME.  387 

"  You  are  Abolitionists  ;  I  think  as  much  of  a  Rebel  as 
I  do  of  an  Abolitionist.'' 

After  saying  this,  however,  the  general  seemed  to 
hesitate,  and  the  matter  still  appeared  to  be  open 
Avhen  we  left  him.  Soon  after  we  reached  our  quar- 
ters, nevertheless,  a  fi'esh  message  came  from  him  that 
we  must  forego  all  singing  in  tlie  camp.  This  did  not 
settle  the  matter,  for  subordinates  must  report  to  their 
superiors.  When  the  news  was  sent  to  General  Frank- 
lin, the  following  order  came. 

Headquarters,  Alexandria  Division., 
Ca:\ip  William,  January,  1862. 
Major  Hatfield:  —  You  will  please  send  to  these   headquarters, 
as  soon  as  practicable,  a  copy  of  the  songs  sung  hy  the   Hutcliinson 
Family  last  night  in  the  Seminary  Chapel. 

By  order  of  Brigadier-General  Franklin, 

Joseph  C.  Jackson,  A.  U.  C. 

It  was  the  work  of  several  hours  to  make  copies  of 
all  the  songs,  but  they  were  finally  taken  to  the  general 
by  Chaplain  Yard.  He  took  them  and  wished  to  liave 
the  objectionable  song  pointed  out.  He  read  Whittier's 
song,  and  said,  "  I  pronounce  that  incendiary  ;  if  these 
people  are  allowed  to  go  on,  they  will  demoralize  tlie 
army.''  The  chaplain  again  returned  to  us,  depressed 
and  sad. 

Another  concert  had  Ijeen  advertised.  ]\Iany  mem- 
bers of  the  regiment  came  and  expressed  their  regret 
when  it  was  announced  that  it  was  forbidden. 

It  was  then  Saturday  night.  Late  in  the  evening 
General  Franklin  issued  another  order,  evidently  by 
instructions  from  General  McClellan,  who  paused  in 
his  hot  pursuit  of  means  to  carry  out  the  country's 
mandate  "  On  to  Richmond  !  "  to  consider  our  innocent 
exhibition  of  treasonable  propensities. 


388  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Headquarters,  Alexandria,  Va., 
January  18,  18G2. 
General  Orders,  No.  3. 

By  command  of  the  Major-General  Commanding  U.  S.  A.  the  per- 
mit given  to  the  Hutchinson  Family  to  sing  in  tlie  camps,  and  their 
permit  to  cross  the  Potomac,  are  liereby  revoked,  and  they  will  not  be 
allowed  to  sing  to  the  troops. 

By  order  of  Brigadier-General  Franklin. 

J.  C.  Jackson,  A.  D.  C, 
Official.— J xiiiES  M.  Wilson,  A.  A.  G. 
Headquarters,  1st  N.  J.  V. 

This  seemed  to  settle  the  question  of  further  pro- 
ceedings, especially  as  I  at  the  same  time  received  a 
verbal  message  to  leave  our  quarters.  It  was  late  and 
the  weather  was  bad.  I  at  once  wrote  a  note  to  Gen- 
eral Franklin,  asking  permission  to  stay  with  our 
friends  until  Monday  morning. 

I  still  retain  the  original  copies  of  all  the  correspon- 
dence I  have  quoted,  as  also  this  letter.     In  it  I  said : 

Fairfax,  January  18,  1862. 
General  Franklin  : 

Dear  Sir  :  Having  had  my  pass,  granted  by  the  Secretary  of  War 
and  General  McClellan,  revoked,  and  not  being  able  to  remove  to  the 
other  side  the  Potomac  at  this  late  hour,  I  ask  of  you  the  privilege  of 
remaining  with  my  friends  the  Rev.  Mr.  Yard,  and  Dr.  Welling,  till 
Monday,  or  if  not,  till  Sunday  moiming,  when  at  your  command,  ive 
leave. 

Wishing  the  best  success  to  our  glorious  army,  as  when  we  came 
into  its  lines,  —  "  God  save  the  Commonwealtli." 

Yours,  with  the  greatest  desire  for  law  and  order, 

John  W.  Hutchinson. 

This  was  sent  to  Capt.  E.  S.  Purdy,  Assistant  Adju- 
tant-General, turned  over  to  General  Kearney,  who  for- 
warded it  to  General  Franklin,  with  this  endorsement : 

January  19th. 
Respectfully  forwarded.     Yesterday  morning  I  had  given  the  direc- 
tions to  the  Ilutchinsons  to  forego  any  further  concerts. 

P.  II.  Kearney,  Brigadier-General. 


IN    WAR    TIME.  389 

Soon  the  letter  came  back,  wiili  this  further  endorse- 
ment : 

Headquarters,  January  19,  1862. 

Brigadier-General  Kearney:  —  There  is  no  objection  to  these 
people  staying  until  Monday  morning,  if  they  behave  themselves 
properly.  W.  B.  Franklin, 

Brigadier-  General  Commanding  Division. 

Of  course  we  determined  to  be  good,  and  stayed 
over.  On  Sunday  Chaphiin  Yard  went  to  General 
Kearney  and  obtained  permission  to  use  the  chapel. 
He  also  asked  if  there  would  be  any  objection  to  his 
having  a  choir  to  sing.  The  general  said  no.  The  re- 
quest was  the  result  of  an  effort  to  give  soldiers  who 
had  been  disappointed  a  chance  to  hear  us  sing. 
When  his  service  began  the  Hutchinson's  were  there 
and  those  soldiers  wlio  were  desiring  to  do  so,  heard 
Chaplain  Yard's  choir,  though  they  were  forbidden  to 
hear  the  Hutchinson  Family.  In  the  evening  Chaplain 
Merwin  gave  a  temperance  lecture,  and  Chaplain  Yard 
kindly  lent  his  choir  to  sing  temperance  songs.  The 
next  day  my  daughter  Viola  received  a  twenty-dollar 
gold-piece  sent  her  by  the  soldiers. 

The  next  morning  Henry  and  Frank  Martin  went  on 
to  Washington.  I  intended  to  follow  with  Viola  on  the 
boat  from  Alexandria,  but  the  fog  prevented  its  depar- 
ture. Chaplain  Yard  said  he  would  take  me  across  the 
bridge  in  his  carriage  the  next  day,  so  I  concluded  to 
remain.  I  accepted  an  invitation  to  accompany  the  two 
chaplains  on  a  visit  to  Colonel  Farnsworth's  regiment 
of  cavalry,  quartered  a  mile  or  so  away.  We  started 
in  a  buggy.  Chaplain  Yard  driving,  with  Merwin  on 
one  side  and  I  on  the  other.  The  liorse  was  high- 
spirited,  and  had  not  been  harnessed  to  a  buggy  for 
months,  being  used  only  with  the  saddle.     We  had  not 


390  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

gone  far  when  the  horse,  being  nervous  from  his  har- 
ness, took  fright  going  down  a  liill.  We  were  in  the 
utmost  danger.  1  reached  my  arm  around  the  chaplain 
and  got  hold  of  the  right  rein,  pulling  so  hard  that  it 
broke.  This  was  fortunate,  for  the  strong  pull  on  the 
other  rein  caused  him  to  swerve  from  the  road  and 
knocked  the  vehicle  against  some  trees,  demolishing  it, 
but  leaving  us  unhurt.  The  frightened  animal  cleared 
himself,  and  with  only  the  thills  ran  back  to  camp. 
Thousands  of  soldiers  looked  on  at  this  catastrophe, 
and  many  shouted,  ''  Forward  movement ! ''  Poor  fel- 
lows !  they  had  been  waiting  in  the  mud  many  weary 
months  for  a  forward  movement. 

When  we  returned  to  our  quarters,  we  learned  that 
an  officer  had  been  asking  for  the  Hutchinson  Family, 
and  hnding  that  some  of  us  had  remained,  had  re- 
marked that  we  "  might  as  well  have  gone  off."  On 
hearing  this,  being  anxious  to  give  the  authorities  no 
gi'ound  for  charging  us  with  disobedience  of  orders,  I 
determined  to  go  at  once  and  not  risk  disturbing  the 
peace.  So  we  went  to  Alexandria,  where  we  called  on 
General  Montgomery.  He  took  us  to  his  own  quarters, 
where  we  sang  him  psalms  and  hymns,  and  conjointly 
with  the  provost-marshal,  he  invited  us  to  give  a  con- 
cert in  the  place.     We  declined  for  the  time  being. 

When  I  returned  to  Washington  from  Alexandria, 
I  went  immediately  to  Chase.  I  found  him  at  his 
home,  and  told  him  my  experience.  Said  he:  "I 
want  you  to  write  out  me  that  song,  and  I'll  submit  it 
to  the  cabinet.  I'm  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  ;  Stanton 
is  Secretary  of  War,  and  he  thinks  just  as  I  do." 

As  soon  as  I  conveniently  could,  I  passed  to  Chase  a 
copy  of  the  Whittier  song.  I  had  by  this  time  discov- 
ered that  the  episode  was   one  of  far  more   importance 


IN    WAR    TIME.  391 

than  its  merely  personal  bearing  would  indicate.  There 
had  been  a  good  deal  of  complaint  of  ^IcClellan,  but 
thus  far  he  had  not  before  taken  it  upon  himself  to  so 
directly  countermand  the  action  of  the  war  secretary, 
who  Avould  naturally  be  his  superior  in  a  matter  of  this 
character.  However,  I  did  not  wish  to  see  a  matter  so 
closely  identified  with  myself  in  any  way  embarrassing 
the  administration,  and  therefore  on  the  next  day,  the 
cabinet  being  in  session,.  I  sent  in  a  note  to  Secretary 
Chase,  requesting  him,  unless  his  judgment  dictated 
otherwise,  not  to  give  to  the  papers  the  fact  that  the 
subject  Avas  under  consideration.  The  next  morning  all 
the  papers  were  silent  on  it,  bnt  I  went  to  the  treasury 
department,  and  met  Mr.  Chase  on  the  stairs  going  to 
his  office.  He  grasped  me  by  tlie  hand,  and  smilingly 
said :  "  I  want  to  tell  you  that  the  poem  was  read  at 
the  cabinet  meeting  and  they  were  all  in  3four  favor. 
Mr.  Lincoln  remarked  that  it  was  one  of  just  the  kind 
of  songs  he  wanted  tlie  soldiers  to  hear.  He  also  said 
you  should  have  the  right  to  go  among  any  of  the  sol- 
diers where  you  were  invited  to  sing." 

A  few  daj^s  later  Rej)resentative  Lovejoy,  of  Illinois, 
brother  of  the  martyr  Lovejoy,  offered  an  order  of  in- 
quiry concerning  McClellan's  arrogant  attitude  to  Con- 
gress. It  was  the  beginning  of  the  end  for  that  officer. 
Soon  after  he  was  allowed  to  report  at  Trenton,  wliile 
another  man  took  charge  of  the  destinies  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  and  the  campaign  against  Richmond, 
in  which  he  had  so  signally  failed.  Two  years  later, 
when  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  presidency,  practically 
every  man  who  took  the  stump  for  Lincoln  found  occa- 
sion to  say  that  though  "Little  INIac  "  \vas  not  able  to 
drive  out  tlie  rebels,  he  did  drive  out  tlie  Hutcliinsons. 

After  our  pronounced    vindication  of    course  we  no 


392  THE    HUTCHINSON"   FAMILY. 

longer  hesitated  about  giving  concerts  in  Alexandria, 
as  we  had  been  invited  to  do.  In  the  meantime,  owing 
to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  and  the  tendency  of 
his  soldiers  to  sickness  and  disease,  Colonel  (afterwards 
General)  Farnsworth  had  found  quarters  for  them  in  the 
vestry  of  a  large  Southern  Methodist  church,  tliat  had 
been  forsaken  by  nearly  all  its  worshippers,  who  had 
joined  the  Rebels.  When  Ave  arrived  we  were  ushered 
into  this  room,  and  introduced  to  the  soldiers  by  Farns- 
worth, who  invited  me  to  mess  with  him  at  his  head- 
quarters, in  another  building.  He  said  he  wanted  me 
to  have  the  auditorium  of  the  church  for  the  concerts, 
and  desired  me  to  go  to  General  Montgomery  and  get  a 
permit.  I  waited  on  Montgomery,  found  him  exceed- 
ing cordial,  and  as  he  was  in  charge  of  that  department, 
he  at  once  gave  the  permit. 

Returning  to  Colonel  Farnsworth,  we  had  been  but  a 
short  time  together,  and  were  eating  our  dinner,  when 
he  received  a  note  from  General  Montgomery,  stating 
that  the  sexton  of  the  church,  and  he  one  of  its  trustees, 
had  waited  upon  him  and  protested  against  opening  it 
for  any  purpose.  He  said :  "  I  leaA^e  the  matter  with 
you  and  Mr.  Hutchinson  and  the  sexton."  The  colonel 
at  once  said :  "  He  leaves  it  to  us  three.  We  are  in 
the  majorit3^  The  church  will  be  opened."  He  sent 
an  orderly  for  the  key.  It  was  a  hard  task  to  get  it, 
and  it  was  only  obtained  Avhen  the  obdurate  janitor  was 
informed  tliat  if  the  key  was  not  forthcoming,  the  troops 
would  break  in  the  door.  On  that  he  succumbed.  As 
the  time  for  the  concert  drew  near,  I  discovered  that 
there  was  no  gas.  I  at  once  went  in  pursuit  of  some 
one  to  order  it  turned  on,  and  was  sent  to  a  man 
named  Stewart,  who  was  a  Union  man,  married  to  a 
Northern  woman,  and  was  very  courteous.     He  told  me 


IN    WAR    TIME.  393 

to  find  a  man  named  Bell.  I  liastened  to  a  book-store, 
stejiped  np  to  the  man,  and  said :  "  We  are  to  have  a 
concert  to-night  in  the  chnrch,  and  desire  the  gas  tnrned 
on."  lie  brusquely  retorted;  "You'll  not  be  allowed 
to  sing  in  that  chnrch.  I  have  been  a  Union  man  so 
far,  l)ut  have  suffered  enough.  I'll  go  down  to  tlie 
mayor  and  have  it  stopped."  "  I'll  go  with  yon,"  I 
quickly  replied.  He  took  me  to  a  large  warehouse, 
and  up  a  flight  of  dark  stairs,  across  tlie  floor  above  to 
an  olflce  in  the  corner.  He  opened  the  door,  and  there 
I  saw  some  twenty  men,  evidently  of  the  "  Secesh  " 
order,  discussing  the  success  of  the  "  cause."  "  Mr. 
Maycn-,"  said  Bell,  addressing  one  of  the  men,  "here's 
one  of  the  Hutchinsons,  Avho  wants  to  sing  in  tlie 
Methodist  church.  If  I  was  mayor,  I  wouldn't  allow 
it."  "  :\Ir.  Bell,"  said  he,  "  I'm  mayor  of  the  city,  to 
be  sure,  but  I've  no  control  in  this  military  depai'tment." 
Then  turning  to  me,  and  shaking  my  hand  heartily : 
"Why,  Mr.  Hutchinson  I  I  am  glad  to  meet  you.  I 
remember  hearing  you  sing  in  Beecher's  church."  It 
appeared  that  the  mayor  had  been  educated  in  the 
North.  It  Avas  pleasant,  indeed,  under  conditions  so 
strained,  to  hear  such  a  friendly  greeting.  Mr.  Bell 
was  baffled,  and  leaving  the  building,  mutely  walked  up 
the  street  towards  the  church.  Finally  he  pointed  to  a 
gas-house  down  a  side  street.  "  There,"  said  he,  "  3'ou 
go  and  tell  them  to  put  on  the  gas,  and  mention  my 
n*ame."  Night  had  come  on,  and  I  hurried  down  to  the 
gas-house,  and  then  to  my  quarters  to  make  ready  for 
the  concert.  When  I  arrived  at  the  church,  I  found  a 
glorious  audience  to  greet  me.  We  sang  our  "  pro- 
hibited "  song,  it  being  loudly  called  for,  and  also  many 
other  I'adical  songs,  among  them  "John  Brown's  Body." 
General   Montgomery  sat  on    the  platform,  and  at  the 


394  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

close  of  the  concert  resolutions  in  our  favor  were 
adopted.     The  next  night  we  gave  another  concert. 

This  closed  our  sinof'ing'  before  tlie  army.  We  had 
done  what  we  intended  to  do  and  were  satisfied.  The 
incident  of  expulsion  caused  a  great  commotion  among 
the  people  of  the  North.  All  the  Washington  corre- 
spondents referred  to  it,  at  more  or  less  length,  and  as  in 
the  case  of  our  expulsion  from  Philadelphia,  a  great 
deal  of  good  resulted  from  the  discussions  which  it  pro- 
voked. AVe  had  been  before  the  public  too  many  years 
to  care  seriously  when  uiifriendly  papers  seemed  to  find 
virtue  in  the  action  of  General  McClellan,  and  their  at- 
tempt to  prove  us  "-traitors  "  because  he  seemed  to  dis- 
like our  songs,  only  made  us  smile. 

Horace  Greeley,  in  his  "  American  Conflict,"  thus 
refers  to  this  incident : 

"  A  portion  of  the  melodious  Hutchinson  Family  having  been  at- 
tracted to  Washington  by  the  novelty  of  finding  the  public  halls  of  the 
city  no  longer  barricaded  against  the  utterance  of  humane  and  gener- 
ous sentiments,  had  there  solicited  the  Secretary  of  War's  permission  to 
visit  the  camps  along  the  Potomac  in  order  to  l)reak  the  monotony  and 
cheer  the  ruggedness  of  winter  with  the  si^ontaneous,  unbought  carol 
of  some  of  their  cheerful,  heartfelt  songs.  General  Cameron  gave  their 
project  not  merely  his  cordial  assent,  but  his  emphatic  counncndation, 
and  thus  endorsed,  they  received  General  McClellan's  gracious  per- 
mission. So  they  passed  on  to  the  camps,  and  were  singing  to  delighted 
crowds  of  soldiers,  when  an  officer's  quick  ear  caught  the  drift  of  what 
sounded  like  Abolition.  Fortliwitli,  there  were  commotion,  and  ef- 
fervescence, and  indignation,  rising  from  circle  to  circle  of  the  military 
aristocracy  until  it  reached  the  very  highest,  bringing  thence  th"  fol- 
lowing order."  (The  order  of  General  McClellan  and  the  poem  of 
Whittier  are  then  quoted.) 

''  Arlington,"  a  noted  Washington  correspondent  of 
the  time,  writing  to  a  New  England  journal,  gave  the 
following  description  of  the  affair,  wliich  I  quote  as  a 
satnple  of  the  comments  made,  as  well  as  to  show -the 


IN    WAR    TIME.  305 

necessity  there  was  of  our  putting  before  the  public  an 
accurate  story  of  it,  which  we  did  soon  after : 

"  Washington,  January  23,  18G2. 
"The  Hutchinson  Family  have  been  liere  for  the  hist  five  weeks,  giv- 
ing concerts.  On  Friday  tliey  passed  over  into  Virginia,  intending  to 
spend  a  month  among  the  camps,  cheering  the  liearts  of  the  soldiers  and 
enlivening  the  monotony  of  camp  life  with  their  sweet  melod\'.  They 
gave  their  iirst  concert  on  Saturday  evening  at  Alexandria  Seminary, 
three  miles  from  Alexandria,  in  the  division  of  General  Franklin.  The 
audience  was  composed  entirely  of  soldiers  of  the  First  New  Jersey 
Regiment.  The  hall  was  crowded,  the  brave  boys  were  delighted,  and 
everything  passed  off  pleasantly,  until  the  singing  of  Whittier's  beauti- 
ful lines  commencing : 

'  We  wait  beneath  the  furnace  blast; ' 

when  amid  the  general  and  hearty  applause  which  followed,  a  loud  and 
spiteful  hissing  was  heard  from  some  one  in  the  audience.  The  soldiers 
became  indignant,  and  a  major  of  one  of  the  regiments  remonstrated 
against  the  hissing,  saying  he  would  be  obliged  to  eject  aii}'  persons 
thus  insulting  the  vocalists.  On  this  announcement,  up  rose  Dr.  Oak- 
ley, Surgeon  of  the  New  Jersey  First,  and  said,  '  If  there  is  to  be  any 
putting  out,  you  may  as  well  begin  with  me.'  Some  excitement  ensued, 
and  a  determination  was  manifested  among  the  soldiers,  who  have  all 
along  suspected  the  Dr.  of  secesh  sympathies,  to  kick  that  gentleman 
out  of  the  hall.  Through  the  exertions  of  one  of  the  chaplains,  order 
was  finally  restored.  The  matter  was  immediately  reported  to  General 
Franklin,  who  at  once  ordered  the  surgeon  and  major  under  arrest,  and 
soon  after  an  order  came  through  General  Franklin  from  General  Mc- 
Clellan,  revoking  the  'pass'  of  the  Hutchinsons.  General  Franklin 
directed  their  immediate  return  to  Washington,  but  as  it  was  now  half- 
past  nine  o'clock,  and  the  roads  in  the  most  wretched  condition,  Mr. 
Hutchinson  wrote  a  polite  note  to  General  Franklin  asking  permission 
to  remain  over  Sunday.  The  latter  returned  the  note  with  the  follow- 
ing insulting  endorsement:  'There  is  no  objection  to  these  folks remahi- 
ing  until  Mondaj',  if  they  behave  themselves.' 

"  Now  all  this  occurred  within  sight  of  the  residence  of  a  familv 
named  Godwin,  in  which  there  are  some  five  or  six  young  ladies,  who,  it 
is  alleged,  have  been  promised  passes  to  go  South  whenever  they  are 
disposed  to  do  so,  —  carrying,  of  course,  all  the  information  they  can  to 
the  enemy.  The  bands  of  the  regiments  are  also  sent  to  serenade  them, 
and  on  these  occasions  orders  are  given  to  suppress  the  national  airs,  as 
being  offensive  to  these  traitors  in  crinoline.  Many  of  the  higher  offi- 
cers in  the  army  are  declared  to  be  in  secret  sympathy  with  the  rebel- 


396  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

lion.  Tliey  are  regular  graduates  of  West  Point,  and  generally  look 
upon  and  treat  the  volunteer  officers  with  contempt.  It  was  of  the 
military  school  at  West  Point  that  Senator  Cliandler  declared  in  a  re- 
cent debate,  that '  since  the  days  of  Judas  Iscariot,  there  had  never  ex- 
isted an  institution  that  had  produced  so  many  traitors.' 

"  The  foregoing  statements  are  made  on  the  authority  of  an  officer  in 
General  Franklin's  division,  whose  ijost  is  in  the  vicinity  of  the  God- 
win's residence,  and  who  is  cognizant  of  tlie  facts  relating  to  the  disturb- 
ance on  the  evening  of  the  concert.  I  have  since  seen  Mr.  Hutchinson, 
who  corroborates  all  that  the  officer  has  stated,  and  has  shown  me  the 
correspondence  which  lias  passed  between  himself  and  the  military 
authorities  on  the  subject.  Your  readers  may  rely,  therefore,  on  the 
correctness  of  the  foregoing  narrative." 

The  writer  here  reproduces  the  song,  on  the  ground 
that  many  readers  may  like  to  see  the  beautiful  lines, 
the  singing  of  which  had  given  such  offence  to  those 
secret  sympathizers  with  secession,  and  judging  from 
the  ridiculous  action  of  General  Franklin,  well-nisrh 
produced  a  general  disruption  of  our  army.  He  then 
goes  on 

"For  giving  expression  to  these  sentiments,  the  Hutchinsons  have 
been  driven  from  the  camps  of  our  army.  It  is  due,  however,  to  the 
soldiers  to  say,  that  almost  to  a  man  tliey  condemn  the  outrage,  but, 
with  the  fate  of  the  major  before  them,  tliey  dare  not  manifest  openly 
their  sense  of  the  wrong.  They  are  subjects  of  a  petty  tyranny  from 
officials  who,  it  is  feared,  have  too  little  sympathy  with  the  cause  in 
which  they  are  enlisted.  It  is  idle  to  talk  of  rebels  at  Ball's  Bluff,  in 
the  Potomac  batteries,  or  behind  the  entrenchments  at  Centreville  or 
Manassas.  The  traitors  are  here  —  in  our  own  camps  —  at  the  head  of 
our  armies  —  in  the  Capitol  itself.  They  stalk  unblushingly  into  tlie 
Senate  Chamber,  and  mingle  in  the  most  secret  councils  of  senators. 
Their  eager  eye  is  watcliful,  and  their  ready  tongue  may  whisper  the 
tidings  in  the  listening  ear  of  treason." 

Colonel  Edward  Livingston  Welling,  Secretary  of  the 
Third  Army  Corps  Union,  and  a  successful  physician  of 
Pennington,  N.  J.,  to  whom  I  have  referred,  was  present 
at  the  concert,  being  then  a  member  of  the  First  Regi- 
ment.    He  was  then  a  pro-slavery  man.     Our  singing. 


IN   WAR    TIME.  397 

however,  converted  him  and  he  was  ever  after  a  warm 
friend  of  emancij^ation.  He  has  maintained  a  firm  feel- 
ing of  friendship  for  the  family  ever  since  those  event- 
fnl  davs.  Writing-  to  nij  daughter  Viola  a  few  years 
since,  he  said : 

"  How  time  flies !  It  seems  but  j-esterday  that  we  had  such  thrilling 
and  grand  old  times  in  the  seminary,  wlien  we  were  so  mucli  in  advance 
of  the  glorious  'Proclamation  of  Emancipation'  which  had  to  come, 
and  which,  when  it  did  come,  made  the  name  and  the  memory  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  innnortal.  ...  I  can  almost  hear,  ringing  in  my 
ears,  those  thrilling,  majestically  truthful  words  : 

"  '  What  gives  the  wheat  fields  blades  of  steel  ? 
What  points  the  rebel  cauuoii?'  etc., 

and,  as  in  days  of  yore,  I  can  e'en  now  feel  the  hair  rising  on  my 
head,  as  the  answer  peals  forth  —  'Slavery  '.  "' 

Pleasantest  of  all  the  comment  and  correspondence 
called  out  by  this  incident  was  this,  from  Whittier: 

Amesbury,  6tli,  od  month,  1862. 

My  Dear  H.  :  —  I  am  glad  to  know  that  there  is  any  sing  in  my  verses. 

Of  course  I  can  have  no  objection  to  thy  use  of  them.  If  thee  can 
get  any  music  out  of  them,  I  shall  be  pleased  and  gratified. 

Whatever  General  McClellan  may  do  with  my  rhymes,  I  am  thankful 
that  Congress  is  putting  it  out  of  his  pcjwcr  to  "  send  Ijack  "  fugitive 
slaves  as  well  as  singers. 

After  all,  I  do  not  think  it  strange  that  a  Quaker's  song  should  be 
thought  out  of  place  in  the  army. 

Wishing  thee  and  thine  health  and  hajipiness,  and  hoping  that  you 
may  live  to  sing  of  the  deliverance  of  our  land  from  slavery  and  war,  I 
am  very  truly  thy  friend, 

JOHX  G.  WniTTIKR. 

The  remark  in  Whittier's  first  paragra[)h  evidently 
refers  to  a  conversation  I  had  with  him  in  Amesbury, 
before  the  war.  Whittier  was  calling  on  me  and  said, 
'•  Do  von  want  to  know  the  one  desire  I  have  a1)ove  all 
others?"     I  told  him  I  would  be  pleased  to  hear  from 


398  THE    HLTTCHINSOX   FAMILY. 

his  own  lips  a  statement  of  this  supreme  desire.  "  It  is 
this,"  said  he,  "  that  I  may  so  write  my  verses  that  they 
may  be  sung." 

In  all  the  years  since,  wherever  we  have  been  singing, 
we  have  been  greeted  by  thousands  of  soldiers  who  re- 
membered the  thrilling  incidents  of  those  days  in  the 
camps  and  seemed  to  have  an  attachment  for  us  because 
of  our  songs  to  the  brave  boys  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

After  singing  in  Alexandria,  we  once  more  returned 
to  Washington.  Some  of  tlie  members  of  General  Mc- 
C'lellan's  body-guard  gave  us  an  invitation  to  sing  before 
them  in  private.  To  compensate  us,  they  purchased 
large  numbers  of  tickets  for  a  concert,  and  attended  at 
a  church  where  it  was  held.  The  provost-marshal  of 
the  city  was  present  at  this  concert.  We  sung  about 
all  of  our  radical  songs,  amid  great  applause.  They  so 
frightened  the  pastor  of  the  cluirch,  however,  for  fear 
some  of  his  congregation  sliould  be  disturbed  by  their 
anti-slavery  sentiments,  that  he  refused  to  let  us  have 
the  edifice  for  another.  Then  we  made  an  arrangement 
with  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  to  give 
concerts  in  its  hall,  dividing  the  profits.  Our  experi- 
ence here  affords  an  additional  illustration  of  the  pecu- 
liar conditions  existing  in  Washington,  where  were 
gathered  all  sorts  of  men,  some  friendly  to  the  adminis- 
tration and  some  not  —  Union  men,  copperheads  and 
doughfaces.  The  departments  swarmed  with  men  who 
did  not  know  their  own  minds.  Their  experience  made 
them  useful,  but  though  they  might  have  been  theoreti- 
cally in  favor  of  the  success  of  Northern  arms  and  the 
estal)lishment  of  universal  freedom,  they  were  not  only 
afraid  to  say  so,  but  Avere  disposed  to  object  to  any  one 
else  saying  so  either. 


IN    AVAR    TIME.  399 

The  president  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  had  been  for  a  long 
time  a  clerk  in  the  Treasury  Department.  He  seemed 
pleased  to  see  the  money  come  in  from  our  concerts,  but 
evidently  something  troubled  him.  Finally  he  came  to 
me  after  one  of  the  concerts  and  with  a  good  deal  of 
hemmino-  and  hawing  manag-ed  to  evolve  a  suQ-crestion, 
that  considering  the  exciting  conditions  prevailing  it 
would  be  wiser  to  drop  references  to  the  slavery  ques- 
tion in  our  programmes.  I  thanked  him  for  the  hint, 
but  gave  no  indication  of  what  I  would  do.  He  cor- 
rectly inferred  that  I  would  do  nothing  of  tlie  sort  and 
so  wrote  me  a  long  letter  of  four  pages,  in  which,  after 
beating  all  about  the  bush,  lie  succeeded  in  again  de- 
livering himself  of  the  same  idea.  A  few  days  later  I 
called  at  the  Treasury  Department  and  went  to  his 
office.  Desiring  to  introduce  the  subject  of  my  call 
pleasantly,  I  referred  in  tones  of  satisfaction  to  the  news 
just  received  of  the  success  of  one  of  our  armies  in 
battle.  Then  I  told  him  I  had  just  been  calling  on  my 
friend  of  many  years'  standing,  Secretary  Chase.  He 
looked  startled,  and  seemed  even  more  surprised  and  ill 
at  ease,  when  I  said  that  I  had  been  invited  as  a  special 
guest  to  a  reception  at  the  secretary's  house.  Suddenly 
I  said:  '^  Oh,  I  received  a  letter  from  you!"  "Yes,"' 
he  responded,  "have  you  got  it  with  you?"  Unthink- 
ingly, I  drew  it  from  my  pocket.  He  snatched  it  and 
put  it  into  the  fire  burning  in  the  room.  Then  I  told 
him  I  Avould  relieve  his  mind  of  further  anxiety  regard- 
ing our  anti-slavery  utterances,  by  giving  up  the  con- 
certs. The  man  evidently  thought  I  was  in  a  position 
to  show  his  letter  and  perhaps  secure  his  dismissal,  but 
I  said  nothing  further  of  the  matter. 

On  the  following  Sunday  we  sang  at  the  Capitol. 
N.  P.  Willis  was  in  the  city  at  the  time  and  in  writing 


400  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

to  his  paper,  the  Home  Journal,  made  a  reference  to  the 

incident : 

"  WashinGtox,  January  12,  1862. 

"  With  the  charm  of  novelty,  as  to  time  and  place  —  the  additional 
relish,  that  is  to  say,  of  '  game  out  of  season '  —  I  have  had,  to-day,  two 
warm  experiences,  for  mid-winter,  at  Washington  —  a  summer  stroll 
through  the  gromids  of  the  Capitol,  and  the  hearing  of  Cheever's  aboli- 
tion sermon  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  June  never  had  a  softer 
or  sunnier  day  than  this  January  twelfth  and  a  more  volcanic  outburst 
of  human  utterance  was  probably  never  listened  to,  than  Cheever's  as' 
tonishing  of  those  legislative  chairs,  this  Sabbath  afternoon  !  Whether 
the  hearer  did,  or  did  not  believe  in  tlie  parallel  drawn  from  the  text  — 
that  Lincoln  was  'Pliaraoli '  and  Fremont  '  Moses,' rebellion  the  'Eed 
Sea  '  and  '  river  of  blood,'  and  that  alujlition  would  be  the  '  letting  God's 
people  go,' at  the  now  last  command  of  an  angry  Jehovah  —  the  per- 
suading thereto  was  oratori(;alIy  tremendous ! 

