首页 >出版文学> The Story of an African Farm>第9章
  Ihadhopedthattheywouldremainpermanently,andhadrentedandfurnishedahomeforthemwiththatendinview;but,thoughtheyenjoyedtheirvisit,theprospectofthebleakwintersofCapeCoddisturbedmymother,andtheyallreturnedtoBigRapidslateintheautumn。Sinceenteringuponmyparishworkithadbeenpossibleformetohelpmyfatherandmotherfinancially;andfromthetimeofMary’sdeathIhadtheprivilege,averypreciousone,ofseeingthattheywerewellcaredforandcon—
  tented。Theywerealwaysappreciative,andastimepassedtheybecamemorereconciledtothecareerIhadchosen,andwhichinformerdayshadfilledthemwithsuchdireforebodings。
  AfterIhadbeeninEastDennisfouryearsIbe—
  gantofeelthatIwasgettingintoarut。ItseemedtomethatallIcoulddointhatparticularfieldhadbeendone。Mypeoplewishedmetoremain,how—
  ever,andso,partlyasanoutletformysurplusenergy,butmoreespeciallybecauseIrealizedthesplendidworkwomencoulddoasphysicians,Ibe—
  gantostudymedicine。Thetrusteesgavemeper—
  missiontogotoBostononcertaindaysofeachweek,andwesoonfoundthatIcouldcarryonmyworkasamedicalstudentwithoutintheleastneglectingmydutytowardmyparish。
  IenteredtheBostonMedicalSchoolin1882,andobtainedmydiplomaasafull—fledgedphysicianin1885。DuringthisperiodIalsobegantolecturefortheMassachusettsWomanSuffrageAssociation,ofwhichLucyStonewaspresident。HenryBlack—
  wellwasassociatedwithher,andtogethertheyde—
  velopedinmeavitalinterestinthesuffragecause,whichgrewsteadilyfromthattimeuntilitbecamethedominatinginfluenceinmylife。Ipreacheditinthepulpit,talkedittothoseImetoutsideofthechurch,lecturedonitwheneverIhadanoppor—
  tunity,andcarrieditintomymedicalworkintheBostonslumswhenIwastryingmyprenticehandonhelplesspauperpatients。
  Hereagain,inmyassociationwiththewomenofthestreets,Irealizedthelimitationsofmyworkintheministryandinmedicine。Asministertosoulandbodyonecoulddolittleforthesewomen。Forsuchasthem,one’seffortsmustbeginattheveryfoundationofthesocialstructure。Lawsforthemmustbemadeandenforced,andsomeofthoselawscouldonlybemadeandenforcedbywomen。SomanygreatavenuesoflifewereopeningupbeforemethatmyCapeCodenvironmentseemedalmostaprisonwhereIwasheldwithtenderforce。I
  lovedmypeopleandtheylovedme——butthebigouterworldwascalling,andIcouldnotclosemyearstoitssummons。Thesuffragelectureshelpedtokeepmecontented,however,andIwascertainlybusyenoughtofindhappinessinmywork。
  IwasinBostonthreenightsaweek,andduringthesenightssubjecttosickcallsatanyhour。MyfavoriteassociateswereDr。CarolineHastings,ourprofessorofanatomy,andlittleDr。MarySafford,amiteofawomanwithanindomitablesoul。Dr。
  SaffordwasespeciallyprominentinphilanthropicworkinMassachusetts,anditwassaidofherthatatanyhourofthedayornightshecouldbefoundworkingintheslumsofBoston。I,too,couldfre—
  quentlybefoundthere——often,nodoubt,tothedis—
  advantageofmypatients。IwasquitefamousinthreeBostonalleys——Maiden’sLane,FellowsCourt,andAndrewsCourt。ItmostfortunatelyhappenedthatIdidnotloseacaseinthosealleys,thoughI
  tookallkinds,asIhadtotreatacertainnumberofsurgicalandobstetricalcasesinmycourse。NodoubtmypatientsandIhadmanynarrowescapesofwhichwewereblissfullyignorant,butIremembertwowhichforalongtimeafterwardcontinuedtobefeaturesofmymosttroubleddreams。
