首页 >出版文学> THE STORY OF WAITSTILL BAXTER>第9章
  "Well,there’ssomethingturriblequeer’boutthismarryin’
  business,"andCephasdrewasighfromtheheelsofhisboots。
  "Itseems’sifamanhedn’tnonatcheraldrawin’towardsagirlwithagoodfarm’n’stockthatwaswillin’tohavehim!Seemsjestasifitsethimag’in’hersomehow!Andyet,ifyou’vegottosingouto’thesamebookwithagirlyourwholelifetime,itdoesseem’sifyou’doughttohaveakindofafancyforheratthestart,anyhow!"
  "Youmayfeeldif’rentastimegoeson,Cephas,an’cometoseeFeeble——IwouldsayPhoebe——asyourmotherdoes。’Thebestfiredon’tflareupthesoonest,’youknow。"ButoldUncleBartsawthathisson’sheartwasheavyandforboretopressthesubject。
  AnnabelFranklinhadreturnedtoBostonafteramonth’svisitandtohersurprisehadreturnedasdisengagedasshecame。MarkWilson,thoroughlyboredbyhervacuitiesofmind,longednowformoreintercoursewithPattyBaxter,Patty,sogayandunexpected;
  solivelytotalkwith,sopiquingtothefancy,soskittishanddifficulttomanage,sotemptinglypretty,withabeautyallherown,andnevertwodaysalike。
  Thereweremanylionsinthewayandtheseonlyaddedtothezestofpursuit。Withalltheothergirlsofthevillageopportunitiesmultiplied,buthecouldscarcelygettenminutesalonewithPatty。TheDeacon’sorderswereabsoluteinregardtoyoungmen。
  Hisdaughterswerenevertodriveorwalkalonewiththem,nevergotodancesor"routs"ofanysort,andneverreceivethematthehouse;thislastmandatebeingquiteunnecessary,asnoyouthinhisrightmindwouldhavegonea—courtin’undertheDeacon’sforbiddinggaze。Andstillthereweresudden,deliciouschancestobeseizednowandthenifonehadhiseyesopenandhiswitsabouthim。Therewasthewalktoorfromthesinging—school,whenasentimentalcouplecoulddropafewfeet,atleast,behindtherestandexchangeawordortwoincomparativeprivacy;therewerethechurch"circles"andprayer—meetings,andtheintervalsbetweenSundayserviceswhenMarkcoulddetachPattyamomentfromthegrouponthemeeting—housesteps。Morevaluablethanallthese,acompletescheduleofPatty’svariousmovementshereandthere,togetherwithaprofoundstudyofDeaconBaxter’shabits,whichwereordinarilyaspunctualastheyweredisagreeable,permittedMarkmanystoleninterviews,assweetastheywerebrief。Therewasneverasecondkiss,however,inthesecasualmeetingsandpartings。Thefirst,inspringtime,hadfoundPattyachild,surprised,unprepared。Shewasawomannow;foritdoesnottakeyearstoachievethatmiracle;monthswilldoit,ordays,orevenhours。Hersummer’sexperiencewithCephasColehadwonderfullybroadenedherpowers,givingheranassurancesadlylackingbefore,aswellasaknowledgeofdetail,acertainfinishedskillinthemanagementofalover,whichshecouldablyuseonanyonewhohappenedtocomealong。And,atthemoment,anyonewhohappenedtocomealongservedthepurposeadmirably,PhilipPerryaswellasMarquisWilson。
  YoungPerry’sinterestinPatty,aswehaveseen,beganwithhisalienationfromEllenWilson,thefirstobjectofhisaffections,anditwasnotattheoutsetatallofasentimentalnature。
  Philipwasapillarofthechurch,andEllenhadprovedsoentirelylackinginthereligioussense,soself—satisfiedastoherstandingwiththeheavenlypowers,thatPhilipdarednotexposehimselflongertohersociety,lesthefindhimself"unequallyyokedtogetherwithanunbeliever,"thusdefyingthescripturaladmonitionastomarriage。
  Patty,thoughsomewhatlackinginthequalitiesthatgotothemakingoftrustworthysaints,wasnot,likeEllen,whollygivenovertothefleshpotsandwouldproveavaluableconvert,Philipthought;onewhowouldreflectgreatcredituponhimifhesucceededininducinghertosubscribetothesterncreedoftheday。
  Philipwasaverystrenuousandslightlygloomybeliever,dwellingconsiderablyonthewrathofGodandthedoctrineofeternalpunishment。Therewasanold"pennyroyal"hymnmuchinusewhichdescribesthegeneraltenorofhismeditation:——