"  At  the  close  of  tlie  service,  tlie  portable  melodeon  of  '  the  Hutchin- 
sons'  was  brought  into  the  centre  of  the  Kepresentative  hall  and  the 
four  famous  vocalists  broke  forth  with  a  quartette  of  Wendell  Fhillips- 
ism  (an  anti-slavery  hymn),  by  way  of  doxology.  It  was  exceedingly 
well  sung — only,  a  little  perplexing  to  remember,  that  this  musical 
family  had  done  the  same  thing  for  the  just-denounced  'Pharaoh  '  a  few 
niglits  before  —  bringing  in  their  melodeon  (as  I  had  innocently  been 
delighted  to  see  them  do),  and  doxologizing,  in  the  very  same  way,  the 
departing  guests  of  a  levee  at  the  White  House.  That  the  '  Egyptian 
Ruler's '  heart  is  not  yet  altogether  hardened,  however  (and  therefore 
still  worthy  of  being  sung  to),  I  am  happy  to  bear  witness,  for,  chanc- 
ing to  look  around  at  the  conclusion  of  this  latter  song,  I  saw  the  eyes 
of  our  tall  '  Pharaoh'  brimful  of  tears  ! " 

Amone  the  selections  suno-  at  the  meetincy  in  the 
Capitol  referred  to,  was  "  The  Slave's  Appeal "  which 
created  a  great  sensation.  xVfter  it  was  over,  a  slave- 
liolder  invited  us  to  his  house  to  have  "  a  talk,"'  but  we 
were  pressed  for  time  and  could  not  go. 

Acting  on  the  principle  that  misery  likes  company, 
and  knowing  that  General  John  C.  Fremont  had  been 
cashiered,  or  at  least  ordered  to  report  at  Washington 
from  his  Missouri  command,  for  issuing  an  emancipa- 
tion proclamation,  while  I  had  been  obliged  to  return 


IN    WAR    TIME.  401 

from  the  army  for  singing  emancipation  songs,  I  seized 
the  first  opportunity  that  offered  to  call  upon  him.  lie 
was  just  in  the  state  of  mind  for  connnunion,  and  we 
related  our  mutual  greivances.  Then  our  talk  wan- 
dered to  our  hopes  for  the  success  of  the  Avar,  and  our 
regret  at  the  apparent  lukewarmness  and  delinquency  of 
President  Lincoln  and  the  government,  failing  because 
of  the  dilemma  of  discord  on  the  part  of  the  leaders  of 
the  army  to  declare  emancipation.  We  discussed  the 
contrast  furnished  by  Jeff'  Davis,  who  fully  controlled 
every  man  in  tlie  South,  united  to  fight  to  maintain 
slavery.  I  said  that  it  seemed  to  me  dangerous  to  delay 
the  great  movement.  As  I  looked  at  it,  not  only  the 
friends  of  the  slave  in  the  North,  but  in  Canada  and 
over  the  sea  stood  ready  to  assist  in  a  contest  for  liis 
emancipation.  Looking  him  fully  in  the  face,  1  said : 
"John  C.  Fremont,  a  million  of  men  can  be  marshalled 
under  the  slogan  of  '  Fremont  and  Victory  I  "'  "  The 
time  is  not  yet,"  was  his  reply.  I  felt  that  my  visit  to 
him  was  timely  and  delightful.  We  afterward  enjoj'ed 
many  pleasant  hours  with  him  and  his  beloved  and 
popular ,wife,  Jessie  Benton  Fremont. 

Our  experiences  with  Secretary  Chase  were  of  the 
pleasantest  character,  though  some  of  them  were  rather 
unusual.  We  liad  hardly  reached  the  city  before  liis 
daughter,  afterwards  so  well  known  as  Mrs.  Kate  Cliase 
Sprague,  invited  us  to  come  to  the  house  for  an  even- 
ing. These  calls  were  often  repeated.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  invited  me  for  a  social  evening  and  at  the  ap- 
pointed time  I  repaired  to  the  house  in  company  with 
Henry  and  Viola.  The  bell  was  answered  by  a  servant. 
I  incpiired  if  ^h\  Chase  was  at  home  and  told  liim  I 
had  an  appointment  to  come  that  night.  He  said  ^h\ 
Chase  was  in  his  library.     He  took  the  verbal  message 


402  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

and  returned,  saying  that  Mr.  Chase  was  very  much 
engaged  and  could  not  see  company.  I  said  there  must 
be  a  mistake,  and  he  went  once  more  to  the  great  secre- 
tar}",  returning  with  the  message,  '^  Mr.  Chase  wants 
you  to  send  him  your  card."  I  discovered  that  I  had 
no  card  with  me,  and  as  I  liad  as  usual,  plenty  of  con- 
cert tickets  handy,  sent  one  of  them.  The  servant  re- 
turned a  third  time,  and  said  :  "  Mr.  Chase  saj^s  there  is 
no  concert  here  to-night."  We  left  the  house  in  sur- 
prise and  wonder.  The  rude  treatment  we  had  met 
was  inexplicable.  I  recalled  statements  I  had  heard, 
however,  that  when  busy,  Mr.  Chase  had  no  recognition 
of  engagements,  and  felt  somewhat  relieved.  We  hap- 
pened to  know  that  there  was  to  be  a  grand  war  meet- 
ing at  the  Smithsonian  Institution  and  consequently 
went  there.  We  were  met  at  the  entrance  by  one  of 
those  in  charge,  mj-  arm  was  taken  and  we  were  at  once 
marched  to  the  stasfe.  We  sun^  to  the  immense  audi- 
ence  and  in  the  enthusiasm  of  the  hour  forgot  the  Chase 
incident.  This  was  during  the  period  of  the  concerts 
at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building.  On  the  following  evening 
I  had  gone  to  the  hall  and  was  standing  at  the  door  as 
the  people  came  in,  when  a  letter  was  given  me.  I  was 
just  about  to  go  on  the  stage.  The  letter  had  no  en- 
velope, in  the  ancient  style,  and  as  I  glanced  at  it  in  my 
haste,  the  writing  being  far  from  handsome  and  difficult 
to  decipher,  concluded  it  to  be  from  some  indifferent 
person  and  thrust  it  into  my  pocket  unread.  Then  I 
forgot  all  about  it.  That  night  I  woke  at  midnight  and 
thought  of  it.  I  lit  the  gas,  found  it,  and  discovered  it 
to  be  from  Chase.     It  was  as  follows : 

Friday  eve. 

Mt  Dear  Friend: — Allow  me  to  explain   a  mistake.     When  the 
card  marked  "  Hutchinson  Family  Concert,  50  cents,"  was  brought  witli 


IN    WAR    TIME.  403 

tlie  remark  of  tlie  sorv;int  tliat  the  gentleman  said  "tliere  was  to  1)0  a 
concert  here  to-night,"  I  naturally  supposed  that  you  had  given  the 
tickets  to  some  friends  to  be  present  this  evening,  and,  as  Nettie  is  ill, 
though  I  trust  not  seriously,  at  riiiladelpliia,  and  Katie  wt'ut  off  sud- 
denly last  night  to  he  with  her,  I  thouglit  it  not  best  to  ha\t' anything 
like  a  concert  in  the  house  to-niglit  and  sent  word  to  the  supposed  con- 
cert comers  that  there  would  be  none.  It  never  occurred  to  me  that 
the  comers  were  you  and  your  children.  Why  did  you  not  send  your 
name  instead  of  a  ticket  ?  After  the  door  had  closed  some  minutes  it 
flashed  through  my  mind  tliat  I  had  sent  away  the  very  friends  I  most 
desired  to  sec.  Won't  you  all  come  and  take  dinner  with  me  at  six  to- 
morrow? Yours  cordially,  S.  P.  Chase. 

John  Hutchinson,  Esq. 

Soon  after  he  invited  me  to  come  to  his  house  for  a 
more  pretentious  reception.  He  said :  '*  I  want  you  to 
come,  and  I  "will  have  whoever  I  can  invite  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  government,  leading  generals,  and  others 
who  understand  the  gist  of  this  war.  You  may  sing 
and  talk  to  them  as  much  as  you  please."  A  day  or 
two  later  I  wi'ote  to  him  that  if  he  would  pardon  the 
suggestion,  and  if  it  would  be  consistent  with  etiquette, 
I  should  be  happy  to  have  him  invite  General  Fremont 
and  "■  Jessie  "'  to  the  reception.     His  reply  was  this: 

Monday,  .3  Feb. 

Dear  Friend;  —  My  engagements  for  "Wednesday  evening  will  pre- 
vent me  from  being  able  to  receive  you  then,  but  Thm-sday  evening  is 
free.  Can  you  come  then?  If  possible  for  you,  you  will  be  very  wel- 
come. 

As  neither  General  Fremont  has  called  on  me,  nor  Mrs.  F.  on  my 
daughter,  it  will  be  impossible,  consistently  with  the  rules  of  society 
here,  which  one  is  obliged  to  observe,  to  gratify  your  wish  in  respect  to 
them;  which  otherwise  I  should  gratify  with  as  much  pleasure  to  my- 
self as  to  you.  Yours  truly,  S.  P.  Chase. 

On  the  evening  of  the  reception  My.  Chase  was  near 
the  door  to  welcome  the  guests  when  I  came  in.  The 
room  was  already  well  hlled.  Mr.  Chase  beckoned  me 
into  his  library  before  introducing  me.     Sitting  down 


404  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

on  one  side  of  the  library  table,  I  on  the  other,  he  said: 
''  ]\Iy  excuse  for  denjdng  3'ou  the  privilege  of  meeting 
Fremont  and  Jessie  was  explained  somewhat  in  my 
letter.  But  there  are  other  reasons.  The  attitude  of 
Fremont  is  not  approved  by  the  administration.  When 
this  great  question  is  finally  adjusted,  the  proclamation 
of  emancipation  must  come  from  the  government — • 
from  Lincoln,  not  from  a  general." 

I  was  presented  to  a  notable  gathering  indeed.  Among 
them  were  Hon.  Carl  Shurz,  ex-Governor  Boutwell,  of 
Massachusetts,  Senator  Howe  and  lady,  Mrs.  Governor 
Andrew,  of  Massachusetts,  General  Shields,  Mrs.  Gen- 
eral JNIcDowell  and  many  others  of  equal  distinction. 
We  liad  a  very  good  opportunity  both  to  sing  and  speak 
our  opinions.  During  the  prograinme  Ave  rendered 
"  John  Brown's  Body.''  When  we  came  to  the  words 
"  Hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour  apple  tree,"  I  noticed  a 
downcast  look  of  disapproval  on  the  secretary's  face. 
Soon  after  he  souglit  a  quiet  opportunity  and  said  to 
me  :  "•  If  I  were  you  I  Avould  not  sing  that  verse  again. 
The  point  is  this  :  when  emanci})ation  comes,  we  sliall 
have  no  further  quarrel  with  the  South.  That  will 
mean  an  end  of  war.  We  shall  then  be  a  united  and 
reconstructed  people,  in  harmony  again." 

One  day  Chase  wrote  me  a  note,  inviting  me  to  call 
and  remarking  that  lie  would  that  day  be  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  seeing  the  brokers  —  "who  sing  very  different 
notes  from  yours."  That  evening,  when  I  reached  his 
house  he  said :  "  Oh,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you !  I  have 
been  thronged  with  the  bankers  and  brokers  of  Wall 
Street,  Philadelphia  and  Boston,  some  two  hundred  of 
them  in  my  office  all  day."  He  seemed  to  be  in  great  dis- 
tress because  of  their  proceedings.  They  iiad  given  him 
to  undei'stand  that  the  issue  of  greenbacks,  ^^'hich  was 


IN   WAR   TIME.  405 

to  represent  the  credit  of  the  government,  must  come 
under  the  banking  system,  or  tliey  would  refuse  to  loan 
the  government  money.  Those  were  days  of  trial  for 
the  great  financier,  and  it  was  not  strange  that  he  was 
sometimes  depressed. 

The  fact  that  it  became  difficult  for  us  to  get  a  place 
in  which  to  sing  Avon  for  us  great  sympathy  from  the 
colored  people,  wlio  gave  every  possible  evidence  of 
their  appreciation  of  our  labors  for  twenty  years  in  be- 
half of  the  enfranchisement  of  their  race.  When  the 
doors  of  the  white  churches  Avere  closed  against  us, 
they  offered  us  the  use  of  their  own  houses  of  Avorship. 

On  leaving  Washington,  Ave  Avent  once  more  to  Phil- 
adelphia, and  besides  opening  a  new  hall,  many  concerts 
Avere  giA'en.  "  The  Furnace  Blast  "  at  once  became  the 
most  popular  of  our  selections,  because  of  the  publicity 
given  the  fact  of  its  prohibition.  George  Burleigh,  the 
poet  and  friend  of  anti-slavery,  published  at  this  time  in 
the  Neio  York  Independent  a  poem,  "  Free  Song  on  the 
Potomac,''  dedicated  to  the  Hutchinsons,  AA'hich  was  as 
foUoAvs : 

"  Ha,  Tape  and  Tinsel;  will  ye  stop 
The  swelling  tide  of  freedom's  song, 
E'en  while  the  Judgment  Hour  lets  drop 

God's  lightning  on  the  towers  of  wrong  ?  — 
Forbid  the  fearless  free  who  fling 

Their  lives  on  battle's  combing  wave 
To  hear  their  Mountain  AVarblers  sing 

Our  ransom  with  the  ransomed  slave? 
But  truth  divine  can  pass  your  line 
>     Without  your  word  and  countersign : 
The  winds  will  wing  it. 
The  birds  will  sing  it. 
The  seas  will  ring  it. 
The  shouting  brooks  from  the  hills  will  bring  it, 
And  your  shattering  cannon-peal  shall  fling  it, 
AVherever  a  slave  may  pine. 


406  THE    HUTCHINSOISr   FAMILY. 

"  Sweet  songsters  of  the  Granite  Hills, 
Birds  of  the  rock  and  forest  oak, 
Wild-bubbling  as  their  own  free  rills 

Their  music,  through  the  cannon-smoke, 
Rained  like  the  sky-larks  from  her  cloud ; 
And  might  have  laid  the  fiend  of  Saul, 
But  makes  your  haunting  fiend  more  loud. 

Whose  javelin  seeks  the  life  of  all. 
Unjustly  strong,  from  out  j'our  throng 
You  drive  the  Flock,  but  not  the  Song! 
The  winds  will  wing  it, 
The  birds  will  sing  it. 
The  seas  will  ring  it, 
The  shouting  brooks  from  the  hills  will  bring  it, 
And  the  scream  of  your  roaring  shells  will  fling  it, 
Wherever  the  weak  bears  wrong. 

"  Not  clanging  horns  nor  rumbling  drums 
The  tones  that  deepest  thrill  the  land ; 
The  Resurrection  angel  comes 

With  Freedom's  trumpet  in  her  hand ! 
Its  blast  will  call  the  living  dead, 

Redeemed,  from   Slavery's  Hadean  tomb 
To  find  our  welcome ;  or  instead 

Peal  the  last  charge  of  flying  Doom ! 
The  hour  of  fate  will  never  wait, 
Ye  hear  its  judgment  knell  too  late : 
The  winds  will  wing  it. 
The  birds  will  sing  it. 
The  seas  will  ring  it. 
The  shouting  brooks  from  the  hills  will  bring  it, 
And  a  nation's  dying  groan  shall  fling  it 

Through  the  sliattered  prison-gate ! 

"  Once  old  chivalric  honor  reigned. 

And  bards  were  sacred,  e'en  to  foes ; 
They  kept  the  glory  heroes  gained. 

And  sang  high  deeds  that  shamed  repose. 
But  cheer,  my   Warblers !  fly  away 

To  sing  more  clear  in  smokeless  air; 
The  herald  Angels  sing  to-day, 

Nor  ask  a  tinselled  tyrant  where. 
From  heaven's  blue  cope  the  song  of  hoi)e 
Thrills  down  the  bondman's  dungeon  slojie ; 


IN    AVAR   TIME.  407 

The  winds  will  winjr  it, 

Tlie  birds  will  sing  it, 

The  seas  will  ring  it, 
The  shouting  brooks  from  the  liills  will  bring  it, 
And  a  rescued  nation's  voice  shall  fling  it, 

Where  the  last  lone  slave  may  groi)e. " 

•  Soon  after  we  went  to  Boston  for  concerts.  We  were 
under  contract  to  sing  for  some  lecture  committee,  but 
they  found  the  hall  we  desired,  Tremont  Temple,  had 
been  engaged  by  Wendell  Phillips,  who  was  to  lecture. 
He  not  only  granted  us  the  use  of  the  hall,  but  post- 
})oned  a  lecture  and  came  to  hear  us  liimself.  The 
Melodeon,  in  which  for  so  many  seasons  we  gave  our 
Boston  concerts,  had  disappeared.  Years  after,  I  was 
in  Boston  one  day  at  a  store  on  Washington  Street, 
buying  some  gas  fixtures  for  the  house  in  which  I  now 
live.  Sitting  in  the  back  of  the  store,  waiting  for  the 
clerk,  a  scene  suddenly  flashed  across  my  mind.  It  Avas 
of  our  family,  singing  before  an  audience  in  the  Melo- 
deon, and  it  came  before  me  with  such  vividness  that 
when  tlie  clerk  came  back  I  said :  "  My  dear  fellow,  I 
have  been  thinkinsf'  of  our  sinsfino-  in  the  old  Melodeon. 
Tell  me  if  I  am  in  the  vicinity  of  its  site?"'  "  Why," 
said  he,  "  You  are  right  where  its  stage  would  be  if  it 
were  still  in  existence." 

After  this  came  numerous  concerts  in  New  York, 
Trenton  and  contiguous  places  and  a  series  of  concerts 
on  Long  Island  for  the  benefit  of  the  soldier's  home  in 
New  York.  Then  we  winged  our  way  across  the  coun- 
try, by  way  of  Pittsburgh,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Wisconsin, 
and  Minnesota,  concerting,  of  course,  to  Hutchinson. 
Here  everything  appeared  prosperous,  Ijut  I  took  occa- 
sion to  warn  the  inhabitants  ae^ainst  tlie  liostile  tribes 
of  Indians.  They  did  not  share  my  apprehensions,  but 
in  a  few  weeks  had  a  chance  to  judge  whetlier  I  was 


408  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

right.  But  this  subject  is  treated  more  fully  in  another 
chapter. 

I  have  given  some  inkling  of  the  way  our  Potomac 
experience  was  received  by  our  friends.  It  would  take 
a  large  volume  to  reproduce  all  the  controversy  that 
raged  about  the  subject.  A  few  further  quotations  of 
the  newspaper  talk  must  sufRce. 

One  pro-slavery  pa})er,  the  Warren  Journal,  said  : 

"  The  Hutchinsons,  the  notorious  abolition  family,  who  were 
drummed  out  of  the  New  Jersey  camps  as  traitors,  and  who  sang  in 
tlie  court-house  some  weeks  since  a  number  of  abolition  songs  and 
one  very  abusive  of  that  brave  and  gallant  Jerseyman,  General 
Kearney,  will  visit  this  place  again,  on  Monday  next.  Of  course  all 
the  enemies  of  General  Kearney,  who  wished  that  on  the  bloody  fields 
of  Mexico,  wliere  he  lost  an  arm,  "he  would  be  welcomed  with 
bloody  liands  to  a  hospitable  grave,"  and  who  now  sjnnpathize  with 
those  who  would  blacken  his  fair  name  and  reputation,  while  he  is  ab- 
sent from  home,  giving  his  best  efforts  to  crush  out  and  put  down  this 
unrighteous  and  unholy  rebellion,  will  give  their  countenance  and 
support  to  his  traducers.  We  know  we  have  a  certain  class,  who  will 
joyfully  embrace  this  opportunity  and  we  expect  great  efforts  will  be 
made  to  fill  the  court-house." 

Another  sample  shot : 

"A  Contemptible  Spirit. —  The  Pioneer  of  yesterday  indulged  in 
one  of  its  characteristic  obscene  attacks  on  the  Hutchinson  family, 
because  they  did  not  favor  it  with  any  patronage.  It  is  true  the 
Hutchinsons  labored  under  many  embarrassments.  Their  musical  in- 
struments were  broken  while  in  transit  to  this  city,  and  they  could  not 
obtain  others.  The  night  M'as  extremely  cold,  which  prevented  a 
large  audience,  and  added  to  their  other  difficulties.  But  the  animus 
of  the  Pioneer's  attack  is  manifested  in  the  following  paragraph  : 

"'Although  they  sang  some  ballads  quite  well,  their  "liberty,  hu- 
manity and  fraternity  "  huff'oonery  spoiled  it  all.' 

"  It  seems,  according  to  this,  that  to  advocate  '  liberty  and  human- 
ity'  is  buffoonery.  Of  course  that  Copperhead  concern  was  never 
guilty  of  such  'buffoonery.'  It  never  'spoils  it  all  '  with  'liberty  and 
humanity  buffoonery.'    That  isn't  the  style  of  rebel  papers. 

"The  Hutchinsons  are  noted  for  tlieir  patriotism  and  love  of  free- 
dom.    For   years   they  have  sung   their   songs  of  freedom,  and  that, 


IN    WAR    TOIE.  409 

too,  when  they  were  ostracized  by  a  portion  of  the  comniunity  for 
doing  so.  Now,  the  sentiment  of  the  community  agrees  with  their 
songs,  and  it  is  only  occasionally  that  a  nasty  cur  Hings  his  obscene 
tilth  upon  them.  Tlie  llutchinsons  can  ask  no  higher  comj)liment 
than  abuse  from  this  ribald  sheet,  for  their  'liberty,  humanity  and 
fraternit}-  btijfuonerij.' " 

Tlie  above  was  in  the  St.  Paul  Press,  afterwards  con- 
solidated with  the  Pioneer,  which  it  so  severely  criti- 
cizes. It  might  seem  that  the  words  it  quotes  hardly 
deserved  so  harsh  treatment,  but  the  portions  of  the 
notice  it  does  not  quote  were  fully  as  bad  as  it  says. 

About  this  time  the  Troi/  Times  printed  a  letter  from 
a  correspondent,  who  said  in  part : 

"  Sirs  :  On  one  page  of  the  Whig  this  morning  I  waded  through  a 
colunni  of  muddle,  designed  to  refute  the  almost  self-evident  fact  of 
the  paper's  disloyalty  ;  and  on  another  page,  I  find  the  following : 

"'The  Republican  organ  which  brought  a  negro  minstrel  to  task  a 
few  days  since,  for  singing  a  harmless  verse  about  the  times,  will,  no 
doubt,  feel  much  aggrieved  at  the  llutchinsons,  for  giving  utterance 
to  the  abolition  hymns  of  last  evening.' 

"  The  editor  and  his  associates  can  see  no  difference  between  the 
meanness  and  pusillanimity  of  a  public  performer,  in  deriding  and 
abusing  a  poor,  despised,  oppressed  race  —  too  humble  to  retort  upon 
their  persecutors  with  either  wit  or  violence  —  and  the  utterance  by 
the  Hutchinsons  of  sentiments  expressive  of  future  universal  freedom, 
future  happiness,  and  future  deliverance  from  oppression.  We  should 
not  be  surprised  to  read  in  the  columns  of  the  Whig  any  day  some 
such  article  as  this  :  '  Dr.  Beman,  who  took  a  chap  to  task  a  few  days 
since  for  singing  publicly  a  harmless  verse  about  the  desirableness  of 
following  lying  and  cheating  as  a  profession,  will  no  doubt  feel  much 
aggrieved  to  learn  that  the  choir  of  an  uptown  JNIetliodist  Church 
sang  publicly,  and  with  utter  shamefacedness,  last  Sunday,  the  fol- 
lowing abolition  hymn,  written  by  one  JMontgomery  ; 
• 

"  'He  conieo  to  break  oppression, 
To  set  the  captive  free  ; 
To  take  away  transgressiou. 
And  rule  in  equity. 

"  'He  comes,  with  succor  speedy. 
To  those  wlio  sutt'er  wrong; 
To  lielp  the  poor  and  needy, 
And  bid  the  weak  be  strong.'  " 


410  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

" '  VTe  sliall  only  add,  that  if  the  chlers  of  the  ahove  referred  to 
churcli  allow  the  singuig  of  such  iiiflainniatory  liynms  in  future,  the 
Whig  will  not  hesitate  to  fearlessly  denounce  them.'  " 

Here  is  a  specimen  of  the  fine  art  of  "  blowing " 
from  a  paper  in  Springfield,  Mass.  It  will  be  observed 
that  the  effort  to  conceal  the  real  reason  for  the  dislike 
of  our  critics  always  miscarries.  At  some  point  in  the 
article  the  objection  to  our  advocacy  of  abolition  is  un- 
wittingly or  otherwise  inserted : 

"The  Hutchinson  Family. —  The  'Tribe  of  John  '  concerted  Fri- 
day night  at  Union  Hall.  Jolin  wears  a  shirt  collar  of  the  Byronical 
style,  the  size  of  a  horse  collar,  as  a  badge  of  Spiritualism,  and  has  a 
patriarchical  look;  that  is,  Jolm  lias,  not  the  collar.  The  collar  has  a 
look  of  affectation,  or  a  bid  for  notoriety' ;  it  looks  too  much  like 
a  quack  medicine  sign,  and  it  looks  as  if  he  had  made  a  mistake  in 
putting  his  shirt  on,  and  put  it  on  wrong  end  up.  It  is  fair  to  pre- 
sume that  John's  kind  of  spirits  wear  shirts,  from  his  wearing  a  col- 
lar as  a  badge.  John's  horse  shirt  collar  is  prodigious ;  it  would  be 
just  about  right  for  a  shirt  collar  for  an  elepliant,  or  would  make  a 
good  shroud  for  Tom  Thumb,  or  a  stay-sail  for  a  '  74: '  ship,  or  a  Fourth 
of  July  flag,  after  the  stars  are  all  wiped  out,  or  a  cover  for  an  emi- 
grant wagon,  or  an  army  tent.  It  would  be  all  the  bedclothes  we 
should  suppose  John  would  want.  Another  gentleman  and  two  ladies 
accompany  John ;  their  singing  sounds  like  ventriloquism,  or  as  if  it 
came  up  from  their  toes,  and  sounds  like  young  thunder.  The  gentle- 
man who  accompanies  John  looks  as  if  he  miglit  be  a  lady  in  male 
attire.  The  greatest  difficulty  they  seemed  to  have  in  singing  was 
they  could  not  bite  off  the  tunes.  When  they  commence  unravelling 
a  tune  they  can't  stop  its  unravelling.  The  songs  they  sung  were  mostly 
old  ones,  such  as  we  have  heard  them  sing  before.  They  are  charm- 
ing singers.  The  young  lady  stands  most  too  stiff ;  she  looks  as  if 
she  was  froze  stiff.  We  are  not  much  of  a  judge  of  music,  but  we 
know  that  if  it  was  not  good  singing,  it  was  good  hollering.  Tlie 
young  lady,  we  think,  bids  fair  to  make  as  fine  a  singer  as  there  is. 
We  very  much  doubt  if  she  has  her  equal  of  her  age  in  any  country. 
Of  John  it  is  not  necessary  to  speak.  His  reputation  is  at  least 
United  States  wide.  The  other  two  are  star  singers.  John  does  not 
talk  distinct  enough  in  making  announcements,  and  their  singing  is 
like  all  singing ;  the  sentiment  is  Greek  to  the  audience,  because  tlie 
pronunciation,  we  think,  is  unnecessarily  smothered  —  an  affectation. 


IN   WAR   TIME,  411 

"We  look  forward  and  expect  to  see  a  reform  in  tliis,  when  singing- 
words  will  be  as  distinct  as  speaking  them,  and  more  melodious,  and 
therefore  more  captivating.  The  singers,  complained,  justly,  we  pre- 
sume, of  the  echo  spoiling  the  effect  of  their  singing.  [It  was  a  fact, 
that  this  was  as  miserable  a  hall,  acoustically,  as  we  ever  were  com- 
pelled to  sing  in.]  The  young  ladies  in  the  audience  pronounced  the 
young  gentleman  singer  handsome.  Were  we  a  young  man,  we  sliould 
pronounce  the  young  lady  handsome.  John  spoiled  the  programme  by 
making  his  foolish  stereotyped  abolition  speecli  that  he  always  makes. 
The  loliole  audience  was  disgusted  by  this  miserable  nonsensical  stuff. 
John  proves  the  old  saw  true,  '  that  good  singers  are  never  smart.' 
Democrats  tliat  do  not  wish  to  be  insulted  will  stay  away  from  these 
concerts  until  John  mends  his  political  manners.  John  is  a  born 
Yankee,  and  has  never  been  born  again,  and  we  don't  think  he  ever 
will  be.  He  will  always  say  '  keow '  and '  lieow,'  and  sing  abolition  songs 
after  all  the  white  men  are  dead,  and  if  all  the  white  women  sliould 
die,  we  don't  think  Jolm  would  be  at  a  loss  what  to  do,  and  would  be  all 
the  time  in  congenial  company  and  much  happier  than  he  is  now  at 
times.  The  young  man  acted  the  drunkard  a  great  deal  better  than  a 
raw  hand,  and  John's  face  is  pretty  red  for  a  Yankee,  unless  eating  too 
many  sour  apples  is  the  cause  of  it." 

A  Western  paper  said : 

"The  Hutchinsons  gave  one  of  their  exhilarating  concerts  at 
Brewster  Hall,  last  Thursday  evening,  and  notwitiistanding  a  rainy 
night,  had  a  full  house.  It  was  decidedly  the  best  entertainment  that 
it  has  been  our  privilege  to  enjoy  since  our  advent  to  Waterford. 
Patriotism,  mirth,  sentiment  and  religion  all  took  their  ajipropriate 
places  in  the  performance,  and  called  forth  rapturous  applause  from 
the  delighted  audience.  They  sang  without  stint  their  '  Songs  of  Free- 
dom,' for  which  they  were  exiled  from  McClellan's  camp  a  few  months 
ago.  We  admire  the  Hutchinsons  for  the  manly  advocacy  of  what 
they  believe,  no  less  than  the  power  and  sweetness  of  their  singing, 
which  has  won  them  a  world-wide  reputation.  Let  them  sing  on  — 
sing  for  truth,  liberty,  religion  and  humanity.  We  wish  there  were 
more  Hutchinson  families,  to  aid  in  the  world's  amelioration." 

A  paper  in  Mt.  Clemens,  Mich.,  made  this  comment : 

"  This  is  a  land  of  liberty,  and  a  country  where  freedom  of  speech 
and  a  free  expression  of  opinion  are  the  bulwarks  that  guard  our  civil 
liberties.  Such  at  least  has  been  the  proud  boast  of  the  American 
people  during  the  last  half-century.     But  there  are  some  dark  spots 


412  .  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

where  a  certain  class  of  men  yet  endeavor  to  choke  down  such  doc- 
trines and  place  a  gag  upon  such  tlioughts  as  conflict  with  their  own 
soutli  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  down  in  Egypt,  Illinois,  and  here  in 
Mt.  Clemens,  do  we  occasionally  hear  of  an  attempt  of  this  kind.  The 
Hutchinson  family  of  singers  (a  family  whose  reputation  has  gone  be- 
fore them),  advertised  a  concert  in  this  place  for  last  Tuesday  evening 
and  secured  the  Court  House  for  that  purpose.  But  some  of  the  un- 
terrified  Democracy  having  been  told  by  one  of  tlieir  street  oracles 
that  they  were  the  Hutchinson  family  that  General  McClellan  or- 
dered out  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  because  the  songs  of  freedom 
that  they  sung  to  the  soldiers  had  a  tendency  to  '  demoralize  the  army,' 
—  an  effort  was  at  once  made  on  the  part  of  the  '  constabulary  force  ' 
to  shut  off  the  exhibition,  and  on  Tuesday  night  the  house  was  closed 
against  the  concert. 

"  '  Some  men  clothed  with  a  little  brief  authority, 
Play  such  fantastic  tricks  as  make  the  devil  blush.' 

"The  operation  was  repeated  on  Wednesday  night — or  attempted 
to  be  —  but  the  house  was  tinally  opened  and  lighted.  Then  another 
difficulty  •  there  was  no  corporation  officer  to  be  found  to  give  the 
license,  hence  the  concert  was  a  free  one,  a  collection  being  taken  up 
to  defray  expenses,  etc. 

"  Now,  what  is  the  effect  of  all  this,  what  impression  is  naturally 
created  by  such  a  display  of  backwoods  verdancy  and  lack  of  cultiva- 
tion ?  What  do  our  officials  think  of  accomplishing  by  descending  to 
such  petty  political  poltroonery  as  this  last  exhibition?  Sensible  peo- 
ple cannot  but  feel  greatly  disgusted,  and  wish  for  a  change." 