  ThefirstwasthatofabigIrishmanwhohadpneumonia。WhenIlookedhimoverIwasasmuchfrightenedashewas。Ihadgotasfaraspneu—
  moniainmycourse,andIrealizedthatherewasabadcaseofit。Iknewwhattodo。Thepatientmustbecarefullypackedintowelswrungoutofcoldwater。WhenIcalledfortowelsIfoundthattherewasnothingintheplacebutadish—towel,whichIwashedwithportentousgravity。Themanownedbutoneshirt,and,indeferencetomyvisit,hiswifehadremovedthattowashit。Ipackedthepatientinthedish—towel,wrappedhiminapieceofanoldshawl,andleftafterinstructinghiswifetorepeattheprocess。WhenIreachedhomeIremem—
  beredthatthepatientmustbepacked``carefully,’’
  andIknewthathiswifewoulddoitcarelessly。
  Thatmeantgreatrisktotheman’slife。Myim—
  pulsewastorushbacktohimatonce,butthiswouldneverdo。Itwoulddestroyallconfidenceinthedoctor。Iwalkedthefloorforthreehours,andthencasuallystrolledinuponmypatient,findinghim,tomygreatrelief,betterthanIhadlefthim。AsIwasleaving,achildrushedintotheroom,beggingmetocometoanupperfloorinthesamebuilding。
  ``Thebaby’sgotthecroup,’’shegasped,``an’
  he’schokin’todeath。’’
  Wehadnotreachedcroupinourcourse,andI
  hadnoideawhattodo,butIvaliantlyaccompaniedthelittlegirl。AsweclimbedthelongflightsofstairstothetopfloorIrememberedaconversationIhadoverheardbetweentwomedicalstudents。Oneofthemhadsaid:``Ifthechildisstranglingwhenitinhales,asifitwerebreathingthroughasponge,thengiveitspongia;butifitisstranglingwhenitbreathesout,giveitaconite。’’
  WhenIreachedthebabyIlistened,butcouldnottellwhichwayitwasstrangling。However,Ihappenedtohavebothmedicineswithme,soI
  calledfortwoglassesandmixedthetworemedies,eachinitsownglass。Igavethembothtothemother,andtoldhertousethemalternately,everyfifteenminutes,untilthebabywasbetter。Thebabygotwell;butwhetheritsrecoverywasduetothespongiaortotheaconiteIneverknew。
  InmysenioryearIfellinlovewithaninfantofthree,namedPatsy。HewasoneofninechildrenwhenIwascalledtodeliverhismotherofhertenthchild。ShewasdrunkwhenIreachedher,andsoweretwomenwholayonthefloorinthesameroom。
  Ihadthemcarriedout,andafterthemotherandbabyhadbeenattendedtoInoticedPatsy。HewasthemostbeautifulchildIhadeverseen——witheyeslikeItalianskiesandyellowhairintightcurlsoverhisadorablelittlehead;buthewascoveredwithfilthyrags。Iborrowedhim,tookhimhomewithme,andfedandbathedhim,andthenextdayfittedhimoutwithnewclothes。EveryhourIhadhimtightenedhisholdonmyheart—strings。Iwenttohismotherandbeggedhertoletmekeephim,butsherefused,andafteragreatdealofargumentandentreatyIhadtoreturnhimtoher。WhenIwenttoseehimafewdayslaterIfoundhimagaininhishorriblerags。Hismotherhadpawnedhisnewclothesfordrink,andshewasdeeplyunderitsin—
  fluence。ButnopressureIcouldexertthenorlaterwouldmakeherpartwithPatsy。Finally,formyownpeaceofmind,Ihadtogiveuphopeofgettinghim——butIhaveneverceasedtoregretthelittleadoptedsonImighthavehad。
  VII
  THEGREATCAUSE
  Thereisatheorythateverysevenyearseachhumanbeingundergoesacompletephysicalreconstruction,withcorrespondingchangesinhismentalandspiritualmake—up。Possiblyitwasduetothisreconstructionthat,attheendofsevenyearsonCapeCod,mysoulsentforthasuddencalltoarms。Iwas,itremindedme,takinglifetooeasily;
  Iwasindangerofsettlingintoanagreeableroutine。