  "Mythoughtsonawfulsubjectsroll,Damnationandthedead。
  WhathorrorsseizetheguiltysoulUponadyingbed。"
  (NowonderthatJacobCochrane’slivelysongs,cheerful,hopeful,militant,andbracing,fellwithapleasingsoundupontheearofthebelieverofthatepoch。)TheloveofGodhad,indeed,enteredPhilip’ssoul,butinsomemysteriouswayhadbeenossifiedafteritgotthere。Hehadintenselyblackhair,darkskin,andaliverthatdisposedhimconstitutionallytoanardentbeliefinthenecessityofhellformostofhisneighbors,andthehopeofspendinghisowngloriousimmortalityinasmall,properlyrestricted,andprudentlymanagedheaven。Hewaseloquentatprayer—meetingandPatty’sonlyobjectiontohimtherewasinhisdispositiontoalludetohimselfasa"rebelworm,"withfrequentreferencestohis"vilebody。"Otherwise,andwhennotengagedintheologicaldiscussion,PattylikedPhilipverymuch。Hisownfather,althoughanorthodoxmemberofthefoldingoodandregularstanding,had"doctored"Philconscientiouslyforhisliverfromhisyouthup,hopingintimetoinciteinhimasunnierviewoflife,forthedoctorwassomewhatskilledinadaptinghisremediestospiritualmaladies。JedMorrillhadalwayssaidthatwhenoldMrs。Buxton,thechampionconvertofJacobCochrane,wasatherworst,——keepingherwholefamilyawakenightsbyherhystericalfearsfortheirfuture,——Dr。Perryhadgivenheratwelfthofagrainoftartaremetic,fivetimesadayuntilshehadentirementalreliefandheranxietyconcerningthesalvationofherhusbandandchildrenwassetcompletelyatrest。
  Thegooddoctornotedwithsecretpleasurehisson’sgrowingfondnessforthesocietyofhisprimefavorite,MissPatienceBaxter。"He’llbeginbytryingtosavehersoul,"hethought;
  "Philalwaysbeginsthatway,butwhenPattygetshiminhandhe’llremembertheexistenceofhisheart,anorganhehasnevertakenintoconsideration。Aloveaffairwithaprettygirl,goodbutnottoopious,willhelpPhilconsiderable,howeveritturnsout。"
  ThereisnodoubtbutthatPhilwastakinghischancesandthatunderPatty’stutelagehewasgrowingmellower。AsforPatty,shewasonlyamusingherself,andfrisking,likeayounglamb,inpastureswhereshehadneverstrayedbefore。HerfancyflewfromMarktoPhilandfromPhilbacktoMarkagain,foratthemomentshewasjustavesselofemotion,readytoemptyherselfonsheknewnotwhat。Temperamentally,shewouldtakeadvantageofcurrentsratherthansteeratanytime,anditwouldbethestrongestcurrentthatwouldfinallybearheraway。Herideahadalwaysbeenthatshecouldplaywithfirewithoutburningherownfingers,andthattheflamesshekindledweresoinnocentandmildthatnoonecouldbeharmedbythem。Shehadfancied,uptonow,thatshecouldcontrol,urgeon,orcooldownaman’sfeelingforeverandaday,ifshechose,andremainmistressofthesituation。Now,aftersomeweeksofweighingandbalancinghertwoswains,shefoundherselfconfrontingachoice,onceandforall。Eachofthemseemedtobeapproachingthestateofmindwherehewaslikelytosay,somewhatviolently:"Takemeorleaveme,oneortheother!"Butshedidnotwishtotakethem,andstilllessdidshewishtoleavethem,withnootherloverinsightbutCephasCole,whowasalmost,thoughnotquite,worsethannone。
  Ifmatters,bylackofmasculinepatienceandself—control,didcometoacrisis,whatshouldshesaydefinitelytoeitherofhersuitors?HerfatherdespisedMarkWilsonatriflemorethananyyoungmanontheriver,andwhilehecouldhavenoobjectiontoPhilPerry’scharacterorpositionintheworld,hishatredofoldDr。Perryamountedtoadisease。WhenthedoctorhadclosedtheeyesofthethirdMrs。Baxter,hehadmadesomeplainandunwelcomestatementsthatwouldrankleintheDeacon’sbreastaslongashelived。Pattyknew,therefore,thatthechanceofherfather’sblessingfallinguponherunionwitheitherofherpresentloverswasmorethanuncertain,andofwhatusewasanengagement,iftherecouldnotbeamarriage?
