CLARA BARTON    SPEECHES & WRITINGS FILE    Books      “The Life of My Childhood”     Manuscripts Handwritten copyBook No 2. - October 12. 1908

It was a "shay"; - not the deacon's "One hoss shay"
that Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes described and imortalized
but Mr William Tower's "shay" of Tower Hill.
in grand old Charlton Town, and his magnificent
dapple gray that drove up before the door that May
morning to take me to my second school, and my
first going away from home.

The "bright, beautiful May morning" that
poets rave over.? Oh! dear! no! -  cold, drizzley, fitful
and gusty! - But the cheery face, and  voice of the "committee
man", for Mr. Tower was that, went far towards
dispelling the gathering gloom. - 

Can I go on, without saying on last word,
of William Tower sleeping his eternal sleep in his
far away Illinois home? There are some eyes, even
at this distant day, that will brighten at the

2
mention of the name, and dim again with the
tender memory of the townsman they once had.
Robust, manly, warm-blooded in physique,
resolute, and firm, with unerring judgment, full
of sound hard sense, bubbling over with humor
and keen, quick wit, all tempered with a tenderness
that the mother might feel for her child, such, he
moved among them, as such they remember him.

This time the little "dressing case" gave place
to a real trunk, which was strapped to the back
of the chaise, that teetered and swayed with its
unaccustomed burden. I snuggled away under
the glossy boot for a weather shield, swallowing
quick and hard, bade a cheery good bye, so typical
of most of the things said and done in practical life
altogether unlike the things felt or meant.

A drive of five or six miles took us to3
The district that was to constitute my field of
labors. It was known as the "Mill ward" then.
It is something else now. 
Calling for a moment at my boarding place,
for an introduction, and to leave my trunk, I
was driven directly to my school house. A rather
time worn edifice, at the meeting of two roads, and
just skirting a rather dense woods.
On my entrance I was rather unceremoniously
greeted by some fifty pupils scrambling to their
seats, but which my eye at once took in as a
collection of uncommonly fine children.
Bright manly boys, tall, graceful girls, clear
eyed, ruddy faced and wholesome; they were grown
on Charlton's choicest farms, and of the best blood
of its earliest patriarchal days: Davises Bordens
Moores, Townes, Speers, Lambs, Boomers. Towers for 
4
ancestry, what might one not expect?
If blood be "thicker" or not; it tells, and a child's
"first right is to be well born"
My one year of experience, time, and
growth had all been helpful, and the close of
the first day found us in general arrangement
for the summer. Remaining a few minutes
after dismissal at night, (always too far to go
to dinner) I was left quite alone to seek my new
home, with the fork of two roads before me, not
at all remembering by which I came. Raising
my umbrella as well as I could for wind and
rain I made my choice of ways; walking, it
seemed to me, a mile with house in sight,
until, suddenly I came to an immense barn
with windows and cupola, and just in front of
me, a herd of cattle greater than I had ever seen.5
Not wishing to disclose myself, I [retracted] retraced
my steps to my starting point, took the other
road, and after a half mile found my home. 
The warm greeting of my hostess, her choice speech
and cultivated manner, the great blazing fire that
threw its warm rays over the tasteful supper table
were sufficient to reassure me. I then learned
that I was the guest of Capt and Mrs Freeland
Converse, and later that Mrs. Converse was the
only, and accomplished daughter of Captain Jonas
Tucker, one of, if not the richest man in Charlten,
one of its largest farmers, and that it was his herd
of a hundred milch cows that I had encountered in
my uncertain effort in search of a shelter. It were
useless for me to attempt the picture of this happy
home, or of the faithful beautiful children who came
under my care.

6
The allurements of the first week or two were
leading me to quite forget the significant fact,
that I owed my selection as teacher for that
school to my altogether undeserved reputation
for discipline, an acquirement as foreign and
unknown to me a sanscrit
About the second week I commenced to
be aware that my fine sturdy boys had a leader,
and day by day I was given more and more to
realize it. I adopted tried little friendly methods of winning him
over, securing attention, gaining favor, exciting
interest, all to no purpose, - contrary, sullen, half
insolent, the tallest in the lot, all looking up
to him for example. I saw only ruin for the
school with him in it, and quietly suggested by
note to his mother, that, perhaps, at his age
some more suitable employment than a summer -7
school might be found for him. This brought the
hitherto unseen mother to me at night, a quiet
beautiful woman, full of pleading - ready to fall on
her knees, to beg me not to send him out of school. 
"Please do not do it, it will ruin my other
"children, as well as him; they have no father now,
"I cannot govern him, he would turn upon me, I
"have nowhere to send him; do punish him, and
"make him obey." "But my dear lady, the punishment
that would subdue him would be severe, and you
would be the first to complain."
"Never, never, I would come and help you if I could"
"Punish him, but don't in mercy send him home."
Full of tears, and prayers she went out into
the darkness, leaving me to reflect. 
It is to be remembered that in those faraway
days there were only district schools, invariably, 

8
as one might say taught by a woman in summer
and a man in winter. No superintendent, no
Reform schools. No Junior Republics. All rested
between the teacher, the pupil, and the parents.
I cite this for the consideration of the teachers of the
present magnificent system of public schools. 
I made my promises even to myself, but
decided to be governed by circumstances as they presented
themselves. - The mother was right. His
presence at home swaggering around loose, would
ruin them all. It was clearly my duty to correct, and
teach him. I was there for that. But he was almost
as tall as I, and all too few years younger. "Keeping school"
was beginning to be less a pass time and a play thing
than I had thought. I remember even now, how heavy
the next morning seemed. My young man evidently
mistrusted something, and braced himself accordingly.
The first class that called him to the floor, was, reading spelling and

[*This and the page following will not copy*]9 
[??fining], I selecting words from the reading lesson to be
pronounced after me and spelled, as spelling was taught in
those days.
As the class took its place he shuffled on to the floor
with a noisy insolence that attracted the attention
of the entire school, read indifferently, purposely
mispronouncing, impudently laughing at his pretended mistakes.
Still shrinking, and dreading a collision, I selected
and pronounced the simple word "William" for him
to re-pronounce, and spell. - With a leer, and a
careless swing of the leg, - "Wil: le-yum". Again I
pronounced, -"William"- with another swing, and increased
emphasis - "Wil-le-yum"
I stepped to my desk and drew from it my riding
whip, a braided leather lash of four feet, with a
heavily loaded handle, carried not so much as
a corrective for my horse, as for his protection from
dogs, or whatever might assail - The class was dismissed
from the floor, retaining the offender, to whom
I calmly explained that his conduct called for

10
punishment, or apology to the school, especially
his classmates, whom he had wronged and insulted
by his manner in their presence, and as one of them.
Still a suitable apology made to them, and the promise
of proper behavior in the future, would save him
from the punishment he deserved. "Would he do it?" 
With a bravado worthy a much older bit of
humanity, the firm response came, - "Not by a damn sight"
That instant, the lash coiled around his shoulders,
the next, a savage lunge for me, but before he had
reached, by an unexpected trip, he measured his length
on the floor at my feet. - Another spring - another
trip, - as fast as he attempted to gain his own feet
he lay at mine, the lash getting close to his shoulders
at every stroke, with the repeated order to "See where you
are." "which, only when he saw me turning the butt of
the whip, he obeyed. - Exhausted and panting he promised11
to apologize, and do whatever was required,
- rose to his feet and looked around on the terrified
school. My sturdy boys had drooped their heads on
the desks before then, - tear stained with faces of Ashes
my beautiful girls were ready to faint. With
subdued look, and extended hand, the poor fellow
went the round, from classmate to classmate -
asked and obtained forgiveness, and took his seat. 
I, scarcely stronger than the others, stood and looked
pityingly on a picture, that all these years have not
been able to efface. 
It was eleven oclock. I told the sorry looking group
that there would be no more school that morning,
but to take their dinners and go out into the
woods and have a picnic, pick flowers and stay until
the bell rang, but not to mention a word of what
had passed, it was not a subject to be talked about,

12
but eat their dinners, play their little song plays,
pick flowers, and enjoy themselves. They went out
slowly and noiselessly, and with their [little] dinner baskets
and pails disappeared among the trees, leaving
me the sole occupant of my castle.

At the tap of the bell at one, all returned
bright and happy, each with a boquet of wild
wood flowers for me, and poor Ned with his welted
shoulders, the largest of all. I had learned what
discipline meant, and it was for all time so far as that
school was concerned; none ever needed more than a
kindly smile, and none so affectionate as Ned, for he
had the noblest of natures, and was a born leader13
I leave him here with an asterisk for remembrance,
for I have not done with him.
Later along in the years I found him again.

The term of school was, by district vote
prolonged until nearly time for the winter term
to be taught by a master, and my promise
received to return for the following summer.
My winter at home was one of diligent study, and
of the following summer I recall little beyond a 
a peaceful, happy intercourse with my new found friends, and my
pupils, to whom, even to this day, such as survive the
wreck of time, from Maine to California I am still in
our treasured correspondence, "Dear friend and teacher".

It was a trifling gratification to me, to
learn that the family ruse which had made me
a teacher, and sent me away from them, had
resulted in a shade of jealous desire, through my

14
little successes to have me again with them. 
It occurred in this wise - The growing villages of
North Oxford had called hundreds of operatives.
There were, in the town, only the little district
schools, of five or six months in a year,
taught in most unsuitable buildings, and by
no means adapted to the needs of the young
operatives of the mills, who must, per force, grow
up in pitiful ignorance. Excepting in the cities,
and largest towns, there were no graded schools
in the state, - no system of continuous schools.
This condition of things presented itself with such
awakening force to my brother Stephen, as to decide
him to make the effort of redistricting and grading the schools
of Oxford, thus making them continuous.
A glance at his characteristics may not be out
of place. He was naturally scholarly, philanthropic,15
public spirited, helpful, courageous, with indomitable 
energy:  He saw his factories, and those of 
the other mill owners as well, filled with young 
men, grown girls and children to whom no 
avenue of learning was open; if released from 
their tasks.  There was no school for them:- work 
and ignorance were their inevitable lot.  What 
could such a man do under such circumstances? 
How could he rest without effort?  It 
was this decision and effort that called me home 
to aid him. 

Oxford was a conservative town, of good 
old Hugeunot ancestry, with a rather well established 
aristocracy and decided opinions of 
its own.  Sigourney, Campbell, Learned, Davis, Moore 
Olney and Butter were names to conjure with.  While 
Moffit De Witt Alger Hudrin Aldrich Fitts Dana


16
marked a class not likely to be easily moved from 
a settled opinion, or won over to a new idea

My honored father Captain Stephen Barton gen, 
I do not rank in either class but leave him to 
place himself as he goes on.