  Theworkofmytwochurchesmadelittledrainonmysuperabundantvitality,andnoteventhewin—
  ningofamedicaldegreeandtheincreasingdemandsofmyactivitiesonthelectureplatformwhollyeasedmyconscience。Iwashappy,forIlovedmypeopleandtheyseemedtoloveme。Itwouldhavebeenpleasanttogoonalmostindefinitely,livingthelifeofacountryministerandtellingmyselfthatwhatIcouldgivetomyflockmadesuchalifeworthwhile。
  Butallthetime,deepinmyheart,Irealizedtheneedsoftheoutsideworld,andhearditsprayerforworkers。MytheologicalandmedicalcoursesinBoston,withtheexperiencesthataccompaniedthem,hadgreatlywidenedmyhorizon。Moreover,atmyinvitation,manyofthenoblewomenofthedaywerecomingtoEastDennistolecture,bringingwiththemthestirringatmosphereoftheconflictstheywerewaging。OneofthefirstofthesewasmyfriendMaryA。Livermore;andafterhercameJuliaWardHowe,AnnaGarlinSpencer,LucyStone,MaryF。
  Eastman,andmanyothers,eachchargedwithin—
  spirationformypeopleandwithaspecialmessageforme,whichshesentforthunknowinglyandwhichI
  aloneheard。Theywerefightinggreatbattles,thesewomen——forsuffrage,fortemperance,forsocialpurity——andineverywordtheyutteredIheardarallying—cry。Soitwasthat,in1885,IsuddenlypulledmyselfuptoaradicaldecisionandsentmyresignationtothetrusteesofthetwochurcheswhosepastorIhadbeensince1878。
  Theactioncausedademonstrationofregretwhichmadeithardtokeeptomyresolutionandleavethesemenandwomenwhosefriendshipwasamongthedearestofmypossessions。Butwhenwehadalltalkedthingsover,manyofthemsawthesituationasIdid。Nodoubttherewerethose,too,whofeltthatachangeofministrywouldbegoodforthechurches。DuringtheweeksthatfollowedmyresignationIreceivedmanyoddtributes,andoftheseoneofthemostamusingcamefromayounggirlintheparish,whobrokeintoloudprotestswhensheheardthatIwasgoingaway。Tocom—
  fortherIpredictedthatshewouldnowhaveamanminister——doubtlessaveryniceman。Buttheyoungpersoncontinuedtosniffledisconsolately。
  ``Idon’twantaman,’’shewailed。``Idon’tliketoseemeninpulpits。Theylooksoawkward。’’Hergriefculminatedinafinaloutburst。``They’reallarmsandlegs!’’shesobbed。
  Whenmyresignationwasfinallyaccepted,andthetimeofmydeparturedrewnear,themenofthecommunityspentmuchoftheirleisureindiscussingitandme。ThesocialcenterofEastDenniswasacertaingrocery,towhichalmosteverymanintownregularlywendedhisway,andfromwhichallthegossipofthetownemanated。Herethemensatforhours,tiltedbackintheirchairs,whittlingtherungsuntiltheynearlycutthechairsfromunderthem,andtellingoneanotheralltheykneworhadheardabouttheirfellow—townsmen。Then,aftereachsession,theywouldreturnhomeandrepeatthegossiptotheirwives。IusedtosaythatIwouldgiveadollartoanywomaninEastDenniswhocouldquoteabitofgossipwhichdidnotcomefromthemenatthatgrocery。EvenmyoldfriendCap—
  tainDoane,fineandhigh—mindedcitizenthoughhewas,wasnotaboveenjoyingthemilddiversionofthesesocialgatherings,andononeoccasionatleasthefurnishedthebestpartoftheentertainment。
  Thedepartingministerwas,itseemed,thetopicoftheday’sdiscussion,and,toteaseCaptainDoaneoneyoungmanwhoknewthestrengthofhisfriend—
  shipformesuddenlybegantospeak,thenpurseduphislipsandlookedeloquentlymysterious。Ashehadexpected,CaptainDoaneimmediatelypouncedonhim。
  ``What’sthematterwithyou?’’demandedtheoldman。``HevyougotanythingaginMissShaw?’’