In  Rockfoi'd,  111.,  there  was  a  Democratic  mayor. 
We  gave  a  concert.  At  its  conclnsion,  as  I  stood  at  the 
door,  a  bill  of  ten  dollars  for  the  j)rivilege  of  singing 
was  presented  to  me.  The  concert  had  not  been  veryre- 
mnnerative,  and  this  license  would  eat  up  all  the  profits. 
However,  I  paid  the  exorbitant  charge,  under  protest, 
and  writing  a  letter  to  the  mayor,  stating  my  griev- 
ances, left  the  place.  Subsequently  I  got  a  letter  from 
the  mayor,  saying  he  was  sorry  the  incident  had  oc- 
curred, and  also  that  if  I  came  there  again,  I  could  be 
sure  of  the  freedom  of  the  city.  In  a  few  weeks  I  ap- 
peared again  in  Rockford,  and  as  I  passed  through  the 


IN  WAR   TniE.  413 

place  to  fulfil  another  engagement,  left  cards  of  admis- 
sion for  the  mayor  and  city  council  to  another  concert  I 
proposed  giving.  When  I  returned,  I  was  at  the  hall 
to  meet  my  audience,  wlien,  just  before  the  time  for 
commencement,  M-hile  I  was  standing  at  the  door,  I  was 
approached  by  an  ofiicei',  who  presented  me  another  l)ill 
of  ten  dollars  for  a  license.  I  was  astounded  at  the 
act,  as  1  had  depended  on  the  assurance  of  the  mayor, 
and  was  sure  I  would  not  be  again  molested.  To  get 
out  of  the  dilenuna  for  the  time  being,  I  said,  "  I  must 
go  and  give  my  concert;  I  cannot  pay  the  tax."  "  You 
will  pay  or  you  will  not  sing,"  was  his  tart  response. 
"  I  will  sing  and  I  will  not  pay,"  said  I,  and  quick  as 
thought  there  came  into  my  mind  a  plan  to  avoid  the 
payment.  So  I  went  on  the  stage,  and  told  the  audi- 
ence that  owing  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  and 
for  otlier  reasons  I  had  decided  to  postpone  the  concert. 
I  inquired  how  many  would  consent  and  the  vote  was 
unanimous.  I  could  see  the  officer  in  the  rear  of  the 
hall  ready  to  arrest  me.  Then  I  said  :  ''  Dear  friends, 
I  cannot  turn  3^ou  out  in  this  inclement  weather  after 
you  have  so  kindly  come  here,  without  giving  you  a 
specimen  of  our  singing.  It  is  to  be  understood,  how- 
ever, that  you  may  all  receive  your  tickets  at  the  door 
to  the  postponed  concert,  and  that  those  who  desire 
may  have  their  money  refunded."  The  audience 
cheered  me,  and  we  then  sang  tlie  first  number  on  the 
programme,  and  continued  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  until 
it  was  concluded,  to  the  great  delight  of  the  auditors. 
Before  we  had  finished  the  programme,  the  cause  of  the 
"postponement"  was  whispered  about.  Wlien  the 
company  dispersed,  it  was  oljservable  that  no  person 
asked  either  for  tickets  or  money.  The  face  of  the 
baffled  officer  was  pitiful  to  look  upon.     I  \\as  smiling. 


fe 


414  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 


"  Well,"  said  lie,  "  Til  see  that  you  are  Avaited  upon.'' 
"  Go  ahead,"  I  replied,  ^  the  concert  was  postponed. 
The  vote  was  unanimous,  as  you  saw." 

The  next  morning  I  waited  on  the  mayor.  I  told 
him  how  I  had  been  treated,  and  tliat  depending  on  his 
letter,  I  made  no  effort  to  secure  a  license.  "  Well," 
said  he,  "you  didn't  send  us  any  tickets."  I  told  him, 
that  he  was  mistaken ;  I  had  left  tickets  with  the  clerk 
of  the  hotel.  This  surprised  him,  and  he  said  he  would 
Sfo  and  see  about  it.  I  went  with  him.  The  clerk  said 
he  put  the  tickets  in  the  post-office,  directed  to  the 
mayor.  We  went  to  the  post-office,  and  there  the  pos- 
tal clerk  found  the  package.  After  this  convincing 
proof  that-  I  had  not  ignored  the  city  government,  and 
had  told  the  truth  about  the  matter,  the  mayor  was 
ready  to  do  anything.  He  went  Avith  me  to  the  office 
of  the  city  attorney.  He  opened  the  door  and  intro- 
duced me.  The  attorney  sliook  hands  and  laughed. 
"  Well "  said  he,  "  I'll  defend  you  with  no  expense, 
whatever  comes."  He  had  heard  of  the  affair,  and  was 
immensely  pleased  at  the  way  I  had  escaped  from  the 
difficulty.  He  went  to  the  clerk  and  told  him  to  stay 
all  process.  He  had  already  been  instructed  to  do 
something  to  bring  me  to  terms,  if  anj^thing  could  be 
done,  which  he  doubted. 

Befoi'e  taking  final  leave  of  the  subject  of  the  expul- 
sion from  the  Potomac,  I  desire  to  say  in  justice  to  the 
memory  of  the  heroic  General  Kearney,  that  I  subse- 
quently heard  that  long  befoi'e  his  death  while  facing 
the  enemy  in  battle,  he  expressed  his  regret  at  his 
action ;  as  he  had  become  fully  convinced  of  the  worth 
of  emancipation,  and  entirely  in  sympathy  with  the 
government  in  its  conduct  of  the  war. 

The  story  of  our  experience,  with  the  Whittier  song, 


IN    WAR    TIME.  415 

was  published  in  practically  every  Union  paper  in  the 
North,  and,  I  was  told,  in  nearly  every  paper  in  Eng- 
land. 

During  this  year,  1862,  on  February  17th,  my  j^oung- 
est  son  was  born  at  Lynn.  I  named  him  ''  Judson 
AVhittier,"  for  my  lamented  brotlier  and  the  poet 
wliose  song  had  led  to  such  momentous  experiences. 
Though  Judson\s  health  has  always  been  frail,  he  still 
lives  to  be  my  daily  companion.  During  his  childhood 
he  was  often  with  the  family  on  its  travels  and  partici- 
pated in  its  entertainments.  His  gentle,  loving  soul, 
and  spirit  of  devotion  and  helpfulness  have  bound  him 
with  most  tender  cords  to  my  heart,  and  these  senti- 
ments have  of  course  been  strengthened  by  the  neces- 
sary attention  and  care  required  by  his  infirmities. 

The  year  18B3  was  the  year  of  Jubilee,  for  with 
January  came  emancipation,  for  Avhich  we  had  so  long 
labored  and  prayed.  I  was  singing  in  northern  New 
York  at  the  time  tlie  proclamation  was  promulgated, 
and  recall  that  I  was  taking  a  tramp  between  Sandy 
Hill  and  Glens  Falls  with  my  agent,  Cyrus  Brett,  wdien 
I  heard  the  news.  At  last  the  sky  was  clear,  and  we 
were  full  of  grand  expectation  of  noble  results. 

After  a  pleasant  experience  during  the  spring  in  the 
region  named,  Brett  left  us  and  Avent  to  Long  Island, 
where  he  held  summer  singing-schools  and  conventions 
for  a  while.  At  Eagle  Bridge,  N.  Y.,  I  had  met  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Jack  Whitcomb,  wlio  was  a  fine  liarpist. 
He  believed  we  could  work  together  well,  and  desired 
an  engagement.  Sending  my  wife  and  children  to 
Mont  Vernon,  N.  H.,  for  a  while,  I  agreed  to  go  to 
Morristown,  N.  J.,  for  one  trial.  The  concert  pleased 
me  so  much  that  I  made  an  engagement  with  him  for  a 
number   of  concerts.     We  went  to    Boston    and   from 


416  THE  hutchinsojST  family. 

thence  to  Portland.  Then  I  took  a  large  nnmber  of 
bills  and  got  on  board  the  Maine  Central  road.  At 
each  town  along  the  line,  I  dropped  off  a  bunch  of 
bills  with  a  card  to  the  postmaster  requesting  him  to 
engage  the  largest  church  for  me.  We  went  up  the 
road  as  far  as  Farmington,  giving  concerts  with  good 
success.  The  young  man  would  play  the  harp,  and  I 
played  my  violin,  the  programme  of  songs  being  thus 
pleasantly  varied.  On  our  arrival  in  each  town  we 
would  go  to  the  hall  and  he  would  rehearse,  the  music 
of  his  harp  being  very  soothing  to  me. 

Then  I  Avent  back  to  Lynn,  Whitcomb  going  with 
me.  Asa  had  just  returned  from  a  concert  trip  to  Cape 
Cod.  His  wife  had  been  with  him,  and  also  Fred.  His 
daughter  Abby  had  been  unable  to  sing,  owing  to  a  bad 
throat.  I  found  Asa  anxious  to  join  me  in  some  con- 
certs on  High  Rock.  So  I  sent  to  Mont  Vernon  for 
my  children ;  and  they  joined  Asa,  Whitcomb  and  my- 
self, in  some  as  unique  concerts  as  we  had  ever  given. 
They  were  given  on  the  crest  of  old  High  Rock,  and 
the  tickets  were  five  cents.  The  people  turned  out  en 
masse.  We  had  a  half-dozen  or  more  ticket  sellers  and 
takers,  stationed  at  the  various  approaches  to  the  rock. 
During  the  day  w^e  would  wind  balls  of  old  cloths,  and 
soak  them  in  oil.  These  would  be  placed  in  pans  on 
the  top  of  posts,  at  intervals,  and  lighted  after  dark. 
They  burned  quite  steadily  for  an  hour  or  more,  and 
boys  stood  ready  to  replace  them  when  they  burned 
out.  There  was  a  cafe  for  refreshments  in  the  ob- 
servatory. Tlie  audience  gathered  mainly  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  observatory.  Although  thousands 
came  to  the  rock  every  night,  no  accident  befell  any 
person  Avho  clambered  up  the  hill.  During  this  series 
of   concerts  we  brought   out  "  Rally  round   the    Flag, 


ON   HI(4I{   KuCK   IN   WAR   TL.ME  —  (p.  416; 


IN   WAR   TIME.  417 

Boys,''  and  "  We're  Tenting  To-night  on  the  Ohl  C'anip- 
gronnd."' 

'•  Rally  ronnd  the  Flag "  was  the  composition  of 
George  F.  Root,  and  its  history  has  been  given  in  his 
own  words.  A  very  handsomely  illnstrated  gift  edition 
of  "  Tenting  To-night"  was  published  a  few  years  since, 
bnt  no  history  of  it  was  attempted.  It  may  be  appre- 
ciated here. 

"  Tenting  To-night "  was  first  heard  in  public  from 
our  lips,  on  the  summit  of  .grand  old  High  Rock.  Its 
author  was  Walter  Kittredge.  He  was  a  native  of 
Reed's  Ferry,  N.  H.  His  sisters  came  to  Milford  to 
school  when  he  was  a  young  man,  and  later  worked 
in  the  cotton  mill  in  that  town.  During  one  of  his 
visits  to  them  Kittredge  became  acquainted  with 
Joshua.  He  took  lessons  of  Joshua,  and  finally  Avent 
on  the  road  with  him  giving  concerts.  The  two,  with 
Kate  Hutchinson,  Brother  Judson's  daughter,  gave  con- 
certs through  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  for  six 
years. 

In  1863  Kittredge  was  drafted  into  the  army.  That 
night  he  went  to  bed  the  prey  of  many  conflicting 
emotions.  His  heart  was  fired  with  patriotism,  but  full 
of  grief  at  leaving  his  liome,  and  full  of  dread  of  war. 
In  the  middle  of  the  night  he  awoke  with  the  burden 
still  on  his  mind.  He  thought  of  the  many  dear  boys 
already  gone  over  to  the  unseen  shore,  killed  in  battle 
or  dead  from  disease  in  the  camps,  of  the  unknown 
graves,  of  the  sorrowful  homes ;  of  the  weary  waiting 
for  the  end  of  the  cruel  strife,  and  the  sorrow  in  the 
camps,  of  the  brave  boys  waiting  for  the'  coming  battle, 
which  might  be  their  last.  Suddenly  the  thoughts  be- 
gan to  take  form  in  his  mind.  He  arose  and  beo-an  to 
write  : 


418  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

"  We're  tenting  to-night  on  the  old  camp-ground  ; 
Give  us  a  song  to  clieer 
Our  weary  hearts,  —  a  song  of  home, 
And  friends  we  loved  so  dear. 

"  We  are  tired  of  war  on  tlie  old  camp-ground  : 
Many  are  dead  and  gone 
Of  the  brave  and  true  who've  left  their  homes  ; 
Others  have  been  wounded  long. 

"  Many  are  the  hearts  that  arc  weary  to-night. 
Wishing  for  the  war  to  cease  ; 
Many  are  the  liearts  looking  for  the  right, 
To  see  the  dawn  of  peace. 
Tenting  to-night. 
Tenting  to-night, 
Tenting  on  the  old  camp-ground." 

Being  a  musician,  a  tune  for  the  song  easily  came  to 
Mr.  Kittredge's  mind,  and  after  copying  both  words  and 
music,  he  at  once  came  to  l^ynn,  and  went  to  Brother 
Asa,  at  BircVs  Nest  Cottage,  High  Rock.  After  they 
had  looked  it  over  together  they  called  me  in  to  sing 
the  solo.  Asa  sang  the  bass  and  the  children  joined  us 
on  the  chorus.  Kittredge  at  once  made  a  contract  with 
Asa  to  properly  arrange  and  publish  the  song,  for  one- 
half  the  profits.  That  night  we  sung  it  for  the  first 
time  on  High  Rock.  As  everybody  knows,  when  Ditson 
brought  out  the  composition,  it  was  an  instant  success. 
In  less  than  two  years  its  author  and  my  brother  had 
a  thousand  dollars  each  from  the  profits  of  the  song. 

Our  next  venture  was  a  series  of  concerts  in  Boston. 
We  chartered  the  Meionaon,  and  had  good  success. 
Finally,  the  tribes  separated  again,  and  I  went  West, 
taking  in  the  small  towns  at  first,  in  order  to  get  the 
company  properly  united  in  their  work.  Just  before  I 
started,  Bernard  Covert,  the  composer  of  the  immortal 
'•'  Sword  of  Bunker  Hill,"  and  '^  Jamie's  on  the  Stormy 


IN    WAR    TIME.  419 

Sea,"  came  to  me  and  desired  to  act  as  our  advance 
agent.  This  work  lie  did  to  my  satisfaction.  Mean- 
Avhile,  Asa's  tribe  took  a  more  southern  route.  "Sly 
harpist  left  me  to  join  the  Peak  Family. 

Our  first  concert  in  1864  was  given  at  Saxonville, 
Mass.,  on  January  4th.  Then  in  succession  came  con- 
certs at  Concord,  Groton,  Feltonville,  Gardner,  Fitch- 
burg  (where  on  the  following  evening,  Sunday,  we 
gave  a  sacred  concert  for  the  benefit  of  the  Sanitary 
Commission,  Covert  singing  with  us),  Shirley,  South 
Roylston,  Orange,  Athol,  Montague,  Greenfield,  Shel- 
bourne  Falls,  Deerfield,  South  Deerfield,  Conway, 
Amherst,  Bek-hertown,  Florence,  Easthampton,  Holy- 
oke,  Hadley  Falls,  Ilolyoke  again  (this  AA'as  a  Sunday 
evening  concert,  and  a  minister  present  pronounced  it 
better  than  a  prayer  meeting).  Old  Hadley,  Hatfield, 
Ashfield,  Cummington  (when  I  sang  at  the  centennial 
anniversary  of  Bryant's  birth,  at  Cummington  in  1894, 
I  was  told  that  I  sang  in  town  many  years  before,  but 
was  unable  to  recall  it,  until  my  diary  refreshed  my 
memor}',  then  I  recalled  singing  there  with  Frederick 
Douglass  and  Remond  as  speakers  in  a  Sunday  anti- 
slavery  meeting  at  the  invitation  of  the  Brown  Brothers, 
E.  R.  andD.  L.),  Williamsburg,  Thompsonville  (Conn.), 
Suflield,  Windsor  Locks,  Windsor,  Chicopee  Falls,  Hart- 
ford (where  we  gave  a  benefit  to  Covert  in  addition  to 
our  regular  concert.  He  was  a  dear  good  fellow,  un- 
selfish and  kind-hearted  and  very  suggestive.  His 
selections  of  songs  were  always  of  the  A^ery  best,  but 
phvsical  disabilit}^  led  me  to  let  him  go  a  little  later), 
Meriden,  Plainville,  Winstead,  Waterbnry,  Xaugatuck, 
New  Haven,  Bridgeport  (where  we  went  to  the  camp- 
ground and  sung  to  a  regiment  of  colored  soldiers). 
Nor  walk,  Danbury,  Ridgefield,  Wilton,  and  thence  to 


420  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

New  York  City ;  and  in  Brooklyn,  on  Sunday,  Marcli 
27th,  we  heard  onr  loved  Beecher  preach  once  more. 
On  the  following  day  Ave  went  again  to  Plymouth 
Churcli,  to  attend  the  funeral  of  Owen  Lovejoy,  brother 
of  the  Illinois  martyr,  and  the  member  of  Congress  who 
introduced  the  McClellan  resolutions,  mentioned.  That 
night  we  sang  in  Tarrytown,  and  followed  with  con- 
certs in  Haverstraw,  Nyack  (where  we  had  first  met 
Chaplain  Yard,  of  Potomac  renown,  then  pastor  of 
a  Methodist  church),  Piermont,  Brunswick  (N.  J.), 
Princeton,  Trenton,  Lambertville,  Newton,  Doylestown, 
Bristol,  Mt.  Holly  and  Philadelphia.  I  lost  my  in- 
struments on  my  arrival  at  Philadelphia,  and  we  gave 
one  concert  with  no  accompaniments.  Here  we  met 
Anna  Dickinson,  and  had  many  interesting  conversa- 
tions regarding  the  future  of  the  nation. 

After  a  few  days  in  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  we 
Avent  to  Washington.  Here  I  was  for  the  time  the 
guest  of  Hon.  John  B.  Alley,  joining  him  in  holding 
numerous  receptions  and  also  visited  the  White  House. 
Frank  B.  Carpenter  Avas  at  this  time  at  Avork  on  his 
great  painting,  "  The  Signing  of  the  Emancipation 
Proclamation."  One  day  Chase  AA^as  Avith  me.  Stanton 
was  at  that  time  away  from  the  city,  and  as  Chase  Avas 
that  day  to  pose  for  his  portrait  in  the  j)icture.  Carpen- 
ter asked  me  to  take  Stanton's  place.  So  on  that  day  I 
posed  in  the  place  of  the  War  Secretary.  Any  person 
AA'ho  examines  the  picture  Avill  see  that  Avhen  Chase 
posed  it  Avas  necessary  for  Stanton,  or  some  one  in  his 
place,  to  be  with  him. 

SeA^eral  concerts  followed  in  Philadelphia  and  vicin- 
ity. While  singing  here  Avord  came  to  me  that  a  man 
had  l)een  operating  in  Ncav  York  State,  in  the  vicinity 
or  the  Hudson  River,  in  a  Avay  to  exasperate  the  people 


IN    WAR   TIME.  421 

and  do  us  injury.  He  secured  some  of  our  programmes 
and  announcements  and  had  duplicates  printed.  With 
these  he  woukl  visit  a  town,  announce  the  coming  of 
the  family,  sell  all  the  tickets  possible,  and  just  before 
the  date  set,  abscond  with  the  money.  Next  word 
came  that  the  swindler  had  got  into  Pennsylvania,  not 
far  from  us  —  that  is,  some  sixty  miles  away.  He  had 
come  to  a  town,  and  some  people  happening  to  know 
we  were  not  in  the  vicinity,  telegra])hed  me  to  come  up. 
He  had  meanwhile  got  some  money,  but  aroused  so 
much  suspicion  that  he  was  anxious  to  get  away.  He 
said  he  would  go  to  a  certain  boarding-house  and  see  if 
the  Hutchinsons  had  arrived.  Others  went  too  and 
learned  that  the  Hutchinsons  were  not  expected.  On 
that  he  was  faced  down,  taken  back  to  the  hall,  placed 
on  the  platform,  pelted  with  questions  he  could  not 
answer,  and  finally  succumbed  t©  the  demands  for  the 
money  taken  and  sadly  drew  out  his  last  dollar  from 
liis  pocket  and  restored  it.  He  was  arrested  and 
l)rought  to  trial,  but  as  I  had  not  arrived,  the  judge  let 
him  go  before  I  came,  and  he  at  once  put  himself  out 
of  sight.  Twenty  minutes  after  his  release  I  came  into 
town.  Some  of  the  people  were  anxious  to  re-arrest 
him,  but  as  the  money  had  been  returned,  and  he  had 
been  already  taught  a  lesson  by  his  experience,  I  did 
not  care  to  press  the  matter. 

In  the  course  of  the  next  two  months  we  had  worked 
our  way  back  through  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Connec- 
ticut and  Rhode  Island  to  Lynn.  Tlien  we  went  down 
to  Cape  Cod  for  some  concerts,  after  wliich  we  allowed 
ourselves  about  two  weeks  of  rest  at  Higli  Rock  and 
Milford.  That  was  all  the  vacation  we  got  that  jeav. 
On  September  23d  we  o[)ened  at  Wrentham  a  series  of 
concerts  that  weie  to  extend  across  the  States  to  Alin- 


422  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

neapolis  and  beyond,  down  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis 
and  back  over  another  route.  It  was  July  7th  of  tlie 
following  year  before  I  saw  Lynn  again,  and  there  was 
practically  no  rest  from  concerts  in  all  that  time. 

I  engaged  "  Cousin  Maud ''  as  soprano  for  this  trip. 
Her  name  was  Morgiana  jNL  Porter,  and  she  was  a  niece 
of  my  wife,  daughter  of  her  sister  Caroline.  My 
daughter  Viola  sang  the  contralto  parts,  and  Henry 
sang  the  bass.  Morgiana  was  rather  too  long  a  word 
to  suit  m}'  ideas,  so  I  changed  its  wearer's  name  to 
Maud.  She  became  one  of  the  pleasantest  and  most 
appreciated  members  of  our  company,  and  its  survivors 
recall  with  satisfaction  the  months  she  travelled  with 
them.  Our  first  task  was  to  have  our  pictures  taken, 
singly  and  in  groups,  and  have  them  printed  by  hun- 
dreds. Bowers,  a  Lynn  photographer,  did  most  of  this 
work.  I  was  pretty  well  acquainted  with  Mr.  Bowers. 
He  is  now  in  the  Lynn  city  government,  and  is  a 
veteran.  Once  when  I  was  in  Saratoga  Springs,  I 
was  shown  the  })ieture  of  an  old  woman  who  was  quite 
a  character  in  the  place.  She  lived  some  two  miles 
out,  and  came  into  town  every  day,  begging  for  sup- 
plies. She  was  a  harmless  and  picturesque  person  in 
her  ancient  sun-bonnet  and  shawl,  with  her  basket  and 
cane.  I  went  out  to  see  her,  and  found  her  face  old 
and  seamed  and  her  whole  appearance  antiquated  and 
quite  out  of  date.  I  secured  one  of  her  pictures,  and 
when  I  got  home  took  it  to  Bowers.  "  Here  "  said  I, 
'■'  do  3"0u  want  to  see  a  picture  of  ]Moll  Pitcher  ?  "  The 
woman  seemed  the  embodiment  of  what  Lynn's  fa- 
mous fortune-teller  must  have  been.  Bowers  bor- 
rowed the  picture  and  making  some  copies  of  it,  put 
one  in  his  show-case,  marked  "  jNIoU  Pitcher."  It 
created  great  excitement.     The  decrepit  and  toothless 


IN   WAR   TIME.  423 

old  settlers  were  called  in,  and  all  unanimonsl)-  de- 
clared that  the  likeness  was  perfect,  iiS  they  recalled 
her.  They  Avell  remeuihered  that  old  sun-bonnet  and 
that  old  shawl.  There  could  be  no  doubt  of  the  o-enu- 
ineness  of  the  portrait,  which  had  from  some  source 
unknown  so  fortunatel}^  come  to  light.  Life-size  copies 
of  the  pliotograph  were  made,  and  the  next  histor}-  of 
Lynn  that  appeared  contained  the  picture.  It  was  a 
long  time  before  any  one  had  the  temerity  to  question 
th^  authenticity  of  the  portrait,  the  real  history  of 
which  is  here  given  for  the  first  time.  One  day  a 
waggish  sort  of  chap  examined  the  picture  critically 
and  then  said  to  the  satisfied  photographer,  "  How  in 
time  did  Moll  Pitcher  ever  get  a  modern  Bay  State 
shawl  ?  "  Bowers  at  once  saw  tlie  point,  and  cornered 
the  market  for  Moll  Pitcher  pliotograplis. 

Our  route  led  us  first  through  some  Rhode  Island 
towns,  then  into  Connecticut  and  New  York.  We 
gave  one  concert  in  Brooklyn,  and  while  there  we  met 
Rev.  J.  B.  Merwin,  who  with  Chaplain  Yard  was  so 
closely  connected  with  our  Potomac  experience.  Mer- 
win was  during  the  war  a  cha})lain-at-large.  He  gave 
temperance  lectures,  and  did  other  moral  and  religious 
work,  wherever  duty  or  inclination  called  him.  We 
made  a  quick  trip  across  the  State,  stopping  only  at 
Elmira,  and  were  soon  singing  in  Ohio,  at  Ashtabula, 
Painesville,  Oberlin,  Toledo,  and  elsewliere,  then  at 
one  or  two  Michigan  towns  and  to  Chicago.  Then  at 
Battle  Creek,  Kalamazoo,  Detroit  and  many  other 
Michigan  towns,  and  into  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin. 
At  Roches1;er  I  observed  that  the  pastry  was  poor,  and 
thought  it  would  he  a  kindness  to  confide  the  fact  to 
the  landlord  of  the  hotel.  So  I  told  him  the  crust  was 
so  hard  one  couldn't  get  a  knife  through  it.     He  politely 


424  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

replied  that  it  was  made  so  on  purpose ;  people  came 
up  there  hungry,  and  it  had  to  be  made  hard  so  they 
couldn't  eat  it. 

We  sung  in  Faribault.  Years  before,  the  brothers 
sung  in  this  place  when  there  were  only  a  few  houses, 
and  one  clapboarded  house  used  for  a  hotel.  But  we 
had  from  three  to  five  hundred  people  at  our  concert, 
and  at  its  close  resolutions  were  adopted  to  build  a 
public  assembly-room  and  name  it  ••'  Hutchinson  Hall." 
General  Shields  was  present  at  the  time,  I  remember. 
On  this  occasion  we  chartered  a  team  at  Faribault 
agreeing  to  pay  so  nuich  a  day  to  the  driver  to  take  us 
to  Hutchinson  and  so  on  up  the  Mississippi  River.  We 
sang  in  St.  Peters  Friday  night  and  in  Manhato  Satur- 
day. Then  we  set  out  over  the  prairie  fifty  or  sixty 
miles  to  Hutchinson,  running  the  risk  of  perishing  in  a 
blizzard,  for  it  was  the  3d  of  December  and  a  storm 
was  raging.  We  lost  our  way,  but  really  didn't  realize 
our  danger.  Finally  we  came  to  a  liouse  and  rapped  on 
our  carriage,  to  arouse  the  inhabitants.  Somebody 
opened  the  window.  Vie  inquired  the  way  to  Hutch- 
inson. Meanwhile  the  girls,  who  were  back  in  the 
carriage,  were  giggling  and  making  so  much  noise 
that  in  the  storm  the  man  could  not  hear  us.  Finally 
he  banged  the  window  down  and  left  us  to  our  fate, 
with  no  reply.  However,  we  reached  Hutchinson  at 
two  o'clock  the  next  day,  with  no  damage. 

In  our  wandering's  through  the  storm  we  came  on  a 
stack  of  hay.  From  this  we  groped  our  way  into  a 
barn-yard,  Avhich  we  soon  discovered  to  be  that  of  Mr. 
McCuen,  the  man  who  was  kept  in  Hutchinson  by  the 
illness  of  his  daughter  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  raid. 
He  gave  us  a  warm  welcome,  and  we  found  refresh- 
ments and  sleep  in  his  home. 


IN    WAR    TIME.  425 

We  gave  a  concert  on  ^Monday  and  then  proceeded  to 
Glencoe,  Shakopee,  St.  Paul,  Fort  Snelling,  Minneapo- 
lis, St,  Cloud,  Monticello,  Stillwater,  Hudson,  Hastings 
and  Red  Wing.  Here  Henry  left  lis  and  went  back  to 
Hutchinson,  where  he  stayed  many  months,  being  tem- 
porarily weary  of  concerthig.  I  grieved  over  his  deci- 
sion, but  made  the  best  of  it.  He  bought  an  axe  at 
St.  Panl,  and  in  a  short  time,  though  having  no  previ- 
ous experience,  had  cut  one  hundred  cords  of  wood. 

At  Austin  I  met  a  man  who  had  been  canvassing  for 
Greeley's  "  American  Conflict,"  in  Iowa.  He  told  me 
he  could  give  me  the  names  of  at  least  ten  places 
where  we  could  have  a  great  crowd  of  people  at  our 
concerts.  I  made  up  ten  or  twelve  bundles  of  bills, 
and  sent  them  adrift.  Each  was  directed  to  the  post- 
master of  the  place  to  Avhich  it  was  sent,  requesting 
him  to  act  as  agent,  and  giving  instructions  in  as  sim- 
ple terms  as  possible,  to  engage  the  largest  church  or 
hall  in  the  place  and  post  the  bills  conspicuously  ;  to 
have  notice  of  the  concerts  given  in  any  previous  en- 
tertainments that  might  be  given,  and  also  put  notices 
in  the  papers,  extending  complimentary  tickets  Avhere- 
ever  services  were  rendered.  The  result  was  ten  con- 
certs, netting  me  about  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  My 
method  of  proceeding  at  the  church  or  hall  was  to 
have  the  people  when  they  arrived  at  the  place  walk 
in  and  take  seats.  Then  a  short  time  before  com- 
mencement I  would  take  a  box  of  tickets  and  station 
myself  near  the  pulpit  platform  and  ask  those  who  had 
not  already  purchased  tickets  to  come  and  get  them. 
Often  one  person  would  be  delegated  to  purchase  fif- 
teen or  twenty  tickets.  Then  with  my  box  I  would  go 
around  and  take  the  tickets  up,  taking  the  money  of 
any  person  who  had  failed  to  get  one.     In  this  way  I 


426  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

could  get  quite  acquainted  witli  the  people  before   the 
concert  commenced. 

Our  concerts  were  given  in  Mitchell,  Osage,  Charles 
City,  Waverly,  Zanesville,  111.,  Cedar  Falls,  Waterloo, 
Independence,  JNIanchester,  Dyersville,  Dubuque,  An- 
namosa,  Marion,  Cedar  Rapids,  Mt.  Vernon,  Toledo, 
Marshalltown,  Nevada,  Des  jNIoines  (here  I  stood  at  the 
door  and  took  between  three  hundred  and  four  hun- 
dred dollars  dh-ectly  into  my  liands  ;  it  was  mostly  in 
postal  scrip,  and  my  pockets  were  stuffed  with  it  before 
I  was  through),  Newton,  Grinnell,  jMarengo,  Iowa  City, 
Tipton,  DeWitt,  ]\Iaquoketa,  Clinton,  Lyons,  Fulton, 
Dixon,  Mendota.,  Sterling,  Morrison,  La  Salle,  Daven- 
port, Brockport  and  Springfield.  The  proceeds  of  these 
concerts  were  invested  in  United  States  interest-bearing 
notes,  as  often  as  I  found  a  broker. 

Then  Ave  Avent  to  St.  Louis,  where,  as  I  have  said  in 
my  reference  to  the  far  from  handsome  treatment  re- 
ceived by  the  three  brothers  in  the  city  a  few  years  be- 
fore, our  reception  was  of  the  kindest  nature,  the 
mayor  proffering  courtesies  and  the  people  turning  out 
to  the  entertainments  in  good  numbers.  We  stayed 
several  days,  and  Avere  given  the  "  freedom  of  the 
city,"  so  to  speak.  John  B,  Gough  Avas  lecturing 
there  at  the  time,  and  we  had  one  more  opportunity  to 
enjoy  the  intimate  society  of  tlie  great  reformer.  He 
would  spend  the  Avhole  day  Avith  us,  until  the  time  ar- 
rived for  him  to  take  his  nap,  to  refresh  liimself  before 
the  lecture.  He  AA^as  the  jolliest  companion  imaginable. 
Some  eight  years  later  he  gave  me  his  autograph.  I 
told  him  I  Avas  in  the  habit,  AA^hen  giving  an  autograjih, 
of  stating  my  age,  weight,  and  prevailing  disease,  so 
he  did  likcAAase  :  "John  B.  Gough — ^age,  56;  Aveight, 
173  ;  disease,  salt-rheum." 