After carefully weighing, our plan, consuming 
more or less midnight oil, and discreetly discussing 
it in various quarters we came to the conclusion 
that whosoever accomplished it had something to 
do.  Excepting from the Mill owners, and manufacturing 
firms along the river, and more active business men
of The town we were likely to receive little 
encouragement. - often decided opposition, others equally
just and philanthropic, not [realizing &] witnessing the
harm that was being done, could not realize it.

In The town were a score or more of schools
a few of good size, and generally well taught.17
the remainder, dwindling away from twenty 
to a dozen pupils, with schools from three to six 
months in the year, with a teacher at seventy 
five cents to a dollar a week. and boarded 
around among the families
     Geographicaly, Oxford was a large town and 
distance from school comprised a leading objection  
as for example. "If twenty districts were now needed 
to accommodate the children, what would they do 
when reduced to half a dozen.  A child could 
never walk the required distance, it would be 
cruel to demand it.  No sensible person would 
think of it;  And then the expense of re-districting 
the town.  It was all a new fangled notion 
trying to ape cities. It should be frowned down."
     It surly was, frowned upon. 
     Meeting this unexpected weight of oposing 


18
opinion, and having the deepest respect for 
the most worthy townsmen who entertained 
them. where judgment on subjects which they 
well understood were not to be gain said. we 
did not press our cause. but deferred a year. 
using the time in laboring to educate public 
opinion.  Our success was such as to warrant 
the calling of a town meeting.  Two men who 
had never relaxed at all, our most honored
and powerful opponents were Deacon Peter Butter
Grandfather of Secretary Richard Olney of Boston [and] also 
Hon Peter Butter Olney of New York, and Captain
Stephen Barton Sen. my father.  There two worthy 
gentlemen we knew would lead the Meeting. 
     I had been quietly requested to write an 
argument to be read in the meeting, which I 
had as quietly done.  The day arrived, a full19
energetic meeting: Capt. Barton, as usual 
serving as moderator, ably recorded by his 
friend, the Deacon. With the quick disposal
of a little town business, the main question 
opened, - arguments pro and con. My paper 
was read by a popular mill owner as his own, of 
course. for I was nobody; the moderators gavel
kept order, and "the siege went on"
But when the crack of Emory Eddy's whip
brought the great four horse lumber wagons of 
S. & D. Barton to a halt before the door and 
eighty-two men from the North Oxford factories
sprang out, stepped quietly in, depositing their
bits of paper, back to their wagons and 
away again in twenty minutes, it was something
else. They delayed arguing and counted
votes. Oxford had graded schools.

20
It has never lost them, and today it is a 
high and well deserved honor to hold a 
diploma from the schools of  Oxford
But did not this engender ill feeling in
the Barton family, you ask -. By no means.
My mother denied us all that  evening
by special invitation, and my father's 
first hearty toast was to the "New Fangled
Folley."
This was a step towards victorious accomplishment,
but only a step. There was a town to be redistricted, old
schools to be discontinued, new ones substituted, old 
school-houses disposed of, and the school funds so 
arranged as to make the schools - the number being 
smaller, - continuous throughout the year. 
It was, really for the entire town that our 
gospel was to be preached, but we must begin at Jerusalim.21
If any community needed saving grace, it was
those three miles of villages with three begrimed, tired
old faced children - long limbed active boys, not unworthy
followers of Slater, and Tiffany, and the bright rollicking
girls growing into man and womanhood
with scarcely knowledge to account for the little money
their labor earned them, or still worse, any way of getting
the knowledge. 
It was late summer. The traditional term
of school had closed. A school must be at
once opened for the North Oxford villages, regardless
of town appropriations, and a new schoolhouse
built to accommodate at least a hundred pupils,
to open with the new year.
From the lumber yards of S. & D. Barton
the house would be an easy accomplishment, but
where should a school be kept meanwhile?22
The old house was far to one side with such accommodations
as it had, consisting mainly of shelter
for about thirty pupils.
An enthusiastic meeting of the mill owners
resulted in a decision that I should open a school
the following week to continue until the new house
was completed. But where? Socrates and Plato
taught out of doors, but they had knowledge and
wisdom to compensate. I was too small, knew
too little, and must have a form of shelter however exposed. 
In the old "yellow village," known as Cutter
and Bartlets' was a discarded picker-room, which
had been later used for storing obsolete machinery.
This building was mainly cleared, and benches
supplied. Its only light was from the great open
doorways facing the public street, and so near that

23
that all conversation was distinctly heard. 
There, seventy children assembled, and how good
and obedient they must have been, to listen at all to
me, with the entire populace in full view, and all
outside speech perfectly audable. It was a surprise
and a study to me, even, to see how quickly and easily
the wild excitement, curiosity, and foolishness of a
childs manner and nature could be tamed and reduced
to a system of manly and womanly thought and deportment
by gentle restraint, calm reasoning, confidence
and encouragement. In two weeks these
seventy children had apparently forgotten that there
was anything peculiar in their surroundings, or
to call for laughter or surprise. Not only did every
passing dog skip in and out, unnoticed, and pursued
puss seek shelter, but a couple of pet goats that searched
the neighborhood for dainties (tin cans were not24
as plentiful as now,) hobbled in and out at
will, without even a tiny giggle in response to
their bleat of disappointment at finding nothing
And a tame crow, discovering, with a crows
intelligence where the crumb fell, paid [many a] frequent
daily visits, and gave many  an ominous caw, with
no recognition, save some little hand lovingly smoothing
the glossy feathers if they came within reach.
Of course, all understood how highly I appreciated
their excellent deportment, and in a manner it existed
on my approbation. These were children. In the
years that have followed, and the charge of men and women
that has sometimes fallen to me, I have found them
mainly children of larger growth, and similar methods
produce similar results. Approval is a human
necessity. The heart languishes, sours, and turns to
bitterness without it. How thoughtless, chary,

25
and niggardly are we in its distribution, and the
millions of souls that go awreck for the want of
that which costs nothings. Approval, encouragement
trust, confidence. Oh! the pity of it.
But as Samanthy would say "I am episodin".
They were not good and obedient, but learned
more than they had ever known before. We developed
some excellent readers. (Two, of whom, later, became public
readers.) As a recreation, a class of twenty was
permitted to occupy the last fifteen minutes of each
day in concert reading. If successfully done might
be inferred from the groups of men and women assembled
within some convenient distance (almost any
distance would have sufficed,) to listen to the 'concert
reading". There was truly no lack of spirit. "Marco Bozzaris"
lived again, and - They "tore her tattered ensign down"
with a rigor that literally might be said to have "astonished26
the natives", who waited with a corresponding interest
to see the school dispose of itself, no boxing, keeling
over, nor other unbecoming behavior, but quietly [away] home 
with the appearance of sensible beings. 
      Some, Alas! too few of them are still here, and 
tell me with tears of mirth and memory of the 
days when we "went to school in the picker room." 
       One day last fall after over sixty years of absence,
I searched among the other wall kept buildings for 
my school room but could not find it. 
        It naturally fell to me to make the design
for the new school house on which I "tried my 
prentice han". I had ample opportunity for original
design, for I had never seen a school house
that, in its construction was not nearly as well adapted
to any other ordinary use as a school. Thus I had
to draw upon my imagination for what seemed desirable 

27.
I had never, when seated, rested my own feet on
the floor of a school room; as I commenced my school
life with my feet a foot above the floor, and finished 
it before they reached down. Reasoning from Analogy 
The maximum hight of seats or benches must not exceed
         inches, with a desk, permanent ink and
under shelf in front. Each bench to accommodate
two pupils, with broad, sloping isles between, leading 
to a center hall running the entire length of the room, 
on the opposite side of which a low elevation of about 
equal width provided for the teachers desk and all 
classes in recitation. A succession of black boards 
and maps lined the walls; and what I had then 
never heard of in a school house, a good substantial 
clock. They should at least learn time, if they could
not be taught to heed it. 
          The frosts of autumn naturally cleared our school28
by the wayside, which had been an entirely personal
gratuity between ourselves, having no relation to public
finances.
      But the new school house "spick and span new"
on it's pretty eminence, midway between two villages,
the legitimate ofspring of the town.
      When finished, a formal invitation from the
district committee, accompanied by the necessary certificate
of examination, and approved by the town school board
was courteously presented to me, with the request that
I commence the winter school. It does not remain
for me to say that this courtesy was a gratification to
me, nor do non-acceptance, a regret; but with what 
seemed to me good reasoning, and I dare hope
with a sprinkling of good judgement its courtesies
were declined. I reasoned (if women do reason,)
that this was by far the largest school in town.
29

custom demanded a man for the teaching of a
winter school, this was a new school, and a new
system, yet to be tried, and it seemed wise for the
success of our undertaking that we avoid so far as
possible all that might appear to be too much of
a new thing. My declaration was accepted and the
winter session well conducted by some competent "master."
      as a salvo to the disappointment of my brothers
who had spared neither time nor pains, I went into
their Counting house to relieve them of such personal
oversight, as otherwise they would feel it necessary to
give for safety. Such as bringing to a close long waiting
and complicated accounts. Overlooking ledges and
helping the perplexed lumbermen in their estimates
a different measurement; a practice which became so
familiar to me that forty years later when in the Relief
of the inundated Sea Islands off south carolina30
it became necessary for us to purchase a million
feet of lumber to be shipped down the rivers for hours,
it created a surprise among the shippers that I called
for no specialist in the assignment but took that
charge myself and was able from their statement
to measure and assign the entire purchase without
even seeing it, so enduring are early impressions, so 
helpful if correct, and well founded.
While the coming of this spring did not,
like it's predecessors, bring Mr Towers Shay - it brought
a May day that the poets might claim as there own.
Not the seed of a cloud, and if the years of continuous
labor before me, which it commenced could have been
foreseen, not a ray too much of sunshine or balm
was there.
I entered that school room with one hundred and
twenty five pupils, with no assistance but such as I could