  IfPatty’smindinclinedtoasomewhatspeedydeparturefromherfather’shousehold,shecanhardlybeblamed,butshefeltthatshecouldnotcarryanyofherindecisionsandfearstohersisterforsettlement。WhocouldlookinWaitstill’sclear,steadfasteyesandsay:"Ican’tmakeupmymindwhichtomarry"?
  NotPatty。Shefelt,instinctively,thatWaitstill’sheart,ifitmovedatall,wouldrushoutlikeagreatrivertoloseitselfintheocean,andlosingitselfforgetthenarrowbanksthroughwhichithadflowedbefore。Pattyknewthatherownlovewasatthemomentnothingmorethanthenoteofachild’spennyflute,andthatWaitstillwasperhapsvibratingsecretlywithadeeper,richermusicthancouldevercometoher。Still,musicofsomesortshemeanttofeel。"EveniftheymakemedecideonewayoranotherbeforeIamready,"shesaidtoherself,"I’llneversay’yes’tillI’mmoreinlovethanIamnow!"
  TherewereotherreasonswhyshedidnotwanttoaskWaitstill’sadvice。Notonlydidsheshrinkfromthelovingscrutinyofhersister’seyes,andthegentleprobingofherquestions,whichwouldfixherownmotivesonapin—pointandholdthemupunbecominglytothelight;butshehadafoolish,generousloyaltythaturgedhertokeepWaitstillquitealooffromherownlittleprivateperplexities。
  "Shewillonlyworryherselfsick,"thoughtPatty。"Shewon’tletmemarrywithoutaskingfather’spermission,andshe’dthinksheoughtnottoaidmeindeceivinghim,andthetempestwouldbetwiceasdreadfulifitfelluponusboth!Now,ifanythinghappens,IcantellfatherthatIdiditallmyselfandthatWaitstillknewnothingaboutitwhatever。Then,oh,joy!iffatheristooterrible,IshallbeamarriedwomanandIcanalwayssay:’Iwillnotpermitsuchcruelty!Waitstillisdependentuponyounolonger,sheshallcomeatoncetomyhusbandandme!
  ThislatterphrasealmostintoxicatedPatty,sothatthereweremomentswhenshecouldhaverunuptoMilliken’sMillsandpurchasedherselfahusbandatanycost,hadherslendersavingespermittedthebestinthemarket;andthemoreimpersonalthehusbandthemoredelightedlyPattyrolledthephraseunderhertongue。
  "Icanneverbe’published’inchurch,"shethought,"andperhapsnobodywillevercareenoughaboutmetobravefather’sdispleasureandinsistonrunningawaywithme。Idowishsomebodywouldcare’frightfully’aboutme,enoughforthat;
  enoughtohelpmemakeupmymind;sothatIcouldjustdriveuptofather’sstoresomedayandsay:’Goodafternoon,father!I
  knewyou’dneverletmemarry——’"(therewasalwaysadashhere,inPatty’simaginarydiscourses,adashthatcouldbefilledinwithanyChristiannameaccordingtohermoodofthemoment)"’soIjustmarriedhimanyway;andyouneedn’tbeangrywithmysister,forsheknewnothingaboutit。MyhusbandandIaresorryifyouaredispleased,butthere’snohelpforit;andmyhusband’shomewillalwaysbeopentoWaitstill,whateverhappens。’"
  Patty,withallherlatentloveoffineryandease,didnotweightheworldlycircumstancesofthetwomen,thoughthereflectionthatshewouldhavemoreamusementwithMarkthanwithPhilipmayhavecrossedhermind。ShetrustedPhilip,andrespectedhissteady—going,seriousviewoflife;itpleasedhervanity,too,tofeelhowhernonsenseandfunlightenedhistemperamentalgravity,playinginandoutandoveritlikeabutterflyinasmokebush。ShewouldbesafewithPhilipalways,butsafetyhadnospecialcharmforoneofherage,whohadneverbeeninperil。
  Mark’ssuperiorknowledgeoftheworld,moreover,hiscareless,buoyantmannerofcarryinghimself,hisgay,boyishaudacity,allhadaverydistinctcharmforher;——andyet——
  Buttherewouldbeno"andyet"alittlelater。Patty’sheartwouldblazequicklyenoughwhensufficientheatwasappliedtoit,andMarkwasfallingmoreandmoredeeplyinloveeveryday。
  AsPattyvacillated,hispurposestrengthened;themoresheweighed,themoreheceasedtoweigh,thedifficultiesofthesituation;themoresheunfoldedherselftohim,themorehelovedandthemoreherespectedher。Shebeganbydelightinghissenses;sheendedbywinningallthattherewasinhim,andcreatingcontinuallythequalitieshelacked,afterthemanneroftruewomenevenwhentheyareveryyoungandfoolish。