IN   WAR   TIME.  427 

Then  we  A^ent  into  Illinois  and  Indiana  and  thence 
into  Ohio,  singing  on  onr  way.  I  had  reached  Hudson, 
O.,  when  the  news  came,  April  15th,  of  the  assassination 
of  President  Lincoln  by  J.  Wilkes  Booth,  There,  as 
everywhere  else,  there  was  the  greatest  consternation 
and  indignation.  I  knew  so  few  in  the  place  who 
could  understand  the  case,  that  I  jumped  on  the  train 
and  went  to  Cleveland.  Here  groups  of  men  were 
everywhere  gathered,  discussing  the  nation's  sorrow. 
Meetings  were  held  and  speeches  made,  full  of  patri- 
otism and  vengeance.  We  gave  no  concert  that  night. 
We  could  not  sing,  for  we  had  no  heart  to  do  it.  The 
next  day,  Sunday,  I  sang  in  church.  On  the  folloAving 
day  W.  Milton  Clark  joined  our  company  as  bass  singer, 
as  there  seemed  no  proljability  of  Henry's  giving  up 
the  freedom  of  life  in  Hutchinson  for  the  stage  that 
year.  It  was  over  a  month  before  we  left  Ohio,  and 
then  we  went  into  the  oil  region  of  Pennsjdvania,  where 
we  had  unusual  success,  and  from  thence  proceeded  by 
Avay  of  New  York  State.  J.  Al.  Sawtell,  a  family  con- 
nection of  my  wife,  was  our  agent  at  this  time.  We 
were  at  Fulton  on  July  -Ith.  There  was  a  celebration, 
at  which  Clark  and  I  sung  four  songs.  I  played  games 
with  some  five  hundred  children.  In  one  I  got  the 
whole  of  them  in  one  game,  holding  each  other's  hands 
and  travelling  in  a  circle.  It  took  a  big  field  to  accom- 
modate them. 

Three  daj-s  later  I  was  in  Lynn.  Notwithstanding 
the  depressing  fact  that  I  lost  eight  hundred  dollars  in 
one  lump  from  my  pocket  while  in  St.  Louis,  and  had 
suffered  slightly  from  changes  in  the  company,  after 
settling  with  my  singers  I  had  five  thousand  dollars  to 
show  as  the  profits  of  the  tiip. 

The  fine  observatory  which  had  crowned  the  summit 


428  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

of  High  Rock  for  so  many  years  was  gone.  It  was 
fired  on  tlie  niglit  of  the  receipt  of  the  news  that  Lee 
liad  surrendered,  and  made  a  fine  bonfire  for  the  benefit 
of  the  surrounding  country,  albeit  a  little  expensive  for 
its  owners.  Brother  Asa  and  myself.  To  make  the 
situation  a  little  more  interesting,  if  not  amusing,  I  was 
told  after  my  return  l)y  a  lad  who  ingenuously  con- 
fessed himself  to  be  one  of  the  incendiaries,  that  the 
conflagration  took  place  by  my  consent,  if  not  at  my 
request.  Tlie  papers  told  the  same  story,  and  it  is  so 
recorded  in  the  history  of  Lynn.  While  on  my  way  to 
the  depot,  when  starting  on  my  "Western  tour,  I  met 
Charles  Luscomb,  a  painter  and  neighbor,  near  his  home 
on  Pearl  Street.  There  Avere  others  Avith  him.  He 
said :  "  John,  we  men  think  it  would  be  a  capital 
thing,  when  the  news  of  the  surrender  of  the  Rebel 
army  comes,  to  touch  fire  to  the  old  observator}'.  Will 
you  consent  ?  ''  "  That  would  be  a  fine  thing,"  said  I, 
sai'casticall}^,  and  passed  on.  jNIy  remark  was  evidently 
taken  to  mean  an  assent  to  the  project. 

The  summer  was  spent  in  Lynn,  with  the  exception 
of  a  trip  to  jNIilford,  and  another  to  the  mountains  with 
my  wife,  Viola  and  Clark.  Late  in  August  the  same 
sino-ers  started  towards  the  West  once  more.  The  31st 
we  spent  with  the  Oneida  Community  and  the  3d  and 
4th  of  September  with  Gerrit  Smith,  at  Peterl)oro,  N.  Y. 
We  always  cherished  a  high  regard  for  him,  and  I  have 
letters  from  the  great  reformer  among  my  choicest 
possessions. 

We  found  our  old  friend  George  W.  Putnam,  who 
was  once  private  secretary  to  Charles  Dickens,  acting  as 
assent  for  Mr.  Smith  in  handling  his  estate.  Mr.  Smith 
attended  a  concert  we  gave  in  the  church  founded 
principally  through  his  gifts.     I  recall  that  I  sang  "Will 


IX    WAIl    TIME.  429 

the  New  Year  come  To-night,  Mother  ?  "  The  people 
were  greatly  affected  hy  the  song.  Mr.  Smith  told  me 
afterwards  that  as  he  listened  he  felt  a  sudden  inclina- 
tion to  weep.  He  sought  to  suppress  it,  and,  as  he 
looked  around,  saw  all  those  near  him  using  their  hand- 
kerchiefs. Then  he  found  the  tears  running  down  his 
own  cheeks  and  he  said  to  himself,  ''  cry  on."  He  said  he 
never  tried  so  hard  to  keep  from  crying,  and  failed. 
In  1875  I  wrote  the  following  tribute  to  his  memory : 

"  "We  honor  and  we  emulate  the  honest,  true  and  brave 
Whose  heart  of  love  and  tenderness  the  warmest  friendsliip  gave. 
"With  sympathetic  action,  and  impulse  all  for  good. 
He  labored  long  and  truly,  and  firm  for  right  he  stood. 

"Faithful  as  a  fatlier,  husband,  brother,  friend, 
Generous,  philanthropic,  looking  to  the  end  ; 
The  noble  man  of  fortune,  a  prince  of  royal  deed 
With  heart  of  broadest  charity,  a  boon  for  human  need. 

"  We  loved  his  manly  bearing,  his  voice  so  rich  and  sweet, 
Breathing  out  Freedom's  sentiments  when  friends  of  truth  would  meet. 
Tliat  voice  we'll  hear  no  longer,  but  the  great  truths  that  he  said 
Shall  be  remembered  evermore,  though  the  reformer's  dead." 

After  a  few  weeks  in  Ohio  we  returned  to  Lynn  again, 
and  in  October  made  a  tour  through  Rhode  Island  and 
Connecticitt  and  thence  into  New  Jersey,  where  we 
finished  the  year  18G5. 


430  THE    HUTCHINSOlSr    FAMILY. 


CHAPTER   XI. 


MORAL    llEFOKlSr    WORK. 

'  Who  votes  for  woman  suffrage  now 
Will  add  new  laurels  to  bis  brow, 
His  children's  children  with  holy  fire 
Will  chant  and  praise  their  patriot  sire. 
No  warrior's  wreath  of  glory  shed 
A  brighter  lustre  o'er  the  head, 
Than  he  who  battles  selfish  pride, 
And  votes  with  woman,  siile  by  side. 

Oh!  we'll  do  nothing  wrong 

But  f  ing  you  this  song  ; 

The  good  time  tor  woman 

Is  coming  right  along. 

We'll  sing  you  this  song. 

The  chorus  we'll  prolong, 

The  good  time,  good  time, 

Vote  it  right  along." 


The  day  of  emancipation  Lad  come.  The  war  was 
over,  and  the  necessity  for  singing  the  songs  of  freedom, 
except  as  a  reminiscence,  had  passed.  But  ours  was  a 
moral  mission,  nevertheless,  and  we  still  felt  there  were 
many  reforms  demanding  our  attention  and  support. 
One  of  these  was  temperance.  Another,  peace.  Still 
another,  the  legitimate  offspring  of  aholition,  was 
universal  suffrage.  The  ballot  was  in  the  hand  of  the 
negro,  as  a  citizen  of  the  Union.  We  believed  it  should 
be  in  the  hand  of  woman,  not  only  as  her  absolute  right, 
but  as  a  temperance  and  refoi'in  measure,  Tlie  years 
following  the  war,  therefore,  found  us  allied  with  the 
temperance  workers  as  ever,  and  also  singing  for  iini- 


MORAL  eefoejn:  wokk.  431 

versal  suffrage  as  we  had  formeiiy  sung  for  universal 
freedom  and  brotherhood. 

We  commenced  1866  with  my  son  Henry  still  in 
^Minnesota,  and  the  concert  company  consisting  of  my 
wife  and  Viola,  Milton  Clark,  bass  singer,  and  myself. 

In  January  we  went  to  Washington,  We  gave 
several  concerts  here,  in  Rev.  Mr.  Garrett's  church  and 
elsewhere.  The  colored  people  gave  us  great  ovations. 
We  boarded  at  the  same  house  with  Schuyler  Colfax, 
soon  to  be  Vice-President,  and  ate  with  him  at  table- 
He  took  a  great  liking  to  Viola,  and  was  very  kind  in 
his  attentions  to  her.  I  had  many  pleasant  conversa- 
tions with  him  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  country. 
I  found  him  a  true  American,  and  loved  and  honored 
him. 

On  February  lltli  we  attended  the  closing  exercises 
of  the  United  States  Christian  Commission,  at  the 
Capitol.  Rev.  Prof.  Lemuel  Moss,  in  his  "  Annals  of 
the  Christian  Commission,"  has  given  a  detailed  story 
of  the  exercises,  which  were  listened  to  Avith  the  closest 
attention  by  an  audience  completely  filling  the  Hall  of 
Representatives.  The  crowd  was  so  great  that  many 
were  turned  away.  The  hall  was  draped  in  memory  of 
Lincoln,  who  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  third  anni- 
versary, a  ^-ear  before.  Speaker  Colfax  presided.  Tlie 
meeting  opened  Avith  the  singing  of  "■  Jesus  shall  reign 
AAdiere'er  the  sun,"  by  the  A^ast  congregation,  led  by 
Philip  Phillips.  Rev.  Dr.  Boynton,  cliaplain  of  the 
House,  lead  in  prayer,  and  the  Scripture  Avas  read  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Taylor,  secretary  of  the  Ameiican  Bible  So- 
ciety. After  a  speech  by  Colfax,  George  H.  Stuart, 
chairman  of  the  Commission,  read  letters  from  Secretary 
Stanton,  Secretary  SeAvard,  Chief  Justice  Chase,  Gen- 
erals Grant,  Sherman,  Meade,  Howard,  Thomas,  Butler, 


432  THE    HUTCHINSOiSr   FAMILY. 

Ord,  Meigs,  Surgeon-General  Barnes,  and  Admiral 
Farragut.  After  speaking  by  Charles  Demond,  of 
Boston,  Phillips  sung  "Your  Mission,"  and  then  fol- 
lowed speaking  by  Kear-Admiral  Davis,  Rev.  Herrick 
Jolnison,  Hon.  J.  B,  Doolittle  of  Wisconsin,  ]\Iajor-Gen- 
eral  Augur,  Be  v.  B.  W.  Chidlaw,  of  Ohio,  Bishop 
Simpson,  and  the  home  secretary  of  the  Commission, 
Mr.  Moss.  We  sung  "  I  live  for  those  who  love  me," 
and  "  The  Good  Time  Coming."  Although  he  sent  a 
letter,  Genei-al  Grant  was  there.  I  remember  he  sat 
directly  behind  us  as  we  sung,  and  congratulated  Viola 
on  the  success  of  our  efforts. 

While  in  Washington  we  had  the  privilege  of  listening 
to  Bancroft's  eulogy  on  Abraham  Lincoln  in  the  Capitol ; 
a  fine  deliverance.  After  a  few  concerts  in  Baltimore 
we  went  into  Pennsylvania.  Our  tour  through  this 
State  was  followed  by  a  long-to-be-remembered  singing 
trip  to  Lake  Superior. 

For  many  years  the  greater  part  of  my  financial  in- 
vestments had  been  made  through  Ludlow  Patton,  hus- 
band of  my  Sister  Abby.  He  had  been  quite  success- 
ful as  a  Wall  Street  banker  and  broker,  and  had  a  repu- 
tation for  conservatism.  But  a  short  time  before  the 
war,  I  liad  a  dream.  I  awoke  in  the  morning  with  the 
suggestion  in  my  mind,  "•  Buy  gold ;  it  will  be  at  a 
premium  as  a  result  of  the  war."  Thinking  the  matter 
over,  I  was  convinced  that  there  was  some  merit  in  tlie 
impression,  and  immediately  went  to  Ludlow,  and  urged 
him  to  take  whatever  money  of  mine  he  had  on  deposit, 
together  with  all  he  could  spare  and  whatever  he  could 
borrow,  and  buy  gold.  I  told  him  I  fully  believed  the 
coming  conflict  would  jDlace  the  metal  at  a  premium. 
He  did  not  agree  with  me.  "  You'll  lose  your  interest," 
said  he.     He  was  then  paying  me  six  per  cent.     He  said 


MORAL    REFORM    WORK.     .  433 

he  was  opposed  to  buying  gold  under  tlie  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances. Rather  abashed  at  the  reception  of  my 
scheme,  I  subsided  and  went  home.  Before  the  war 
was  over,  gold  was  selling  for  $2.60.  The  next  morn- 
ing at  the  same  hour  I  awoke  with  another  impression, 
"■  Buy  cotton  ;  it  will  greatly  advance  in  price."'  I  made 
haste  to  Ludlow  with  this  —  reaching  the  office  half  an 
hour  before  his  arrival  — and  asked  him  if  it  Avould  not 
be  a  good  sclieme  to  buy  all  the  cotton  we  could  get 
hold  of  and  store  it  until  the  demand  for  it  came.  This 
suggestion  was  also  received  with  indifference.  Un- 
doubtedl}^  he  argued,  cotton  would  advance  in  price, 
but  the  charges  for  storage  would  eat  up  all  the  profit, 
and  he  said  that  dealing  in  cotton,  or  speculation,  Avas 
out  of  his  line.  Cotton  Avas  then  selling  at  11  cents  a 
pound.  It  went  up  to  $1.65.  When  my  dream  proph- 
ecies were  realized,  Ludlow  told  his  friends  on  the 
street  of  it,  and  thereafter  they  used  to  come  to  me 
often  and  ask  my  opinion  of  the  money  market. 

My  son  Henry  left  singing  and  agriculture,  for  a  while, 
and  connected  himself  with  the  engineering  corps  of 
John  C.  Campbell  in  surveying  the  route  of  the  St. 
Croix  and  Lake  Superior  Railroad  Company  through  the 
white-pine  forests  of  northern  Wisconsin,  from  the  St. 
Croix  River  to  Lake  Superior.  He  rose  rapidlj^in  posi- 
tion, and  when  the  survey  was  completed  he  retired 
with  honors,  and  Avith  the  compliments  of  the  chief 
engineer. 

When  we  started  for  Lake  Superior  the  survey  was 
in  progress.  When  Ave  reached  Superior  City  it  had 
been  completed,  and  at  our  hotel  Ave  found  my  son 
Henry,  together  Avith  LcAvis  A.  Campbell,  nepliCAV  of 
John  C.  Campbell,  the  chief  engineer  of  the  survey. 
L.   A.   Campbell  Avas  a  promising  young   man,  son   of 


43 J:  THE    HUTCHIXSOX    FAMILY. 

Judge  Campbell  of  the  New  York  supreme  bench,  and 
a  veteran  of  the  M'ar,  having  been  confined  many  months 
in  Libby  and  other  prisons.  It  was  a  fateful  meeting 
so  far  as  he  and  another  member  of  my  party  was  con- 
cerned. Within  a  year  there  Avas  an  engagement  and 
not  many  months  after,  my  daughter  became  Viola 
Hutchinson  Cam^jbell.  Inviting  both  these  young  men 
to  join  us,  we  soon  reached  the  steamboat  with  all  our 
impedimenta,  and  put  off  on  the  lake,  toward  Milwaukee. 
All  the  towns  along  the  lake  gave  us  very  remunerative 
concerts.  We  visited  many  of  the  copper  mines  and 
sung  to  the  miners,  on  one  occasion  seven  hundred  feet 
below  the  sui'face.  We  obtained  some  valuable  miuer- 
alogical  specimens.  We  saw  one  nugget  of  copper  which 
had  caused  more  than  two  years'  work  in  removal.  It 
had  been  conveyed  to  the  surface  by  powerful  steam 
appliances.  It  weighed  several  tons.  We  learned  that 
the  more  co^)per  there  was  in  a  body  the  more  unprofit- 
able it  was  to  mine,  as  it  could  n(^t  be  Ijlasted  and  it  was 
dilficult  to  excavate  about  it.  The  work  must  be  done 
with  chisels  five  or  six  feet  long.  Powder  has  no  ef- 
fect on  the  metal.  We  Avere  told  that  the  squatters  and 
miners  had  an  understanding  that  if  any  one  found  a 
piece  of  silver  the  fact  was  not  to  be  known  to  the  em-^ 
ployers,  but  the  ore  became  the  joint  property  of  those 
present  when  it  was  found. 

Mr.  Campbell  left  us  at  Milwaukee  and  we  continued 
our  concerts,  keeping  in  the  direction  of  Hutchinson. 
We  arrived  there  August  31st.  On  the  previous  day  we 
Avere  stuck  in  a  slougli.  This  deep,  bog-like  hole,  im- 
passable during  heavy  rains,  was  crossed  by  a  bridge. 
Our  horses  failed  us,  and  backed  us  off  the  bridge  into 
the  slough.  We  finally  got  the  horses  out,  and  by  using 
oxen    on  the    solid  ground,   attached  by  a  long   chain 


MOKAL   REFORM   WORK.  435 

to  the  carriage,  saved  that  also.  We  stayed  in  Hutch- 
inson or  the  vicinity  for  quite  a  while.  I  had  gained  a 
residence  there,  so  that  on  November  0th  I  was  able  to 
vote  in  favor  of  that  town  as  the  county  seat.  We 
were  disappointed,  however.  The  honor  went  else- 
where. Goinof  back  in  the  direction  of  Milwaukee  on 
the  29th  of  November  we  were  privileged  to  sing  at  the 
close  of  a  lecture  by  our  dear  old  friend  John  B.  Gough. 
The  closing  days  of  that  year  were  spent  in  Chicago. 

The  early  weeks  of  1867  were  devoted  to  concerting 
in  Illinois  and  Iowa.  At  Iowa  City  we  found  the  land- 
lord of  the  hotel  to  be  Robert  Hutchinson,  who  used  to 
sing  in  the  choir  of  the  Ba[)tist  church  in  Milford  with 
me  in  bo3'hood  days.  At  Des  Moines  we  spent  an  hour 
with  the  governor  of  the  State,  talking  brotherhood. 
In  February  we  were  in  Nebraska,  and  had  at  least  one 
notable  as  well  as  unpleasant  experience.  We  had  been 
several  days  in  Nebraska  City,  and  determined  to  cross 
the  Missouri  River  on  the  ice  to  Bartlett,  wliere  we 
intended  to  take  the  cars  to  another  place.  In  going 
over  we  found  we  were  near  to  floating  ice.  In  the 
midst  of  our  dilemma,  little  Judson,  then  five  years  old, 
pleased  to  be  at  liberty,  ran  toward  an  opening.  Viola 
ran  after  him,  and  caught  him  just  before  he  woidd  have 
fallen  in.  Some  one  on  the  shore,  seeing  our  danger, 
tied  a  rope  to  a  canoe,  and  got  us  ashore,  two  at  a  time. 
Our  bills  were  out  for  concerts  for  ten  days  ahead,  but 
news  came  that  the  track  was  destroyed  by  a  lecent 
great  storm,  so  that  we  could  not  proceed.  There 
seemed  to  be  nothing  to  do  but  make  ourselves  as  com- 
fortable as  possible.  There  was  no  hotel,  but  fortu- 
natel}^  there  were  plenty  of  bags  of  grain  and  corn  in 
the  depot,  and  making  a  fire  to  keep  us  warm,  all  the 
waiting  passengers  spent  the  night  on  the  bags.     The 


436  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

next  day  I  was  able  to  secure  a  room  for  my  wife  near 
by,  but  the  rest  of  the  party  stayed  in  the  depot  three 
days. 

Then  we  went  to  Council  Bluffs.  Here  we  met 
Mrs.  Bloomer,  the  promoter  of  the  costume,  who  told 
how  she  came  to  adopt  it.  The  dress  had  been  worn  in 
the  Oneida  Connnunity  before  she  appeared  in  public 
with  it.  Singing  our  way  back  through  Illinois  and 
Ohio,  we  gave  our  last  concert  for  the  season  at  Toledo, 
April  22d,  and  then  went  to  Lynn,  where  we  arrived  on 
the  24th,  after  an  absence  of  nearly  two  j^ears. 

Less  than  a  month  was  spent  at  home,  and  then  we 
began  to  make  plans  to  go  into  the  field  of  reform  in 
dead  earnest.  The  Legislature  of  Kansas  that  year 
voted  to  submit  to  the  people  three  propositions  for 
amendments  to  the  Constitution,  one  to  strike  from  it 
the  word  "•'  white,"  thus  enfranchising  all  male  citizens 
of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  without  respect  to 
color  ;  another  striking  out  the  word  '"•  male,"  thus  en- 
franchising all  women  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
without  regard  to  color  ;  third,  restricting  the  elective 
franchise  to  loyal  persons.  The  result  of  the  action 
was  to  inaugurate  one  of  the  historic  political  battles 
of  our  time,  the  first  contest  for  woman  suffrage  in 
this  country. 

During-  the  spring,  Lucy  Stone  had  gone  into  Kansas 
lecturing  in  behalf  of  the  emancipation  of  woman. 
With  the  exception  of  her  advocacy  of  masculine  dress 
and  the  fact  that  though  a  married  woman  she  contin- 
ued to  use  the  name  of  ''  Mrs.  Lucy  Stone,"  the  im- 
pression she  created  was  of  the  most  favorable  charac- 
ter. When  she  returned,  she  communicated  to  me  her 
conviction  that  the  Hutchinsons  could  do  a  work  for 
suffrage  as  singing  evangelists  second  only  to  that  they 


>/^- 


KKI'UKSKNTATIVE    \V<JALEX  — U'-  i^T; 


MOEAL  REFORM   WORK.  437 

did  for  abolition,  by  going  into  Kansas  in  this  crisis.     I 
remembered  how  years  before  I  had  been  disappointed 
in  my  plans  to  go  to   ''  Bleeding   Kansas,"  and  saw   in 
this  opening  an  opportunity  to  do  for  the  State   in   an- 
other direction  what  I  had  been  unable  to  do  then.     1 
also  was  thinking  seriously  of  buying  a   new  township, 
and   establishing    the    "•  Hutchinson "    in    Kansas   tliat 
failed  of  being  founded  when  Hutchinson,  Minnesota, 
was    settled.     Brother   Asa   was    living   in    the    other 
Hutchinson,  and  I  felt  like  leaving  it  to  him,  as  he 
had  become    so   fully  identitied   Avith  it.     Mrs.    Stone 
later    put  me  in    communication    with    Colonel    S.    N. 
Wood,    of  Cottonwood   Falls,    Kan.,  chairman   of    the 
committee  of    prominent  friends  of  universal  suffrage, 
who  had  taken  up  the  cudgels  in  favor  of  all  three  of 
the  proposed  amendments.     I  was  not  long  in  making 
an  agreement  with  him  to  go  campaigning  in  the  State. 
Susan  B.  Anthony,  Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton  and  other 
prominent  speakers  were  engaged,  and  it   was  agreed 
that  the  campaign  should  commence  in  earnest  on  the 
second  day  of  September,  and  close  November  4th,  the 
election  occurring  on  the  following  day.     Recalling  my 
advice  to    Lucy  Stone   several  years  before,   that   she 
sliould  charge  an  admission  fee  for  her  lectures,  on  the 
ground  that  the  people  absorl)ed  refoi'm  ideas  fully  as 
well  if  they  had  paid  for  them,  I   made  no  stipulation 
for  salary  from  my  Kansas  friends,  but  I  arranged  to 
give  paid  concerts  in  as  many  of  tlie  large  connnunities 
as  possible,  agreeing  to  speak  in  the  neighljorhood  of  a 
half-hour  in  addition  to  sino-ino-.     Tlie  arrano-ement  of 
jjlaces  and  dates  was  left  to  the  committee,  and  it  also 
took  care  that  hotel  accommodations,  stabling  for  our 
horses,  and  halls  were  provided.     This  plan  proved  sat- 
isfactory to  us,  and  apparentl}'  so  to  the  committee,  for 


438  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

immediately  on  the  completion  of  the  campaign,  one  of 
its  prominent  members  started  out  with  us  on  a  tour  of 
temperance  concerts  under  the  auspices  of  the  State 
Temperance  Society. 

But  before  we  started  for  Kansas  a  great  many  pre- 
liminaries must  be  arranged.  On  May  19th  I  com- 
menced to  pack  my  carr3-all  for  transportation  West. 
This  was  not  tlie  famous  carr3'all  which  our  old  "  John 
horse  "  and  his  mate  drew  throuQ-h  New  Ensfland  and 
New  York,  but  one  of  three  similar  vehicles  built  in 
Milford  for  the  three  brothers  some  years  before.  I 
packed  two  large  trunks  with  bedding  and  household 
utensils,  and  stowed  them  away  in  the  carryall  before 
boxing  it  for  its  long  journe}".  The  trunks  were  to  be 
left  in  Hutchinson.  Then  I  billed  the  carriage  for  Mil- 
waukee, and  sent  it  on  its  way.  On  May  25th  I  left 
home  and  went  to  New  York.  The  following  day  I 
spent  at  Orange,  N.  J.,  with  Sister  Abby,  and  at  the 
home  of  Lucy  Stone  and  her  husband,  Henry  B.  Black- 
well.  We  discussed  Kansas  matters  mostly.  I  had 
been  requested  to  sing  as  many  suffrage  songs  as  possi- 
ble in  the  coming  campaign,  but  found  on  examina- 
tion that  the  national  hymnology  was  surprisingly  defi- 
cient in  that  class  of  poetry.  I  therefore  wrote  to  a 
large  numljer  of  our  American  song-writers,  asking  con- 
tributions to  the  cause.  The  responses  Avere  not  numer- 
ous, and  so  I  decided  that  I  must  depend  largely  on  my 
own  resources. 

Before  I  left  New  York  I  completed  the  details  of 
the  Kansas  engagement.  After  spending  a  happy  half- 
day  with  my  valued  friend  Frank  B.  Carpenter,  I  took 
the  train  for  the  West.  I  stopped  over  in  Buffalo  long 
enough  to  gently  dun  a  man  who  bought  a  horse  of  me 
several  jea.rs  before.     Perhaps  the   delay  of  my  debtor 


MORAL   EEFORM    WORK.  439 

was  caused  by  a  lack  of  enthusiasm  over  the  fine  points 
of  the  animaL  I^e  was  a  high-spirited  horse.  I  bought 
him  in  Milford  some  years  before  for  three  liun(h'ed  and 
tifty  (h^lhirs.  He  was  handsome,  but  his  beauty  did  not 
make  up  for  liis  drawbacks.  Kicking  was  his  particu- 
lar pastime,  but  in  addition  to  that  he  displayed  a  re- 
finement of  genius  in  plotting  unpleasant  situations  for 
those  who  attempted  to  be  kind  to  him,  that  would 
have  given  him  a  warm  welcome  to  some  anarchistic 
body.  He  amused  himself  by  knocking  me  over  as 
opportunity  occurred.  My  nephew  and  namesake, 
John  W.  Hutchinson,  a  son  of  David,  went  into  his 
stall  one  day,  and  he  calmly  crowded  him  to  the  wall 
until  he  begged  for  merc}^  Asa's  father-in-law  carried 
the  marks  of  a  kick  from  him  as  a  memento  of  a  visit 
to  Lynn.  I  was  pla3dng  with  him  in  the  field  one  day 
when  he  arose  and  tried  to  dash  me  with  his  hoofs.  I 
abstained  from  further  amusement  of  that  character. 
Another  pleasurable  pastime,  for  him,  was  trying  to 
fall  upon  me,  as  a  manifestation  of  playfulness.  I 
sold  him,  and  the  pui'chaser  made  me  wait  ten  years 
before  he  settled  partially  for  him  and  he  is  not  all  paid 
for  yet. 

When  I  returned  from  the  West,  I  had  left  Viola 
with  Henry  in  Toledo,  and  before  making  this  trip  I 
had  received  Avord  of  her  engagement  to  Lewis  Camp- 
bell. I  reached  Toledo  on  May  29th,  and  found  all 
well  and  happy.  I  spent  the  next  two  days  persuad- 
ing Viola  to  postpone  her  wedding,  and  go  with  Henry 
and  myself  on  the  Kansas  campaign.  When  she  finally 
consented,  she  decided  to  go  home  first,  and  to  return 
and  meet  me  in  Kansas  September  1st. 

Then  Henry  and  I  started  for  Milwaukee,  arriving 
June  4th.     We  made  our  home  with  Mrs.  Severance,  a 


440  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

physician  and  notable  lecturer,  and  tlfere  I  met  Louise 
L.  Whittier,  a  young  lady  who  so  interested  me  that 
I  composed  a  song,  "  Louisa,''  which  I  dedicated  to 
her.  We  also  met  a  Mr.  Watson,  who  afterwards  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Severance,  and  we  agreed  to  give  a  concert 
with  him  on  the  following  Monday  evening.  At 
Darien,  our  carriage  came,  forwarded  from  Milwaukee, 
and  then  we  had  a  good  time  looking  up  a  team.  Fi- 
nally we  bought  two  gray  mares,  for  which  we  paid 
four  hundred  dollars,  a  high  price  for  the  West.  After 
getting  harness  and  other  necessary  things,  we  started 
off.  A  short  distance  out  of  Darien  we  discovered  that 
the  gauge  of  our  eastern  carriage  was  too  wide  for 
western  ruts,  so  turning  back,  Ave  found  a  blacksmith 
shop.  Henry  took  off  his  coat,  and  in  two  and  one- 
half  hours"  time  they  had  cut  off  the  axle  some  five 
inches.  On  this  road  I  was  reminded  of  an  experience 
of  some  previous  years.  Driving  in  from  Milwaukee  I 
came  to  a  village  where  I  wanted  to  get  some  black- 
smithing  done  for  my  horse.  I  observed  a  big  bull 
chained  to  a  post.  He  was  moaning  as  if  in  trouble. 
I  stepped  up  to  his  head.  He  was  making  a  musical 
tliough  guttural  sound,  very  like  the  basal  tone  of  a 
bagpipe.  At  once  I  struck  up  the  air  of  "  The  Camp- 
bells are  Coming"  in  the  same  key.  The  villagers 
paused  in  astonishment  at  this  unusual  duet,  the  win- 
dows came  up  and  somebody  appropriately  shouted  out, 
amid  the  cheering,  "  Bully  for  you  I  "  It  was  the  odd- 
est concert  I  ever  gave.  I  had  to  take  breath  frequently. 
But  the  animal  seemed  to  be  able  to  sing  a  full  minute 
without  a  breath. 

In  company  Avith  our  friend  Watson,  we  gave  several 
concerts  at  Beloit,  Janesville,  Evansville  and  other 
places.     At  Elkhart  we  met  our  old  friend  J.  P.  Web- 


MORAL   REFORM   WORK.  441 

ster,  author  of  the  favorite  ballad,  "  Lorena,"  but  to  be 
better  known  to  fame  as  the  composer  of  ''  The  Sweet 
By-and-By.  Our  first  meeting  with  him  was  in  1843. 
He  came  to  the  ante-room  of  our  concert  hall  in  New 
York,  and  was  introduced  to  us  by  Bernard  Covert, 
composer  of  "The  Sword  of  Bunker  Hill."  We  sang 
to  him,  and  Covert  sang  to  us.  I  do  not  remember  tliat 
Webster  sang,  though  I  believe  he  had  a  promising 
voice.  During  their  half-hour's  stay.  Covert  said  to 
me,  "•  Mr.  Webster  has  come  to  the  city  sanguhie  of 
success,  but  he  hasn't  a  dollar."  I  took  out  tive  dollars 
and  gave  it  to  him.  Webster  never  forgot  this.  After 
that  we  met  him  frequently.  At  this  time  he  Avas  a 
saloon-keeper.  The  drink  habit  grew  upon  him,  and 
blighted  his  life.  He  liad  a  nature  that  could  suffer  as 
much  without  breaking  down  as  anybody,  and  he  did 
suffer.  He  was  kind-hearted,  and  despite  his  faults, 
one  could  not  help  loving  him.  In  company  with  Dr. 
S.  F.  Bennett,  he  composed  many  songs  beside  those  I 
have  mentioned.  "  Who  shall  be  my  angel  bride  ?  "  was 
one,  which  he  gave  me,  and  which  I  sang  often. 

