The Project Gutenberg EBook of Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe Compiled from
Her Letters and Journals, by Charles Edward Stowe
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Title: Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe Compiled from Her Letters and Journals
Author: Charles Edward Stowe
Posting Date: May 3, 2014 [EBook #6702]
Release Date: October, 2004 (original version's release date)
First Posted: January 17, 2003 (original version's posting date)
Language: English
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LIFE OF
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
COMPILED FROM
Her Letters and Journals
BY HER SON
CHARLES EDWARD STOWE
Her Letters and Journals
BY HER SON
CHARLES EDWARD STOWE
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
The Riverside Press, Cambridge
1890
Copyright, 1889,
By CHARLES E. STOWE,
All rights reserved.
The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S.A.
Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.
By CHARLES E. STOWE,
All rights reserved.
The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S.A.
Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.
 |  |
It seems but fitting, that I should preface this story of my life with a few notes of instruction.
The desire to leave behind me some recollections of my life, has been cherished by me, for many years past; but failing strength or increasing infirmities have prevented its accomplishment.
At my suggestion and with what assistance I have been able to render, my son, Ross Charles Edward Stowe, has compiled from my letters and journals, this biography. It is this true story of my life, told for the most part, in my own words and has therefore all the force of an autobiography.
It is perhaps much more accurate as to detail & impression than is possible with any autobiography, written later in life.
If these pages, shall help those who read them to a firmer trust in God & a deeper sense of His fatherly goodness throughout the days of our earthly pilgrimage I can say with Valiant for Truth in the Pilgrim's Progress!
I am going to my Father's & tho with great difficulty, I am got thither, get now, I do not repent me of all the troubles I have been at, to arrive where I am.
My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage & my courage & skill to him that can get it.
Hartford Sept 30
1889
1889
Harriet Beecher Stowe
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
I desire to express my thanks here to Harper & Brothers, of New York, for permission to use letters already published in the "Autobiography and Correspondence of Lyman Beecher." I have availed myself freely of this permission in chapters i. and iii. In chapter xx. I have given letters already published in the "Life of George Eliot," by Mr. Cross; but in every instance I have copied from the original MSS. and not from the published work. In conclusion, I desire to express my indebtedness to Mr. Kirk Munroe, who has been my co-laborer in the work of compilation.
CHARLES E. STOWE.
Hartford, September 30, 1889.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER I. | |
| CHILDHOOD 1811-1824. | |
|
Death of her Mother.—First Journey from Home.—Life at Nut Plains.—School Days and Hours with Favorite Authors.—The New Mother.—Litchfield Academy and its Influence.—First Literary Efforts.—A Remarkable Composition.—Goes to Hartford
| 1 |
CHAPTER II. | |
| SCHOOL DAYS IN HARTFORD, 1824-1832. | |
|
Miss Catherine Beecher.—Professor Fisher.—The Wreck of the Albion and Death of Professor Fisher.—"The Minister's Wooing."—Miss Catherine Beecher's Spiritual History.—Mrs. Stowe's Recollections of her School Days in Hartford.—Her Conversion.—Unites with the First Church in Hartford.—Her Doubts and Subsequent Religious Development.—Her Final Peace
| 22 |
CHAPTER III. | |
| CINCINNATI, 1832-1836. | |