31
hope to gain from my larger pupils, as monitors.
This contingency had in a manner been provided for
by partitioning off a fairly sized recitation room
along side of the main entrance in front.
Of course, my pupils were of both sexes, and 
all ages, ranging from four years to twenty four.
American, English, Irish, and French, from the
tiny fresh-opened bits of humanity, on the little low
seats in front, with curious and half frightened gaze
looking up at me, to the lines of tall well groomed 
girls, or young women, and boys, or young men with
sprouting bears and mustaches, ranged on the back
seats looking down upon me, for some, were at least
a head taller than I, and the large area between
which in popular parlance would be termed the
"middle classes", of all sizes, ages, and make ups.
I pray you pardon me a moment while I32
Whisper a word to the teachers of today, by ourselves, 
    Teachers, without the slighter intended disrespect
might we not properly term this section the "Rogues
Gallery"? and you will I pray you pardon my familiarity
in addressing you, for the recall of this far away
picture has annihilated time and space and made
me one with you. It has,
     "Backward," learned backward Oh time in a flight 
      and made me a child again just for tonight."
I cannot continue with you, but my hearts prayer, so 
long as it has one, will be for you, and your Heaven
sent work.
           Although a foregone conelurion that I shower
take the school in the spring. I must be formally "
"engaged", and terms started. The committee waited
when me for that purpose.
           "Have you settled upon a piece you will pay



33
Gentlemen ? I asked. "Certainly not" replied the 
gentlemanly Chairman, Mr. Wellmarth, a permanent
mill owner. "We leave that for you to say".
     "The school will be as large as last winter ?
I asked. "Probably larger. it cannot be less."
      "And you wish me to teach it as well, if I can"
"Better we expect" with a polite smile.
     what did you pay m w ??         The price was named
   then that will be my price   I may sometimes be very
willing to teach for nothing but if paid at all, I shall
never do a mans work for less than a mans pay"
     a quick warm grasp from the chairmans hand.
we honor you Miss Barter for the stand you take, and
on that law I wish we had paid him more
     I had then never seen nor even heard of Elizabeth
Cady Slantin, nor my blessed friend Susan Anthony
their field was far away and small, if indeed they34. 
had one [at all]. Justice is inborn. if not perverted.
    But enough; let me hasten back to my new 
school room with the hundred and twenty five
awaiting me. "What did I do with them?" you ask
     By this time I had gained the confidence that enabled
me to address an opening school, but do not imagine
that I laid the testament aside, or forgot the sermon
on the mount; and the little Emelie's with the good
resolves shone out in more than one pair of clear
questioning eyes resting upon me.
     First they must be classed, suitable books found 
for them and lessons apportioned.  The bell and clock
would tell them when to do things. The lessons would 
tell them what to do, and it would be my part to 
tell them how. In this, I had the help of the boards and 
maps, and, the recitation room, which proved a far
greater assistance than the most sanguine could
35.

have hoped for. It was held a high honor to be made
a monitor. The classes were selected with care, and there
was never a time during the day that some junior class
of not less than twenty five was in recitation to some 
pains taking monitor. Neither was this a loss to the 
monitor. There were superb teachers of a few years later
both men and women who traced the commencement
of their career to the early responsibility and personal
control gained in that self reliant, unwatched, and
and isolated class room.
       The regulation of a school of that magnitude
must be largely automatic. There was not a minute
in the day for me to lose. I must stand with my
classes, and teach them. The government must
consist in general laws, immutable as those of the
Medes and Persians. It was amazing how quickly
they comprehended the situation and conformed36
to it. There is nothing so intuitive as a child. 
The classes were large. Each class knew its allotted time. 
Not my hand, but the minute hand of the clock, must 
be their reminder, and quietly retiring give place to the
 next class without sign or notice from me. Recesses the same
passing quietly out and in at the low tap of the bell
by the monitor entrusted with that charge.
Disputes, if unfortunately any occurred were brought
to me after school. Algebra, and rudimental
book keeping constituted the limits of mathematics. 
Elementary philosophy, and chemistry, ancient and 
natural history were limits in the scientific direction,  
all too rarely attained. But the three Rs - reading,
spelling, and the inevitable copy book had no
limits but human endurance and capacity. 
The black boards and maps contributed their ever
ready, and bountiful share of general information. 

37
Eleven weeks school - two weeks vacation - or
collectively forty four weeks schools and eight weeks vacation
in the year, and thus it went on with few interruptions
for a half dozen or more years. Years of hard
work. How severe a tax they were upon my strength
I think no one realized so fully as my father, and
no one could have sought more vigilently and delicately 
to fill in the missing links by supplying the out of 
door recreation he saw me in need of. 
I had no time for journeys; cared little for
driving, and the best that lay in his line for me, was
the offer of an exceptionally fine saddle horse, from
time to time for a change. I recall an incident 
which many years after I heard him refer to most
feelingly at a social gathering where the sentiment 
of the evening was, "long life" to me, for some trivial 
service I was thought to have rendered. Evidently38
He had treasured the memory of a time when my
life had been in danger of being shortened.
It occurred in this wire [*?*]   A very fine horse had
come into his stable. Large, strong, handsome, and said to
be well gaited for the saddle. One saturday, I thought
to try him. For a wonder my father hesitated, although
he had long ceased to take note of what horse I rode.
But today, a most unusual attention, he readied,
and handed me the reins himself, saying as he did
so, "Remember this is a powerful horse and you
dont know his habits."I gathered the reins with
a laugh saying I "might learn some of them before I 
got back". Taking rather gaily the road to the north
with Spencer Town a point of destination. Two or three 
miles through the heavy woods, leading to what was 
then Clapville were refreshing. The size of a hill 
brought us instantly in full view of the town, when, 

39
suddenly with a whisk of the tail, a high toss of the 
head, and a loud champ of the bit we were leaping 
forward with the speed of an engine. I had the reins 
firmly in my grasp but had no control. He had 
taken that himself. Leaving the traveled road and
and springing into a by path which he seemed to  
know,I saw him making directly for a blacksmiths shop 
with its lighted forge. The two great doors had been 
thrown wide open, and as we came near, I saw to my 
dismay that the low cross-bar had not-been removed.
He would go in there, in spite of me. It were death 
to attempt to leave him at that speed; we must go
in together. Crowding my foot hard in the stirrup
for a firm hold, letting go reins and whip I threw 
both arms about his neck, and dropped to his side, clinging
for dear life. The next instant he thundered in
onto the floor, where strong sooty arms caught us40
both. I was breathless and a stranger, but they
knew him very well. He had come for his cus-
-tomary shoeing. I thought it was an increase of 
heard-gear that he required rather than shoes, and had
them pocured. He had used his feet very well. 
After a rest of an hour or two, and being ridden
slowly about, and coddled by the men till he was
calm and dry, my stately comrade was made ready 
and we took our way home. I did not [quit?] Spencer.
My father was waiting my return,  evidently anxious,
and as he saw us coming in slowly and [??deely?] with a 
bran new curb bit and martingals, he remarked
 drily, "Judging from appearances, my daughter, you
have learned some of his habits."
Hard welcome years were there with no ad-
-vancement for me. Some I hoped, for others.
Little children grew to be large, and mainly



41
"well behaved"; Boys grew to manhood, and continued
faithfully in their work, or went out and entered
into business, seeking other creations. A few girls
became teachers, but more continued at their looms
or set up housekeeping for themself, but whatever 
sphere opened to them they were all mine, second
only to the claims and interests of the real mother.
And so they have remained. Scattered over the world
some near, some far; I have been their confidant. Standing
at their nuptuals if possible, lent my name to their babies,
followed their fortunes to wars gory fields, staunched
their blood, dressed their wounds, and closed their 
northern eyes on the hard fought fields of the 
Southland, and yet, all this I count as little
in companion with the faithful, grateful love I 
hold today. Of the few summers of my Oxford schools, 
I shall have neglected a great; I could42
almost say a holy duty, if I fail to mention the 
name _ and connect the presence of the Rev. Horatio
Bardwell with this school. Rev Dr Bardwell, an early
India missionary, and for over twenty years pastor of 
the Congregational church of Oxford, where his memory
lovingly lingers today, as if he had passed from them
but yesterday, or indeed had not passed at all.
Dr. Bardwell was continuously on the school Board 
of the town, and his custom was, to drop in upon a 
school, familiarly at a most unexpected moment.
I recall the amusing scenes, when, by some unusual
round behind me my attention would be called from
the class I had before me, to see my entire school which -
had risen unbidden, standing with hands resting on 
the desk before them, heads revrently bent, and Dr
Bardwell midway of the open door, with hands upraised 
in mute wonder and admiration. At length

43
he would find voice, with, "what a sight, what
a multitide!.  The school re-seated itself when 
bidden and prepared for the unit of a half hour of 
pleasant conversation, anecdotes and advices that even
the smallest would not willingly have missed.
It was the self reliant, self possessed and unbidden 
courtesy of these promiscuous children that won
the Docters admiration. He saw, in there something
for a future to build upon.
It is to be remembered that I am not
writing romance, nor yet ancient history, where I can 
create, or vary my models to suit myself. It is, in
fact semi-present history, with most notable characters
still existing, who can, at any moment rise up and 
call me to order. To avoid such a contingency I
may sometimes be more explicite than I otherwise
would be at the risk of prolixity. This possibility leads44
me to state, that a few times in the years, I was 
borrowed, for a part of a winter term, by some neighboring
town, where it would be said there was trouble, once
some school was "not getting on well." I usually 
found that report to have been largely illusive, for 
they got on very well with me! Probably it was the 
old adage of a "new broom" for I did nothing but
teach them. I recall one of these experiences as 
transpiring in Millbury, the grand old town where the 
lamented, and honored mother of Our President Elect
Judge Taft has just passed to a better land. 
That early and undeserved reputation for "discipline"
always clung to me. 
Most of this transpired during years in which I should 
have been in school myself, using time and opportunities 
for my own advancement, which could not be replaced
This thought grew irresistably upon me, until I decided 


45
that I must withdraw and find a school, the object 
of which should be, to teach me something. The number of 
educational institutions for women was one to a
thousand as compared with today. I knew I 
must place myself so far away that a "run of bad
luck" in the home school could not persuade me 
to return. It would be sure to have one. 
Religiously, I had been educated in the liberal 
thought of my family, and preferring to remain 
in that atmosphere, I decided upon the "Liberal 
Institute" of Clinton New York. 
I recall with pain even now the regret with 
which my family, especially my brothers heard my 
announcement. I had become literally a part, if  
not a partner of them in school and office. My 
brother Stephen was school superintendent, thus
there was no necessity for making my intentions public.45
and I would spare both my school and myself
the pain of parting. I closed my autumn term, as 
usual, on Friday night. On Monday night - the jingling
cutter of my brothers, (for it was early sleighing) took 
me to the station for New York. This was in reality
going away from home. I had left the smothered
sighs, the blessings, and the memories of a little
life behind me. My journey was made in silence
and safety, and the third day found me installed 
as a guest in the "Clinton House" of Clinton, Oneida
county, New York; - a typical old time tavern. 
My hosts were Mr and Mrs. Samuel Bertram, -
and again the hand rests, and memory pauses, to 
pay its tribute of grateful loving respect to such as 
I shall never know again this side the Gates Eternal
It was holiday season. The institute was
undergoing a transfer from old to new buildings. 