A  few  years  ago  Dr.  Bennett  told  the  story  of  the 
composition  of  ^  The  Sweet  By-and-B}-."  '■'  At  that 
time,"  said  he,  '•  I  resided  in  Elkhart,  Wis.,  where  I 
kept  an  apothecary  store,  and  was  associated  with  Jo- 
seph P.  Webster,  a  music  teacher,  in  the  production  of 
musical  works,  I  composing  the  words  and  he  the 
music.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1874,  when  we  wei'e  at 
work  on  the  '  Signet  Ring '  that  we  composed  '  The 
Sweet  By-and-By.'  It  Avas  composed  for  that  work, 
and  first  published  in  it.  Webster  was  an  extremely 
sensitive  and  melancholy  man,  and  very  prone  to  think 
others  had  slighted  him.  He  was  always  imagining 
that  some  old  friend  had  treated  him  coolly,  and  then 


442  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

dropping  into  a  bottomless  despondency  about  it  until 
some  casual  meeting  afterwards  dispelled  the  illu- 
sion. One  day  in  the  fall  of  1874  —  I  could  give  you 
the  day  if  I  had  the  copyright  here  —  I  was  standing 
at  my  desk  in  my  drug  store,  writing  up  my  books, 
when  in  came  Webster,  looking  uncommonly  blue.  I 
knew  at  a  glance  what  ailed  him,  and  said  to  him 
pleasantly,  'Webster,  what  is  the  matter  with  you?' 
'Ah,'  said  he,  'nothing  much.  It  will  be  all  right  by- 
and-by.'  '  That  is  so,'  I  said ;  '  and  what  is  the  reason 
that  Avouldn't  be  a  good  subject  for  a  song  —  By-and- 
By?'  With  that  1  snatched  up  a  bit  of  paper  and 
went  to  writing.  Within  fifteen  minutes  I  handed  him 
the  piece  of  paper  with  the  words  of  the  liymn  written 
upon  it.  '  There,'  I  said,  '  write  a  tune  for  that.' 
Webster  looked  it  over,  and  then  turned  to  a  man 
named  Bright  in  the  store  and  said,  '  Hand  me  my 
fiddle  over  the  counter,  please.'  The  fiddle  was  passed 
to  him,  and  he  went  to  work  at  once  to  make  a  tune. 
I  hardly  think  it  was  more  than  thirty  minutes  from 
the  time  he  came  into  the  store  tliat  he  and  I  were  sing- 
ing together  the  words  and  music  just  as  you  see  them 
here,  on  the  nineteenth  page  of  the  '  Signet  Ring.'  " 
Dr.  Bennett  said  neither  he  nor  Webster  were  Metho- 
dists, as  generally  supposed,  but  liberals,  rather  Uni- 
tarian in  sentiment.  The  story  that  Webster  was 
drunk  when  he  composed  the  tune,  the  doctor  denied. 
He  Avas  in  the  habit  of  drinking,  but  not  drunk  that 
day.  For  many  years  the  sale  of  the  song,  in  sheet 
music,  was  from  six  thousand  to  ten  tliousand  copies 
annually.  It  has  been  in  nearly  all  the  hymn  books, 
the  fee  for  its  use  never  being  less  than  fifty  dollars. 
It  was  a  source  of  great  profit  to  the  publishers,  but 
brought  the  authors  only  three  cents  a  copy. 


MORAL    REFORM    WORK.  443 

I  well  remember  the  close  of  one  of  the  great  camp 
meetings  at  Martha's  Vineyard  a  few  years  later.  The 
Hutchinsons,  just  before  the  benediction,  sang  "  The 
Sweet  By-and-By,"  then  a  new  song.  41ie  clergymen 
present  then  descended  from  tlie  platform  forming  a 
line  to  give  a  final  grasp  of  the  hand  to  the  audience. 
We  also  started  to  retire,  but  the  people,  who  were  sup- 
posed to  keep  moving  past  the  speakers,  crowded  up  to 
us  so  that  there  was  a  clog.  I  realized  we  were  getting 
more  than  our  share  of  attention,  and  requested  my 
company  to  vacate  immediately. 

From  Elkhart  we  Avent  on  to  Evansville,  the  town 
where  Judson  advertised  and  then  postponed  his  con- 
cert—  going  home  to  die.  It  was  a  sadly  suggestive 
visit.  Saturday,  July  6th,  we  were  at  Richland  Cen- 
tre, where  we  stayed  two  days.  While  here  I  com- 
posed a  verse  which  later  became  a  part  of  a  famous 
song  of  mine.     It  was  as  follows : 

"  Now  peace  on  earth,  the  hosts  above  proclaim  the  nations  free, 
And  all  of  every  kin  enjoy  this  Loon  of  liberty. 
We  claim  no  creed  for  class  or  clan,  but  cherish  all  the  good ; 
So  round  the  world  there  soon  will  be  a  glorious  brotherhood." 

At  De  Soto,  on  July  11th,  I  ftrst  met  Linn  B.  Porter, 
the  author  and  poet,  whose  acquaintance  I  have  often 
had  the  pleasure  of  renewing  in  the  years  that  have 
since  passed.  Sunday,  the  15th,  I  spent  in  Decorah, 
Iowa,  and  there  composed  a  song  whicli  was  of  so  much 
value  in  the  woman-suffrage  campaign  that  followed, 
"  Vote  it  Right  Along." 

We  had  sung  our  way  up  to  this  place,  and  had  given 
a  concert  on  Saturday  night.  As  has  before  been  stated, 
I  had  sent  abroad  for  songs  appropriate  to  the  coming 
woman-suffrage  campaign,  but  at  this  time  had  received 


444  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY, 

no  response.  This  dilemma  suggested  the  thought, 
'^  Why  not  go  to  your  room,  and  see  if  the  muse  will 
not  come  to  you?"  Acting  on  the  suggestion,  as  soon 
as  the  door  of  the  room  was  closed,  an  inspiration  seemed 
to  take  possession  of  me.  Placing  my  instrument  in 
the  centre  of  the  room,  and  striking  a  chord  upon  it, 
words  and  melody  embodying  a  new  thought  seemed  to 
spring  into  life : 

"  Who  votes  for  woman  suffrage  now, 
Will  add  new  laurels  to  his  brow." 

Every  line  and  every  verse  carried  a  hope  that  we 
might  be  able  to  sing  a  spirit  of  liberty  and  justice  into 
the  hearts  of  the  people  of  Kansas.  When  the  war  was 
concluded  it  seemed  clear  that  here  was  one  song  thitt 
would  do  for  the  campaign.  In  due  course  of  time 
Henry  came  in  and  sang  the  song,  expressing  his  satis- 
faction with  it,  and  we  then  went  on  with  new  hopes 
and  aspirations  toward  our  western  home.  The  song 
was  this  : 

"  Who  votes  for  woman  suffrage  now 
Will  add  new  laurels  to  iiis  brow ; 
His  children's  children,  with  holy  fire, 
Will  chant  in  praise  tlieir  patriot  sire. 
No  warrior's  wreath  of  glory  shed 
A  brighter  lustre  o'er  the  head 
Than  he  who  battles  selfisli  pride, 
And  votes  with  woman  side  by  side. 

"This  shall  unfold  his  better  part, 
Delight  the  spirit  and  warm  liis  heart. 
No  jealous  thought  shall  haunt  his  brain, 
And  Eden's  peace  he  siiall  regain  ; 
For  an  equal  partner  shall  be  his  bride, 
No  holy  joy  shall  be  denied, 
As  Equal  Riglits  their  motto'll  be. 
Together  .journeying  o'er  life's  sea 

"Their  first  great  vote  to  close  shall  be 
Those  gilded  haunts  of  infamy  : 


MORAL   REFORM   WORK.  445 

The  poor,  besotted  wreteli  sliall  know 
That  woman  has  shut  the  gate  of  woe. 
The  liglit  of  truth  shall  shine  again, 
And  temperance  on  earth  shall  reign  ; 
The  night  of  darkness  shall  disappear, 
Tlie  millennial  sun  shine  bright  and  clear. 

"Then  let  us  all  unite  in  love, 
To  emulate  the  hosts  above. 
Be  just,  and  kind,  and  brave,  and  true, 
Doing  to  others  as  they'd  to  you. 
Build  high  humanity's  sacred  cause, 
Obeying  conscience  and  its  laws. 
We  reach  at  last  the  ethereal  sphere, 
Know  God,  and  all  His  works  revere, 
Behold  the  heavenly  angels  near. 

Chorus. 
"  We'll  do  nothing  wrong,  but  sing  you  this  song, 
The  good  time  for  woman  is  coming  right  along, 
We'll  sing  you  this  song  —  the  chorus  loud  prolong  — 
The  good  time  is  coming,  boys,  vote  it  right  along  ! " 

Going  from  Decorah  our  carriage  became  stuck  in  a 
slough.  We  broke  the  two  whiffletrees,  and  the  situa- 
tion looked  desperate.  By  means  of  a  rope,  our  best 
horse  drew  the  carriage  out.  It  had  been  a  wet  season, 
and  we  encountered  bogs  and  sloughs  and  mud  every- 
where. Crossing  one  deep,  wide  stream  the  water  came 
into  the  carriage.  The  off  horse  lost  his  couraofe  and 
laid  down  in  the  stream,  being  almost  drowned. 

Finally,  after  various  experiences,  Ave  arrived  in 
Hutchinson  on  July  27th,  and  put  up  at  Pendergast's 
Hotel.  At  this  point  Henry  became  dissatisfied  with 
the  situation,  and  quit  my  company  for  the  time  being. 
A  new  bridge  was  being  built,  and  his  services  in  la}^- 
ing  the  foundation  were  besought  by  the  contractor.  He 
worked  with  them  tAvo  weeks.  I  found  the  hotel  alto- 
gether too  open.     There  was  no  plastering  on  the  laths, 


446  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

and  the  opportunity  I  desired  to  compose  and  practise 
music  for  the  Kansas  campaign  in  quiet  could  not  be 
afforded  there.  In  that  pioneer  prairie  settlement  hotels 
were  few  and  boarding-houses  unknown,  and  therefore 
a  serious  problem  presented  itself.  However,  on  the 
following  day  I  set  out  on  a  voyage  of  discovery.  My 
efforts  were  fruitless,  but  suddenly  I  descried  my  old 
loCT  cabin  on  Main  Street.  It  was  tlie  first  house  built 
in  Hutchinson.  At  once  it  occurred  to  me  that  it  might 
be  feasible  to  utilize  it.  Going  in,  I  found  it  occupied 
by  an  old  man  named  Strickland.  He  had  been  a  col- 
porteur evangelist,  but  was  now  using  my  property  as  a 
blacksmith-shop.  Although  he  was  on  the  premises 
without  invitation,  and  the  ceremony  of  rent-paying  had 
never  presented  itself  to  his  mind,  I  had  not  the  least 
idea  of  disturbing  him.  "  Anybody  occupying  the  story 
above?"  I  asked.  "Nobody;  nothing  but  cinders," 
was  his  response.  "  Where's  the  stairway  ?  "  "•  Gone, 
long  ago."  Seeing  it  was  impossible  to  get  up  by  an 
inside  route,  I  went  and  got  a  ladder  and  climbed 
through  the  unglazed  window  from  the  outside.  The 
floor  was  covered  with  about  two  and  one-half  inches  of 
cinders  which  were  cleared  away  for  quite  a  space  by  a 
shovel  borrowed  for  the  purpose.  Some  nice  new  hay 
was  procured  and  covered  the  floor.  Over  this  I  spread 
an  old  carpet.  Then  a  bedstead  Avas  improvised  by 
mortising  into  the  logs  of  the  house  to  support  the 
frame,  and  filling  up  my  straw-tick,  a  bed  was  prepared. 
Before  retiring  that  night,  my  heart  overflowed  with 
gratitude  for  these  rude  accommodations,  which  afforded 
me,  nevertheless,  a  much-coveted  opportunity  of  being 
alone,  in  peace  and  quiet.  Setting  up  my  instrument, 
as  I  touched  the  keys,  there  came  to  me  these  words, 
"  The  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man." 


MORAL   REFORM    WORK.  447 

Before  seeking  my  primitive  bed,  I  had  composed  a 
couple  of  verses.  I  never  slept  so  serenely  and  happily. 
I  had  hung  up  a  canvas  curtain  at  the  window.  Wak- 
ing in  the  morning,  and  putting  it  aside,  the  sun  streamed 
in  and  I  felt  glorified.  I  arose  and  resumed  work  at  the 
instrument.  In  a  day  or  two  the  words  were  completed 
and  the  tune  composed.  As  before  stated,  I  inserted 
the  verse  composed  in  Wisconsin.  The  remaining 
verses  were : 

"  We'll  raise  the  song  of  triumph  when  we  see  the  hosts  advance, 
Our  banners  streaming-  high,  and  its  mottoes  shall  entrance. 
As  the  golden  words  they  read,  they  will  quickly  join  our  van, 
And  vote  for  the  cause  of  freedom  and  the  brotherhood  of  man. 

Chorus. 

"  The  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man. 
The  cause  of  true  religion  is  spreading  through  the  land. 
Oh,  the  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man  ! 
We'll  talk  and  sing,  while  on  the  wing,  and  ring  it  tlu-ougli  tlie  land. 

"  Columbia's  sons  must  lead  the  way,  raise  high  the  lofty  standard 
Of  equal  rights  they  now  maintain,  though  once  to  slavery  pandered. 
Our  coimtry  shall  this  banner  bear;  'Free  Suffrage'  is  our  motto, 
For  liberty  they'll  work,  you  see,  and  vote  the  way  they  ought  to. 

Chorus. 

"  For  the  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man ; 
Tlie  cause  of  arbitration  is  spreading  through  the  land. 
Tlie  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  mnn. 
This  message  that^the  angels  bring,  we'll  sing  it  tlirougli  tlie  land. 

"  Let  discord  and  contention  cease,  that  fill  our  hearts  with  sorrow  ; 
A  ray  of  hope  dispels  the  gloom ;  there's  sunshine  on  the  morrow. 
The  truth  for  man  proclaimed  by  Clirist  far  centuries  ago, 
Its  resurrection  clieers  us  now,  and,  oh,  our  hearts  o'erflow. 

Chorus. 
"  With  gratitude  to  God  for  the  brotherhood  of  man, 

We  all  revere  the  higher  law,  do  a  good  turn  when  you  can. 

The  fatherhood  of  God,  we  obey  His  higli  conunand. 

This  message  that  tlie  angels  bring,  we'll  sing  it  through  the  land. 


448  THE    nUTCHINSOX    FAMILY. 

"  List  ye  sorrow-stricken  jieople  to  the  voice  of  truth  to-day  ; 
On  tlie  world  the  sun  is  rising,  error's  clouds  shall  flee  away. 
True  hearts  watching  for  the  dawning,  earnest  seers  their  joys  fore- 
told , 
Look,  ah,  look,  the  field  of  promise,  white  with  harvest,  rich  as  gold. 
Ever  hopeful,  never  doubting,  always  working  for  the  right, 
Loving,  waiting,  watching,  longing  for  the  millennial  day  of  light. 

Chorus. 
"The  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man  ; 
Proclaim  it  through  the  nations,  this  glorious  Christian  plan. 
The  fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  brotherhood  of  man, 
Come  join  with  us  this  chorus  now  and  waft  it  through  the  land." 

As  I  worked  away,  singing  on  the  choruses,  entirely 
oblivious  of  possible  listeners,  Strickland  in  the  room 
below,  hammered  applause  on  his  anvil.  It  seemed 
prophetic.  That  sentiment  was  to  be  forged  Avith  peace 
and  good-will  toward  men. 

That  cabin,  of  which  I  have  spoken,  finally  was  sacri- 
ficed, pro  bono  publico.  It  was  situated  in  North 
Hutchinson,  the  portion  we  originally  designed  calling 
"  Harmony,"  and  was  a  pre-emption  cal)in  for  the  town 
site.  For  a  long  time  it  was  the  only  hotel,  thirty  often 
sleeping  in  the  upper  room  mentioned.  One  day  some 
of  the  citizens  were  discussing  the  probability  of  its 
being  so  decrepit  that  it  should  be  torn  down,  to  pre- 
vent injury  in  case  it  should  fall.  The}'  thought  they'd 
have  a  little  fun,  and  so  proceeded  to  demolish  it. 
They  found  that  far  from  being  unsafe,  they  had  under- 
taken aj^ig  job.  The  whole  company  had  to  chop  to 
get  the  roof  down.  It  seemed  a  pity  that  the  most  his- 
toric, because '  the  first,  building  in  town  should  have 
l)een  so  needlessly  destroyed. 

On  August  8th  I  sent  to  the  Post  newspaper  office  in 
Detroit,  in  which  Carl  Slutrz  was  interested,  for  ten 
thousand  copies   of    my  songs  and  the  address    to  the 


MOllAL    EEFOini    WORK.  449 

people  of  Kansas,  which  we  afterwards  used  very 
effectively.  The  whole  was  bound  in  a  small  pamphlet. 
Perhaps  the  address  should  go  in  here,  as  a  matter  of 
history : 

"  Hail  to  the  land  wliereoii  we  tread  !  our  fondest  boast, 
The  sepulclire  of  mighty  dead, 
The  truest  hearts  that  ever  bled, 
A\Tio  sleep  on  glory's  brightest  bed, —  a  fearless  host." 

"  Men  and  Wo.men  of  Kansas  :  —  Willi  the  love  of  God  and  man  in  our 
hearts,  we  come  to  cheer  the  desponding  and  elevate  the  hopes  of  tiio 
most  sanguine.  Awake  then,  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  West !  Let 
your  light  shine  forth.  Lay  liold  on  the  great  weapon  of  the  true  lie- 
public,  the  ballot,  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  coninion  humanit}'. 
Let  not  the  glory  won  by  your  sons  in  the  early  struggles  to  establish 
constittitional  freedom,  be  dimmed  by  any  weariness  in  well-doing. 
May  the  history  of  the  past,  fraught  witli  strenuous  efforts,  and  so  suc- 
cessfully triumphant  in  the  glorious  cause  of  human  freedom,  serve  as  a 
beacon  light  to  encourage  you  onward  and  upward,  in  the  radical  work 
of  equal  rights,  equal  suffrage,  woman's  suffrage  and  the  brotherhood  of 
man,  imtil  the  light  of  truth  shall  burst  forth  witli  radiant  splendor  and 
the  millennial  day  begin  to  dawn.  Turn  not  back  upon  your  worthy 
stand  taken  as  leader  in  tliis  glorious  conflict.  As  the  eyes  of  the  world 
were  upon  you  in  the  days  of  the  past,  wlien  John  Brown  led  forth  his 
little  band,  conquering  and  to  conquer  —  so  to-day  tliey  watch  with 
earnest  solicitude  yotir  public  acts  and  efforts  ;  trusting,  as  in  the  con- 
flict of  arms  you  outrode  the  storms  of  secession,  treason,  war  and 
slavery,  so  in  the  peaceful  revolution  of  your  political  future  you  will 
stand  foremost  in  tlie  galaxy  of  States  —  thejirst  to  adopt  equal  suft'rage. 
Let  the  voice  of  woman  plead  its  own  cause ;  let  the  sympathizing 
heart,  true  to  the  instincts  of  her  own  nature,  beat  for  the  right,  that  the 
vote  on  this  all-absorbing  question  may  roll  uj)  such  majorities  for  woman 
stiffrage  as  to  shame  the  few  opponents.  Come,  tlien,  j^e  yoinig  and 
fair  maidens,  wiiisper  a  kind  word  of  advice  in  the  ear  of  your  be- 
trothed. With  the  conditions  of  plighted  vows  mingle  a  promise  to 
vote  for  woman's  redemption,  and  Kansas,  the  Queen  of  the  West,  shall 
truly  guide  and  guard  our  Ship  oj"  State  to  the  haren  of  peace  and  progress." 

On  the  evening  of  August  8th,  the  whim  seized  me 
to  give  the  public  the  benefit  of  my  new  songs.  It  was 
easy  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  boys  of  Hutchin- 
son, Avho   drew  niv  carriao-e   alono;  the  main  street.     In 


450  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

the  carriage  I  put  up  my  inelodeon,  and  lighted  it  up. 
Boys  were  less  skittish  than  horses  under  such  condi- 
tions. So  I  went  singing  through  the  street  and  did 
not  lack  for  an  audience.  When  I  reached  the  hotel  I 
saw  Henr}^  who  had  not  yet  resumed  negotiations,  sit- 
ting with  his  feet  on  the  window-sill.  When  1  had  fin- 
ished what  I  ever  after  called  my  ''  F.  O.  G.  B.  O.  M." 
song,  he  approvingly  cla})ped  his  feet  together.  This  I 
deemed  an  omen  of  approaching  capitulation.  I  was 
right.  The  next  night  he  joined  me  in  a  concert  at  the 
public  hall.  ^Meanwhile,  I  liad  varnished  my  carriage, 
and  two  days  later  we  started  for  Kansas. 

We  took  a  bee-line,  as  closely  as  we  could  reckon  it, 
from  Minnesota  to  Kansas,  passing  over  the  prairies  of 
Iowa  and  crossing  Missouri,  singing  in  every  town  and 
villao-e  we  could  reach  at  nio-ht.  We  would  bait  our 
horses  on  the  road  often,  having  grain  in  our  carriage, 
and  })luck  ears  of  corn  and  roast  them  for  a  lunch.  Our 
custom  on  enterins:  a  village  was  to  shout  out  as  we 
passed  along  that  there  would  be  a  concert  that  evening 
in  the  largest  hall  or  church.  The  response  was  always 
gratifying  and  often  we  would  have  as  mucli  money  to 
show  at  the  close  as  if  we  had  advertised  the  enter- 
tainment several  days  ahead.  We  were  two  weeks  in 
getting  from  Hutchinson,  Minn.,  to  Atchison,  Kan., 
and  during  that  period  had  many  interesting  experiences. 
During  one  of  our  concerts  in  Iowa  I  recognized  in  tlie 
audience  a  lady  whom  I  had  met  in  England  t^^■enty 
years  before.  It  was  Mrs.  Constance  Russell,  sister  of 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Moore,  for  a  lifetime  a  contributor  to 
woman-suffrage  papers  and  ever  since  our  visit  one  of 
my  most  valued  English  coi'respondents.  Finally,  after 
fording  rivers,  wading  sloughs,  climbing  innumerable 
guide-posts  in  the  dark  and  encountering  other  obstacles 


MORAL   EErOR:\I    WORK.  451 

to  progress,  we  reached  Atchison  on  August  31st.  We 
were  under  agreement  to  begin  our  work  September  2d. 
In  Kansas  we  met  Miss  Olympia  Brown,  one  of  the  ad- 
vocates of  suffrage.  She  rode  in  our  carriage  with  us 
several  days  and  as  a  prelude  to  our  campaign,  sang  at 
her  lecture  the  night  following  our  arrival  in  Atchison. 

On  the  next  day  there  was  a  great  woman-suffrage 
convention  in  Atchison,  at  which  we  sang.  In  the  not- 
able company  there  assembled  were  ex-Governor  Charles 
Robinson,  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  early  days  of  Kansas  ; 
Senator  S.  C.  Pomeroy  ;•  Susan  B.  Anthony,  the  direct- 
ing genius  of  the  campaign  ;  Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton ; 
jNIiss  Nichols  and  man}^  other  lesser  liglits.  I  had  ex- 
pected to  meet  Viola  on  my  arrival,  l)ut  she  was  de- 
layed at  St.  Louis,  and  did  not  come  until  the  evening- 
session  of  this  convention.  Just  before  she  started  she 
met  our  old  friend  Chief  Justice  Chase  on  Washington 
Street  in  Boston.  He  bade  her  God-speed,  saying  that 
the  cause  of  suffraofC  was  near  his  heart,  and  remarkins: 
that  he  hoped  we  would  have  great  success  in  Kansas. 

Our  understandino-  was  that  we  should  sino-  in  all 
the  big  conventions  all  over  Kansas.  Miss  Anthony 
made  the  arrangements  for  these  conventions  at  my 
suggestion.  She  had  many  consultations  with  me  and 
my  advice  to  "'  Susan,"  as  slie  Avas  affectionately  known 
wherever  suffragists  congregated,  was  that  she  let  Dr. 
Robinson  go  out  speaking  with  Mrs.  Stanton,  and  that 
she  establisli  headquarters  in  Lawrence.  She  did  so. 
Judge  S.  N.  Wood,  as  I  have  before  said,  made  the 
original  plans,  Imt  ill  health  compelled  liim  to  desist 
from  anything  Ijut  a  general  oversight  of  the  work  as 
chairman  of  tlie  connnittee,  and  the  active  manceuvering 
devolved  on  Susan.  Mrs.  Stanton  would  lecture  in  a 
town,  and  give  a  ilotice    of    a  coming  concert   by  the 


452  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

Hutchinsons.  A  week  later  we  would  come,  find  all 
arrangeinents  for  our  entertainment  provided,  and  give 
our  concert.  I  suggested  to  Susan  that  it  would  be 
good  policy  to  have  as  many  temperance  meetings  as 
possible,  thus  enlisting  the  active  aid  of  the  temperance 
people  in  our  cause.  She  agreed  with  me,  and  we  held 
them  in  Lav.a^ence,  Atchison  and  other  places. 

October  3d  I  wrote  to  Wendell  Phillips,  at  Susan's 
request,  stating  the  promising  condition  of  the  work 
and  ho})ing  to  enlist  his  sympathy  and  co-operation. 
The  fields  seemed  white  for  harvest,  there  were  many 
good  speakers  ready  to  go  out,  but  very  little  money  to 
pay  expenses.  Phillips  Avas  •unresponsiA^e.  Susan  and 
he  had  not  been  in  sympathy  for  some  reason  and  he 
seemed  disposed  to  let  her  fight  her  own  battles. 

On  October  5th  Miss  Antliony  and  I  held  a  temper- 
ance meeting  in  Ottawa.  My  diary  recoids:  "Mr. 
Whetstone  lives  here.  I  think  him  a  liandy  man  for 
dull  times."  Our  concerts  were  given  in  Lawrence, 
Topeka,  Marengo,  Junction  City,  Seneca,  Albany,  White 
Cloud,  Atchison,  Oscaloosa,  Paola,  Ossawatomee,  Ot- 
tawa, Mound  Cit}^  Fort  Scott,  Plato,  Oswego,  Hum- 
boldt, Burlington,  Emporia,  jMedina,  Wyandotte,  Leaven- 
worth and  other  places. 

On  November  4th  Ave  sang  at  the  polls,  and  Mrs. 
Stanton  talked.  This  Avas  in  the  city  of  LeaveuAvorth. 
At  my  suggestion  coffee  Avas  served  to  the  A^oters.  As 
is  Avell  known,  the  suffragists  Avere  defeated.  Imme- 
diately after  this,  the  Hutchinsons  started  out  and 
Avent  over  the  ground  again,  in  company  Avith  Mr.  A. 
Hunting,  agent  of  the  State  Temperance  Society,  sing- 
ing for  temperance  Avhe-re  tliey  had  previously  sung  for 
suffrage. 

Amid   tlie   mass   of   notices,   sets   of  resolutions,  and 


MORAL    REFOR]M    WORK.  453 

other  souvenirs  I  retain  of  this  interestino-  suffrao-e 
campaign,  I  can  only  reproduce  a  few,  to  give  the 
reader  some  slight  idea  of  the  way  the  varying  ele- 
ments received  us.     Here  is  one  resolution: 

"  Whereas,  the  Hutchinson  Family  have  spent  ten  weeks  in  tliis 
State,  singing  for  'impartial  suffrage,'  ami  having  made  many  con- 
verts to  the  glorious  cause  through  the  influence  of  their  sweet  and 
characteristic  songs,  giving  three  or  four  concerts  in  tlie  large  towns  and 
cities  to  crowded  houses, 

"Resolved,  That  the  Impartial  Suffrage  Association  of  Atchison 
County,  Kansas,  tender  to  them  our  sincere  thanks  for  the  services  ren- 
dered to  our  cause,  and  the  perfect  satisfaction  given  to  our  citizens,  hy 
their  sweet  songs,  and  the  chaste  and  elevating  influence  and  high 
moral  character  of  their  concerts." 

This  was  signed  by  the  executive  committee. 
The  Leavenworth  Gonservatwe^  Colonel  Hoyle,  editor, 
said : 

"The  Hutchinsons  sang  at  the  Baptist  church  last  Saturday  evening 
to  a  crowded  and  intensely  delighted  audience.  The  principal  musical 
connoisseurs  of  the  town  pronounced  themselves  delighted  beyond  any 
former  experience.  The  memory  of  the  sweet  and  pathetic  tones,  to- 
gether with  the  noble  and  benignant  countenance  of  the  senior  John 
Hutchinson,  will  never  be  effaced  from  tlie  mind  of  any  person  present. 
His  countenance  in  singing  is  love  and  benignity  itself,  and  his  voice 
sweetness  and  majesty.  At  times  the  tones  are  charming  beyond  de- 
scription. The  son  and  daughter  are  sujierb  singers,  and  their  manner 
exceedingly  pleasing.  As  they  sing  for  '  equal  rights  for  all,'  it  is  cer- 
tain their  influence  will  be  powerful  for  good.  As  in  the  conflict  against 
slavery  and  treason,  loyalty  had  all  the  true  poetry  and  music,  so  now 
the  party  which  is  loyal  to  humanity  and  progress  is  possessed  of  these 
allies.  God  confers  these  royal  gifts  of  poesy  and  song  only  on  those 
who  are  loyal  to  Him." 

Contrast  the  foregoing  with  this,  from  the  Ottmva 
Home  Journal : 

"The  Hl-tchixsox  Family.  —  This  celebrated  family  of  singers 
gave  an  entertainment  at  Pickrell  Hall  on  Monday  evening,  which  was 
largely  attended,  although  the  tickets  of  admission  were  fifty  cents  each. 
Tliey  are  travelling  under  an  engagement  with  tlie  advocates  of  female 


454  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY.       . 

suffrage,  and  are  striving  to  sing  the  people  of  Kansas  into  an  accept- 
ance of  the  '  pernicious  proposition.'  Futile  as  their  efforts  will  evi- 
dently be  in  this  direction,  they  furnish  a  delightful  evening's  entertain- 
ment. They  must  be  sacrificing  many  jirofitable  engagements  in  large 
eastern  towns  in  their  zeal  for  this  heresy,  and  much  as  we  regret  to  see 
such  talent  so  misdirected,  we  are  thankful  that  such  sweet  singers  can 
be  heard  upon  these  prairies. 

"  They  were  apparently  hard  driven  to  find  poetry  the  sentiment  of 
which  could  be  made  to  sustain  a  proposition  so  hostile  to  poetic  feeling 
as  is  female  suffrage,  and  so  their  songs  u])un  this  subject  were  original. 
But  an  agreeable  variety  of  sentimental,  patriotic,  temperance  and 
comic  songs,  all  rendered  with  tliat  delightful  harmony  and  soul-inspir- 
ing fervor  which  has  made  them  famous  all  around  the  world,  gave  to 
the  occasion  an  agreeable  variety.  The  party  consisted  of  John  Hutch- 
inson, and  a  son  and  daughter." 

Before  starting  on  our  temperance  campaign,  we 
found  time  to  cross  the  border  into  Missouri,  and  sung 
at  Kansas  City.  The  Journal  of  Oommerce^  Colonel 
Van  Horn,  editor,  of  that  place,  said  next  day : 

"  The  Hutchixsons. —  The  concert  of  this  troupe  last  night  was  not 
so  well  attended  as  we  could  have  wished,  though  there  was  a  good 
house,  and  one  that  appreciated  their  excellent  music.  Their  old  songs 
have  the  ring  of  true  merit,  and  were  finely  sung.  The  concert  passed 
off  well,  with  the  exception  of  the  sudden  leaving  of  some  parties  who 
took  exception  to  some  of  Mr.  Hutchinson's  remarks  on  emancipation 
and  universal  suffrage.  Of  course  a  person  has  a  right  to  shut  his  ears 
against  anything  that  offends  him,  but  it  is  unquestionably  bad  taste  to 
make  a  pulilic  exhibition  of  one's  dislike,  tliereby  disturbing  the  har- 
mony of  any  assembly.  Tlie  day  is  passed  in  Missouri  when  free 
speech  can  be  frowned  down  by  opposition.  Universal  suffrage  is  fore- 
most among  the  great  aims  of  the  day,  and  will  override  all  opposition. 
Fossil  Democracy  cannot  stem  the  tide  of  the  new  order  of  things." 

