Hobart, to whom it was dedicated, thought so well of it, as to propose, when in England, an edition of it there, and Dr. Jarvis wrote of it from Boston, "accept my thanks, my dear and Rev. Sir, for your interesting volume of Songs by the Way. I have read it with very great pleasure, not only for its poetical merit, of which it has a great deal, but more especially for the spirit of devotion which it breathes. I hope very soon to have the pleasure of seeing you, but I would not delay the expression of my feeling towards one whom I shall ever be pleased to remember as my pupil, and whom I am always happy to number among my friends." The preface to the volume was in these words: The Courteous Reader is respectfully reminded, that if, in the volume before him, but little has been performed, so very little was promised in the Title-page, that his reasonable disappointment cannot be great. To their Author, its Contents have most literally been, "SONGS BY THE WAY; " "loose numbers," framed in the interval of an arduous avocation, and of severe study. It is deemed sufficient, without resorting to any of those ingenious pleas, which from time immemorial, have brought the sins of unwilling authors, upon the heads of kind and importunate friends, simply to state, that though some parts of the volume were written several years ago, and all of it, at periods more or less remote from the present date, no idea of its publication was entertained, until within a very short time before it was put to press. The Author has now only to express his hope, that his Readers may derive from its perusal, some share of that solace, which its occasional composition has afforded him, and that they may feel as he has feltand especially when his song has been of "mercy and judgment;" Cantantes-minus via lædet : The rugged way seems smoother, while we sing. His own title is retained, in the present collection of his works, as best descriptive of their character. "How gracefully "one writes from Jerusalem, unconsciously on the day on which notice of his first Presentment came to Riverside; "does the Bishop chant that most mournful of all lays, † the requiem of a friend and brother! Let no enemy of the Bishop of New Jersey count upon breaking his heart and energy, while the Bishop strides along the rugged mountain road, of his own choosing, singing so lustily, yet so sweetly. A man, who can look up to Heaven, so trustingly, with one of the best of his few fast friends lying dead before his eyes, has enough heart left, after all that an ungrateful world has eaten out, to face and floor the sturdiest of his adversaries." *The Rt. Rev. Dr. Odenheimer. At the death of the Rev. Dr. Croswell. CHAPTER III. LIFE IN HARTFORD AND BOSTON-DR. CROSWELL-CHURCH PRESSMISSIONS. ALL my Father's life in New York, was of the most attractive kind. His natural social qualities had a most charming field, for their cultivation and enjoyment. His own home, full of all home joys, was the intimate resort of the Bishop and the Clergy of the city, and in their houses, he was not so much a welcome guest, as one of the home circle. His mind was fully engaged, and his love and necessity for work found full and ample scope. Retired always to some degree, he had given up, toward the latter part of his New York life, the excessive closeness of application, from which, he gave himself at first the title of the Hermit. And there were many most endearing and enduring ties formed here, that were not ever parted, but whose drawing out to their long distance, cost him no inconsiderable effort. I know no better evidence of his feeling, in the two points of religious sympathy and social affection, than a letter written, Dec. 1825, to Bishop Hobart, after he had reached Hartford; and some verses, to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, which bear date Jan. 1825. You are doubtless apprised, long ere this, of my removal from your Diocese, and of the circumstances of it. That such a separation, however expedient, could not be made without deep regret, none who know my respect and attachment for you-and least of all I trust yourself can for a moment doubt. I am consoled however, by the consideration that the distance is but small-that an Episcopal College is an object of common, rather than of diocesan interest-and most of all, by the conviction, that the institution, with which I am connected will prove, by God's grace, a powerful auxiliary, in the promotion of that cause for which you have laboured, and which, above every other, you love— the "magnificent and awful cause" of the Church of the living God. For this conviction, you will ask no better warrant, than is afforded by the fact, that within a few days a pamphlet, (" telum imbelle sine ictu,") has been levelled at us, (supposed from Yale College) in which it is set down as a leading charge, that Washington College was organized as an especial institution for the extension of the Episcopal Church. From " paper bullets of the brain," like this pamphlet, neither the College, nor "the Church" need fear any damage. On the contrary, their common good will, in this instance, be promoted, by their being presented in clear and close connection. And he writes to E. J. W.; In many a fair and festive hour, Around that hearth of thine, Glad eyes and hearts have beam'd and beat, In auld lang syne, my dear, In auld lang syne; Oh! where's the thought that warms the soul, Like auld lang syne. Such eyes and hearts are there to-night, But ah, for us, those happy hours Are hours o' lang syne. Yet tho' we're parted far awa', In fancy, oft we're thine; An' mingling wi' the friends we met, In vain, when friends are gather'd round, Our wand'ring thoughts are far awa', Wi' those o' lang syne. An' when the cup is crown'd, that brings The far awa, to min', It tells of them, the cherish'd few, For him who's