47
These changes caused a delay of some weeks, while
I became a part and parcel of the family I had 
so incidentally and fortunately fallen among. 
Clinton was also, then as now, the seat of Hamilton
college. The sisters and relatives of the students 
of Hamilton contributed largely to the personelle
of the Institute. Rev. Dr Sawyer presided over 
Hamilton, and Miss Louise M Barker with a competent
corps of assistants presided over the Institute. 
It was a cold blustering winter day that 
assembled us in the almost as cold school rooms
of the newly finished and sparsely furnished 
building. Even its clean new brick walls on its
stately eminence looked cold, and the two plank walk 
with a two feet space between, leading up from town 
was not suggestive of the warmest degree of sociability,
to say the least of it. My introduction to ourPre [eeptrers?], or president, Miss Barker, was both a
pleasure and a surprise to me. I found an un-
-looked for activity a cordiality and an irresistable 
charm of manners that none could have foreseen, -
a winning indescribable grace which I have met
in only a few persons in a whole life time. Those
who remember the eminent Dr. Lucy Hall Brown 
of Brooklyn, who only a year ago passed out through
California's " Golden Gate", will be able to catch something
of what I mean, but cannot describe. Neither could
they. To no one had I mentioned any thing of
myself, or my past. No " certificate of character"
had been mentioned, and no recommendation
from my, "last place" been required of me. There
was no reason why I should volunteer my history,
or step in among that crowd of eager pupils as a
"school marm, " expected to know everything.


The easiest way for me was to keep silent, as
I did, and so well kept that I left that [fortitude?]
at the close without a mistrust an the part of any-
one. That I had ever taught school a day.
The difficulty to be met, lay mainly in the as-
-signment of studies. The prescribed number was
a cruel limit. I was there for study. I required no
rudiments. and wanted no allowance for waste 
time. I would use it all, and diffidently I made this 
fact known at the head, asking one more, and one
more study until the limit was stretched out of
all reasonable proportions. I recall, with amuse-
-ment the last evening when I entered with my
request. The teachers were assembled in the parler
and divining my errand, as I had never any other,
Miss Barter broke into a merry laugh, with
" Miss Barker we have a few studies left; you hadbetter take what there are, and we will say nothing
about it. This broke the ice, and the time. I 
could only join in the laugh, and after this studied
what I would, and "nothing was said".
 I would, by no means be understood as
crediting myself with superior scholarship.
There were [doubtless?] far more advanced scholars
there, than I, but I had a drilled reedimentary
knowledge which they had never had, and I had
the habit of study, with a learning anxiety to make
the most of lest time. So true it is that we value
over privilage only when we have lost them.
I never realized the value of the material
composing that institute school until the devel-
-opments of after years foread it upon me. Her
pupils had imbibed Miss Barkees spirit of activity
and carefulness. painters, sculptors musicians, poets

doctors, lawyers, linguists editors, authors, speakers,
the wives of some of the best men of the land, lawyers
judges and ministers galore, and their children, male
and female are leading the best careers in the country
today. some stand out persistently in memories rank
and will not down. Here is my gentle, faultless
roommate, Clara Hurd who became the wife of Rev
[(j)Tall?], elegant Sarah [Stodard?], who became the compan
-ion of the talented Rev Eday. Gertrude Sawyer
wife of the noted artist [Saris?] [McEntee?] of [Rendord] on
the Hudson: and here, foremost of all comes lithe
limbed, sweet faced Abby Barker, delicate but firm,
non resistent, but non yielding [Abry] Barter, you
know her as Mrs. Judge Joseph Sheldon of New-
Haven. How little we dreamed as we poured over
our books in Clinton, and Joseph, no judge then.52
just plain "Joe Shelden was pondering and pummelling
away at Yale, of the years, the half century of years
that we three should walk side by side, hand
in hand, along life's rugged ways, watching its
launches and its wrecks with never a discord,
never a doubt, never a misunderstanding, loving,
trustful, faithful to the end; so shall it be.
Buried in my work as I was, forgetful
of the world, it was seldom that even its griefs
found me. These, being usually a drug in the market
are best-kept-for home consumption, but for filial
love, and reverence I may speak of one.
It was July, of the hottest of seasons. Summer 
vacation had not commenced. A dispatch was handed
me. By the dim hall light I read, "Our mother
"died suddenly this afternoon, unconscious, and painless,
"burial must be soon. Do not attempt a journey in
53
"this heat. Stephen". I sought my room without
a word, and so sat, alone, the night. The dispatch
had passed over the hotel wires. Next morning
with sunrise, the hotel carriage stood in front
of the seminary, with a private message to Miss
Barker, requesting that I be permitted to come to them
for a week. This took Miss Barker, in deep sympathy
to me, and me to the carriage and hotel with the
loving care of my newly found friends, like other
father and mother, sister and brothers
At the end of a week I was able to return, 
resume my studies, and only Miss Barker, faithful
true and tender knew that any thing had befallen me.
It is not to be supposed that I could
so entirely assimilate myself with those frolicsome
girls, half the time bound for some innocent mischief
as never to attract observation from them. In spite54
of my caution, they would, occasionally catch a glimpse
of something not just like themselves, and be sure to
invest it with a mysterious importance. Only a
few weeks ago I was asked if I remembered my
two dresses alike, and the curiosity that they excited.
I did, and it was this. In my hasty departure
from home, I had little time for preparations,
but directed my winter suit of the prevailing mode
 A ladies cloth of dark green, with pelarine,
velvet trimmings, steel buttons. and hat to match.
This with a scarlet scarf which my brother put about
my neck, completed the outfit. But when it came
from the dress-maker on Saturday, almost enough
cloth for another dress came with it. I had in my
order reckoned on single width material, and it was
double. It was of no consequence, but was put into my
trunk. Later finding myself in need of a school-

55
-dress. I had the extra cloth matched with a 
yard or so, and a school dress made, varying it
as far as possible in the trimmings. But the quick
eyes, and brains full of romance, were too sharp,
and curious. "Why two dresses alike?
What could it mean? They had read of such things
to help carry out a plot an elopement. A mild excitement was
soon running, which was only allayed by the ready
tact of Miss Barker, to whom the explation was made,
in a lesson to the class on political and domestic economy, 
in which she look occasion to name the two
dresses as a practical illustration of the latter
Distances seemed greater then than at
the present day of whirling about the world and
out of it, for that matter, and journeys were of 
more importance, and less frequency.
Reluctant to the spare the time from my studies,56
I remained, during vacations, as a mere boarder 
at the seminary, pursuing my studies in review.
This afforded a month or more of free 
social life, several teachers remaining as well 
In some of the higher classes of mathematics
and metaphysics, our teachers had the aid of the 
advanced student professors of Hamilton, which 
brought us into social relations. Notable among 
these were professor Paul A Towne, a distinguished  
mathematician, and Professor Samuel Ramsey 
studying for the ministry, and a score of later 
eminent Divines. A foolis squib of the papers
(for even in those sober days, newspapers could print
foolish things.-) was passing around, of some spoony
fellow who had said, he "lived in Julias eyes" and
which for its very silliness was noticeable.
One morning as we were chatting at the

57
breakfast table, a gentleman riding an elegant 
horse, and leading another, with ride saddle, entered
the grounds. Miss Barker's quick glance, swept
the table, with, "I wonder whose eye Professor
Ramsey lives in this morning"  Assuming an 
unusual gravity I rose from my seat, with, "Mine
Miss Barker with your permission." "[Oh!] no
possible objection could be made to that, and we
were soon away among the beautiful hills and vales 
of Central New York.  Later it leaked out 
that as usual the joke had been turned on me,
and I had not been the attraction I might have
been led to suppose myself. It had been a ruse
planned between Miss Barker and the Professor to 
draw me off for a day from my self imposed
confinement.
Long years after when Professor Ramsey58
had given years to important government
service, became one of best linguists, and first 
scholars of the County, a writer of Books almost 
too learned for other men to read understandingly, 
mastered, the love of India, Iceland and 
the philosophers of China, we had many a merry 
laugh over the joke played upon me, I never
failing to accuse him of conspiracy
My acquaintance with my school mates
had been pleasant, and its friendships lasting as time
has richly proven. Among these was one more 
peculiar, from the disparity of years; the same affection 
on her part displaying itself a I had known
on the part of some of my older pupils. She had been 
much with me, and almost unconsciously to myself
my teacher instincts had doubtless made her school
life easy. We would leave at the same time,

59
she having brothers and friends in Hamilton, who
would take her with them. She possessed an ardent
sensitive nature, a brilliant intellect, with a 
union of strength and tenderness I had seldom if
ever seen combined. The only daughter of the 
home, where her wishes, if well directed had been
a kind of law. The sadness of her letters home had
called from the parents a most urgent request for
me to promise them a visit, in the future. This was 
of so genuine, hearty, and at the same time, delicate
a nature that I could not find it in my heart
to utterly decline. "Miss Clara the hope held out
"to our little daughter that thee will visit us has
"brought great happiness to our home. Let us also 
"hope it may not be very long until we see thee here."
This was from the home of that veteran 
Quaker, and Universalist Richard Norton of60
Heightstown New Jersey, The long grass has waved
over his grave these fifty years, and yet its return
in the spring time is not more green or fresh, than
the memory of Richard Norton to those who
knew, and among whom he lived his true and
righteous life.
There now remained the tender good byes, at
Clinton, and the turning away from those open
doors of intellectual help which had been the dream
of a life to me. Midsummer found me back
in the old Huguenot town, and the home that
was still a home, and yet, not all a home. something
was missing.
"Oh! for the touch of a vanished hand
And the sound of a voice that is still,"
But this was all. My brother David and the tall
handsome sister with whom I had only a few