A  few  days  later,  following  a  concert  at  Manhattan, 
Kan.,  Josiali  H.  Pillsbury,  editor  of  the  Independent., 
wrote  me  as  follows  : 

Dear  Friend  :  — I  regret  that  I  did  not  know  that  you  were  to  leave 
here  this  morning.  I  wanted  to  have  seen  you  before  you  left.  I  am 
glad  you  have  visited  our  State  and  town.  You  have  done  good.  Your 
work  will  hasten  the  triumph  of  equal  rights  and  the  reign  of  temper- 


MORAL   EEFOR:\r   AVORK.  455 

ance.  "The  Fatherhood  of  God,  and  the  Brotherhood  of  Man  "  will 
be  sooner  realized  by  3-our  efforts.  God  bless  you  and  your  dear  children. 
Among  the  brightest  of  my  recollections  of  the  past  are  the  few  even- 
ings I  spent  in  listening  to  the  concerts,  more  than  twenty  years  ago, 
when  Judson,  John,  Asa  and  Abby  formed  the  quartette.  Those  memo- 
ries liave  been  refreshed,  and  others,  equally  pleasant,  added,  by  the 
sweet  songs  of  John,  Henry  and  Viola.  My  experience  is  only  that  of 
tens  and  perhaps  hundreds  of  thousands.  Again  I  thank  you  for  com- 
ing to  our  State.     Good-bye.     Yours,  for  the  elevation  of  humanity, 

JOSIAH    H.    PiLLSBURY. 

Simultaneously  with  the  above  I  received  the  follow- 
ing from  Rev.  Lewis  Bodwell,  pastor  of  a  Congrega- 
tional church  in  Topeka : 

Dear  Sir  and  Brother  :  —  I  cannot  leave  you  without  an  excuse 
for  my  seeming  neglect  on  Friday.  Though  Friday  and  Saturday  are  a 
preacher's  busiest  days,  I  counted  on  the  privilege  of  once  more  listen- 
ing to  your  music,  though  I  could  not  give  a  Friday  night  to  any  singers 
hut  the  Hutchinsons.  The  over-weariness  of  my  wife,  on  returning  from 
an  afternoon  at  "  Society  "  and  the  coming  of  an  old  friend,  kept  us 
much  against  our  wills. 

We  trust  that  you  will  long  continue  in  the  work  of  furthering  the 
love  of  the  beautiful  in  music,  as  wedded  to  the  pure  in  morals.     As  a 

people  still 

"  We  wait  beneath  the  furnace  blast 
Tbe  pains  of  transformation," 

"  God  give  us  grace, 
Each  in  bis  place, 
'"  To  bear  bis  lot. 

And  murmuring  not, 
Endure  and  wait  and  labor." 

Simply  as  "  good  old  Yankee  singers  "  your  jilace  and  lot  and  work 
are  well  defined,  and  I  trust  you  are  rejoicing  in  the  belief  that  the  seed 
which  you  and  yours  have  been  sowing,  has  not  all  fallen  by  the  way- 
side, or  on  the  stony  ground,  or  among  the  thorns. 

"  For  rigbt  is  right,  if  God  be  God, 
And  rigbt  tbe  day  must  win  ; 
To  doubt  would  be  disloyalty, 
To  falter  would  be  sin." 

The  harvest  shall  come,  "first  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that  the 
full  corn  in  the  ear."  As  your  fellow-l)eliever  in  "  The  Fatherliood  of 
God,  and  the  Brotherhood  of  Man,"  dear  friends,  God-speed  and  fare- 
well, Lewis  Bodwell. 


but 


456  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

While  singing  in  Kansas  I  met  C.  C.  Hutchinson. 
He  was  a  pioneer  of  experience  and  ability,  having  as- 
sisted in  the  settlement  of  several  towns.  I  told  him 
the  story  of  our  settlement  at  Hutchinson,  Minn.,  and 
the  ambition  I  then  felt  and  still  retained,  to  found  a 
town  of  the  same  name  in  Kansas.  Asa  was  settled  in 
Hutchinson,  Minn.,  and  my  disposition  was  to  go  else- 
where. I  asked  him  if  he  would  not  like  to  take  hold 
Avith  me  in  the  enterprise  of  establishing  such  a  town  in 
Kansas.  He  responded  at  once  that  he  would  be 
pleased  to  do  so.  After  our  second  meeting  arrange- 
ments were  entered  into.  I  agreed  that  if  he  would 
make  the  preliminary  arrangements,  I  would  put  the 
name  and  a  description  of  the  town  on  my  bills  and 
programmes,  as  I  went  from  place  to  place,  and  so 
advertise  it  and  secure  settlers.  He  readily  agreed  to 
this  plan.  Of  course  my  idea  was  to  invest  largely 
in  the  enterprise  as  I  had  done  in  Minnesota.  Mr. 
Hutchinson  said  he  knew  of  a  very  desirable  town  site 
on  the  line  of  the  Atchison  and  Topeka  Railroad, 
which  had  not  yet  been  taken  up,  and  this  location  was 
of  course  satisfactory  to  me.  Just  as  our  negotiations 
had  reached  this  stage,  Mr.  Hutcliinson  received  a  tele- 
gram from  Hastings,  Minn.,  that  his  wife  was  sick. 
He  left  abruptly.  I  was  very  much  engaged  in  my 
concert  Avork,  and  had  to  press  on,  having  full  confi- 
dence that  in  due  season  I  should  have  word  from  him 
to  fulfil  my  part  of  the  engagement.  A  year  and  a  half 
later  I  heard  that  Mr.  Hutchinson  had  taken  up  the  site 
we  had  discussed,  was  building  his  town,  and  was  very 
sanguine  of  success.  He  built  a  dam  across  the  stream 
miles  al)ove  the  place,  and  brought  water  to  the  town 
by  a  canal.  In  later  years,  while  concerting  in  that 
vicinity,  I  visited  the  town,  and   told  the   story.     Mr. 


MORAL    REFORM    AVORK.  457 

Hutchinson  is  now  in  San  P'rancisco,  engaged  in  the 
land  and  irrigation  business.  In  1893  I  wrote  him  and 
asked  him  if  lie  I'eealled  the  circumstances  I  have  nar- 
rated. He  seemed  to  suffer  from  a  loss  oi  memory,  for 
liis  reply  was  as  follows  : 

JNIv  Dear  Relative  and  Friend  :  —  I  am  very  sorry  to  have  con- 
finnatiou  from  you,  that  all  of  the  good  old  original  family  of  singers 
are  gone  but  yourself.     May  you  yet  enjoy  many  happy,  useful  years. 

I  do  not  imderstand  the  design  or  object  of  your  inquiries.  I  well  re- 
member our  many  pleasant  hours  together  in  1868  [7],  and  I  have,  now 
that  you  reeall  it  to  mind,  a  dim  recollection  of  some  talk  as  to  our  es- 
tablishing a  town.  But  after  that  I  received  such  severe  blows  in  1>usi- 
ness,  etc.,  tiiat  I  supposed,  as  you  never  brought  up  the  matter  again, 
that  you  had  forgotten  or  dropped  it. 

When  I  established  Ottawa,  it  was  proposed  by  my  associates  to 
name  it  Hutchinson,  but  I  was  comjiaratively  unknown  at  that  time, 
1863,  and  I  thought  Ottawa  a  better  name,  from  local  associations. 
The  site  I  had  in  mind  in  those  days,  and  probably  mentioned  to  you, 
was  in  Osage  county,  nearly  two  hundred  miles  away  from  Hutchinson, 
Kan.,  founded  by  me  in  1871.  You  say  I  have  an  important  city  bearing 
our  name,  to  which  I  can  only  say  that  you  also  have,  in  Minnesota,  an 
important  city  "  bearing  owr  name."  But  honors  are  easy,  and  really 
imimportant,  in  these  matters.  I  as  really  selected,  arranged  for,  and 
located  (Ottawa,  but  two  others  claimed  the  glory. 

At  Hutchinson,  Kan.,  is  a  man  bearing  our  name,  and  many  people 
think  he  founded  the  place.  I  took  him  into  my  employ  tiie  first  year 
of  my  settlement  there  ;  he  has  remained  tliere  constantly,  has  prosjiered, 
and  bears  his  honors  (accorded  by  new  settlers),  without  blushing. 

Very  truly  yours,  C.  C.  Hltchixsox. 

While  on  our  temperance  campaign  in  Kansas  during 
December,  we  entered  a  town  where  the  leading  sa- 
loon-keeper had,  as  he  supposed,  got  the  community 
fully  in  sympathy  with  the  spirit  of  license.  He  of- 
ered  us  the  free  use  of  his  hall,  a  spacious  room  ad- 
joining his  saloon,  saying,  '•  You  can  sing  all  you  want 
to  now  :  I  have  got  license.  My  father  was  a  Congre- 
gational minister,  and  I  was  born  in  Vermont ;  I  don't 
drink  this  liquor,  but  I  sell   it.     I  came   to   Kansas  to 


458  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

make  money,  and  I'm  bonnd  to  make  it."  His  re- 
marks indicated  an  utter  lack  of  principle  which 
shocked  us. 

The  months  spent  in  Kansas  were  among  the  most 
pleasurable  of  our  long  concert  experiences.  Added 
to  the  other  emotions  Avhich  made  the  work  pleasant, 
was  the  saddening  reflection  that  this  was  probably  the 
last  season  with  my  daughter,  for  the  loss  of  Abby  had 
convinced  me  that  I  could  not  hope  for  much  assistance 
from  her  after  her  household  altars  were  set  up.  So  I 
cherished  the  fleeting  moments  and  valued  them  ac- 
cordingly. Our  last  concert  in  Kansas  was  given  on 
December  IGtli.  Then  we  started  on  our  homeward 
journey,  our  plans  including  a  trip  through  Illinois  to 
Chicago,  and  then  concerts  in  the  })rincipal  cities  until 
we  reached  Washington.  We  issued  an  advance  circu- 
lar, with  a  list  of  dates  for  some  weeks  ahead,  and  for  a 
time  all  went  merrily.  At  Jacksonville,  111.,  I  met 
Col.  G.  P.  Smith,  editor  of  the  Journal,  and  made  pro- 
visional plans  with  him  to  come  and  sing  in  the  presi- 
dential campaign  tlie  following  autumn,  in  case  Gen- 
eral Grant  shoukl  be  nominated,  as  seemed  probable. 
Concerts  in  Bloomington,  Springfield,  Decatur,  Peoria, 
Galesburg  and  Monmouth  closed  the  year. 

The  month  of  January,  1868,  was  spent  in  Iowa  and 
Illinois,  and  we  reached  Chicago  on  the  31st.  By  this 
time  we  Avere  reminded  of  the  advice  given  by  Tony 
Weller  to  the  genial  character  in  "  Pickwick " : 
"•  Samivel,  beware  of  Vidders.''  Ole  Bull  had  a  saga- 
cious  advance  agent  named  Widdows.  He  had  pos- 
sessed himself  of  one  of  my  lists  of  advance  dates, 
and  was  politel}''  putting  tlie  great  virtuoso  in  about 
two  days  ahead  of  us  as  fast  fts  we  went  along.  His 
prices  were  a  dollar  a  ticket,  and  ours  only  fifty  cents, 


MORAL    REFOIIM    AYORK.  459 

to  be  sure,  but  it  was  too  much  to  ask  the  average  con- 
cert goer  to  pay  one  dollar  and  a  half  so  nearly  at  one 
time.  So  Ave  concluded  to  change  our  plans,  and  give 
a  few  concerts  near  Chicago,  until  Ole  IJuirs  tour  had 
carried  him  a  little  farther  away. 

At  Bloomington,  on  the  5th  of  February,  I  got  my 
life  insured.  Stillman  Churchill  was  chairman  of  a 
connnittee  of  Good  Templars,  for  Avhom  we  sung.  He 
was  also  a  life  insurance  ao-ent.  On  the  morniup-  after 
our  concert,  he  came  in  to  pay  us  thirty-five  dollars. 
At  once  he  began  to  talk  business.  He  asked  me  if  I 
had  my  life  insured,  and  I  told  him  it  had  been  my 
effort  to  lay  up  a  competence  for  my  family,  in  case  of 
my  demise  and  I  had  none.  He  urged  the  matter  upon 
me,  and  was  so  importunate,  that  I  saw  no  way  of  es- 
caping from  him.  So  I  said :  '^  You  insure  for  any 
length  of  time?"  "Yes."  "And  for  any  amount?" 
"  Yes."  "  Well,"'  said  I,  "  you  may  give  me  five  dol- 
lars' worth."  He  took  five  dollars  out,  paid  me  the 
thirty,  and  I  left  liim.  When  I  got  home  I  found  the 
policy  had  been  mailed  with  a  polite  request  that  I  pay 
the  balance  necessary  to  give  me  a  reasonal^le  amount  of 
insurance,  l)ut  I  made  no  response.  I  still  have  the 
policy,  all  the  life  insurance  I  ever  secured. 

On  tlie  8th  of  March  we  closed  our  concerts  and 
started  for  home.  On  the  10th  I  was  in  New  York, 
and  besides  seeing  Sister  Abby  and  her  liusband,  saw 
Louisa  T.  Conger,  the  "  Louisa  "  of  my  song  composed 
the  year  before,  she  having  since  married.  Of  course 
Lynn  friends  were  glad  to  see  us  when  we  returned. 
On  April  8th,  with  Edmund  Quincy,  I  called  and  re- 
newed my  aoquaintance  with  Charles  Dickens,  then 
making  Ins  last  tour  of  America.  We  saw  him  at  the 
Parker  House,  in  Boston.      Man}-  friends  were  there. 


460  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

On  April  15th  came  the  wedding  of  my  daughter,  to 
Lewis  A.  Campbell,  of  Toledo.  The  ceremon}-  was  in 
the  Free  Church,  on  Oxford  Street,  and  the  officiating 
clergyman  was  Rev.  Samuel  Johnson,  my  life-long 
friend.  Although  he  had  been  in  the  ministr}^  many 
years,  I  understood  that  by  some  strange  ha[)pening 
this  was  his  first  solemnization  of  the  marriage  ser- 
vice, and  his  embarrassment  was  far  more  palpal)le 
than  that  of  either  the  bride  or  groom.  A  merry  party 
partook  of  the  wedding  breakfast  at  Daisy  Cottage, 
altliough  plans  we  had  made  for  a  photograph  of  the 
gathering  were  spoiled  by  rain.  Tlien  my  daughter 
left  me  for  the  West.  I  Mas  doubly  bereaved,  for  I 
had  not  only  lost  her  mild  and  happy  presence  from  my 
home,  but  was  deprived  of  a  very  important  member  of 
my  concert  company.  It  was  only  the  next  day  that  I 
was  introduced  to  a  Mr.  Kidgway,  in  Boston,  and  in- 
vited by  him  to  call  and  listen  to  the  singing  of  his  six- 
teen-year-old daughter,  Graziella.  I  went  soon  after, 
and  found  her  not  only  to  be  a  fine  vocalist,  but  an  ex- 
cellent pianist  as  well.  The  result  of  my  hearing  was 
her  engagement  to  sing  with  us.  She  appeared  with  us 
in  many  concerts,  to  the  satisfaction  of  our  audiences. 
Afterwards  she  sang  in  the  Camilla  Urso  Concert  Com- 
pany, and  in  Italian  Opera  in  the  Academy  of  Music, 
New  York,  and  later  with  Ole  Bull.  She  was  very 
fond  of  singing  my  "  Fatherhood  of  God,  and  Brother- 
hood of  Man,"  and  it  was  not  long  ago  that  I  called 
at  her  pleasant  home  in  New  Haven,  Conn.  —  she  mar- 
ried long  since  —  and  we  sang  it  together. 

On  Tuesday,  May  14th,  there  was  a  great  convention 
in  Cooper  Institute,  New  York,  the  second  anniversary 
of  the  Equal  Suffrage  Societ3^  Lucretia  Mott,  who 
had  served  as   president  of  the  society,  resigned,  and 


MORAL    REFORM    WORK.  461 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Cady  Stanton  was  chosen  in  her  phice. 
The  speakei'S  were  Mrs.  Stanton,  Miss  xVntliony,  Miss 
Olympia  Brown,  Frederick  Douglass,  C.  C.  Burleigh, 
Lucy  Stone,  Mr.  Blackwell,  and  others.  I  went  on 
with  Henry,  and  sister  Abby  joined  us  in  the  singing. 

Returning  home,  on  the  20th,  I  made  a  trip  to  Mil- 
ford.  On  the  27tli  Henr}^  and  I  attended  the  anni- 
versary of  the  Anti-Slavery  Society  at  th.e  Meionaon,  in 
Boston.  After  Phillips's  speech,  we  sung  '•'•  One  Hun- 
dred Years  Hence,"  it  being  followed  by  great  applause  : 

"  One  huiulred  years  hence  wliat  a  change  will  be  made 
In  politics,  morals,  religion  and  trade  ; 
In  statesmen,  wlio  wrangle  or  ride  on  the  fence, 
These  things  will  be  altered  a  hundred  years  hence. 

"Then  woman,  man's  partner,  man's  equal  will  stand, 
While  beauty  and  harmony  govern  the  land; 
To  think  for  one's  self  will  be  no  offence, 
Tlie  world  will  be  thinking,  a  hundred  years  hence. 

"  Oppression  and  war  will  be  heard  of  no  more, 
Nor  the  blood  of  the  slave  leave  its  print  on  our  shore ; 
Conventions  will  then  be  a  useless  expense. 
For  we'll  all  go  free  suffrage,  a  hundred  years  hence." 

On  May  29th  the  Free  Religious  Association  held  its 
anniversary  at  Tremont  Tem[)le.  Men  of  every  denomi- 
nation took  part.  Sister  Abby,  who  came  on  to  attend, 
joined  Henry  and  I  in  singing  "  The  Fatherhood  of 
God,  and  the  Brotherhood  of  Man.''  Wlien  we  had 
closed,  the  presiding  officer  remarked,  "  The  man  who 
made  that  song  stands  higher  than  any  man  in  this 
world."  Abby  turned  to  me  and  said,  "  John,  you  are 
the  most  honored  man  on  eartli."  I  had  already  pub- 
lislied  the  song,  in  Chicago,  111.,  and  it  was  having  a 
good  sale.  On  May  31st,  I  had  a  visit  from  an  old  ac- 
quaintance, Richard  D.  Webb,  of  Dublin,  Ireland.     The 


462  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

clay  previous  we  had  gone  to  the  beautiful  Pine  Grove 
Cemetery,  in  Lynn,  to  witness  the  first  Memorial  Day 
decoration  of  soldiers"  graves,  the  custom  being  inaugu- 
rated that  year  by  order  of  General  Logan,  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Grand  Army. 

The  following  week  we  filled  a  number  of  concert  en- 
gagements in  southern  Massachusetts,  Miss  Ridgway 
singing  with  us.  These  were  followed  by  other  con- 
certs until  the  cold  weather  interfered.  Then  duties 
about  High  liock  engaged  my  attention  for  a  while. 
During  this  summer  religious  mass-meetings  were  held 
nearly  every  Sunday  evening  on  the  rock.  In  August 
my  daughter  came  on  to  visit  us.  On  tlie  19th  I  started 
back  to  Toledo  with  her.  Leaving  her  there,  I  pushed 
on  to  Jacksonville,  111.,  and  saw  Colonel  Smith.  Grant 
and  Colfax  had  been  nominated,  and  I  arranged  with 
him  to  take  the  stump  in  Illinois  and  help  sing  the 
great  soldier  into  the  presidential  chair,  as  I  had  helped 
Lincoln  eight  years  before.  Then  I  went  to  St.  Louis 
and  thence  toward  Kansas. 

One  of  the  saddest  experiences  of  our  long  years  of 
service  in  the  concert  field,  was  going  from  place  to 
place  where  we  had  been  before  and  made  friends,  in- 
quiring for  this  and  that  one,  and  finding  him  gone 
from  earth  forever.  Every  important  town  in  America, 
almost,  has  a  connection  in  our  minds  with  friends 
whom  we  never  shall  meet  again  in  this  world.  To 
compensate  for  this  was  the  counter  experience  of  meet- 
ing here  and  there,  unexpectedly,  friends  whose  mem- 
ories Avere  kept  green  because  of  scenes  we  had  wit- 
nessed or  good  times  we  had  enjoyed  together.  At  St. 
Louis  on  this  trip  I  met  Rev.  J.  B.  Merwin,  who  was 
with  us  in  the  Potomac  camps.  We  had  a  good  time 
relating  our  experiences  since  then. 


MORAL   REFORM   WORK.  463 

I  wonder  if  my  reader  has  ever  given  a  thongiit  to 
the  fate  of  the  team  winch  I  drove  from  Miiniesola  to 
Kansas  the  year  before.  The  horses  had  faithfull)-  done 
their  dnty  in  bringing  us  there,  and  after  we  travelled 
with  them  in  the  Kansas  campaign,  I  sought  on  arriv- 
ing at  Lawrence  to  leave  them  in  good  hands  for  the 
winter.  So  I  made  a  bargain  with  a  livery-man,  to  take 
liorses  and  carriage,  be  responsible  for  them,  and  use 
them  judiciously  to  pay  for  their  keeping.  I  hadn't 
been  away  from  Lawrence  five  Aveeks  before  I  received 
a  bill  of  sixty  dollars  from  tliis  man.  I  at  once  wrote 
to  a  Lawrence  friend  to  take  the  team  away.  He  wrote 
me  in  return  that  he  had  done  so,  and  placed  it  in  the 
hands  of  a  responsible  man,  on  the  terms  I  liad  originally 
made  with  the  livery-man.  He  failed  to  mention  this 
person's  name. 

On  August  24th  I  arrived  at  Lawrence,  rather  curious 
to  see  what  condition  my  team  was  in,  and  also  won- 
dering who  had  it.  1  had  been  in  town  but  a  short 
time,  and  had  but  just  begun  to  make  inquiries,  when  I 
saw  my  horses  being  driven  down  the  street.  Their 
driver  was  ex-Governor  Robinson.  On  seeing  me,  he 
at  once  invited  me  to  get  in  and  ride  with  him  to  his 
place,  six  miles  out.  He  soon  began  to  talk  about  the 
team.  His  wife,  he  said,  was  very  fond  of  the  horses, 
and  drove  them  to  town  every  day.  Finally  I  ventured 
an  inquiry,  *' Mr.  Robinson,  where  is  my  carriage?" 
"Oh,"  said  he,  "that's  all  used  up."  I  found  the 
carriage  on  my  arrival  at  the  farm,  in  an  old  shed,  com- 
pletely plaj'ed  out.  It  had  evidently  been  exposed  to 
the  action  of  the  weather  all  the  season.  It  seemed 
that  the  governor  and  Rev.  I.  S.  Kalloch,  Avho  had  been 
prominently  identified  Avith  the  opposition  to  woman 
suffrage  the  year  before,  had  during  the  winter  taken  it 


464  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

and  rode  several  hundred  miles  into  Indian  Territory,  to 
look  up  some  railroad  scheme.  It  was  in  pretty  bad 
condition.  I  went  to  the  governor  and  told  him  that  I 
had  engaged  to  sing  in  Illinois  for  Grant  and  Colfax, 
and  that  my  carriage  must  be  fixed  up.  He  demurred, 
but  finally  told  me  to  take  the  carriage  down  town,  and 
tell  the  repairer  to  expend  from  three  to  five  dollars  on 
it,  at  his  expense.  I  went,  grieved  to  think  of  this  un- 
fortunate winding  up  of  the  Avoman-suffrage  campaign. 

Arriving  at  the  carriage  factory,  I  told  what  was 
wanted,  and  at  once  took  off  my  coat  and  went  to  work 
to  help.  I  hadn't  been  at  work  more  than  three-quarters 
of  an  hour,  when  Dr.  Robinson  came  riding  down  in 
haste,  took  the  carriage-ljuilder  aside,  and  had  a  private 
talk  with  him.  Finally  the  repairs  were  made,  and 
taking  it  back,  on  the  following  morning  I  prepared  to 
tackle  up  my  team  for  a  long  journey.  I  said,  "  Doctor, 
I  had  a  water-pail,  hammer,  wrench  and  a  buffalo  robe; 
also  a  whip  that  cost  me  three  dollars."  The  doctor 
gave  me  a  fifty-cent  wliip,  a  superannuated  pail,  and  an 
old  horse-blanket,  remarking  that  he  guessed  they  would 
do.  Considering  the  fact  that  lie  was  the  possessor  of  a 
map"nificent  farm  and  large  landed  interests  beside,  I 
was  not  quite  satisfied.  Then  he  wanted  to  trade  horses. 
I  told  him  I  did  not  see  how  I  could.  He  said  he  would 
give  two  house-lots  in  the  suburbs  of  Lawrence  for 
them.     Finally  I  left  him  and  drove  toward  Missouri. 

I  drove  as  fast  as  the  team  would  go,  but  I  found  I 
could  not  reach  Atchison  that  niglit,  so  I  finally  un- 
tackled  my  horses,  hitched  them  to  the  wheels  of  my 
carriage,  took  a  club  as  a  protection  from  danger  and 
curled  up  in  the  carriage  for  the  night,  with  no  com- 
pany but  the  dear  old  moon  looking  down  in  pity.  At 
four  o  clock  in  the  morning  I  was  awakened  by  a  noise, 


MORAL   REFORM   WORK.  465 

"rip,  rip  I "  and  found  my  straw  hat  gone.  It  had 
dropped  from  my  head  during  the  night.  This  tilled 
me  with  apprehension,  for  I  had  no  other.  Looking 
out  of  the  carriage,  I  saw  it  in  possession  of  an  old  sow 
and  a  litter  of  ten  pigs.  It  was  badly  torn.  I  jumped 
out  and  saved  the  remains,  and  putting  the  sorry  head- 
gear on  drove  into  Atehison.  There  I  found  my  niece 
Estella,  Mrs.  Dr.  Sawyer,  and  slie  not  only  gave  me  a 
good  breakfast,  but  repaired  the  hat.  As  soon  as  possi- 
ble I  resumed  my  journey  into  poor,  aftlicted  Missouri, 
but  soon  found  I  would  be  unable  to  reach  Illinois  in 
time,  by  this  method  of  locomotion.  Plodding  along  I 
kept  meeting  the  most  woe-begone-looking  people,  riding 
horseback  and  talking  "  secesh."  They  were  beaten 
but  not  whipped.  They  viewed  me  with  suspicion. 
"Where'dye  come  from?"  "  Where  ye  goin' ? "  they 
would  ask.  I  kept  my  club  handy  and  did  not  dare  go 
into  the  houses,  for  I  had  been  told  that  this  was  the 
worst  part  of  Missouri,  the  home  of  the  border-rufhans 
Avho  invaded  Kansas  and  sacked  Lawrence.  In  that 
place,  by  the  way,  one  man,  a  Methodist  clergyman, 
whom  I  later  found  preaching  in  Omaha  and  Salt  Lake 
City,  told  me  that  when  the  raiders  came  he  was  hidden 
in  the  cellar  of  his  house.  The  raiders  ransacked  the 
premises  and  then  declared  their  intention  of  firing  the 
house.  His  quick-witted  wife  asked  permission  to  save 
a  carpet,  which  was  granted  and  the  rufhans  temporarily 
went  elsewhere.  Taking  up  the  carpet,  she  called  the 
fugitive  from  the  cellar  and  rolled  him  in  it.  Then  by 
main  strength  she  carried  her  strange  bundle  out  and 
stood  it  up  against  a  tree.  He  remained  in  momentary 
expectation  of  being  shot  during  the  destruction  of  the 
premises,  but  the  raiders,  assuming  that  nothing  but  a 
carpet  was  standing  there,  left  him  unmolested. 


466  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

On  September  1st,  I  readied  New  Canil)iia.  It  was 
settled  by  Scandinavians.  I  tliouglit  it  niig-ht  be  a  good 
place  to  leave  my  team,  for  1  saw  it  was  impossible  to 
reach  ni}'  destination  with  it.  Finally  I  saw  some  neat 
looking  children  playing  in  front  of  a  house.  "  Chil- 
dren," I  said,  ''  run  in  and  tell  your  father  and  mother 
I've  got  a  team  for  them."  The}'  did  so  and  the  parents 
came  out  with  countenances  Inight  with  surpiise.  I 
explained  to  the  man  that  I  should  have  been  in  Jack- 
sonville two  days  before,  and  that  I  desired  to  leave  the 
team  with  him  for  its  keeping  until  I  was  able  to  come 
and  get  it.  He  consented,  drove  me  to  the  depot,  where 
I  took  the  train  for  Quincy,  111.  I  learned  that  the 
man's  name  was  Moses  Williams. 

I  might  here  sa}',  that  a  few  weeks  after  I  received  a 
l)ill  from  the  carriage  maker  at  Lawrence  of  thirty 
dollars,  for  repairs  on  my  vehicle.  He  did  not  do  more 
than  seven  or  eight  dollars'  worth  to  it  and  I  helped  him 
do  that. 

On  the  next  day,  September  2d,  I  reached  Jackson- 
ville, and  sung  at  a  political  gathering  of  Repul)licans 
where  Richard  Yates,  the  great  war  governor  of  the 
State,  spoke.  I  learned  that  it  was  the  design  of  the 
State  committee  that  Henr}^  and  I  should  travel  and 
sing  with  Yates.  Henry  had  not  arrived,  so  I  sang 
alone.  Yates  made  a  beautiful  address.  Henr}^  came 
the  next  day.  We  made  a  similar  arrangement  with 
the  committee  to  that  in  Kansas,  which  was  that  they 
should  pay  us  nothing,  but  piovide  entertainment  and 
halls  free,  we  singing  at  the  political  meetings  in  the 
daytime,  and  giving  a  paid  concert  in  the  evening.  Of 
course  they  freely  advertised  our  coming.  Among  the 
toAvns  tliat  we  visited  was  Greenville,  the  home  of  my 
brother    Zephaniah,   of  lamented    memorj-.      Oh,    how 


MOllAL    EEFOKM    WOEK.  467 

tender  were  1113-  thoughts  of  that  dear  brotliev,  with  his 
wise  liead,  genial  wit  and  fascinating!}^  whimsical 
nature.  I  recalled  the  time,  years  before,  when  he  Avas 
our  business  agent.  He  stepped  up  to  us,  at  the  hotel 
in  New  York,  and  patronizingi}'  remarked,  "  Boys,  I'm 
going  to  pay  you  off."  We  had  taken  hfteen  hundred 
dollars  at  our  concert  the  night  before.  We  held  out 
our  hands  expectantly,  and  he  munificently  vouchsafed 
us  one  cent  apiece.  As  I  stated  in  relating  the  visit  of 
Jesse,  Judson  and  myself  there  many  years  before, 
Zephaniah's  farm  was  over  six  miles  from  Greenville. 
Henr}"  and  I  took  a  carriage  and  drove  out  there.  I 
determined  that  I  wouldn't  ask  anybody  the  way,  but 
see  if  I  could  recognize  the  place.  At  last  we  came  to 
a  grove.  "  This  must  be  the  place,"  said  I,  "•  and  yet  I 
thought  that  barn  stood  another  way."  I  opened  the 
gate.  "  Good  morning,  my  good  friend,"  I  said  to  the 
man  in  the  yard,  "-'AA-ill  3'ou  tell  me  if  this  is  the  farm 
Zephaniah  K.  Hutchinson  settled  ?  "  "  Certainl v,  this 
is  the  place,"  was  his  respjonse.  He  invited  me  into  the 
house.  I  was  startled.  The  man  much  resembled  my 
brother,  and  his  wife  was  the  image  of  my  brother's 
wife.  His  name  was  Jonathan  Keppler.  He  told  me  I 
was  right  about  the  barn.  It  had  been  turned  around. 
Zephaniah  had  planted  some  three  hundred  selected 
trees,  and  when  Ave  made  our  visit  they  were  loaded 
with  fruit.  We  visited  my  brother's  grave  and  dropped 
tears  of  genuine  grief  to  liis  memory. 

Wherever  the  name  of  Kichard  Yates  is  known, 
there,  alas  I  is  known  also  the  story  of  his  great  weak- 
ness. If  we  had  needed  additional  examples  of  the 
ravages  of  tlie  drink  habit  for  our  temperance  meet- 
ings, he  would  have  furnished  them.  He  was  a  fine 
speaker,  a  very  gentlemanly  man,  and  a  man  of  good 


468  THE   HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

heart.  At  Champaign,  after  our  concert,  he  came  and 
shook  our  hands,  remarking,  ''We  are  going  to  have 
one  of  the  grandest  campaigns  ever  inaugurated  in 
the  West,  together."  His  words  did  not  prove  true, 
to  our  sorrow  and  disappointment.  At  Danville  he 
was  not  in  condition  to  appear,  and  the  next  morning 
he  rushed  out  of  his  hotel  and  started  for  the  East. 
We  next  heard  from  him  at  Toledo,  still  going,  and 
therefore  the  newspapers  inferred  and  stated,  rightly 
or  Avrongly.  that  important  business  had  taken  him  to 
Washington.  He  was  to  speak  in  Decatur  that  day, 
and  at  the  specified  time  we  took  the  train  for  that 
town.  A  committee,  with  a  band  of  music  and  car- 
riage, was  at  the  depot  to  meet  Yates.  I  had  to  tell 
them  he  had  gone,  no  one  knew  whither.  We  were 
escorted  to  the  wigwam.  Twent}'  thousand  people  were 
in  waiting  to  hear  the  speaker.  We  sang,  to  their 
great  satisfaction,  and  I  talked.  General  Francis  P. 
Blair,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  A'ice-President,  had 
been  recently  delivering  himself  of  sentiments  that  had 
aroused  a  good  deal  of  comment,  and  I  took  him  off  as 
a  "  Curiosity,"  to  the  delight  of  the  multitude.  The 
Avigwam  was  a  long,  low-studded  Ijuilding,  with  -all 
the  windows  taken  out.  The  committee,  in  its  emer- 
gency, bethought  itself  of  another  man  who  had  come 
home  under  the  influence  of  liquor  a  few  days  before, 
but  who  could  speak  if  in  his  senses.  His  house  was 
sought  out,  and  he  Avas  found  asleep.  A  little  brandy 
put  to  his  nose  revived  him,  and  he  Avas  taken  to  the 
AvigAvam.  He  took  off  his  coat,  and  commenced  beating 
the  air,  his  Avild  gesticulations  entertaining  the  croAvd, 
if  his  Avords  did  not. 