  XVIII
  ASTATEO’MAINEPROPHET
  SUMMERwasdyinghard,foralthoughithadpassed,bythecalendar,MotherNaturewasstillkeepinguphercustomaryattitude。
  Therehadbeenasoftraininthenightandeveryspearofgrasswasbrilliantlygreenandtippedwithcrystal。Thesmokebushesinthegardenplot,andtheasparagusbedbeyondthem,lookedmistyasthesunrosehigher,dryingthesoakedearthanddrippingbranches。Spiders’webs,marvelsoflace,dottedtheshortgrassundertheappletrees。Everyflowerthathadafragrancewaspouringitgratefullyintotheair;everybirdwithajoyousnoteinitsvoicegaveitmorejoyouslyfromaburstingthroat;andtheriverlaughedandrippledinthedistanceatthefootofTownHouseHill。ThendawngrewintofullmorningandstreamsofbluesmokerosehereandtherefromtheEdgewoodchimneys。Theworldwasalive,andsobeautifulthatWaitstillfeltlikegoingdownonherkneesingratitudeforhavingbeenbornintoitandgivenachanceofservingitinanyhumblewaywhatsoever。
  Wherevertherewasabarn,inRiverboroorEdgewood,onecouldhaveheardthethree—leggedstoolsbeingliftedfromthepegs,andthenwouldbeginthemusicofthemilk—pails;firsttheresonantsoundofthestreamonthebottomofthetinpail,thenthesoftdeliciouspurringofthecascadeintothefullbucket,whilethecowsserenelychewedtheircudsandwhiskedawaytheflieswithswingingtails。
  DeaconBaxterwastakinghiscowstoapasturefaroverthehill,thefeedhavinggrowntooshortinhisownfields。PattywaswashingdishesinthekitchenandWaitstillwasinthedairy—houseatthebutter—making,oneofherchiefdelights。Sheworkedwithspeedandwithbeautifulsureness,patting,squeezing,rollingthegoldenmass,likethetrueartistshewas,thenturningthesweet—scentedwaxenballsoutofthemouldontothebigstone—chinaplatterthatstoodwaiting。Shehadbeenupearlyandforthelasthourshehadtoiledwithdevouringeagernessthatshemighthavealittletimetoherself。Itwashersnow,forPattywouldbebusywiththebedsaftershefinishedthedishes,soshedrewafoldedpaperfromherpocket,thefirstcommunicationshehadeverreceivedinIvory’shandwriting,andsatdowntoreadit。
  MYDEARWAITSTILL:——
  Rodmanwilltakethispacketandleaveitwithyouwhenhefindsopportunity。Itisnotinanyrealsensealetter,soIaminnodangerofincurringyourfather’sdispleasure。Youwillprobablyhaveheardnewrumorsconcerningmyfatherduringthepastfewdays,forPeterMorrillhasbeentoEnfield,NewHampshire,wherehesayslettershavebeenreceivedstatingthatmyfatherdiedinCortland,Ohio,morethanfiveyearsago。IshalldowhatIcantosubstantiatethisfreshreportasIhavealwaysdonewithallthepreviousones,butIhavelittlehopeofsecuringreliableinformationatthisdistance,andafterthislengthoftime。IdonotknowwhenIcaneverstartonapersonalquestmyself,forevenhadIthemoneyIcouldnotleavehomeuntilRodmanismucholder,andfittedforgreaterresponsibility。Oh!Waitstill,howyouhavehelpedmypoor,dearmother!WouldthatIwerefreetotellyouhowIvalueyourfriendship!Itissomethingmorethanmerefriendship!Whatyouaredoingislikethrowingalife—linetoasinkinghumanbeing。Twoorthreetimes,oflate,motherhasforgottentosetoutthesupperthingsformyfather。Hertenyears’incessantwaitingforhimseemstohavesubsidedalittle,andinitsplaceshewatchesforyou。[Ivoryhadwritten"watchesforherdaughter"butcarefullyerasedthelasttwowords。]Youcomebutseldom,butherheartfeedsonthesightofyou。Whatsheneeded,itseems,wasthemagicaltouchofyouthandhealthandstrengthandsympathy,thequalitiesyoupossessinsuchgreatmeasure。
  IfIhadproofofmyfather’sdeathIthinknow,perhaps,thatI
  mighttrytobreakitgentlytomymother,asifitwerefreshnews,andseeifpossiblyImightthusremoveherprincipalhallucination。Youseenow,doyounot,howsanesheisinmany,indeedinmostways,——howsweetandlovable,evenhowsensible?