61
years before helped to tie the wedding knot, with
their own beautiful children, a pair of twin
daughters, a son and Baby May, had come, almost
immediately to the rescue of my fathers the home so suddenly
bereft, and only for the chatter of children, and 
the more active life, a stranger might scarcely have
noticed the change. My father was still hale, and
the firm tread of the soldier march, which he never
lost was good for all the miles he might desire
to measure; and although bravely past the three
score and ten, his intellect compassed both the 
strength of the man, and the quickness of the lad.
Four children played about his knee. for where
childish differences no higher tribunal was sought,
and if all arbitraments could be as wisely, lovingly
and successfully rendered, swords might well
become pruning hooks, and bugles, pipes of peace.62
my brothers, shoulder to shoulder were pushing 
on, building new mills, and running the old.
The school, after a few misteps, and the ordinary
quota of bumps, had learned to go alone, and
was enjoying its summer vacation. Thus, nothing
seemed to really stand in the way of my promised
visit. It was to be only a visit. And one
early autumn day saw me walking up the lane
leading from the town-road to the stately home of
Rich and Sorton, with Mary clinging to my arm
in an exstasy of joy.
That home deserves a far better description than 
I can give, but let me do what I can. A large
well cultivated farm some four miles from the
town. A commodious cerentry house, the number 
of rooms I cannot recall; but the great family
sitting and living room is as familiar to me

63
today, as then. A center table covered with books
and papers, firm, high backed chairs, a settles, a 
window of growing plants, the clock with unerring 
hands, and the piano, occupying all the spade of one
side that could be spared for the parlor door.
Its occupants: First the majestic form of 
"Uncle Richard", firm built, broad chested, clean
face, firm mouth with dark ringlets curling over
a massive forehead.
"Mistress Nelly"- slight, active, orderly, busy,
nervous hands, clean blue eyes, full of capacity and
care. "Nelly, I lean thee art troubled about
many things," but surely mary had chosen
the good part that was seldom taken form her, 
as with glad, dancing feet she glided from room
to room, or with guide touah woke the piano from
its quiet rest,  But the men of 5 feet 11: monly64
sturdy, gentlemanly men - Joshua, James, Charley 
of Clinton fame. Wycoff had married and gone - and
William had followed suit. Truly might
Richard and Nelly be proud of their sons, and 
so has the town been proud of it's citizens.
Farmer by day, but reading, intelligent, intellectual
discussion, and music enlivened the evening's.
     As the October leaves commenced to fall, I ventured
some remarks concerning home, but these were 
met by a protest so general. and rigorous as to unbalance
my decision and lead me to consider.
   "Why must thee go? Why not stay and help
"to cheer our winter"? My suggestion that I ought
not pass so much time in mere idleness, and that
there was nothing there to occupy me, drew from
Uncle Richard the rejoinder. "If thee could teach
our winter school, men's class thee could find

65.
plenty to do. But thee could not keep a school
could thee? I thought "perhaps I might".
"I know thee could teach them Miss Clara, but 
"these farmer boys that go to our school in the 
"winter, are men grown, and sometimes, rough. 
"Thee would not dare to undertake them"
      "How many were there"?
                                       "About forty"
I thought I "might be able to manage them", 
and thus, after a goodly share of deliberation, it 
was decided, that I venture to attempt the winter
school. a venture never before essayed by a
woman; "Graded school? Ah no! not even
a free school. Public schools were merely 
a thought in the State of New Jersey at that
date: and not at all a popular thought as that.
All expenses incurring from the public treasury66
to individuals, was held as pauperism.  Thus the 
public payment of a teacher for the children of a family 
placed them in the same category, as having food 
or clothes provided at public expense.  The
people of no self respecting community would 
submit to this degradation. 
     Public schools in that day ceased with the 
southern boundaries of New England, and 
New York.  Each scholar was assessed a 
certain     the aggregate of which formed
the teacher's salary, something on the principle of select
schools of today.  This was a "new thought"
to me, and fell with overwhelming force.
     I lived over again the day of little district 
schools in Massachusetts.  Those, at the time,
I had regarded as sorely lamentable; but
this system for the children of very poor, 


67
unfortunate, or unworthy parents seemed too
unbearable.  But beginning to discern more
clearly that I was in a different social atmosphere,
and realizing, in a way the value of 
discretion, I kept my reflections to myself, and
shall I say it -? "sawed wood"
       As the harvest ended releasing the 
farmer boys, the time for commencement
of school approached.  I think it was the first 
Monday in December, a clean crisp morning, 
but no snow. 
         "Mary I think thee had better go with
Miss Clara this first day; thee knows these boys
and even thy presence might be a little restraint
upon them."  Ready in a trice with hat coat
and muffler, my trusty attendant.
"Here, giddy Mary", from clear toned Aunt Nelly68
"take this basket, you will both be hungry by morn" 
A cut across the fields, for short, soon brought
us is our low browed, wood colored domicile, where
a bevy of strong limbed, square shouldered, three
quarter grown young men in a mighty game of ball,
scarce noticed our approach. 
Panting and sweaty, they swung into their
seats with with the same careless care, as they would
have gathered about a heap of corn for the husking.
But here came in Mary's part. By no
means "Giddy Mary" now, little lady that she was, 
with a self possession that nearly unnerved me. 
She approached each in his on her seat, -her neighbors,
and until a year or two before, her school mates 
and taking them by the hand brought them to me
for introduction, telling me as nearly as possible
what would be well for both them and me, to know,


69
"Miss Barton", this", - a little pale faced girl of twelve 
"or thirteen - is Mary Morris, who lives with her 
"aunt. She had the scarlet fever, when a child, and 
"does not hear well, and is not always able to 
"keep up with her lessons, but she tries hard." 
I thought she would be able to to get all 
the lessons I should set for her. 
Then a good looking lad of perhaps eleven
"Miss Barton, this is Alijah Bodine," "Alijah is 
"always a good boy, in school and out." Alijah
accepted his praise with blushes and gave way
for the next, a strong sturdy fellow of perhaps 
fourteen, with handsome features, a square set
jaw of ivory teeth, eyes in which the very 
prince of mischief might sit enthroned,
and by the dewy flush of the recent game, still
on his face one saw he was not a mere "looker on."70.
in matters about him.
"Miss Barton this is Alijah's brother, Hart 
"Bodine. Hart is a good boy, but i am sorry
"to say, has the reputation of being a great rogue 
"in school. I think he will do better now."
Astonished at the unexpected character of the 
introduction, poor Hart could only mutter some
broken sentences of a pledge of better things. 
The words were all that were ever broken. 
The pledge was kept. Oh how long and well it
was kept. In school, he was ever at my hand, 
to do the smallest bidding, never leaving the
the house till I left at night, and the first to  
greet me in the morning, so were they 
faithful at their countries call

71
Hart came back to live the life of a true and
honored citizen, and when a few year later
his little daughter made her first entry at 
school, she is said to have walked bravely up
to her teacher, with no introduction but her own,
"Mistress teacher. I am Clara Barton Bodine 
"But to resoom" That ceremony over
I had only to class my school, and go on teaching it.
Aunt Nelly's dinner basket had played 
its useful part, and early candle light found 
us once more gathered at the hospitable table.
"My daugther, is thee disposed to tell us how
"school went today. I fear Miss Clara might find
"my question too direct?" "Like a Paradise Papa 
"I never saw any such school teaching before."
"Does thee say that none of these rough boys gave72
Miss Clara any trouble". Only in getting rid
of them at night, for when four Oclock came, something
so interesting was being explained that they did'nt
want to go, till it was finished. But the little boys came
and they will all hurry back in the morning to get the 
rest of it.
Next morning with her arms shyly about her 
fathers neck, one heard. "Papa have you any plans
for me this winter"?   "None my daughter but to be 
happy and make us so."  "Should I disappoint
you if I were to ask to go to school? It would be
worth so much to me."  "Thee? no; not in the
least. I think it might be well if thee deserves it"
A half hour later, with one hand fast-hold
of mine, the other grasping the inevitable dinner basket,
with the reiterated "Giddy Girl" of Aunt Nelly
commenced the last term of school in the life of Mary Norton.

73
Dear Aunt Nelly to whose precise and practical 
nature, the ever gushing well spring of gladness and 
joy in the depths of the very heart she had created
was a mystery past comprehension, never understood
it, till those timeless loving hands carried 
her through years of agony and smoothed the 
pathway to the shores of rest. 
The winder wound its even course. To me, 
there was a tender pathos in the faithful efforts of my
bashful farmer boys and girls, and a mingled
sympathy, when the lengthened days of springtime
called them to their accustomed duties.
"Miss Clara, Thee has done wonderfully
well. Thee will rest this summer, it will soon
pass, and then commence thy school earlier in the fall." 
The winters observation, and thought had
gone far towards maturing my plans. This individual74
system of schools seemed childish. I had playfully
[inserted] asserted, from the first, that the financial method
of their system was beyond my mathematics. I
had, before now, kept time for working men, but
never for children, and could not learn now.
Mary must "keep tally", which she did religiously 
Trenton, Burlington and Newark, as
cities, had made efforts at public schools, with
more or less success; usually the latter, but all
large towns or [bo?oughs] remained unchanged
The cordial nature of "Uncle Richard" demanded
all the confidence I could risk to bestow
and revealing what I must, concealing what I 
could, it was amicably arranged that I visit
Bordentown.
How distinct in memories cloisters are
the pangs in which I stepped out of that, more

75
than home. They thought it a visit, and that
I would soon return. I knew I never would,
but how far short of the realities of today were
my farthest, deepest pictures. How could I 
have thought that my hand would chronicle
the last of all that true and faithful family:
That one by one I should learn of the strong hands 
relaxed, and the places that knew them, knew
them no more forever. That Mary my little protige[prodigy],
grown to woman had among the first in the land 
a pillar in her Universalist denomination, a strength 
and a support in all social life, the companion of 
the most cultivated, and the truest of either sex.
That even for her, my eye should see changed the 
dial where ran the last sands of human life. She 
so strong, trusted and helpful, so far the confidant of 
men of thought and action, that among her76
treasured correspondence when she felt us 
was found the last letter that Horace Greely
ever wrote. Intuitively, his tried and tired 
soul had turned to that strong, tender nature
for sympathy and relief.
Shall I be forgiven if I dare name the only 
one in direct line i know - Doctor Horace Norton 
of Trenton, son of Charles wears the mantle 
so rent by the reaper's scythe, but covered all
over with the stars of the generous ancestry from which 
he sprang.
It was still early springtime when I registered
my name, alone, at the largest, and most 
acceptable hotel in Bordentown, with, of course, references
to Kinghtstown which none would gainsay.
Learning of a school committee, my first
business was a personal call upon to chairman 

77
Mr Peter Suydam, Editor of the the "Bordentown
Register", and Postmaster, as well.
Mr Suydam was a man of scarcely middle
age, good physique, quick intellect, and in his  
capacity of Editor, fully up [with] with the times on all
points of general information. From him I gained 
confirmation of the fact, that as a state New Jersey 
had made legislative provision for the introduction
of public schools, but, that, owing to the strong
opposition of public sentiment had not proceeded
to make the law obliquitory. That the schools were
generally, if not entirely taught by ladies, more
frequently in there own homes, as a means of
eking out a slender living: widows and people 
who "had seen better days": often elegant persons 
but with no fitness for the position, and no ability
for instruction beyond their own limited knowledge78

gained years before in some similar manner.
When this limit was reached, - usually made 
visible in mathematics - and the pupil became
aware of it, he was no longer an agreeable or
even a safe member of the school, in fact. as
such he became an ¨undesirable citizen" and was
graduated into the street, in disgrace. - That the
town was full of these children, and that out of
some seven hundred within a narrow limit
of school age, only about three hundred and
fifty were in school at all. The remaining
hundreds bore all grades of reputation, from mere
¨absentees¨ to ¨renegades¨. Some even sleeping in
dry-good boxes around the market.
This condition of things was dawning
forcibly upon Mr. Suydam himself, - he had
two bright boys fast nearing the fatal line.