The  next  day  Yates's  son  came  to  us  and  anxiously 
inquired  for  his  father.     We  broke  the  sad  neAvs  of  his 


MORAL   EEFOIIM   WOEK.  469 

escapade  as  gently  as  we  could.  All  he  could  do  was 
to  wait  until  some  newspaper  paragraph  gave  him  an 
inkling  of  the  senator's  whereabouts. 

"  Oh,  rum,  what  hast  tliou  done? 
Kuined  mother,  daughter,  father  and  son." 

How  sad  the  reflection  !  As  my  mind  reverts 
through  the  vista  of  years  to  the  numerous  examples 
of  our  poor,  weak  brothers  and  sisters,  who  have  fallen 
victims  to  this  fell  destroyer,  I  feel  that  the  dark  cur- 
tain of  forgetfulness  should  be  drawn  over  these  causes 
of  woe  —  the  mantle  of  charity  should  hide  from  the 
rude  inspection  of  idle  curiosity  these  revolting  spec- 
tacles. Let  not  the  strong  ones  boastfully  and  exult- 
ingly  glory  in  their  fortune,  or  tauntingly  refer  to  the 
unfortunate,  but  while 

"Admitting  tlieir  weakness  and  evil  behavior, 
Leave  witli  meekness  their  sins  to  their  Saviour." 

"  Dick  "  Oglesby  spoke  with  us  the  next  day,  at 
Bk^omington.  At  Kankakee,  two  days  later,  the  com- 
mittee met  us  at  the  depot  with  a  caniage  drawn  by 
four  Avhite  horses.  Tlie  speakers  were  in  a  barouche 
drawn  by  four  cream-colored  steeds.  The  procession 
Avas  the  finest  in  the  State.  We  sang  all  day.  At 
Lockport  we  were  entertained  over  Sunday  at  tlie 
house  of  a  deceased  friend.  Rev.  Mr.  Codding,  a  libeial- 
minded  preacher,  who  had  been  an  earnest  anti-slaver}^ 
man,  and  had  done  a  great  deal  for  the  cause  of  eman- 
cipation. Fifteen  j-ears  had  elapsed  since  last  I  saw 
liim,  and  it  was  two  years  or  more  since  he  had  died. 
With  a  sorrowful  heart  I  accompanied  the  widow  to 
the  churchyard,  and  had  pointed  out  to  me  the  spot 
where  his  body  lay.     He  had  been  a  noted  s[)iritualist. 


470  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

While  stopping  at  this  place  I  had  a  vision.  I  awoke 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Sunday,  September 
20th.  I  felt  rested,  but  soon  quieted  down,  and  fell  into 
a  half-slumber.  I  seemed  to  have  a  view  of,  as  I  thought, 
the  other  sphere.  I  thought  I  saw  a  curtain,  partially 
drawn  apart,  and  in  the  space  behind  it  who  should  ap- 
pear but  my  fatlier,  brothers,  and  one  or  two  sisters,  all 
long  since  dead.  While  looking  at  them,  they  arose  and 
too-ether  moved  forward  and  formed  a  semicircle.  Just 
then  my  dear  mother  entered,  and  they  surrounded 
her.  Instantly  I  awoke.  I  was  filled  with  hope.  As 
soon  as  morning  came  I  told  my  dream.  At  once  I 
wrote  to  Asa.  I  said,  "  Asa,  don't  doubt  again ;  I 
have  seen  a  vision.  Saw  my  mother  in  another  world." 
I  went  about  my  vocation.  As  soon  as  the  mail  could 
reach  me  in  reply,  from  Minnesota,  word  came  from 
Asa  :  "  Mother  died  that  very  night,  in  Milford."  Now 
Milford  was  fourteen  hundred  miles  away. 

I  have  already  told  mncli  of  my  mother's  history. 
She  Avas  a  woman  of  great  natural  affection  for  her 
family,  and  though  her  descendants  numbered  many 
score  before  her  death,  there  was  room  in  her  heart  for 
them  all.  She  had  a  great  musical  gift,  loved  poetry, 
was  an  earnest  Christian,  and  one  who  faithfully  tried 
to  do  her  duty  to  all  mankind.  A  prominent  publica- 
tion thus  editorially  referred  to  her  death  : 

"A  Mother  ix  Israel.  —  The  granite  hills  of  New  England  produce 
character.  The  men  and  women  who  climb  their  heights,  or  labor  under 
their  shadow,  think  as  well  as  work.  They  do  not  always  grow  rich,  but 
they  bring  up  in  contentment  and  virtue  families  that  go  fortli  and  sub- 
due the  earth.  Tlie  more  quaint  and  old-fashioned  style  of  people  is  in- 
deed passing  away  —  the  patriarchs  and  mati-iarchs  of  simjile  habits  and 
marked  qualities.  The  death  of  one  of  these,  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Hutchinson, 
the  mother  of  the  celebrated  Hutchinson  family  of  singers,  is  briefly 
noted  on  oiir  seventh  page.  She  was  a  woman  t)f  cheerful  temperament, 
of  strong  feeling,  and  of  decided  character.     Early  in  life  she  embraced 


MORAL   KEFORM   WORK.  471 

Baptist  views,  and  was  a  zealous  defender  of  them  to  tlie  last,  tliough  in 
otlier  respects  her  doctrinal  belief  varied  from  the  tenets  of  that  denom- 
ination. She  had  the  psalms  and  hymns  of  Watts  by  heart,  so  that  she 
never  needed  the  printed  page,  and  was  so  fond  of  them  that  lines, 
couplets  and  verses  would  find  their  way  into  her  ordinary  conversation, 
often  with  amusing  appropriateness.  It  was  from  her  the  children  in- 
herited their  remarkable  musical  talent,  and  her  voice  retained  much  of 
its  power  to  the  end.  A  hymn-book  was  buried  with  her  in  the  cofiin, 
and  the  funeral  services  were  conducted  at  the  rural  school-house,  where 
all  the  children  received  their  education,  and  several  of  them  wlio  were 
able  to  be  present  added  touching  interest  to  the  occasion  by  singing 
appropriate  songs  of  faith  and  hope.  She  was  married  but  once,  surviv- 
ing her  husband  ten  or  twelve  years,  was  the  mother  of  sixteen  children, 
thirteen  of  whom  lived  to  adult  years,  the  grandmother  of  fifty-two,  and 
the  great-grandmother  of  twenty-eight ;  being  thus  the  ancestor  during 
her  life  of  ninety-six  persons." 

Contimiing  our  campaign  work,  on  the  22d  of  Sep- 
teml)er  we  were  in  Chicago.  At  least  fifty  thousand 
people  filled  the  great  court  square  on  either  side  of 
the  Court  House.  In  each  [)lace  was  a  platform.  We 
would  sing  on  one  side„  and  then  the  speakers  would 
take  our  places,  and  we  would  go  to  the  other.  Among 
the  orators  that  day  were  Governor  Oglesliy,  General 
Logan,  Emery  A.  Storrs,  and  our  war-time  friend,  Gen. 
John  P.  Farnsworth.  I  remember  that  among  the 
pieces  sung  by  Henry  and  mj^self  were,  "  'Tis  coming 
up  the  steep  of  time,''  and  our  '-'•  Curiosity  Song."  Of 
course  the  latter  was  so  amended  as  to  be  a  take-off  on 
the  opposition.  Oh,  it  was  something  to  be  a  Republi- 
can in  those  days !  Then  it  was  a  comfort  to  be  in  op- 
position to  the  Democracy.  Then  it  was  a  delight  to 
see  the  letters  "  U.  S.  A."  on  the  mail-l)ags,  and  other 
government  material.  For  twenty-five  years  a  stigma 
had  been  attached  to  them  in  our  minds,  for  it  meant 
a  government  that  upheld  slavery.  We  could  not  sing 
"  America "  honestly  then,  l)ut  now  all  this  was 
chano-ed,  and  we  entered  with  enthusiasm  int(^  the 
Avork  we  had  on  hand. 


472  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

Oil  the  next  day  we  went  to  St.  Charles,  and  Gen- 
eral Farnsworth  took  us  immediately  to  his  home.  In 
fact,  this  campaign  brought  only  a  repetition  of  our  ex- 
periences all  througli  our  career.  We  received  courte- 
sies that  put  us  under  life-long  obligation  from  frieuds 
wherever  we  M^ent.  As  I  look  back  over  my  profes- 
sional life,  I  feel  that  to  merely  enumerate  these  kind 
friends  would  leave  room  for  nothing  else  in  tliis  l)ook. 
So  I  trust  all  such  who  read  this  will  rest  assured  that 
they  are  gratefully  remembered  and  loved,  though  not 
specially  mentioned. 

For  a  few  daj-s  we  had  with  us  as  speakers  General 
Logan,  General  Farnsworth,  and  that  prince  of  orators, 
Emery  A.  Storrs.  Congressman  Bates  also  spoke  with 
us.  We  went  with  Logan  to  various  places,  and  also 
visited  his  home,  where  we  met  j\lrs.  Logan,  a  woman 
whose  acquaintance  I  was  glad  to  renew  in  later  years. 
General  Logan  was  a  grand,  true  specimen  of  the  best 
in  Americanism.  On  October  10th  we  sangf  in  Peoria 
to  twenty-five  thousand  people.  On  the  following  day 
we  called  on  another  oratorical  giant.  Col.  R.  G.  Inger- 
soll,  declined  the  wine  he  politely  offered  us,  and  laid 
out  a  plan  of  campaign  for  a  number  of  meetings  with 
him.  The  "  Carpet-Baggers  "  turned  out  in  full  force 
at  Peoria.  Those  who  recall  that  campaign  will  re- 
member that  the  "  Tanners  "  and  "  Carpet-Baggers  " 
played  an  important  part  in  the  parades.  On  this  oc- 
casion, with  a  big  cai'pet-bag  on  my  back,  I  led  the  pro- 
cession, with  the  motto,  "  My  countrymen,  all  mankind." 

Partly  from  principle  and  partly  because  of  the  warn- 
ing furnished  by  Governor  Yates,  I  made  it  in  my  way, 
besides  having  many  talks  on  the  Bible  with  Ingersoll 
during  our  tour,  to  give  him  numerous  earnest  temper- 
ance   lectures.     After    I   went   with   Yates,    Governor 


MORAL   EEFOmi    WORK.  473 

Ogiesby  blamed  me  for  not  taking  care  of  him.  I 
said,  "  I  was  not  in  charge  of  Yates ;  I  did  my  duty 
and  satisfied  the  people.  I  had  not  been  told  of  Mr. 
Yates's  weakness.  If  you  blame  me,  I  shall  publish  the 
whole  story." 

At  Springfield,  where  Ingersoll  and  Governor  Ogiesby 
were  the  speakers,  Yates  again  appeared.  He  expressed 
his  desire  to  be  with  us  once  more,  and  speak  wliile  we 
sang.  We  were  each  grieved  that  our  anticipations 
for  a  great  campaign  togetlier  liad  been  disappointed. 
To  please  both  Yates  and  us  a  meeting  was  appointed, 
and  we  appeared  together.  On  the  26th  we  rode  from 
Bath  thirty  miles  in  a  liand-car,  and  then  in  a  carriage 
fifteen  miles  to  Pekin.  From  there  we  Avent  once 
more  to  Peoria,  stopping  with  Mrs.  Curtenius,  an  old 
friend  ^\e  had  made  in  New  York,  years  before. 

On  October  27th  we  were  at  Chicago  again.  There 
was  a  big  I'ally  at  which  Lyman  Trumbull  made  a  great 
speech.  It  was  our  last  singing  in  the  Illinois  cam- 
paign. The  next  day  we  took  the.  train  to  La  Crosse, 
and  at  midnight  took  the  boat  Kei/  Cif//  to  Winona. 
We  reached  Rochester,  Minn.,  on  the  29th,  wliere  we 
had  many  old  friends.  There  was  a  Democratic  rally 
that  night,  addressed  by  D.  S.  Norton,  once  a  Republi- 
can. At  the  close  there  were  calls  for  the  Hutchin- 
sons,  and  seeing  an  opportunity  to  lielp  tlie  cause 
along,  we  at  once  responded,  singing  our  '•'•  Curiosity  " 
song,  and  not  sparing  our  friends,  the  enemy.  The 
result  was  three  rousing  cheers  for  Grant  and  Colfax. 
Mr.  Norton  was  quite  welcome  to  all  the  satisfaction  he 
got  from  the  meeting.  The  next  day  we  took  the  train 
for  St.  Paul ;  General  Ramsey  and  other  speakers  were 
on  board.  We  sang  tliem  "  Grant,  Our  Great  Com- 
mander." 


474  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

"  Fling  wide  the  banner,  boys,  fling  wide  the  banner  ; 
For  noble  Grant,  the  people's  choice,  shout  a  loud  hosanna. 

"  All  doubt  will  ever  pass  away, 
With  Grant,  the  brave,  we'll  win  the  day : 
In  him  the  nation  put  its  trust. 
It  heeded  not  each  slander 
Thrown  out  against  the  good  and  just, 
Grant,  our  great  commander. 

"  Come  soldiers,  sailors,  freemen  all. 
Can  you  resist  your  country's  call  ? 
Don't  for  a  moment  hesitate. 
Come  forth  with  truth  and  candor  ; 
Vote  for  the  man  who  saved  the  State  — 
For  Grant,  our  great  commander. 

On  the  31st  we  sang  in  the  Opera  Honse  at  Minne- 
apolis, at  a  Republican  rally,  Ignatius  Donnelly,  the 
great  Baconian  critic  of  Shakespeare,  being  the  speaker. 
He  gave  a  fine  address.  On  Monday,  November  2d, 
we  started  toward  Hutchinson.  Had  a  rough  journey 
towards  the  Crow  River,  tlie  track  being  under  the 
mud  for  the  last  two  miles  of  the  way.  A  stage  ride 
of  seven  miles  after  leaving  the  railroad  took  us  to 
Watertown,  where  we  gave  a  concert  in  the  hotel 
hall.  At  four  o'clock  the  iiext  morning  we  started  on 
a  drive  of  thirty  miles,  reaching  Hutchinson  at  noon. 
There  was  great  excitement  over  the  election,  then  in 
progress.  Henry  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot.  We 
sunof  several  sonsfs  in  the  street.  Another  effort  was 
made  to  remove  the  county  seat  from  Glencoe  to 
Hutchinson,  but  it  failed  by  one  hundred  and  fifty 
votes.  Lizzie,  Asa's  wife,  and  another  lady,  Mrs. 
Alexander,  went  to  the  polls  and  asked  the  privilege 
of  voting,  but  were  refused.  The  meeting  unani- 
mously voted,  however,  to  help  give  them  the  right  of 
suffrage,  a  significant  fact,  as  indicating  the  character 


MORAL    EEFOIJM    WOKK.  4iO 

of  tlie  voting  population  of  the  to^^"ll.  AVe  spent  a  day 
on  Asa's  farm,  one  mile  from  the  village.  Nearly  one 
hundred  acres  of  it  Avere  under  tlie  plow  tliat  year. 

We  gave  several  concerts  in  Minnesota  during  the 
weeks  that  followed.  On  Thanksgiving  Day  we  had  a 
big  concert  in  Minneapolis.  My  brother  Josliua,  who 
had  come  on  from  the  East,  Avas  in  the  audience,  but 
did  not  make  himself  known  until  the  close.  He  spent 
three  days  with  me,  appearing  in  concert  with  us  one 
evening,  and  singing  several  songs.  It  was  his  first 
visit  to  Minnesota,  and  his  keen  eyes  took  in  about 
everything  of  interest  in  the  new  country.  His  com- 
ments on  it,  printed  in  the  Cabinet,  are  worth  quoting : 

IIuTciiiNSOx,  December  10. 

Friexd  Boylstox:  —  Although  I  make  no  pretention  to  journalism, 
I  thought  to  give  you  a  little  of  my  travels  in  the  great  Xortlnvest.  I 
left  our  own  granite  hills  on  the  10th  of  November,  but  lingering  by  the 
way  in  New  York,  to  fill  professional  engagements,  did  not  reaeh  the 
great  "Father  of  Waters,"  ths  majestic  Mississippi,  till  tlie  20th.  Navi- 
gation having  closed,  I  ■was  obliged  to  take  the  rails  from  I'rairie  du 
Chein  to  ilinneapolis.  Hearing  that  Brother  John  and  son  were  in  the 
city,  I  hurried  to  the  concert,  at  Pence  Opera  House,  where  they  were 
greeted  by  the  €lite  of  the  city.  John,  with  his  usual  enthusiasm  and 
some  new  songs,  won  their  ajjproval.  "The  Fatherhood  of  God,  and  the 
Brotherhood  of  Man,"  a  new  production,  was  received  with  api)lause. 

While  in  the  city  I  enjoyed  the  hospitalities  of  an  old  townsman,  Mr. 
George  Holt,  and  with  him  I  met  your  amiable  merchant,  Mr.  George  F. 
Stevens,  who  appears  to  have  regained  his  health  by  coming  to  tliis  cdM 
but  exhilarating  climate.  In  fact,  it  is  proverljial  as  the  resort  of  inva- 
lids. I  met  several  in  the  cars,  on  their  way  from  the  East  and  South, 
emigrating  expressly  for  their  health.  I  suppose  the  peojile  will  die 
here  sometime,  but  it  seems  almost  an  exception  to  the  general  rule.  X 
gentleman  told  me,  who  resided  here  (at  Hutchinson)  four  years,  that 
there  have  been  but  two  deaths  in  that  time ;  one  an  aged  person,  and 
the  other  a  child  —  by  drowning. 

Leaving  Minneapolis  I  took  cars  to  Crow  Eiver,  thence  by  stage  seven 
miles,  thence  by  ox-sleds  and  on  foot  two  days  thrcnigh  tlie  "  big  woods  " 
(forty  by  thirty  miles,  with  a  growth  of  timber  that  puts  our  New  Eng- 
land forests  in  the  shade),  with  logs  lying  on  the  ground  and  standing. 


476  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

that  I  had  the  curiosity  to  measure  —  three  and  one-half  feet  in  diameter 
and  thirty  or  forty  feet  to  the  limbs.  Oh,  the  innnense  wealth  of  this 
forest,  inviting  the  enterprise  of  the  world  to  make  it  available  to  man! 

As  I  left  the  "woods"  I  came  on  to  the  prairie,  and  a  five-mile  walk 
brouglit  me  to  the  beautiful  town  of  Hutchinson,  situated  on  the  west- 
ern borders  of  the  plain,  skirted  with  a  lovely  forest  of  smaller  growth, 
made  so  by  the  annual  fires  that  have  swept  tln-ough  them  from  time 
immemorial.  This  town  was  laid  out  in  November,  1855,  and  although 
it  has  once  been  burned  by  the  Indians,  it  still  lives,  and  is  being  rapidly 
filled  up  by  a  nu)st  hardy  and  virtuous  people.  Men  who  came  here 
were  nearly  all  of  very  small  means,  not  averaging  over  five  hundred 
dollars,  and  have  risen  to  permanent  wealth.  I  learned  that  there  were 
but  two  paupers  in  the  county,  and  that  one  of  them  owns  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,  fifty  sheei),  two  yoke  of  oxen,  five  cows,  etc. 

A  gentleman  in  this  neighborhood,  whose  acquaintance  I  formed  last 
evening,  has  a  small  farm  of  2,o00  acres.  He  is  in  the  cheese  business, 
and  is  intending  to  enlarge.  But  he  is  ready  to  sell  his  lands  at  a  small 
advance,  to  encourage  emigration.  Why  will  men  congregate  so  in 
cities,  when  such  wealth  is  undeveloped  ?  The  soil  in  the  main  is  un- 
equalled for  the  culture  of  wheat  and  potatoes,  and  our  New  England 
corn  is  being  introduced  with  great  success.  The  farmers  are  holding 
on  to  their  wheat,  which  ranges  at  sevent3'-five  or  eighty  cents  a  bushel. 
The  speculators  are  trying  to  get  it  into  their  hands,  and  they  probably 
will.  1  should  like  to  send  a  million  bushels  to  New  England  at  present 
prices,  so  we  could  afford  to  live  there.  If  you  will  forward  the  funds  I 
will  charter  a  railroad,  and  we  will  get  some  wJieat  at  our  own  price.  I 
will  give  my  services  for  a  month  to  consummate  such  a  plan  —  but 
enough  of  this. 

Suffice  it  to  say  that  this  is  a  big  country,  and  with  General  Grant  at 
the  helm,  and  the  people  at  the  wheel,  we  shall  glide  along  successfully 
to  a  high  and  triumijhant  civilization.  The  thermometer  ranges  at  '2'!° 
below  zero,  and  is  going  down,  as  they  say  here,  into  the  "roaring 
forties."     Yours  for  human  improvement  and  hajtpiness.  Joshua. 

Alter  leaving  Minneapolis  we  sang  at  several  Iowa 
and  "Wisconsin  towns.  At  Boscohel,  Wis.,  on  December 
i^Otli,  I  found  mj-self  very  homesick.  Christmas  was 
coming  and  I  longetl  for  Lynn.  So  I  bought  a  box  of 
poultry  and  started,  leaving  Henry  at  Chicago  on  my 
way.  Viola  was  at  home,  and  I  thought  it  would  be  a 
good  plan  for  me  to  surprise  tlie  folks  as  Santa  Claus. 
Stopped  to  see  Sister  Abby  in  New  York  and  reached 


MORAL  Rp:FOim  woiiK.  477 

Lynn  at  midnight,  December  24th.  The  snrprise  was 
complete. 

A  number  of  friends  had  been  invited  to  Daisy  Cottage 
on  Christmas  Day,  and  as  no  one  knew  of  my  arrival, 
it  was  suggested  that  I  be  "■  palmed  off,"  so  to  speak,  as 
a  contribution  from  the  West.  So  Avhen  evening  came, 
I  was  securely  done  up  in  brown  paper,  tied  with  string, 
and  placed  in  a  corner,  behind  the  piano.  I  confess  I 
was  rather  anxious  as  to  my  appearance  when  the 
wrappings  were  taken  off.  When  the  hour  arrived,  the 
friends  gathered  round,  all  alert  to  see  what  could  be 
the  contents  of  the  big  bundle.  My  wife  informed  them 
that  it  arrived  at  midnight.  At  last  the  paper  was  re- 
moved by  my  son-in-law  so  that  my  face  was  revealed. 
For  a  few  moments  there  was  perfect  surprise.  They 
looked  as  though  they  were  either  deceived  or  looking 
at  a  splendid  likeness  of  John  W.  Hutchinson.  They 
linally  realized  that  the  spectre  was  no  ghost,  but  quite 
alive.  It  was  then  remarked  that  as  another  guest. 
Colonel  Allen  G.  Shepherd,  then  city  marslud  of  Lynn, 
had  not  arrived,  he  should  be  subjected  to  the  surprise 
for  the  bene  lit  of  the  company,  and  I  was  tied  up  again. 
Soon  Colonel  Shepherd  and  anotlier  neighbor  came  in. 
We  went  through  the  form  again.  Shepherd  went  at 
me  as  he  would  at  a  rebel.  He  expressed  much  sur- 
prise tliat  tlie  rest  of  the  company  failed  to  join  him  in 
shaking  hands  and  greeting  me  when  the  truth  was  dis- 
covered. 

A  good  deal  took  place  in  a  short  time  during  my 
stay  at  home.  That  Christmas  night,  at  midnight,  a  cry 
aroused  me :  "  Father,  come  quick  !  Lyceum  Hall  is 
burning."  I  arose  and  looked  out  of  the  Avindow  at  the 
ancient  structure.  Sure  enough  ;  it  Avas  doomed,  tliough 
the    roof  timbers  were  still  standing.     "  Here  is  glory 


478  THE   HUTCHIXSON   FAMILY. 

enougli/'  said  I,  "  the  filthy  old  hall  is  gone,  and  now 
Lynn  will  have  a  new  assembly-room/'  So  I  ^vent  back 
to  bed.  Suddenly  something  said  to  me,  "  Why,  you've 
got  ten  thousand  dollars  in  government  bonds  in  that 
vault !  "  It  was  true.  My  bank  Avas  located  under  the 
hall.  I  hurried  up,  dressed,  and  went  down.  By  this 
time  the  Frazier  and  Bubier  blocks,  handsome  brick  build- 
ings, were  also  in  flames.  It  was  a  three-hundred-thousand- 
dollar  fire.  The  brick  vault  was  still  standing.  James 
N.  Buffum.  one  of  the  directors  of  the  bank,  stood  by, 
in  a  hopeful  frame  of  mind,  though  smoke  could  be 
plainly  seen  issuing  from  the  door  of  the  vault.  The 
next  day  the  A^ault  was  cooled  off  and  opened,  the  con- 
tents being  found  intact. 

New  Year's  came  next,  and  then  my  birthday,  Janu- 
ary 4th.  On  the  8th,  my  first  grandchild,  Cleveland  J. 
Campbell,  Avas  born.  As  soon  as  possible  after  that  I 
gathered  my  belongings  together  and  started  back  to 
Chicago,  Avhere  I  had  left  Henry.  I  arrived  there  Jan- 
uary 2 2d.  Henry  Avas  well  and  happy,  having  spent  the 
time  Avith  friends,  and  Ave  at  once  Avent  to  Avork  re- 
hearsing for  a  series  of  concerts. 

We  spent  many  Aveeks  in  Chicago.  We  had  hosts  of 
friends  there,  engaged  in  tlie  different  phases  of  religi- 
ous and  reform  Avork,  During  the  fall  campaign  Ave 
had  found  time  to  attend  Rev.  Robert  Collyer's  church 
one  Sunda}',  and  as  a  consequence  of  that  Adsit,  Avere  a 
little  later  invited  to  return  and  be  at  the  dedication  of 
his  ncAV  church.  Tliis  Avinter's  experiences  made  us 
Avell  acquainted  Avith  a  large  number  of  the  churches 
and  missions  in  the  city. 

But  before  taking  up  actiA'e  concert  Avork,  Ave  had 
quite  an  experience  with  the  woman-suffrage  reform. 
While  I  Avas  in  Kansas  in  1867,  Miss  Anthony  had  called 


MOEAL    REFORM    AVORK.  479 

my  attention  to  the  fact  tliat  IMrs.  Maiy  A.  Livermore, 
who  had  become  known  to  the  jmblic  throng'h  lier  anti- 
shxveiy  hibors,  and  her  work  in  the  hospitals,  lived  in 
Chicago,  and  was  showing  an  increased  interest  in  the 
snffrage  problem.  Miss  Anthony  saw  in  Mrs.  Liver- 
more  a  great  power  to  help  the  canse  along,  and  desired 
me  to  be  sure  and  see  her  when  I  was  in  Chicago,  and 
secure  her  sympathy  in  a  more  definite  way. 

From  the  first  I  had  doubts  of  the  advisability  of 
enlisting  George  Francis  Train  in  the  woman-suffrage 
canse.  I  saw  in  him  an  impediment  to  gaining  the  sym- 
pathy of  just  such  people  as  Mrs.  Livermore.  For  a  j-ear 
or  two  after  the  Kansas  campaign,  the  question  of  the 
extent  to  Avhich  suffragists  should  endorse  Train  almost 
eclipsed  the  main  issue. 

Susan  B.  Anthony  gave  her  full  endorsement  to 
Train  from  the  first.  No  other  leader  was  so  fully 
committed  in  his  behalf.  She  had  planned  to  take 
jNIrs.  Stanton,  Train  and  me  on  a  woman-suffrage  tour 
from  Kansas  to  Boston.  I  declined  to  go  with  him 
after  one  experience  of  his  peculiar  manner  of  con- 
ducting a  meeting.  At  the  last  convention  in  Kansas 
Mrs.  Stanton  and  Train  were  to  speak,  and  A\e  were  to 
sing.  Before  it  opened  I  got  word  that  Mr.  Train  was 
not  quite  ready  to  go  on,  and  desired  me  to  go  ahead 
and  sino-.     I  returned  a  messao'e  that  when  the  meetinq- 

O  O  o 

was  organized  I  would  sing.  I  did  not  consider  my 
family  either  a  brass  band  or  an  orchestra. 

To  return  to  Chicago  once  more.  The  radical  wo- 
man suffragists  held  frequent  meetings  after  my  arrival 
in  1869.  I  said  to  those  who  gathered  that  they  ought 
to  take  measures  to  secure  the  good-will  of  the  people 
in  town.  I  realized  that  there  was  a  prejudice  to  be 
overcome  anyway,  and  that  it  was   important  to  enlist 


480  THE   HUTCHINSOX   FAMILY, 

the  sympathizers  together.  I  suggested  that  Mrs. 
Livermore  be  seen.  They  decided  to  make  me  a  com- 
mittee to  wait  upon  lier  and  invite  her  to  come  to  the 
hall  and  be  recognized  as  affiliating  with  pioneer  wo- 
man suffragists  of  Chicago.  Accordingly  I  called  upon 
her.  We  had  a  conversation  on  the  Kansas  campaign. 
"  Now,"  said  I,  "  here  is  a  chance.  Won't  you  go 
down  in  response  to  the  invitation  of  these  people  ? " 
Slie  responded  that  she  would  not  be  prejudiced. 
"  We  have  suffered,''  said  she,  "  as  Universalists  ;  we 
know  what  it  is  to  be  oppressed  and  despised.  It  be- 
hooves me  to  now  treat  with  respect  those  engaged  in 
this  cause."  I  told  her  I  was  delegated  to  see  if  she 
would  go  down  and  speak  to  them  and  be  endorsed  as 
one  of  their  leaders.  She  consented  to  go.  On  the 
wa^■  to  the  hall,  however,  she  stepped  into  her  hus- 
band's office,  and  there  met  "  ]Mrs.  Grundy."  '^  Who 
were  these  people  who  had  invited  her?  Were  not 
many  of  them  spiritualists ;  possibly  some  of  them 
even  free-lovers?"  When  she  got  to  the  hall  in  the 
Farwell  Building  she  stood  outside,  and  refused  to 
enter  and  address  them.  My  room  was  not  far  away 
from  the  place  of  meetmg.  I  could  easily  liear  the 
discussion.  I  saw  there  was  something  in  the  wind, 
but  felt  I  had  done  my  dut3^ 

Then  a  great  puljlic  meeting  was  proposed.  Anxious 
to  assist,  I  engaged  Liljrary  Hall  for  a  whole  day  and 
nig"ht.  The  convention  was  well  advertised.  Before 
the  meeting  day  came,  liowever,  the  same  people  who 
had  drawn  Mrs.  Livermore  away  from  the  conference  I 
had  suggested,  had  crowded  us  out  of  our  hall  by  pay- 
ing for  it  in  advance,  the  librarian  supposing  them  to 
represent  the  same  "  suffragists  "  as  myself.  I  was  not 
with  either  party,  but  merely  in  sympathy  with  the  wo- 


]\rORAL   HEFOUM    WORK.  481 

man-suffrage  idea.  There  was  no  disposition  to  iiglit 
tlie  matter  on  the  part  of  the  disappointed  suffragists. 
Under  the  lead  of  Mrs.  Waterman  they  hired  Music 
Hall,  and  held  their  convention  on  the  day  advertised, 
February  11th.  Meanwhile,  I  said, ''  It's  our  hall ;  let  us 
go  there.  If  the  other  element  come,  let  them  meet 
witli  us."  They  outvoted  me,  and  so  there  were  two 
conventions.  I  said  to  them,  "•  Mj^  dear  friends,  I  en- 
gaged that  hall.  I  will  sing  for  you  two  sessions." 
In  the  afternoon  of  the  day  I  said  to  Henry,  "  We  will 
go  to  Library  Hall.  My  friends  are  there,  and  I  don't 
propose  to  be  reckoned  out.  I  am  a  straight-out  re- 
former, and  I  propose  to  go  and  show  my  colors."'  I 
went  in  before  the  session  opened,  and  took  a  seat 
al)Out  one-half  the  way  down  the  aisle.  I  previously 
told  my  son  to  take  the  melodeon  to  the  ante-roum  of 
the  hall. 