  TheyoungmansighedandmurmuredthatifhewishedhecouldrepeatachargeneverbeforemadeagainstaCapeCodminister,but——andheshuthislipsmoreobviously。Theothermen,whowereintheplot,grinned,andthisaddedthelasttouchtoCaptainDoane’sindignation。Hesprangtohisfeet。Oneofhispeculiaritieswasaconstantmis—
  useofwords,andnow,inhisexcitement,heoutdidhimself。
  ``You’vemadeanincinerationagainstMissShaw,’’
  heshouted。``Doyouhear——ANINCINERATION!Takeitbackortakealickin’!’’
  Theyoungmandecidedthatthejokehadgonefarenough,soheanswered,mildly:``Well,itissaidthatallthewomenintownareinlovewithMissShaw。Hasthatbeenchargedagainstanyotherministerhere?’’
  Themenroaredwithlaughter,andCaptainDoanesatdown,lookingsheepish。
  ``AllIgottosayisthis,’’hemuttered:``Thatgalhasbeeninthiscommunityforsevenyears,andshe’ain’tdoneathingduringthehullsevenyearsthatanyonekinlayafingeron!’’
  Themenshoutedagainatthisback—handedtrib—
  ute,andtheoldfellowleftthegroceryinahuff。
  LaterIwastoldofthe``incineration’’andhiselo—
  quentdefenseofme,andIthankedhimforit。ButIadded:
  ``IhearyousaidIhaven’tdoneathinginsevenyearsthatanyonecanlayafingeron?’’
  ``Isaidit,’’declaredtheCaptain,``andI’llstandbyit。’’
  ``Haven’tIdoneanygood?’’Iasked。
  ``Sartinyouhave,’’heassuredme,heartily。
  ``Lotsofgood。’’
  ``Well,’’Isaid,``can’tyouputyourfingeronthat?’’
  TheCaptainlookedstartled。``Why——why——
  SisterShaw,’’hestammered,``youknowIdidn’tmeanTHAT!WhatImeant,’’herepeated,slowlyandsolemnly,``wasthatthehulltimeyoubeenhereyouain’tdonenothin’anybodycouldputafingeron!’’
  CaptainDoaneapparentlysharedmygirlparish—
  ioner’sprejudiceagainstmeninthepulpit,forlongafterward,ononeofmyvisitstoCapeCod,head—
  mittedthathenowwenttochurchveryrarely。
  ``WhenIheardyoupreach,’’heexplained,``I
  gen’allyfollowedyouthroughandIknowedwhereyouwasa—comin’out。Buttheseyoungfellersthatcomefromthetheologicalschool——why,SisterShaw,theLordHimselfdon’tknowwherethey’recomin’
  out!’’
  Foramomenthepondered。ThenheutteredavaledictorywhichIhavealwaysbeengladtorecallashislastmessage,forIneversawhimagain。
  ``Whenyoufustcometous,’’hesaid,``youhadalotofcrookedplaces,an’wehadalotofcrookedplaces;andwekindofrunintoeachother,allofus。Butbeforeyouleft,SisterShaw,why,allthecrookedplaceswasworeoffandeverythingwasassmoothassilk。’’
  ``Yes,’’Iagreed,``andthatwasthetimetoleave——wheneverythingwasrunningsmoothly。’’
  AllischangedonCapeCodsincethosedays,thirtyyearsago。Theoldfamilieshavediedormovedaway,andthosewhoreplacedthemwereofadif—