79
A year or two before an effort had been made, in
the direction of a public school. A dilapidated
house, some little distance from the center of
business had been fitted up, and a man engaged
to teach a public school in it, but what with
his manifest unpopularity, his pipe, his tips
his naps, and the very necessary government of
his school, he proved unequal to the task - The
effort failed, and the house was closed in disgraced 
and discouragement, remaining, shall I say, in [disuritisole?]
All of this information, partially in response
to my questions, elicited no remarks from me, and
calling for my mail, left in what might be properly 
be termed ¨a state of mind¨.
Not that I was more discerning or more
susceptible, or had any keener sense of justice or of
humanity than those about me, but it was something80

so entirely new to me, and occurring rather in my
own lines, that it made its impression. That was
probably the only real difference between us. A
case of environment. If I had been reared among
them, I should have felt the same. ¨There is nothing
like getting used to a thing¨ they tell us. One might
add here, that nothing exceeds that, but being
used to it.
Thinking and opinions were not all. Here
was ground for action. I must make myself
acquainted with the place: learn its streets and
especially its children. Three of four hundred
boys running loose about a town would not be
difficult to find. But first, my surroundings.
When one would set out, as I did, to find
the beauties of a quiet little town, unless time has
sadly changed it, as he runs his finger down the

81
long list, let him not overlook Bordentown.
There was beauty even in the flickering shadows
on its broken, and unlevel walks, in the tufts of
grass, and tinted flowers that sprang beside them,
it´s tall trees, rugged trunks, and spreading
branches; the silver flow of the Delaware below
its rocky bluffs, the busy hum of hammers and
the mighty blows that built and launched from
their stocks, the towering monarchs gliding into its
peaceful bosom. And then for rest, - for peace
elyrian, let him seek the garden of Paradise, the
deserted home of kings, - its acres of unbroken
green, - its miles of shrubs and flowers, its walks, its
rests, the ripple of brooks, and the unceasing song of
birds, - the repose of nature. - A home fit for a king!
A thing of beauty, and a joy forever., Mr. Joseph
it was not thy choice, but better than Elbe or82.

St Helena. Ay! a thousand fold better than
Moscow or Waterloo.
But the boys: I found them on all sides
of me. Every street corner had little knots of them
idle, listless, as if to say, What shall one do, when one
has nothing to do? I sought every inconspicuous
ocasion to stop, and talk with them. I saw nothing
unusual in them. Much like other boys I had known,
unusually courteous, showing special instruction in
that line, and frequently of unusual intelligence.
They spoke of their banishment, or absence from
school, with far less of bravado, or boasting than
would have been expected, under the circumstances
and often with regret. "Lady there is no school
for us" answered a bright faced lad of fourteen, as he
rested his foot on the edge of a little park fountain
where I had accosted him, "We would be glad

83

to go if there was one." That listened to such as
this long enough, and without returning to my
hotel, I sought Mr. Suydam, as chairman of the
school committee, and asked for an interview.
By this time, in his capacity of Postmaster, we
had formed a tolerable acquaintance. Now, for the
first time, I made known my desire to open a public
school in Bordentown, teaching it myself.
Surprise, discouragement, resistance and sympathy
were all pictured on his manly face. He was
trouble for terms in which to express the mental
conflict, but in snatches something like this.
"These boys were renegades, many of them more
fit for the penitentiary than school - A woman could
do nothing with them. They would'nt go to school if they
had the chance, and the parents would never send them
to a "pauper school." I would have the respectable84
sentiment of the entire community against me.
I could never withstand the obloquy, not to call
it disgrace that I would meet, and to crown all
I should have the bitter opposition of all the present
teachers, many of whom were ladies of influence
in society and would contend rigorously for their
nights. A strong man would quail and give way under
what he would be compelled to meet, and what could
a woman, - a young woman, and a stranger do?
He spoke very kindly and appreciatingly of the intention,
acknowledgind the necessity, and commending
the nature of the effort, but it was ill-timed, and 
had best be at once abandoned, as impractical
Write this honest effort, & wiping the perspiration  
from his forehead, he rested. After a moments 
quiet and seeing that he did not resume,  I said  
with a respect which I most sincerely felt, "Thank

85 
'you, Mr Suydam"; "Shall I speak?" "Certainly Miss 
Barton, and "with a little appreciative laugh "I will
try to be as good a listener as you have been".
I thanked him again for the evident sincerity 
of his objections, assuring him that I believed them
drawn intirely in my interest, and his earnest desire
to save me from what seemed to him an impossible
undertaking, with only failure and humiliation
as sure, and logical results. A few of these I
would like to answer, and throwing off the 
mask I had worn since Clinton told him plainly
that I was, and had been for years a teacher of the
public schools of New England. That was my
profession, and that, if entered in the long and honored
competative list of such, I did not suppose
that in either capacity, experience, or success
I should stand at the foot. I had studied the86
character of there boys, and had intense pity 
for, but no fear of them. As for exclusion from
society, I had not sought society, and could 
easily dispense with it, if they so willed; I was
not here for that. As for reputation, I had brought 
with me all I needed, and that of a character, that
a bit of village gossip could not affect. With 
all respect for the prejudices of the people I should
try not to increase them. My only desire was to open
and teach a school in Bordentown, to which its outcast
children could go and be taught; and I
would emphasize that desire by adding that I wished
no salary. I would open, and teach such a school
without remuneration: but my effort must have
the majority of the law, and the power vested in its 
officers behind it or it could not stand. If I received
a building and proceeded to open a school, it would

87
be only one more private school like the score they
already had. That the school Board, as officers of 
of the law, with accepted rights, and duties, must
so far connect themselves with the effort, as to
provide quarters, the necessary furnishings, and 
to give due and respectable notice of the same 
among the people. In fact, it must stand  as
by their order, leaving the work and results to me.
I was not there for necessity. Fortunately I needed
nothing of them, neither as an adventurers. I had
no personal ambitions to serve, but as an observant
of unwelcome conditions, and as I thought, harmful,
as well, to try so far as possible, the power of a good
wise, beneficent, and established state law, as against
the force of ignorance, blind prejudice, and the tyrany
of an obsolete, outlived public opinion. I desired
to see them both fairly placed upon their merits88 
before an intelligent community, leaving the
results to the winner. If the law, after trial, were
not acceptable, or of use to the people, serving
their best interests, abolish or change it, - if it
were, enforce and sustain it.
My reply was much longer than the remarks
that had called for it, but the pledge of good
listening was faithfully kept.
When he spoke again, it was to ask if I desired
my proposition to be laid before the School Board?
I surely did. He would speak with the gentlemen
this evening, and call a meeting for tomorrow.
Our interview had consumed two hours, and
we parted better friends than we commenced. 
The following afternoon, to my surprise, I was
most courteously invited to sit with the school Board
in its deliberations, and I made the acquaintance

89
of two more, plain, honest minded gentlemen.
The subject was fairly discussed, but with great misgivings,
a kind of tender sympathy running through
it all.  At length My Suydam arose, and addressing
his colleagues, said Gentlemen we feel alike, I am
sure, regarding the hazardous nature of this experiment
and its probable results, but situated as we are
officers of a law which we are sworn to obey and
enforce, can we legally decline to acceed to this
proposition, which is in every respect within the 
law. From your expressed opinions of last evening
I believe we agree on this point, and I put the vote
It was a unanimous yea, with the  decision 
that the old closed school house be refitted, and
a school commenced. And yet after all this, so
solicitous for my welfare were these truly good and
friendly men, and so hopeful that I should with90
further reflection, relent that the tardy preparations
dragged into the second month.
Finally about the fifth week, notice was given
in the Bordentown Register, and printed notices a
foot square posted on all customary places, - on spare
boards, street corners, - fences, market places, and
tree trunks, that a public school, taught by
Miss Clara Barton, in the brick school house -
corner of crosswick street would commence on
Monday next at 9. o clock A. M.  - A good
attendance was hoped for, by the school committee
signed - etc
This notice was read by all the men and women
 as they passed - shouted by all the boys as they
 ran, the birds twittered it through the tree tops from
 morning till night, and the katydids scraped
 and grated it from night till morning. Before

91
Before this, thinking it might be more in accord
with customary usage, I had changed my residence
from the hotel to a family. Mr. and Mrs. Jaques kept
a few special boarders. Neither can I turn this
leaf without saying how happy they made my home and
how valuable was the sisterly friendship of Mrs Jaques
George, and Anna, my pupils, were the friends of later
years. Naturally my acquaintance in the town, or so
called society was nothing, and it was not for me
to attempt its increase.
The early springtime - - - waned in my waiting
and it was nearing June, when a prospective teacher
with a decidedly New England aspect, a few books
and desk outfit walked thoughtfully up the
partially country street, turning abruptly to the
right, as a rather solidly built brick house of
small dimensions was reached. All firmly92
closed. A line of post and rail, "Virginia fence"
commencing at the opposite corner of the house
ran along, separating the yard from the opposite
pasture land. On the top, or fifth rail of the
fence were perched six boys ranging from ten to
fourteen years, with the exception of one little brother
of six. Some shod, some barefoot, swinging
their feet in concert.
As I approached, they dismounted, respectfully
removing their hats. "Had they come to school," I asked.
"Yes'm", and as I introduced myself as their teacher
they in turn gave me their names. "Frank Clinton"
Billy - alias, William Wilson, his little brother Alexander,
George B. Fergusen.
We sauntered about the yard, picked flowers, found
a young four leafed clover for good luck, discovered a
tiny yellow birds nest on a limb near by, and decided