I  have  before  me  the  "■  call  "  for  this  convention,  as 
it  appeared  in  the  Clucago  Trihune  of  February  6th. 
It  was  headed  by  Judge  Charles  B.  Waite,  and  an  ap- 
peal signed  by  Mrs.  Livermoi'e  follows  it.  She  says : 
'"  It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  call  that  tlie  forthcoming 
Woman  Suffrage  Convention,  to  be  held  in  Library 
Hall  next  Thursday  and  Friday,  February  11th  and 
12th,  is  in  the  hands  of  the  best  people  of  Chicago. 
Among  the  signers  to  the  call  will  be  recognized  the 
names  of  judges,  doctors  of  divinity,  clergj-men  of 
almost  every  denomination,  editors  of  leading  papers, 
legislators,  professors  of  theology,  physicians,  lawyers, 
merchants,  eminent  men  of  business,  substantial  and 
reliable  men  and  women  of  society."  She  closed  by 
saying,  "  Although  onr  preparations  have  been  made 
quietly,  with  no  flourish  of  trumjjets,  they  have  been 
made  wisely  and  well."     It  grieved  me  to  have  quite  so 


482  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

much  stress  laid  upon  the  respectable  character  of  this 
gathering,  simply  because  it  seemed  to  be  a  reflection 
on  the  other. 

The  meeting  was  organized.  Mrs.  Livermore  pre- 
sided. Soon  a  man  from  Wisconsin  was  recognized- 
"  Mrs.  President,"  said  he,  "  I  perceive  in  the  audience 
our  veteran  anti-slavery  friend,  Mr.  Hutchinson.  I 
trust  he  will  be  invited  to  the  })latform  and  to  sing." 
Mrs.  Livermore  said  ''  Will  Mr.  Hutchinson  please  come 
to  the  stage  ? "  1  looked,  l)ut  could  see  no  sign  of 
Henry.  Then  I  went  to  the  stage.  Susan  and  Mrs. 
Stanton  were  there,  and  I  took  a  seat  beside  them. 
Then  I  rose  and  addressed  the  audience,  telling  them  I 
would  respond  to  their  call  to  sing  later. 

The  meeting  went  on.  After  a  while  Henry  came  in 
with  the  melodeon.  Then  we  were  announced.  I  said, 
"  Dear  friends,  will  you  pardon  me  a  prelude,  by  way  of 
explanation  ?  In  the  first  place,  with  union  we  will 
have  success.  We  cannot  afford  to  throw  out  any  in- 
dividual on  account  of  any  difference  of  opinion  on 
other  points.  I  have  tins  day  sung  to  another  conven- 
tion of  earnest  Avoman-suffrage  people  who  should  liave 
been  here.  I  euGfaafed  this  room."  "  Oh,"  broke  in 
Judge  Waite,  looking  uncomfortable,  "  we  asked  you 
to  sing,  not  to  talk."  "  I  shall  have  the  j^rivilege  of 
singiiig  directly,"  I  replied.  "  To  bring  this  matter 
as  it  should  be,  I  have  engaged  another  hall,  twice  as 
large  as  this,  where  we  shall  have  a  union  meeting 
to-morrow  night." 

"  I'll  come  and  speak,"  said  Miss  Anthony  at  this 
point.  "  Til  come  too,"  said  Mrs.  Stanton.  "  And  so 
will  I,"  said  Mrs.  Livermore.  Then  I  sang  the  "  Father- 
hood of  God."  There  was  great  enthusiasm.  On  the 
next  night  Farwell  Hall  was  opened  at  my  expense. 


MORAL   EEFOKM    WORK.  483 

It  was  a  thrilling  meeting.  Speakers  were  there  to  rep- 
resent the  different  factions.  Mrs.  Stanton  and  Miss 
Anthony  spoke.  Mrs.  Liverniore  came,  but  notliing 
would  induce  her  to  speak,  and  otlier  speakers  had  to 
lengthen  their  remarks,  and  we  increased' the  nundjcr  of 
our  SOUP'S  to  till  in  the  time. 

o 

One  day,  as  Henry  and  I  were  passing  along  the  side- 
walk in  front  of  Farwell  Hall,  where  tlie  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  was  located,  a  highly  spiritual 
appearing  man  accosted  me,  without  giving  his  own 
name,  saying,  '•  Mr.  Hutchinson,  we  should  like  to  have 
you  go  into  our  meeting."  We  had  given  many  con- 
certs there.  We  went  in.  After  the  preliminary  ex- 
ercises, the  gentleman  invited  us  to  sing.  We  sung  our 
old  favorite,  "'  ]\Iary  at  the  Cross."  The  effect  was 
electric.  Tlie  man  who  had  invited  us  in  was  Dwight  L. 
Moody.  At  the  close  of  the  meeting  he  asked  me  if  I 
would  not  sing  for  him  on  Sundays,  at  his  great  mass 
meetings  in  Farwell  Hall.  The  result  of  our  conversa- 
tion was  an  agreement  to  sing  for  several  weeks.  We 
consented  to  sing  on  Sunday  evenings.  He  agreed  to 
make  enn^ao-ements  for  week-nio-ht  concerts  for  us,  in 
and  around  Chicago.  The  result  was  quite  satisfactory. 
Often  two  thousand  people  were  gathered  in  the  Sunday 
evening  meetings.  We  would  s})end  a  part  of  each 
Saturday  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  headquarters,  arranging 
for  the  concerts  of  the  following  week.  We  took 
quarters  in  the  building,  and  liad  our  rent  free.  We 
loved  to  hear  Mr.  Moody  talk,  though  for  obvious 
reasons  we  could  not  agree  with  all  his  conclusions. 
On  each  occasion  Mr.  Moody  was  sure  to  say  :  "  I  have 
invited  Mr.  Hutchinson  and  son  to  sing  for  us  that 
beautiful  hymn  :  '  Mary  at  tlie  Cross.'  "  This  Avas  per- 
haps the  finest  chant  the  Hutchinsons  ever  sang : 


484  THE    HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

"Jews  were  wrought  to  cruel  madness, 
Christians  fled  witli  fear  and  sadness, 
Mary  stood  the  cross  beside. 

"Not  she  with  traitorous  lips  her  Saviour  stung; 
At  its  foot  her  foot  she  planted, 
Midst  tlie  dreadful  scene  undaunted, 
Till  the  gentle  sufferer  died, 
Mary  stood  the  cross  beside. 

"  She,  while  apostles  shrunk,  could  danger  brave, 
But  no  worship,  song  or  glory 
Touches  like  the  simple  story  — 
Mary  stood  the  cross  beside. 

"Last  at  the  cross  and  earliest  at  the  grave 
And  when  under  fierce  oppression. 
Goodness  suffers  like  transgression,  — 
Christ  again  is  crucified, 
Mary  stands  the  cross  beside." 

It  was  some  time  after  tlii.s,  that  Ira  D.  Sankey  com- 
menced with  Moody  the  work  that  meant  so  much  to 
the  cause  of  Christian  song.  During  the  time  of  Avhich 
I  have  been  speaking  Mr.  Moody  would  often  drop  in 
at  our  week-night  concerts,  and  offer  an  encouraging 
word.  Many  of  the  concerts  were  given  in  the  various 
missions  established  l)y  ^Ir.  Mood3\  This  engagement 
continued  into  spring.  On  one  occasion  having  some 
verses  to  sing  in  Farwell  Hall,  I  had  written  them  off, 
but  had  great  difficulty  in  reading  them.  At  the 
close  of  the  meeting,  I  said  to  Mr.  Moodj^  "  We  shall 
have  to  have  more  light.  You  give  a  great  deal  of  light 
yourself,  but  my  eyes  need  artificial  light."  "  You 
shall  have  it,''  responded  the  great  evangelist.  On  the 
next  Sabbath  there  were  three  additional  gas-burners 
on  either  side  of  the  hall  but  I  was  just  as  unable  to 
read,  and  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  said  so.  Mr. 
]\Ioody  opened  his  Bible  and  read  from  it  easil3\     Just 


MORAL   REFORM   WORK.  485 

then  Henry  stepped  up,  and  remarked,  "  Father,  you're 
getting  blind."  He  was  right.  It  was  the  first  time  I 
realized  I  needed  glasses. 

During  our  stay  at  Chicago,  we  made  occasional  trips 
outside  for  a  night  or  two.  On  one  of  these  occasions, 
at  Janesville,  we  met  Dexter  Smith,  the  song  writer, 
with  a  combination  company,  consisting  of  the  Halls, 
D.  C.  and  liudolph,  cornetists,  Camilla  Urso,  violinist, 
Graziella  Ridgway,  and  others.  Smith  was  anxious  to 
have  his  company  appear  in  Farwell  Hall,  in  Chicago, 
but  found  that  I  had  a  contract  under  which  I  could 
secure  it  much  cheaper  than  he.  He  had  run  the 
gantlet  from  Boston  to  Chicago,  and  was  en  route  to 
the  Pacific  coast.  Smith  had  come  out  to  Janesville 
with  his  company  to  hear  us.  We  had  a  good  concert, 
gave  satisfaction  to  the  audience,  and  pleased  Smith's 
company  very  much.  The  result  of  our  meeting  was 
an  agreement  to  give  a  series  of  concerts  together  in 
Chicago.  We  agreed  to  pay  all  the  expenses  of  the 
company  except  personal,  and  divide  the  proceeds.  We 
Avent  ahead  and  attended  to  our  part  of  the  arrange- 
ments. The  announcements  read,  "•  Hutchinson's  Grand 
Concerts,  Dexter  Smith,  Manager."  The  first  concert 
of  the  series  was  given  on  April  15th.  It  proved  a 
mystery  to  the  public  and  the  papers.     One  said : 

"  HuTCHiNSOx's  Concert.  —  We  must  call  it  by  the  name  wliicli 
headed  the  programme,  though  the  only  evidences  of  Hutchinson  to  be 
seen  in  the  actual  concert  were  the  bright  bunting  adorning  the  stage, 
the  scarlet  screen  at  the  rear,  behind  whicli  evidently  shnnbered  the 
time-honored  melodeon,  and  the  flowing  locks  and  beard  of  the  Hutchin- 
son, called  John,  in  the  outskirts  of  the  audience." 

The  fact  was  that  just  liefore  the  concert  Camilla 
Urso  rebelled.  She  had  never  agreed,  she  said,  to  play 
with  any  artists  but  the  Hulls  and  ]\liss  Ridgway.     The 


486  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

latter  was  very  much  chagrined  at  CamiUa's  attitude. 
We  had  brought  her  out,  and  she  was  very  anxious  to 
sing  with  us,  but  Camiihi  was  firm.  For  our  own  part, 
it  was  no  cross  for  us  not  to  sing,  and  it  involved  no 
financial  loss.  The  report  I  have  partly  quoted  speaks 
of  me  in  the  outskirts  of  tlie  audience.  I  went  to  see 
how  the  j)eople  were  enjoying  the  entertainment.  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  was  in  one  of  the  balconies,  and  seeing 
me,  he  came  down  and  met  me.  "  Why,  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son," said  he,  "  I  came  here  to  hear  you  sing.  I  have 
heard  all  the  bands  I  care  to  before,  and  I  don't  care  for 
fiddles."  I  explained  that  we  thought  it  not  advisable 
to  sing.  He  was  the  only  person  who  said  anything  to 
me  about  our  failure  to  appear.  The  next  day  there 
was  a  change.  The  Halls  had  been  waiting  for  just 
such  an  episode  to  vindicate  them  in  altering  the 
status  of  things.  Camilla  was  informed  that  on  the 
19th  the  company  would  sing  with  the  Hutchinsons 
and  Avithout  her.  This  programme  was  carried  out  and 
brought  her  to  terms,  so  that  the  rest  of  the  series  she 
made  no  objection  to  appearing  with  us.  That  she  cher- 
ished no  ill  feeling  because  of  the  occurrence  was  evi- 
denced a  few  years  later,  when  Henry  succeeded  Gaston 
Gottschalk  as  basso  of  her  company,  and  travelled  with 
her  several  months.  At  the  close  of  this  engagement, 
however,  Smith  changed  his  plans  and  took  his  company 
back  to  Boston. 

When  my  engagement  with  ]\Ioody  expired,  I  deter- 
mined to  go  to  Missouri,  hunt  up  luy  horses  and  drive 
them  East.  I  made  an  arrangement  with  a  young  law 
student  to  ^o  ahead  as  aafent  and  arrang-e  some  concerts, 
and,  as  was  our  custom,  Henry  and  I  sung  our  way 
until  we  reached  New  Caml^ria.  Mr.  Williams  was 
surprised  to  see  me.     I  had  been  gone  so  long  that  he 


MOKAL   EEFOEM    WORK.  487 

had  concluded  I  was  never  coming  back  to  claim  my 
team  and  thouglit  he  had  got  a  good  thing  at  no  ex- 
pense, lie  was  loth  to  give  them  up  and  wanted  one 
hundred  and  thirty  dollars  for  keeping  them.  They 
were  lean  and  lank,  and  the  carriage  was  pretty  well 
used  up.  I]y  calling  in  three  referees,  I  Avas  able  to 
compromise  and  paid  him  sixty  dollars.  Meanwhile  a 
man  in  the  village  was  laboring  with  my  agent,  he  hav- 
ing his  eye  on  the  horses.  I  di'ove  twenty  miles  away, 
somewhat  in  a  quandary  as  to  whether  I  sliould  di  ive 
the  horses  to  Massachusetts  or  sell  them  and  proceed  to 
New  York,  accepting  invitations  to  sing  for  the  suffrage 
and  other  May  anniversaries  tliere.  I  had  written  part 
of  a  song,  "  Unite,  unite,  to  battle  for  right,"  and  it  was 
still  forming  itself  in  my  mind.  I  was  undergoing  con- 
siderable mental  excitement,  and  was  in  a  brown  study 
as  to  what  was  best  for  me  to  do,  when  in  came  the 
shyster  lawyer  who  was  acting  as  my  business  agent. 
"  Here's  the  money,"  said  he,  handing  me  two  hundred 
dollars.  "What  money?"  I  inquired.  "■For  your 
horses,"  said  he.  "Where  are  they?"  was  my  next 
question.  He  went  with  me,  and  sure  enough,  tlie  New 
Cambria  man  had  followed  us  up  and  bought  them.  He 
was  just  leading  them  out  to  be  tackled  to  the  carriage. 
I  said  to  the  hostler,  "  Take  tliese  horses  back  to  the 
stable  ;  this  is  no  sale."  I  had  sim[)ly  told  my  agent  to 
find  me  a  customer.  Probably  he  got  something  out  of 
the  bargain  he  had  made.  I  went  back  to  the  house 
and  began  to  reflect.  I  had  had  those  horses  two  years. 
They  had  been  a  continual  expense  to  me.  I  did  not 
desire  to  own  them  and  leave  them  longer  in  ]\Iissouri. 
I  called  the  agent  and  told  him  he  might  let  the  man 
have  the  team  for  the  two  hundred  dollars.  Then  I 
registered  a  vow  within  my  mind.     Those  were  my  last 


488  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

horses.  They  cost  me  four  hundred  dollars  and  the  car- 
riage three  hundred  dollars.  I  concluded  that  if  I  did 
not  know  how  to  trade  horses  better  than  that,  I  would 
keep  out  of  the  business. 

It  was  a  three  days'  journey  to  New  York  on  the  cars. 
On  the  way  I  completed  my  song : 

"  Unite,  unite,  to  battle  for  rijj;iit 
The  war  lias  jvist  begun ; 
Through  all  the  land  let  the  cry  go  out  — 

'  We've  need  of  more  earnest  ones.' 
Brave  hearts  and  stout, 
A  consummate  enemy  we  have  to  rout, 
Come,  join  the  suffrage  van." 

This  I  set  to  music  before  we  reached  New  York. 
The  Equal  Rights  Convention  was  in  progress  at  Stein- 
way  Hall  when  we  arrived.  It  was  just  the  song 
needed.  Mrs.  Livermore  was  there,  having  decided  to 
go  on  from  Chicago  and  sift  the  subject.  Among  the 
speakers  were  the  Burleiglis,  Mrs.  Stone  and  Mrs.  Liver- 
more.  They  had  been  working  all  day.  The  resolution 
under  discussion  was  one  to  exclude  from  consideration 
such  extraneous  subjects  as  spiritualism,  free-love,  etc. 
We  came  from  the  train  just  as  the  debate  was  at  its 
hottest  point,  went  on  the  stage  and  sung  the  song. 
Lucy  Stone  assumed  a  pacific  attitude  toward  the  peo- 
ple who  were  attacked  and  deprecated  the  broaching  of 
the  subject.  The  Burleighs  agreed  with  her.  Mrs. 
Livermore  was  firm,  however,  and  our  song  was  needed 
to  assist  in  bringing  the  warring  elements  together.  On 
the  two  following  days  the  meetings  were  held  in 
Cooper  Institute  and  the  Academy  of  Music,  the  speakers 
being  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Frederick  Douglass,  Lucy 
Stone,  Olive  Logan,  Miss  Cousens  and  many  others. 
On  May  15th,  at  the  Woman's  Bureau  the  National 


MOllAL   IJEFOll.AL    WORK.  489 

Woman's  Rights  Association  was  formed,  Henry  and  I 
joining. 

At  tlie  close  of  this  convention,  we  returned  to  l^ynn. 
The  rest  of  May  was  Largely  given  up  to  attending  and 
singing  at  anniversary  meetings  in  Boston  and  Ncav 
York.  At  the  latter  cit}^  we  gave  some  concerts  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Morning  Star  Sunday-scliool,  at  one  of 
wiiich  Sister  Abby  sang  with  us.  She  was  greeted 
with  hearty  cheers,  it  being  her  first  appearance  on  the 
concert  platform  in  many  years.  After  our  return  to 
Lynn  we  gave  a  number  of  concerts  in  Lynn,  Salem, 
Lowell,  Lawrence  and  other  places,  for  the  beneht  of 
this  same  Sunday-school. 

In  June  of  this  year,  the  first  of  the  great  peace  jubi- 
lees—  projected  by  Patrick  S.  Gilmore,  and  given  by 
him,  with  the  assistance  of  Carl  Zerrahn,  and  Dr. 
Eben  Tourjee  —  occurred  in  Boston.  There  were  1,100 
jilayers  in  the  great  orchestra,  over  10,000  singers,  and 
100  anvils  in  the  great  anvil  chorus  from  "-  II  Trova- 
tore "  with  cannon,  electrically  discharged,  for  sub- 
bass.  Henry  sung  in  the  chorus,  and  Ave  attended 
many  of  the  concerts  in  the  great  Coliseum  near  the 
Public  Garden.  The  only  concert  company  that  had 
the  courage  to  compete  with  this  aggregation  was  the 
Hutchinsons.  We  hired  the  Bromfield  Street  Church, 
and  gave  concerts  each  night.  We  ])ut  out.  any  amount 
of  dodgers,  and  hired  boys,  Avitli  Ijanners  eighteen  feet 
high,  to  parade  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Coliseum.  These 
banners  bore  the  Avords,  "  One  shall  chase  a  tliousand, 
and  two  shall  put  ten  thousand  to  flight.*'  It  Avas  a 
hit.  Asa  arriA'ed  on  the  second  day,  and  Sister  Abby 
came  later.  Mr.  Pratt,  tlie  pianist  of  the  Camilla  Lrso 
troupe,  and  Graziella  HidgAvay  assisted  us.  We  had 
numerous  offers  from  talent  from  all  over  the  country 


490  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

to  join  with  us,  but  accepted  no  others,  except  that  of 
Jules  Perkins,  who  afterwards  sang  for  many  years 
with  Parepa. 

On  Saturday,  June  19th,  in  St.  Paul's  Methodist- 
Episcopal  Church  in  Lynn,  Abby,  Asa,  Joshua  and  I, 
with  the  assistance  of  Henry,  gave  a  concert.  It  was 
the  old  quartet,  with  Joshua  in  place  of  Judson.  It 
was  the  first  appearance  of  an  original  Hutchinson 
quartet  for  many  a  3'ear. 

On  June  25th,  Abby  and  Henry  with  Lucy  Stone 
Blackwell  and  Henry  B.  Blackwell,  her  husband,  went 
to  Rutland,  Vt.,  and  held  a  two  days'  convention,  or- 
ganizing the  Vermont  Woman  Suffrage  Association, 
the  first  in  the  State. 

On  July  3d,  the  living  members  of  the  Hutchinson 
Family  held  a  reunion  at  Milford.  David,  Noah, 
Joshua,  John,  Asa,  Rhoda  and  Abby,  with  many  of 
their  descendants  assisted  in  laying  the  corner-stone  of 
the  town  hall,  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  We  gave 
a  concert  in  the  evening.  While  at  Milford  I  sold  my 
interest  in  the  community  block  in  the  village. 

Then  followed  a  few  weeks  of  quiet.  Asa  gave  a 
few  concerts  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Cod,  and  then, 
with  his  wife  and  daughter  Abby  went  to  Nan- 
tucket to  visit  his  father-in-law.  Henry,  by  a  coinci- 
dence, went  to  Nantucket  with  another  party,  where 
he  camped  a  Avhile.  The  combined  Hutchinsons  gave 
a  concert  in  the  Methodist-Episcopal  church  while  there. 
The  attraction  was  clearly  in  that  vicinity  and  so  I 
started  off  too,  and  went  to  Martha's  Vineyard. 

I  arrived  at  Cottage  City  in  the  midst  of  the  camp- 
meetino-  season.  It  had  some  distinguished  attendants 
that  year.  Among  them  Avere  Governor  Claflin  of  Mas- 
sachusetts,    Governor      Sprague  —  then      senator  —  of 


MORAL   REFORM   AVORK.  491 

Rhode  Island,  General  Butler,  Senator  Henry  Wilson, 
Senator  Benjamin  F.  Wade  of  Ohio,  Jndge  Thomas 
Russell  and  many  others.  I  sent  to  Nantucket  for  the 
rest  of  the  folks,  and  they  all  came.  On  the  night 
they  arrived  we  gave  an  improm})tu  concert  from  the 
steps  of  Mrs.  Parkins's  cottage,  and  Avhen  we  sung 
"■John  Brown"  all  the  distinguished  men  I  have 
named  joined  in  the  chorus.  We  sang  at  the  camp- 
meeting  several  times.  On  the  last  day  of  the  meeting, 
August  23d,  Ave  gave  a  free  concert  at  the  preachers' 
stand,  and  raised  three  hundred  dollars  towards  huild- 
ing  a  Methodist  church  in  Hutchinson,  Minn.  When 
built,  this  church  was  named  the  "  Vineyard  Church," 
in  honor  of  this  camp-meeting,  a  name  it  still  bears. 

While  at  this  meeting  I  met  Samuel  B.  Spinning  of 
Bridgeport,  Conn.,  a  bass  singer  of  a  good  deal  of  abil- 
ity, in  company  with  a  friend,  Frank  Benjamin,  who 
was  gifted  with  a  very  high  tenor  voice.  I  at  once 
saw  that  they  would  be  an  aquisition,  as  meml:)ers  of 
my  company.  Asa  thought  the  same.  I  had  a  talk 
with  him,  and  he  suggested  that  we  might  give  some 
combination  concerts  together.  I  agreed,  and  we  gave 
several,  at  Edgartown,  Newj^ort  —  where  we  also  at- 
tended a  great  suffrage  convention  —  Pawtucket,  War- 
ren, Fall  River  and  Providence.  I  saw  that  Asa  was 
planning  to  take  both  S|)inning  and  Benjamin.  So  I 
said,  "  Boys,  one  of  you  should  go  with  each.  I  need 
a  bass  singer  and  Asa  needs  a  tenor  voice  in  his  com- 
pany." This  did  not  seem  to  suit  them  ;  they  hugged 
round  me  until  finally  I  agreed  to  give  them  four  dol- 
lars per  concert  each,  and  pay  all  their  expenses,  and  took 
them  both.  Asa  and  his  family  left  us  at  Providence. 
I  at  once  formed  a  male  quartet.  Our  family  never 
had  a  successful  hio-h  tenor  voice  for   such   work.     I 


492  THE    HUTCHINSON    FAMILY. 

used  to  sing  the  parts  in  a  falsetto  voice,  but  disliked 
to.  Benjamin  took  this  part,  I  the  second  tenor,  Henry 
the  baritone  and  Spinning  tlie  bass.  We  took  up  the 
Arion  glees,  and  had  good  times  singing  them. 

On  September  10th  we  went  to  Lawrence  and  sang 
at  a  woman-suffrage  convention  with  William  Lloyd 
GaiTison,  Phebe  A.  Hanaford,  and  others  as  speakers. 
Earlier  in  the  summer  I  had  attended  a  similar  conven- 
tion in  Newburyport,  where  Garrison  spoke.  The  next 
night  we  gave  a  concert  in  Lawrence,  and  followed  it 
up  with  others  in  Lowell,  Methuen,  Haverhill,  Con- 
cord, N.  H.,  Manchester,  N.  H.,  Derry,  N.  H.,  and 
other  large  towns  in  that  vicinity.  Under  tlie  head  of 
Derry,  Henrj-'s  diary  says :  "■  Father  failed  to  arrive. 
Sam,  Frank  and  I  gave  the  concert  alone  very  accepta- 
bly. How  are  you,  '  Hutchinson  Family  ?  '  "  After 
this  we  made  a  short  trip  into  Connecticut,  my  wife 
going  with  us,  and  then  gave  some  concerts  in  the 
vicinity  of  Boston. 

On  October  20th  we  attended  the  Woman  Suffrage 
Convention  in  Providence.  Mrs.  Paulina  M.  Davis 
presided.  Tliere  was  a  good  deal  of  discussion  in  re- 
gard to  the  recognition  to  be  given  the  free-love  fac- 
tions, and  the  debate  was  particularly  lively  between 
Theodore  Tilton,  speaking  for  these  people,  and  Col- 
onel Thomas  Wentworth  Higginson,  who  thought  the 
woman  suffragists  had  no  use  for  them.  The  Colonel 
rather  got  the  best  of  the  argument.  It  hardly  seems 
possible  that  it  is  only  a  quarter  of  a  century  since 
these  questions,  which  do  not  now  enter  to  the  slight- 
est extent  into  the  question  of  equal  suffrage,  were 
considered  of  so  much  importance.  The  next  night 
we  sung  in  Pawtucket  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  in 
that  place,  and  on  the  following  Sunday  sang  at  a  big 


MOEAL   REF0R:M    WORK.  493 

temperance  meeting  at  River  Point.  On  the  following 
Tnesday  night  we  gave  a  monster  concert  in  Providence, 
always  onr  biggest  concert  town,  with  the  exception  of 
New  York  City. 

The  next  day  we  were  under  engagement  to  Rev. 
H.  W.  Conant,  of  Providence,  for  seventy-live  dollars 
to  sing  in  the  Temperance  Alliance  Convention.  This 
turned  out  to  be  the  forerunner  of  several  seasons'  work 
for  him.  At  the  close  of  the  evening's  session,  Henry 
took  a  freight-car  and  rode  all  night  on  a  tool  box,  en 
route  for  Hartford,  where  he  arrived  at  six  o'clock  in 
the  morning.  The  rest  of  us  took  a  night's  rest  and 
then  followed  him.  The  Woman  Suffrage  Convention 
commenced  before  we  arrived,  and  Henry  sang  the  open- 
ing invocation  with  Sister  Abby.  He  was  an  enthusiast. 
Isabella  Beecher  Hooker  presided,  and  one  of  the  most 
effective  speeches  was  that  of  Heiuy  Ward  Beecher. 

We  concluded  to  stay  in  Hartford  over  Sunday  and 
had  a  temperance  mass  meeting  announced  in  the 
churches,  to  be  held  in  Robeits's  Opera  House  in  the 
evening.  On  Saturday  evening  we  called  on  Dr.  Corn- 
stock  and  stayed  to  tea. '  A  young  minister  dropped  in, 
and  to  him  I  suggested  the  subject  of  a  temperance 
meeting.  He  pushed  back  liis  chair  and  said,  "  Any- 
thing I  can  do  to  help  you  I  will."  I  told  him  I  had 
already  engaged  the  opera  house.  He  at  once  wrote 
out  a  pulpit  notice  and  by  ten  o'clock  that  night  started 
out.  By  morning  he  had  seen  every  minister  in  town. 
There  were  three  thousand  present.  Tlie  clergymen  of 
the  city  spoke,  and  we  sung.  It  was  simply  impossible 
to  get  in  all  the  people  wdio  came.  The  proprietor  of 
the  opera  house  was  unsympathetic.  I  had  agreed  to 
give  him  the  receipts  of  the  collection  for  the  use  of  the 
hall.     At  the  close  of  the  meeting  I  remarked  tliat  I 


494  THE   HUTCHINSON   FAMILY. 

was  weary.  "You  weary?"  said  he,  "  you  have  done 
nothing  but  sing  a  song  or  two."  This  seemed  unkind, 
after  all  my  care  and  anxiety  in  getting  up  a  meeting 
which  brought  him  thirty  or  forty  dollars,  the  amount 
collected.  The  next  Tuesday  evening  we  gave  a  concert 
in  the  same  hall,  taking  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

A  mass  temperance  meeting,  at  which  there  was  a 
great  audience,  was  held  in  Willimantic  the  next  Sun- 
day evening,  at  which  C.  C.  Burleigh  was  one  of  the 
speakei's.  On  the  Sunday  following  we  had  a  mass 
temperance  meeting  at  River  Point,  R.  I.,  at  which  I 
made  tlie  address.  Between  these  meetings  we  gave 
concerts,  as  usual. 

November  18th  we  reached  New  York  City,  with  high 
hopes  for  a  very  successful  winter  season.  On  my  way 
home  from  the  West,  the  previous  spring,  I  was  walking 
up  Nassau  Street,  in  New  York,  when  I  saw  a  sign, 
"  Literaiy  Bureau."  "What  does  that  mean?"  I  said 
to  myself.  I  went  in  and  found  the  proprietor  made 
engagements  for  lecturers.  "  Ever  made  ensfaofements 
for  music  ?  "  I  inquired.  He  never  had,  but  I  told  him 
I  saw  no  reason  why  he  should  not,  and  he  quite  agreed 
with  me.  Soon  after  I  reached  Lynn,  lie  came  to  see 
me  at  Daisy  Cottage.  I  gave  him  some  material  and 
he  advertised  us.  During  that  very  year  James  Red- 
path,  the  author,  came  to  see  me  in  Boston,  and  after 
hearing  some  of  our  concerts  jubilee  week,  gave  me 
his  card  and  asked  me  to  call  upon  him.  I  thought  I 
would  make  him  my  business  agent,  but  on  visiting 
him,  found  that  he,  too,  had  opened  a  bureau.  He 
wanted  me  to  go  into  it,  but  I  told  him  I  could  not  con- 
sistently do  so,  as  I  Avas  already  under  an  arrangement 
with  the  New  York  concern.  Finally,  to  pacif}-  him,  I 
told  him  he  might  simply  put  my  name    into  his   an- 


MORAL   REFORM   WORK.  495 

nouncements  as  open  to  engagements.  Instead  of  doing 
this,  however,  he  used  my  name  very  freely.  The  lirst 
1  knew,  he  had  made  three  engagements  for  us.  I  tokl 
him  I  could  not  take  them.  I  was  engaged  to  the  New 
York  bureau  and  I  could  not  possibly  let  him  make  en- 
gagements Avithout  a  conflict  of  dates.  His  course 
made  trouble  all  that  winter.  The  New  York  man 
found  he  was  advertising  me,  and  blamed  me  for  it. 
However,  Redpath  persisted,  and  whenever  I  found  I 
could  meet  his  engagements  without  sacrificing  the 
American  Literary  Bureau's  interests,  after  getting  their 
permit,  I  did  so.  Between  the  two,  I  was  kept  pretty 
busy,  and  we  had  to  do  a  good  deal  more  travelling  than 
formerly  to  meet  dates  in  different  sections.  The  en- 
gagements I  had  come  to  fill  at  the  present  time  were 
made  by  the  American  Literary  Bureau. 

On  the  threshold  of  these  concerts,  I  encountered  a 
snag  in  the  indisposition  of  Benjamin  to  continue  un- 
less important  concessions  were  made  to  him  in  the 
matter  of  salary.  I  let  him  go  and  he  joined  the 
Alleghanians,  and  their  agent  put  them  thi-ough  to  Cal- 
ifornia. The  real  fact  was  that  he  was  of  no  especial 
advantage  to  us  except  in  quartet  work.  Spinning 
continued  with  me  several  seasons.  Our  engagement 
with  the  Literary  Bureau  gave  us  a  hundred  dollars  a 
night.  We  gave  a  number  of  concerts  in  the  cit}^  and 
then  continued  alon-x  the  Hudson  River,  singing  at  all 
the  large  towns.  While  in  New  York,  we  were  the 
guests  of  the  Press  Club,  Oliver  Johnson,  president,  at 
their  annual  banquet  at  Delmonico's,  singing  several 
times. 


i' 

../>'. 


■^ii