|
Dr. Beecher called to Cincinnati.—The Westward Journey.—First Letter from Home.—Description of Walnut Hills.—Starting a New School.—Inward Glimpses.—The Semi-Colon Club.—Early Impressions of Slavery.—A Journey to the East.—Thoughts aroused by First Visit to Niagara.—Marriage to Professor Stowe
| 53 |
CHAPTER IV. | |
| EARLY MARRIED LIFE, 1836-1840. | |
|
Professor Stowe's Interest in Popular Education.—His Departure for Europe.—Slavery Riots in Cincinnati.—Birth of Twin Daughters.—Professor Stowe's Return and Visit to Columbus.—Domestic Trials.—Aiding a Fugitive Slave.—Authorship under Difficulties.—A Beecher Round Robin
| 78 |
CHAPTER V. | |
| POVERTY AND SICKNESS, 1840-1850. | |
|
Famine in Cincinnati.—Summer at the East.—Plans for Literary Work.—Experience on a Railroad.—Death of her Brother George.—Sickness and Despair.—A Journey in Search of Health.—Goes to Brattleboro' Water-cure.—Troubles at Lane Seminary.—Cholera in Cincinnati.—Death of Youngest Child.—Determined to leave the West
| 100 |
CHAPTER VI. | |
| REMOVAL TO BRUNSWICK, 1850-1852. | |
|
Mrs. Stowe's Remarks on Writing and Understanding Biography.—Their Appropriateness to her own Biography.—Reasons for Professor Stowe's leaving Cincinnati.—Mrs. Stowe's Journey to Brooklyn.—Her Brother's Success as a Minister.—Letters from Hartford and Boston.—Arrives in Brunswick.—History of the Slavery Agitation.—Practical Working of the Fugitive Slave Law.—Mrs. Edward Beecher's Letter to Mrs. Stowe and its Effect.—Domestic Trials.—Begins to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as a Serial for the "National Era."—Letter to Frederick Douglass.—"Uncle Tom's Cabin" a Work of Religious Emotion
| 126 |
CHAPTER VII. | |
| UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, 1852. | |
|
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" as a Serial in the "National Era."—An Offer for its Publication in Book Form.—Will it be a Success?—An Unprecedented Circulation.—Congratulatory Messages.—Kind Words from Abroad.—Mrs. Stowe to the Earl of Carlisle.—Letters from and to Lord Shaftesbury.—Correspondence with Arthur Helps
| 156 |
CHAPTER VIII. | |
| FIRST TRIP TO EUROPE, 1853. | |
|
The Edmondsons.—Buying Slaves to set them Free.—Jenny Lind.—Professor Stowe is called to Andover.—Fitting up the New Home.—The "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin."—"Uncle Tom" Abroad.—How it was Published in England.—Preface to the European Edition.—The Book in France.—In Germany.—A Greeting from Charles Kingsley.—Preparing to visit Scotland.—Letter to Mrs. Follen
| 178 |
CHAPTER IX. | |
| SUNNY MEMORIES, 1853. | |
|
Crossing the Atlantic.—Arrival in England.—Reception in Liverpool.—Welcome to Scotland.—A Glasgow Tea-Party.—Edinburgh Hospitality.—Aberdeen.—Dundee and Birmingham.—Joseph Sturge.—Elihu Burritt.—London.—The Lord Mayor's Dinner.—Charles Dickens and his Wife
| 205 |
CHAPTER X. | |
| FROM OVER THE SEA, 1853. | |
|
The Earl of Carlisle.—Arthur Helps.—The Duke and Duchess of Argyll.—Martin Farquhar Tupper.—A Memorable Meeting at Stafford House.—Macaulay and Dean Milman.—Windsor Castle.—Professor Stowe returns to America.—Mrs. Stowe on the Continent.—Impressions of Paris.—En Route to Switzerland and Germany.—Back to England.—Homeward Bound
| 228 |
CHAPTER XI. | |
| HOME AGAIN, 1853-1856. | |
|
Anti-Slavery Work.—Stirring Times in the United States.—Address to the Ladies of Glasgow.—Appeal to the Women of America.—Correspondence with William Lloyd Garrison.—The Writing of "Dred."—Farewell Letter from Georgiana May.—Second Voyage to England
| 250 |
CHAPTER XII. | |
| DRED, 1856. | |
|
Second Visit to England.—A Glimpse at the Queen.—The Duke of Argyll and Inverary.—Early Correspondence with Lady Byron.—Dunrobin Castle and its Inmates.—A Visit to Stoke Park.—Lord Dufferin.—Charles Kingsley at Home.—Paris Revisited.—Madame Mohl's Receptions