93
to protect it faithfully, allowing no one to disturb it,
and finally, as if just remembering that I had a key
to the house, which I appeared to have quite forgotten,
unlocked the door, and went in.
I recall at this day the combination of odors
that greeted the olfactories. The old musty smell
of a long shut, untidy house, the pungent flavor
of freshly cut southern pitch pine, and the bitter
soot of the long iron stove pipe rusting for years.
Altogether, it would have done credit to old
far famed Cologne, said to be the worst smelling
city in Europe. Save the half dozen little books
I had there was not a book in the house. They
had brought none with them, from the doubtful
impression at home, even if they would find any
school, or stay, if they did. But this was a matter
of small importane, the lack of books being more94
than supplied by the two lusty black boards,
on opposite sides of the walls, and three school
maps, of the world, the United States and Europe
which I had expertly named to the "committee"
as required among the furnishings.
[Teachers, as between you and I, we like to be
so familiar with our subject as not to leave
us very dependent upon text books, n'est e pas?]
Among the furnishings were a broom, dust
pan, and brush. Seeing me pick up the first
to brush away some shavings, it was quickly
taken from me, and with true boyish impulse
a thorough renovation commenced. School
was not thought of, but house keeping was the
order of the day. Windows opened, shutters
thrown back, floor swept, desks dusted, and to
my surprise, from somewhere came a borrowed

95
bucket of water, and cloths, and the windows
were washed. When I asked who taught them so
well, Frank said his "mother was not strong, and
he always washed the windows."
By twelve o clock, we were spick and span clean,
and all but me ready to go home for dinner.
From the first little days of No 9 when my pupils
played badly it had been my invariable practice
to remain at noon, guarding them, and the house
feeling that the children were in my sacred charge
during every hour they were with me. A school-
house was not a play house: recreation and sports
were for the open air. There were never any deferred
differences to be settled, when school commenced in
the afternoon. Court was always in session and
the judge on the bench; in fact that was the only
time she did use a seat of any kind.96
The stroke of one found us all at our posts.
Almost imperceptibly we became very greatly interested
in the maps, and little Alex, was delighted
with the "big slates", as the black boards were to him.
They had never seen a black board, in school.
In that three hours until four o clock, we had traveled
the world over. Sailed with Columbus to
discover America, grown indignant at his treatment
"What horrid people they must have been".
Had found how it came to be hot in some
parts of the world, and cold in others, and as we
wiped our sweaty faces, "wished it was'nt quite so
hot here". We went to Africa for lions, leopards
elephants and great snakes: to Italy for oranges
and grapes, to California for gold, and "wished
we had some of it here, we would have a better
school house". We were travelers, and really

97
knew more about the world, and its ways,
than we had ever known before in our lives
"Could it be four o clock? Where had the
time gone?"
Nothing said of school, excepting the suggestion
that it might be well to bring such books
tomorrow as they had used in school.
Holding their hats in their hands till outside
politely locking the door for me, and walking
along 'till our ways separated, we bade a cordial
good evening, and my first day of public school
in Bordentown, was, in the customary vernacular
"Done gone".
Reviewing the day from my room, in the quiet
of the evening, I saw only hopeful symptims, and
no doubts. Whatever had been the instruction,
of these children in other directions, certainly98
certainly their department had not been neglected.
They were kindly disposed, with a courtesy
and politeness I had not seen surpassed if indeed
equalled by any group of children.  They had
been accustomed to enter the private homes of well-bred
society ladies, for their instructions, and I
found myself awake far into the night, wondering
if some improvement in so called "manners"
might not be well in the matchless public schools
of more northern localities?  The poor little
hard-worked home was not always abounding
in this quality and where was the child to get this training
if not in school?
      I am not sure if I ever quite understood the
meaning of "sixteen to one," but I know that sixteen
and one meant the number of our school the next
morning, for my six boys had more than doubled


99
their number.  The afternoon brought us up to 
twenty.  Some overlooking of old books, suggestions
of new ones, some forming of classes, a little reading
and spelling, studying the maps, explanations on
the black boards, with much that did not belong 
to either, -and the day like its predecessors was gone,
even if little were done.  We were studying each
other, more than books, and the chapters opened
pleasantly.
     Five days would constitute a week, and Friday
night found our number forty.  Over Sunday
brought a more rapid increase, and Monday
night closed with fifty five. This was five too
many for convenience, as no possible provision
had been made for over fifty. I gave up my
desk seat, and chair.  The children must naturally
relate this fact and next morning, came a100
chair from Mrs. Suydam's sitting room, with 
the request, that I "find a place to stand it, and use
it only for myself."
While it was generally announced that the 
school was full, we were compelled to close the
doors against individual stragglers, so great was 
the anxiety to come to the new school.
I found no change from the first, excepting
the ordinary playfulness of children, and the little
tricks which seem to be innate in that class of individuals.
The importance of holding this good conditions
of things, so far as possible, was sufficient to call
into action the best powers of thought and invention.
There children had all been "punished", until
punishment was almost a recreation. They came 
expecting it. They might as well earn their wages -
It would only require a sufficient provocation

101
for them to get what they came for; the only
novelty consisting in the degree of provocation I would
require, and my method of chastisment. 
There were fifty five children indoors and five
times that number outside to be dealt with, later. 
They were there to be taught, rather than governed, as 
a primary object, and I decided upon attempting
to make them, as a school, realize this, and upon
instructing them, so far as possible, in the system,
or science of self government.
In the second week, when the house was full,
I set apart an entire morning for "history" or
"conversation", on matters pertaining to our country,
"and national government." I might as well
have spoken to them in Chines, still they had learned
to expect something and were all eager to listen.
Following the opening question of whatcountry or nation we were. -  and learning that 
we were the United States of America was The
more difficult - one of how we were governed. 
What kind of a ruler had we? About half
of them gave us their opinion that we had a king
"Why did they think so.?- "Will, Joseph Bonepart-
"Was a King, and he used to live and nobody
"could be greater than a king"
The other half disagreed intinely with this idea. 
"No, we had a president. Franklin Pearce
was president. and lived in washington, and 
he ruled us. 
After an hour spent with the Declaration 
of Independence, [in?] [Eaures?], and such parts of the 
Constitution of the United States an could be 
either [digented?], or absorbed. We came to the conclusion 
that we had no real, personal ruler

but, that with the aid of our ruling officers, 
and our laws , we governed ourselves. 
All deciding that this was the better way, 
it was easy to reduce the idea to practice and apply
it to ourselves. Immediately, we became a self 
governing body, with me as their credited head to 
make a code of laws             they would be 
approval. I accepted the position, would submit
the laws.                          They would be few, but
after approval, I should expect them to be immediately
obeyed. But in this acceptance, I wished 
them to [?] understand that I should 
never punish any pupil. Not only no 
corporal punishment. would ever be administrated,
 but no one would even be ousted to stand
up in his real. That the only penalty for a broken
law would be a request to leave the house104.
at once. That I should not play the part of a
detective, should spend no time on watching
them, for unbecoming behavior. We should find
that soon enough without; and we would all
unite in sending the offender, if unfortunately there
ever were one, back into the street where he came
from, and give his place to another, waiting to
come in.
The half dozen already prepared regulations,
were submitted as laws, and approved. I then
called upon six of the larger boys, to repeat, in
his own language, the substance of what had
been proposed, and decided upon, in order to be sure
that it was perfectly understood.
I then put the question, "Do you agree to this, by the
raising of hands." Every hand was up, - and a
shrill voice piped out, "Miss Barton may we shout"

105
"yes if you wish to", and the cheers would
have done credit to a political meeting.
In the afternoon the new regulations were everywhere
visible. - The greatest stillness prevaled. Steps light
and noiseless; the older pupils assuming a kind
of care over the lesser brothers expected sometimes
to forget.
Thinking over the significance of the days
work in my room, after dinner, a message came
that some gentlemen were waiting in the parlor
to see me. On entering, I found, seated my
entire school board, who arose and greeted me
with a solemnity becoming a funeral.
"Miss Barton", said the chairman, "we have come
on a very embarrassing and painful mission."
I listened in silence. "If the children" - he continued,
bring correct reports, you have adopted a most106
"unheard of, and fatal policy in the management
"of your  school. They tell us that you have 
"announced to them that there would be no punishment
"No matter what they do, you should never punish
"them, that if they dont want to stay, and be instructed
"they can go. There can be but one result with
"that kind of management. We feel that there must
"be some mistake, but this is the general impression of 
"the children, and we feel it to be our duty to them,
"to you, and to ourselves, to come and ask you if it
"is true. - We cannot, for a moment believe it, but
"if so, to warn you of your mistake, and advise you to
"correct it at once." They awaited my reply.
" - "Gentleman the report is ,doubtless, entirely correct.
"I took great pains to see that it was thoroughly 
"understood. I thank you for your kindly interest
"and am glad to see you. Please be seated."

107
They sat down, but by the consternation mantling
their faces, one might almost have thought them knocked
down.
"Miss Barton, we are not only astonished but pained
"beyond expression. We have taken a deep and unselfish 
"interest in that school, and from what we 
"had seen of you, we hoped, almost against hope,
"that you would succeed in establishing some kind
"of a public school here. We have done all the 
"law required us to do. We have stood by you, and 
"given our open and unqualified approbation to
"a decidedly unpopular movement, and you must 
"comprehend that it is not only grief but a mortification
"to us to see it end in such a defeat as this
"must bring. These are the worst children in the 
"borough, - branded as unmanageable children.
"They will require the strongest government to hold108

"them in tolerable subjection, and knowing them,
"as we do, we are ready to give you any advice or
"assistance in their management, and in sustaining 
"the rules of the school, in our power to give; but if
"there are no rules, there is nothing to sustain -
"We must all go down together, worse, infinitely 
"worse than before. Even the cause is damaged."

"Now, Miss Barton, we wish to ask, if, knowing
"all this, there is not some advice that we can suggest -
"- some help in the change of your regulations, the 
"making of some rules that must be obeyed, and
"some penalties imposed. 

I have sometimes wondered if the farmer
did not feel a kind of compassionate grief, as he 
drove the polished point of his plough into the
luxuriant tufts of verdure, springing so uncalled, unaided,
and spontaneous to beautify his summer field 

109

and gladden his heart. Still the greater outlook 
and needs of the harvests of Autumn bid him
bring his sympathies, and stand by his task. With
straightened shoulders he bears all the heavier on
the handles and the little harbingers of beauty, goodwill,
and summer liveliness lie under the rolling sod. 