  ferenttype。IamhappyinhavingknownandlovedtheCapeasitwas,andinhavinggatheredthereastoreofdelightfulmemories。Inlaterstrenuousyearsithasrestedmemerelytothinkoftheplace,andlongafterwardIshowedmycontinuedloveofitbybuildingahomethere,whichIstillpossess。
  ButIhadlittletimetorestinthisorinmyMoylanhome,ofwhichIshallwritelater,fornowIwasbackinBoston,livingmynewlife,andeachcrowdedhourbroughtmemoretodo。
  Wewereenteringuponadeeplysignificantperiod。
  Forthefirsttimewomenweregoingintoindustrialcompetitionwithmen,andalreadymenwerein—
  tenselyresentingtheirpresence。AroundmeIsawwomenoverworkedandunderpaid,doingmen’sworkathalfmen’swages,notbecausetheirworkwasinferior,butbecausetheywerewomen。Again,too,Istudiedtheobtrusiveproblemsofthepoorandofthewomenofthestreets;and,lookingatthewholesocialsituationfromeveryangle,Icouldfindbutonesolutionforwomen——theremovalofthestigmaofdisfranchisement。Asman’sequalbeforethelaw,womancoulddemandherrights,askingfavorsfromnoone。WithallmyheartIjoinedinthecrusadeofthemenandwomenwhowerefight—
  ingforher。Myrealworkhadbegun。
  Naturally,atthisperiod,IfrequentlymetthemembersofBoston’smostinspiringgroup——theEmersonsandJohnGreenleafWhittier,JamesFree—
  manClark,ReverendMinotSavage,BronsonAlcottandhisdaughterLouisa,WendellPhillips,WilliamLloydGarrison,StephenFoster,TheodoreWeld,andtherest。Ofthemall,myfavoritewasWhittier。Hehadbeenpresentatmygraduationfromthetheo—
  logicalschool,andnowheoftenattendedoursuffragemeetings。Hewasalreadyanoldman,nearingtheendofhislife;andIrecallhimassingularlytallandthin,almostgaunt,bendingforwardashetalked,andwearinganexpressionofgreatserenityandbenignity。IoncetoldSusanB。AnthonythatifI
  neededhelpinacrowdofstrangersthatincludedher,Iwouldimmediatelyturntoher,knowingfromherfacethat,whateverIhaddone,shewouldunder—
  standandassistme。IcouldhaveofferedthesametributetoWhittier。Atourmeetingshewaslikeavesper—bellchimingaboveabattle—field。Garrisonalwaysbecameexcitedduringourdiscussions,andtheothersfrequentlydid;butWhittier,inwhosebighearttheloveofhisfellow—manburnedasunquench—
  ablyasinanyheartthere,alwayspreservedhisex—
  quisitetranquillity。
  Once,Iremember,StephenFosterinsistedonhavingtheword``tyranny’’putintoaresolution,statingthatwomenweredeprivedofsuffragebytheTYRANNYofmen。Mr。Garrisonobjected,andthedebatethatfollowedwasthemostexcitingIhaveeverheard。Thecombatantsactuallyhadtoad—
  journbeforetheycouldcalmdownsufficientlytogoonwiththeirmeeting。Knowingthestimulatingatmospheretowhichhehadgrownaccustomed,I
  wasnotsurprisedtohaveTheodoreWeldexplaintome;longafterward,whyhenolongerattendedsuffragemeetings。
  ``Oh,’’hesaid,``whyshouldIgo?Therehasn’tbeenanyonemobbedintwentyyears!’’