| 270 |
CHAPTER XIII. | |
| OLD SCENES REVISITED, 1856. | |
|
En Route to Rome.—Trials of Travel.—A Midnight Arrival and an Inhospitable Reception.—Glories of the Eternal City.—Naples and Vesuvius.—Venice.—Holy Week in Rome.—Return to England.—Letter from Harriet Martineau on "Dred."—A Word from Mr. Prescott on "Dred."—Farewell to Lady Byron
| 294 |
CHAPTER XIV. | |
| THE MINISTER'S WOOING, 1857-1859. | |
|
Death of Mrs. Stowe's Oldest Son.—Letter to the Duchess of Sutherland.—Letter to her Daughters in Paris.—Letter to her Sister Catherine.—Visit to Brunswick and Orr's Island.—Writes "The Minister's Wooing" and "The Pearl of Orr's Island."—Mr. Whittier's Comments.—Mr. Lowell on "The Minister's Wooing."—Letter to Mrs. Stowe from Mr. Lowell.—John Ruskin on "The Minister's Wooing."—A Year of Sadness.—Letter to Lady Byron.—Letter to her Daughter.—Departure for Europe
| 315 |
CHAPTER XV. | |
| THE THIRD TRIP TO EUROPE, 1859. | |
|
Third Visit to Europe.—Lady Byron on "The Minister's Wooing."—Some Foreign People and Things as they Appeared to Professor Stowe.—A Winter in Italy.—Things Unseen and Unrevealed.—Speculations concerning Spiritualism.—John Ruskin.—Mrs. Browning.—The Return to America.—Letters to Dr. Holmes
| 343 |
CHAPTER XVI. | |
| THE CIVIL WAR, 1860-1865. | |
|
The Outbreak of Civil War.—Mrs. Stowe's Son enlists.—Thanksgiving Day in Washington.—The Proclamation of Emancipation.—Rejoicings in Boston.—Fred Stowe at Gettysburg.—Leaving Andover and Settling in Hartford.—A Reply to the Women of England.—Letters from John Bright, Archbishop Whately, and Nathaniel Hawthorne
| 363 |
CHAPTER XVII. | |
| FLORIDA, 1865-1869. | |
|
Letter to Duchess of Argyll.—Mrs. Stowe desires to have a Home at the South.—Florida the best Field for Doing Good.—She Buys a Place at Mandarin.—A Charming Winter Residence.—"Palmetto Leaves."—Easter Sunday at Mandarin.—Correspondence with Dr. Holmes.—"Poganuc People."—Receptions in New Orleans and Tallahassee.—Last Winter at Mandarin
| 395 |
CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| OLDTOWN FOLKS, 1869. | |
|
Professor Stowe the Original of "Harry" in "Oldtown Folks."—Professor Stowe's Letter to George Eliot.—Her Remarks on the Same.—Professor Stowe's Narrative of his Youthful Adventures in the World of Spirits.—Professor Stowe's Influence on Mrs. Stowe's Literary Life.—George Eliot on "Oldtown Folks"
| 419 |
CHAPTER XIX. | |
| THE BYRON CONTROVERSY, 1869-1870. | |
|
Mrs. Stowe's Statement of her own Case.—The Circumstances under which she first met Lady Byron.—Letters to Lady Byron.—Letter to Dr. Holmes when about to publish "The True Story of Lady Byron's Life" in the "Atlantic."—Dr. Holmes's Reply.—The Conclusion of the Matter
| 445 |
CHAPTER XX. | |
| GEORGE ELIOT. | |
|
Correspondence with George Eliot.—George Eliot's First Impressions of Mrs. Stowe.—Mrs. Stowe's Letter to Mrs. Follen.—George Eliot's Letter to Mrs. Stowe.—Mrs. Stowe's Reply.—Life in Florida.—Robert Dale Owen and Modern Spiritualism.—George Eliot's Letter on the Phenomena of Spiritualism.—Mrs. Stowe's Description of Scenery in Florida.—Mrs. Stowe concerning "Middlemarch."—George Eliot to Mrs. Stowe during Rev. H. W. Beecher's Trial.—Mrs. Stowe concerning her Life Experience with her Brother, H. W. Beecher, and his Trial.—Mrs. Lewes' Last Letter to Mrs. Stowe.—Diverse Mental Characteristics of these Two Women.—Mrs. Stowe's Final Estimate of Modern Spiritualism
| 459 |
CHAPTER XXI. | |
| CLOSING SCENES, 1870-1889. | |
|
Literary Labors.—Complete List of Published Books.—First Reading Tour.—Peeps Behind the Curtain.—Some New England Cities.—A Letter from Maine.—Pleasant and Unpleasant Readings.—Second Tour.—A Western Journey.—Visit to Old Scenes.—Celebration of Seventieth Birthday.—Congratulatory Poems from Mr. Whittier and Dr. Holmes.—Last Words
| 489 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.