  Tohelpyoubettertounderstandtheinfluencethathasrobbedmeofbothfatherandmotherandmademeandminethesubjectoftownandtaverngossipforyearspast,Ihavewrittenforyoujustasketchofthe"Cochranecraze";theromanticstoryofamanwhoswayedthewillsofhisfellow—creaturesinatrulymarvellousmanner。Somelocalhistorianofhistimewilldoubtlessgivehimmorespace;mywishistohaveyouknowsomethingmoreofthecircumstancesthathavemademeaprisonerinlifeinsteadofafreeman;butprisonerasIamatthemoment,Iamsustainedjustnowbyanewcourage。IreadinmycopyofOvidlastnight:"Thebestofweaponsistheundauntedheart。"Thiswillhelpyou,too,inyourhardlife,foryoursisthemostundauntedheartinalltheworld。
  IVORYBOYNTON
  ThechronicleofJacobCochrane’scareerinthelittlevillagesneartheSacoRiverhasnosuchinterestforthegeneralreaderasithadforWaitstillBaxter。ShehunguponeverywordthatIvoryhadwrittenandrealizedmoreclearlythaneverbeforetheshadowthathadfollowedhimsinceearlyboyhood;thesameshadowthathadfallenacrosshismother’smindandleft,continualtwilightthere。
  Noonereallyknew,itseemed,whyorfromwhenceJacobCochranehadcometoEdgewood。Hesimplyappearedattheoldtavern,astranger,withsatchelinhand,toseekentertainment。UncleBarthadoftendescribedthisscenetoWaitstill,forhewasoneofthosesittingaboutthegreatopenfireatthetime。Themaneasilyslippedintothegroupandsoontooktheleadinconversation,delightingallwithhisagreeablepersonality,hisnimbletongueandgracefulspeech。Atsupper—timethehostessandtherestofthefamilytooktheirplacesatthelongtable,aswasthecustom,andheastonishedthembyhisknowledgenotonlyoftownhistory,butofvillagematterstheyhadsupposedunknowntoanyone。
  Whenthestrangerhadfinishedhissupperandreturnedtothebar—room,hehadtopassthroughalongentry,andthelandlady,whisperingtoherdaughter,said:——
  "Betsy,yougouptothechamberclosetandgetthesilverandbringitdown。ThismanisgoingtosleepthereandIamafraidofhim。Hemustbeafortune—teller,andtheLordonlyknowswhatelse!"
  Ingoingtothechamberthedaughterhadtopassthroughthebar—room。Asshewasmovingquietlythrough,hopingtoescapethenoticeofthenewcomer,heturnedinhischair,andlookingherfullintheface,suddenlysaid:——
  "Madam,youneedn’ttouchyoursilver。Idon’twantit。Iamagentleman。"
  WhereuponthebewilderedBetsyscuttledbacktohermotherandtoldherthestrangeguestwasindeedafortune—teller。
  OfCochrane’sinitialappearanceasapreacherIvoryhadtoldWaitstillintheirtalkinthechurchyardearlyinthesummer。Itwasatachild’sfuneralthatthenewprophetcreatedhisfirstsensationandthere,too,thatAaronandLoisBoyntonfirstcameunderhisspell。ThewholecountrysidehadbeenjustthenwroughtuptoastateofreligiousexcitementbyrevivalmeetingsandCochranegainedthebenefitofthisdefinitepreparationforhiswork。HeclaimedthatallhissayingswerefromdivineinspirationandthatthosewhoembracedhisdoctrinereceiveddirectcommunicationfromtheAlmighty。Hedisdainedformalcreedsandallmannerofchurchorganizations,declaringsectariannamestobemarksofthebeastandallchurchmemberstobeinBabylon。Heintroducedre—baptismasasymboliccleansingfromsectarianstains,andaftersomemonthsadvancedapropositionthathisflockholdallthingsincommon。Heputasuddenendtothesolemn"deaconing—out"anddroningofpsalmtunesandgraftedontohisformofworshiplivelysingingandmarchingaccompaniedbyclappingofhandsandwhirlingincircles;duringtheprogressofwhichthemosthystericalconverts,orthemostfullyCochranized,"wouldswoonuponthefloor;or,inobeyingtheirleader’sinstructionsto"becomeaslittlechildren,"wouldsometimesgothroughthemostextraordinaryandunmeaningantics。