  TheRalphWaldoEmersonsoccasionallyattendedourmeetings,andMr。Emerson,atfirstopposedtowomansuffrage,becameaconverttoitduringthelastyearsofhislife——afacthissonanddaughteromittedtomentioninhisbiography。AfterhisdeathIgavetwosuffragelecturesinConcord,andeachtimeMrs。Emersonpaidforthehall。AttheselecturesLouisaM。Alcottgracedtheassem—
  blywithhersplendid,wholesomepresence,andonbothoccasionsshewassurroundedbyagroupofboys。Shefranklycaredmuchmoreforboysthanforgirls,andboysinevitablygravitatedtoherwhen—
  eversheenteredaplacewheretheywere。WhenwomenweregivenschoolsuffrageinMassachusetts,MissAlcottwasthefirstwomantovoteinConcord,andshewenttothepollsaccompaniedbyagroupofherboys,allardently``fortheCause。’’Mygen—
  eralimpressionofherwasthatofafreshbreezeblowingoverwidemoors。ShewasasdifferentaspossiblefromexquisitelittleMrs。Emerson,who,inherdaintinessandquietcharm,suggestedanoldNewEnglandgarden。
  OfAbbyMayandEdnaCheneyIretainageneralimpressionof``bagginess’’——ofloosejacketsoverloosewaistbands,ofescapinglocksofhair,ofbodiesseeminglyonesizefromtheneckdown。Bothwomenwereutterlyindifferenttothedetailsoftheirappearance,buttheyweresplendidworkersandleadingspiritsintheNewEnglandWoman’sClub。
  ItwassaidtobethetroublebetweenAbbyMayandKateGannettWells,bothofwhomstoodforthepresidencyoftheclub,thatledtothebeginningoftheanti—suffragemovementinBoston。AbbyMaywaselectedpresident,andallthesuffragistsvotedforher。SubsequentlyKateGannettWellsbeganheranti—suffragecampaign。Mrs。Wellswasthefirstanti—suffragistIeverknewinthiscountry。
  BeforehertherehadbeenMrs。Dahlgren,wifeofAdmiralDahlgren,andMrs。WilliamTecumsehSher—
  man。OnoneoccasionElizabethCadyStantonchal—
  lengedMrs。Dahlgrentoadebateonwomansuffrage,andinthelightoflatereventsMrs。Dahlgren’sreplyisamusing。Shedeclinedthechallenge,explainingthatforanti—suffragiststoappearuponapublicplatformwouldbeadirectviolationoftheprincipleforwhichtheystood——whichwastheprotectionoffemalemodesty!Recallingthis,andthepresenthecticactivityoftheanti—suffragists,onemustfeelthattheyhaveeitherabandonedtheirprincipleorwidenedtheirviews。
  ForJuliaWardHoweIhadanimmenseadmira—
  tion;but,thoughfromfirsttolastIsawmuchofher,IneverfeltthatIreallyknewher。Shewasawomanofthewidestculture,interestedineveryprogressivemovement。Withallherbigheartshetriedtobeademocrat,butshewasanaristocrattotheverycoreofher,and,despiteherwonderfulworkforothers,shelivedinasplendidisolation。OncewhenIcalledonherIfoundherrestinghermindbyreadingGreek,andshelaughinglyadmittedthatshewasusingaLatinpony,addingthatshewasgrowing``rusty。’’Sheseemedalittleembarrassedbybeingcaughtwiththepony,butshemusthavebeenreassuredbymycheerfulconfessionthatif_I_triedtoreadeitherLatinorGreekIshouldneedanEnglishpony。
  OfFrancesE。Willard,whofrequentlycametoBoston,Isawagreatdeal,andwesoonbecameclose—
  lyassociatedinourwork。Earlyinourfriendship,andatMissWillard’ssuggestion,wemadeacom—
  pactthatonceaweekeachofuswouldpointouttotheotherhermostseriousfaults,andtherebyhelphertoremedythem;butwewerebothtoosanetodoanythingofthekind,andtheprojectsoondiedanaturaldeath。ThenearestIevercametocarryingitoutwasinwarningMissWillardthatshewasconstantlydefyingallthelawsofpersonalhygiene。Sheneverrested,rarelyseemedtosleep,andhadtoberemindedatthetablethatshewasthereforthepurposeofeatingfood。Shewasal—
  waysabsorbedinsomegreatinterest,andoblivioustoanythingelse,Ineverknewawomanwhocouldgripanaudienceandcarryitwithherasshecould。
  Shewasintenselyemotional,andswayedothersbytheiremotionsratherthanbylogic;yetshewastheleastconsciousofherphysicalexistenceofanyoneIeverknew,withtheexceptionofSusanB。Anthony。