wand'ring now alone, Oh! soon may health and home be his, For her, the tried and trusty friend, May ev'ry year bring added joys, For all that meet, this happy night, And all they love, be peace and joy, For auld lang syne, my dear, We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, He left New York, for Hartford, in A. D. 1824. His love of teaching had led him to seek a Professorship, where he could add intellectual, to spiritual work. And such an offer as this, where they were combined, and his teaching consecrated to the service of the Church, was in many ways welcome. The invitation to go there, came from Dr. Brownell, who was just beginning Washington College, of which he was the Founder and first President. They had been together in Union College, and the Dr. felt, as he writes at the time, that he had secured for the young and struggling Institution, a most important prize. Really, the College owes its existence to them. He took hold at once, not only of the work of his own department, that of Belles-Lettres, but of the whole working system of the College. His appointment as Bursar, laid much detail of financial labour upon him. He was much interested in the formation of the Historical Society of the State, being one of the incorporators. And I find some record of interest and aid given to the students, in the organization of a College Society, called the Athenæum. The young gentlemen, members of the Washington College Athenæum, are requested to accept the offices, which they so politely acknowledge, as a small token of the affectionate regard of their Instructor, and as a pledge of his continued devotion to their best interests. The best return which they can make, will consist in their hearty co-operation in whatever measures may be adopted, for the promotion of their honour and happiness. It is the reflection of these, that will constitute the honour and happiness of those, to whom the anxious and momentous charge of their education, literary, moral, and religious, has been entrusted. The organization of the Athenæum is regarded by the Faculty as an earnest on the part of the students, of their increasing ardour in the pursuit of letters, and in the practice of virtue; and of their determi nation, to persist in diligent study and prompt compliance with every requisition of duty, as the only means of securing the objects of their honourable ambition: Qui studet optatam cursu contingere metam In the spring of 1825, under a letter from Bishop Brownell, he went through the Southern and Middle States, securing subscriptions for the Library of the College, with considerable success. And during his residence in College, he was an active and earnest Missionary, to many points near Hartford, Warehouse Point in particular, where flourishing Parishes now bear witness, to the faithfulness with which he sowed the Seed. Many are the records of unfailing punctuality; of endurance of cold and weariness; of real Missionary hardships, which this period of his life has written down. Always an unwilling driver, he slept, when any one would drive him. And he has told me of a service once, when the rain kept all away but himself, and that he drummed up his congregation, after he reached the station; of many a service in cold weather, without a fire; and of real pioneer work, in places, where neither the Gospel nor the Church, had ever been before. Nor was this the sum of his labours. I may date, from my Father's residence in Hartford, as in New York, two marked events of his life; both of which mingled with it, for years and years; his connection with the Church Press; and his intimacy with Dr. Croswell. The latter is a bright green spot, in all the desert of his life, a golden glow, that gladdened every thing, till it went out, in Croswell's death eight years ago. They were two great hearts, that came together, that grew into each other. The love of each, was wonderful; the mere capacity, I mean, for loving, and the love of being loved. And when they loved each other, it was passing the love of women: the great stronghearted sympathy of kindred souls, whose drops of thought, and waves of feeling, made a great, deep, glorious sea. Their acquaintance began in 1826, and was brought about by this other interest, which was so prominent in my Father's life, the publication of a Church paper. About two years, after he removed to Hartford, with the approval and aid of the President and Faculty of the College, desirous of making it in every way a centre of Church influence, he determined upon the establishment of a Church Paper, to be called the Episcopal Watchman. Himself the Editor, he was unable to give the care and minute attention, which such a work requires, and William Croswell came to be associated with him. Man has never been in closer bonds with man, than he with me, for five-and-twenty years. Our intercourse was intimate at once, and we never had a feeling, or a thought, to part us. They were each other's antipodes, in most external things: my Father vehement, impulsive, quick; his thoughts upon his lips, as soon as they were in his mind and he, who will not remember him, his very presence and silence soothing like precious balm, cautious, quiet, careful, controlled. They who knew them, called them Peter and John. Their effect, upon one another, was most admirable. The spur and the curb rein, which the two supplied, gave speed and steadiness, to every thing they undertook together. I have heard often, of their sitting together at table, and my Father's stopping, in the midst of one of his earnest tides of words, "Croswell, what do you want? I shall say my say;" the fact being, that a gentle pressure of a foot, under the table, sought to restrain what, his friend feared, might seem vehement to others. How my Father, never losing courage, gained control; how his friend, never losing ete |