  Itwasnotuntilhehadconvertedhundredstothenewfaiththatheaddedmorestartlingrevelationstohisgospel。Hewasinturnbold,mystical,eloquent,audacious,persuasive,autocratic;andevenwhenhisself—styledcommunicationsfromtheAlmighty"
  controvertedallthathishearershadformerlyheldtoberight,hestillmagnetizedorhypnotizedthemintoanunwillingassenttohisbeliefs。Therewasfinallyaproclamationtotheeffectthatmarriagevowsweretobeannulledwhenadvisableandthatcompletespirituallibertywastofollow;alibertyinwhichanewaffinitymightbesought,andaspiritualunionbegunuponearth,aunionasnearlyapproximatetoGod’sstandardsasfaultyhumanbeingscouldmanagetoattain。
  Someofthefaithfulfellawayatthistime,beingunabletoacceptthefulldoctrine,butretainedtheirfaithinCochrane’soriginalpowertoconvertsinnersandsavethemfromthewrathofGod。Storm—cloudsbegantogatherintheskyhowever,asthedelusionspread,monthbymonthandlocalministerseverywheresoughttominimizetheinfluenceofthedangerousorator,whorosesuperiortoeveryattackandcarriedhimselflikesomemagnificentmartyr—at—willamongthecrowdsthatnowcriticizedhimhereorthereinprivateandinpublic。
  "Whatapictureofsplendidaudacityhemusthavebeen,"wroteIvory,"whenheenteredtheorthodoxmeeting—houseatahugegatheringwhereheknewthatthespeakersweretodenouncehisteachings。OldParsonBuzzellgaveouthistextfromthehighpulpit:MarkXIII,37,’ANDWHATISAYUNTOYOUISAYUNTOALL,WATCH!’JusthereCochranesteppedinattheopendoorofthechurchandheardthewarning,meant,heknew,forhimself,andseizingthemomentofsilencefollowingthereadingofthetext,hecriedinhissplendidsonorousvoice,withoutsomuchasstirringfromhisplacewithinthedoor—frame:"’BeholdIstandatthedoorandknock。IfanymanhearmyvoiceIwillcomeintohimandwillsupwithhim,——Icometopreachtheeverlastinggospeltoeveryonethatheareth,andallthatIwanthereismybignessonthefloor。’"
  "Icannotfind,"continuedIvoryonanotherpage,"thatmyfatherormothereverengagedinanyofthefoolishandchildishpracticeswhichdisgracedthemeetingsofsomeofCochrane’smostfanaticalfollowersandconverts。Bymymother’sconversations(someofwhichIhaverepeatedtoyou,butwhichmaybefulloferrors,becauseofherconfusionofmind),Ibelieveshemusthavehadadifferenceofopinionwithmyfatheronsomeoftheseviews,butIhavenomeansofknowingthistoacertainty;nordoIknowthatthequestionofchoosingspiritualconsorts’evercamebetweenordividedthem。ThispartofthedelusionalwaysfillsmewithsuchunspeakabledisgustthatIhaveneverlikedtoseekadditionallightfromanyoftheoldermenandwomenwhomightrevelingivingit。Thatmymotherdidnotsympathizewithmyfather’sgoingouttopreachCochrane’sgospelthroughthecountry,thisIknow,andshewassotrulyreligious,soburningwithzeal,thathadshefullybelievedinmyfather’smissionshewouldhavespurredhimon,insteadofendeavoringtodetainhim。"
  "YouknowtheretributionthatovertookCochraneatlast,"wroteIvoryagain,whenhehadshowntheman’searlyvictoriesandhisenormousinfluence。"Therebegantobeindignantprotestsagainsthisdoctrinesbylawyersanddoctors,aswellasbyministers;
  notfromallsideshowever;forremember,inextenuationofmyfather’sandmymother’sespousalofthisstrangebelief,thatmanyofthestrongestandwisestmen,aswellasthepurestandfinestwomeninYorkcountycameunderthisman’sspellforatimeandbelievedinhimimplicitly,someofthemevenuntotheend。