  Like``AuntSusan,’’MissWillardpaidnoheedtocoldorheatorhunger,toprivationorfatigue。Intheirrelationstosuchtriflesbothwomenweredis—
  embodiedspirits。
  AnotherwomandoingwonderfulworkatthistimewasMrs。QuincyShaw,whohadrecentlystartedherdaynurseriesforthecareoftenementchildrenwhosemotherslaboredbytheday。ThesenurserieswerenewinBoston,aswasthekindergartensystemshealsoestablished。Isawtheeffectofherworkinthelivesofthepeople,anditstrengthenedmygrowingconvictionthatlittlecouldbedoneforthepoorinaspiritualoreducationalwayuntiltheyweregivenacertainamountofphysicalcomfort,anduntilmoretimewasdevotedtotheproblemofprevention。
  Indeed,themoreIstudiedeconomicissues,themorestronglyIfeltthatthepositionofmostphilan—
  thropistsisthatofmenwhostandatthebottomofaprecipicegatheringupandtryingtohealthosewhofallintoit,insteadofguardingthetopandpre—
  ventingthemfromgoingover。
  OfcourseIhadtoearnmyliving;but,thoughI
  hadtakenmymedicaldegreeonlyafewmonthsbeforeleavingCapeCod,Ihadnointentionofprac—
  tisingmedicine。Ihadmerelywishedtoaddacertainamountofmedicalknowledgetomymentalequipment。TheMassachusettsWomanSuffrageAssociation,ofwhichLucyStonewaspresident,hadfrequentlyemployedmeasalecturerduringthelasttwoyearsofmypastorate。Nowitofferedmeasalaryofonehundreddollarsamonthasalecturerandorganizer。ThoughImaynothaveseemedsointhesereminiscences,inwhichIhavewrittenasfreelyofmysmallvictoriesasofmystrugglesandfailures,Iwasamodestyoungperson。Theamountseemedtoolarge,andItoldMrs。Stoneasmuch,afterwhichIhumblyfixedmysalaryatfiftydollarsamonth。AttheendofayearofworkIfeltthatIhad``madegood’’;thenIaskedforandreceivedtheonehundreddollarsamonthoriginallyofferedme。
  DuringmysecondyearMissCoraScottPondandIorganizedandcarriedthroughinBostonagreatsuffragebazaar,clearingsixthousanddollarsfortheassociation——alargeamountinthosedays。
  Elatedbymyshareinthissuccess,Iaskedthatmysalaryshouldbeincreasedtoonehundredandtwenty—fivedollarsamonth——butthiswasnotdone。
  Instead,Ireceivedavaluablelesson。Itwasfreelyadmittedthatmyworkwasworthonehundredandtwenty—fivedollars,butIwastoldthatonehundredwasthelimitwhichcouldbepaid,andIwasre—
  mindedthatthiswasagoodsalaryforawoman。
  Thetimeseemedtohavecometomakeapracticalstandindefenseofmyprinciples,andIdidsobyresigningandarranginganindependentlecturetour。
  ThefirstmonthaftermyresignationIearnedthreehundreddollars。LaterIfrequentlyearnedmorethanthat,andveryrarelyless。EventuallyIlec—
  turedunderthedirectionoftheSlatonLectureBureauofChicago,andlaterstillfortheRedpathBureauofBoston。MyexperiencewiththeRed—
  pathpeoplewasespeciallygratifying。Mrs。Liver—
  more,whowastheironlywomanlecturer,wasgrow—
  ingoldandanxioustoresignherwork。Shesawinmeapossiblesuccessor,andaskedthemtotakemeontheirlist。Theypromptlyrefused,explain—
  ingthatImust``makeareputation’’beforetheycouldevenconsiderme。Ayearlatertheywroteme,makingaverygoodoffer,whichIaccepted。Itmaybeworthwhiletomentionherethatthroughmylecture—workatthisperiodIearnedallthemoneyIhaveeversaved。Ilecturednightafternight,weekafterweek,monthaftermonth,in``Chautauquas’’
  inthesummer,alloverthecountryinthewinter,earningalargeincomeandputtingasideatthattimethesmallsurplusIstillholdinpreparationforthe``rainyday’’everyworking—womaninwardlyfears。
  Igavethepublicatleastafairequivalentforwhatitgaveme,forIputintomylecturesallmyvitality,andIrarelymissedanengagement,thoughagainandagainIriskedmylifetokeepone。Myspecialsubjects,ofcourse,werethetwoIhadmostatheart—suffrageandtemperance。ForFrancesWillard,thenPresidentoftheWoman’sChristianTemperanceUnion,hadpersuadedmetoheadtheFranchiseDepartmentofthatorganization,suc—
  ceedingZiraldaWallace,themotherofGen。LewWallace;andMissSusanB。Anthony,whowasbe—