These men were actuated by the best of impulses,
and the best judgment according to their
knowledge. They were my friends, desiring only 
my best good. They thought they saw me in error,
about to take a fatal step, and had hastened with a 
brothers faithfulness to warn me before it was
too late. All of this stood out before me. 
I knew I could never convince them by words, and 
could have wept for the pain my refusal must 
give them. I could only argue by comparison.

Turning to the gentleman at my right, I said110
Mr  "I believe you are a maker of shoes"?
"Yes Miss Barton, I am".
"And you think you understand your profession"?
"I ought to. I am one of the oldest shoe makers in Bordentown".
"Mr  if I were to come into your shop tomorrow
"with the purpose of directing and changing your
"methods of work in accordance with my ideas of proper
"shoe making, and you followed my suggestions, do
"you think you would make a better show than you do today"?
With the first smile I had seen on a face since
they entered, he replied
"No Miss Barton, I do not."
"Neither do I Mr . I think it would trouble you
"to find either a buyer or a wearer for that shoe."
Addressing the next
"Mr  I believe you are a tin smith and

111
"boiler maker.
"Yes, I am."
"And you feel that you understand your business"?
"I ought to. I have made some of the largest boilers on
the river."
And do you think if I were to come into your shop
for the purpose of directing you in the making of a boiler
and you were to accept my suggestions, that your boilers
would be better, and safer than they are now?
"No Miss Barton. I do not think we could make a boiler".
"We perfectly agree Mr  I think we had
"better not attempt it."
Then turning to Mr Suydam whose keen sense
of humor was enjoying the situation in spite of himself.
"Mr Suydam supposing I were to come into
the Register Office tomorrow morning, and say to
you, in all good faith, that I thought I understood112


the wants, and tastes of this community better than you did
and suggested that  you change the tone of your editorials.

That the people needed straightening out in many
directions. That all subscriptions must be immediately 
paid, the rates of advertising increased, and that they 
would learn through the editorials from time to time
what further changes would be required. But he
think that would increase the subscription list.

With the resounding laugh so characteristic of him
he replied, that he "could not say in regard to the 
subscriptions, but he was very certain that some
"such regulations were just what his office had
"long needed". All joining in the laugh, I
proceeded to say

"Gentlemen from your point of view, you 
are all right, but I wait on opportunity to
prove you all wrong. Your children have


113


have been punished enough; if there were any good
in it, they should all have wings by this time.

I haven't a child there but has been punished
from the time it was sent into school, till it was 
sent-out, and what has it made of them?

If kindness and confidence will not do something 
for them, nothing will. And gentlemen, that is the
cruse I propose to pursue with them, and wait the 
results. I invite you to come in at any, and all
times and see for yourselves. If I find I cannot keep
control, I promise to tell you in time to clue, without 
observation or disagree.

They are to depart with more cheerful countenance
than they brought, but with this significant prophecy. 

"Miss Barton we wish you may succeed in your 
"undertaking, but I for one have neither confidence nor
hope, and prophecy that before three weeks you will 114
get an inkstand beside your head. That has been done"
A long pitiful evening it had been, but a good 
night's rest dispeled its vapors. 
Next morning, knowing that the interview would
be spoken of and get to school earsI decided to 
give a correct interpretation of it, and calling the 
attention of the school, I related to them, in substance
what has passed, with this moral, "Now boys, 
"you see by this reputation you bear among the best
"people of the town, - how you are regarded by them.
"Whether your fault or not, the fact remains. 
"Your reputation is bad: there is but one way to
"destroy a bad reputation, which is to live it down
"and grow a better. You must either remain
"as you are, or redeem yourselves. - Which will
"you do? We will redeem ourselves, rang
"through the room. I would like to tell the

 115
committee that we have better use for our inkstands
says impetuous Frank.
At length the longest arm in the room
was raised, and its possessor who seldom spoke
stood up.
"What is it Henry"?
"Miss Barton, I want to ask a question of you.
I have to ask it of you, because nobody else 
can tell me." - This was evidently his best form
of apology for asking a personal question. -
"Go on Henry. I will answer you."
'Well I have heard that you had left your
home, and come here to teach us without having
any pay for it. I want to know if that is true"?
With a laugh I replied, "That it was of
very small consequence if I had, but that I believed 
it was true".116
"Then, if that is true, any boy here, that wouldnt
"mind, and do the best he could, ought to be
"made to eat dirt." "And we'll make him
do it!" rang out on all sides.
After some effort I succeeded in repressing
the enthusiasm, and we proceeded. I might
almost say, in all due respect and reverence
that I might have felt as I looked upon
them in their ardors of good feeling and intentions,
that we had been holding a protracted
meeting, and my little sinners had been
converted. And who knows?
I speak of boys, for up to this time, no girl had
entered the house. It might do for a boy to risk the
odium of a "Pauper School", but no self-respecting
parents would allow a girl to so disgrace herself.
One morning of the third week six

117
girls appeared at the door. There were no seats,
no room for them, and yet, how could I
send them away? It was not to be thought of
The large boys met the emergency, by snuggling
in a little boy beside each, and my timid
gentle girls found place.
It soon became necessary for me to call on
our committee for advice. Having heard of no
disturbance they were very ready to confer. I
made known to them our crowded condition, and
the numbers of anxious children we were refusing
and suggested the opening of another house
for a second grade, dividing my school, and
leaving me the older pupils
The chairman who by this time was
beginning to mistrust "these were things118
not dreamt of in their philosophy"
was enthusiastic, and carrying the others with him
it was decided to open school No, two,
through my suggestion that they permit me to send
to New England - for a teacher.
Dispatches went to Capt Stephen Barton Jr to
secure, and send if possible Miss Janees Childs
a slip of a girl who had just closed a most
successful term of teaching. I knew the germ
of the teacher was there. In a week or so, there stepped
off the train, a graceful sweet faced young lady,
whose memory, name and namesakes remain
lovingly in Bordentown today. Lo! there fifty years.
I had chosen well.
The rooms were secured. Mr. Suydam sparing
his own beloved daughter, Jenny, of eighteen, as an
assistant. And Public School No two with two teachers

119
went on the records.
My school, being thoroughly weeded of lesser
material, became the higher a grammar school, while
the other far exceeding mine in numbers, was - if one
may adopt the popular phraseology - and possibly must,
to keep pace with the times - "A howling success."
There was, surely no desire on the part of
the community to see these children thrown afloat
again in the streets; and the result of an enthusiastic
public meeting was a vote to raise four thousand
dollars to build a new public school house to
accommodate six hundred pupils, with eight
teachers. This was to be ready for the winter,
other schools to remain unchanged until the
new house was completed.
I should add, that at the close of my first term
in spite of my noble generosity of "teaching for nothing"120
I was compelled to take my salary, Mr Suydam
handing it to me, with the complements of the
Board, and the mischievous remark, that "if my
school were a "pauper", the Board was not."
It was far in the winter, cold and icy when
the new school house was declared fit for occupancy.
It was the event of the season.
The private schools were discontinuing, but it afforded
both "Miss Janny" and myself great satisfaction to
know, that so far as practicable, provision was made
for these teachers, among the new appointments, and
so far from enmity, we enjoyed their warmest
friendship. I hardly need say that we did not find
the doors of good society closed against us, as predicted,
and good society it was, cultured and genial.
Here were six hundred pupils to be examined,
classed, and assigned to the proper rooms. It was

121
the expressed desire of many parents, and clergymen to
be present. Accordingly space was provided in my department
for the visitors; and for five days this examination,
and classification went on unremittingly in the
presence of that surprised, and grateful community
It fell to me, with such assistance as could be
rendered, to make these examination, or, as one might
say of a clock, to wind the new school up, and set
it running. I was able to do this, but not able
for much more.
It is to be borne in mind that this was a
large, newly plastered brick house, with such dampness
as might be expected, under the wisest precaution
lime dust permeated every breath, and in this atmosphere,
I was to speak at a more than ordinary pitch,
or volume of voice for six hours, through five successive
days. There was no respite. The succeeding week122
commenced the actual term. We had asked
the appointment, of one man, among the many
teachers, on to whose manly shoulders could be
shifted the  heaviest burden, if desired.

I commenced on Monday with a hoarse
tired voice, something I had never known. In
spite of all palliatives, utterance grew weaker and 
more difficult, and finally ceased. The other teachers,
and my own splendid pupils, came tenderly 
to my aid, relieving me of every duty possible, to
be done. To assume the proper arrangements and
management of this school in its beginning, I 
hopefully remaine for same weeks at my voiceless
post, but it was a vain effort. I began to realize 
that the weakening was not entirely confined
to the voice. The labors of the past months, had 
not been a pastime for either myself or my 


123
invaluable help meet and in the midst of 
protests, loyal and loving our resignations were given.
We could scarcely say they were accepted
A change of climate must be sought. With a maladay
pointing so directly to the lungs, New England
at that season was not to be thought of. How far
south one might think of at that date was a question. 
In illustration, I may name an incident, which, 
if it does not adorn a tale, may at least, paint
a moral.
I should add, that long before, Mr and Mrs.
Suydam, with their good brotherly and sisterly hearts
had taken us both home to live with them. 
One morning as I waited the opening of the
mail, a tall, imposing looking gentleman entered
in a most disturbed frame of mind - one of the 
leading and most distinguished townsmen124
"Lawyer" Cannon. - addressing Mr Suydam without
noticing me-
"Suydam have you seen that book that is
just out up north"?
"No square, it has not reached me yet?
Well! a copy has been sent to me from Trenton 
and I have read a part of it, as much as I ever
shall. It's a d--n shame to publish such
stuff. It's a pack of miserable lies. Just what
"one might expect from that puling set of Yankees
"Philips and his gang. That book ought never to
"be circulated. It should be suppressed - And
"to think that a woman could so far forget herself -
"Its a disgrace to womanhood. Let her go south".!!
Of course, in my presence, no reply was made 
and as the square went out alternately red and white 
with rage, I ventured to ask Mr. Suydam "what bookwas referred to." He replied that it was "a
book about to come out, - he had not yet
seen it, but he believed the title was
"Uncle Tom's Cabin."
Yes, let Mrs. Stowe have gone
south at that epoch! - the fate
of Hypatia would have been hers.
To think what a little over
half a century can do with a
people and a nation.