Memoirs of Philip P. Bliss

Front matter

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Chapter I

Mr. Bliss’ Ancestry—His Father, John Bliss—His Harly Days—Love for Music—First Sight of a Piano—Connection with the Church—Influence of a Pious Father’s Example—First Musical Instruction—W. B. Bradbury—Bliss’ Tribute to his Memory...... (5 BmONGOOMOOSd. Souode

Chapter II

Teaching in Rome—Acquaintance with and Marriage to Lucy Young—Her Character—W orking upon the Farm and Teaching Music—Letter from Rey. Darius Cook—Mr. Bliss in his New Home—His Father’s Last Days COA TAN CLAL OTIS ELD LO. eratste; qisietael ele leintelshetataietnatais rate oTaiecls elec erol eer

CHAPTER IIL

Mr. Bliss’ First Musical Composition—Twelve Years’ Song Writing—Geo. F. Root’s Recollections of him—Drafted in the Army—Mr. Bliss removes to Chicago—His Labors and his Friends in the West..........

Chapter IV

God’s Instruments—Mr. Bliss’ first Meeting with Mr. Moody—His first Acquaintance with the Writer—One of our Household—Memorial by Rev. Dr. Goodwin—Mr. Bliss’ Connection with the First Congregational Churchrands Sundays Sclool il @bica gO marti si stelata) «1510 sie) «iol oleleleretete

Chapter V

In Evangelistic Work—Mr. Moody’s Appeal to Mr. Bliss—The Turning Point—An Experimental Meeting at Waukegan—Bliss’ Consecration of himself to God’s Service—His Faith and Self-denial—Working for the Young—An Incident—His Methods of Teaching...... ..........

PAGE

10 CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

PAGE Mr. Bliss as a Composer and Author—His first Sunday School Hymn—“ If Papa were only Ready ”—His Systematic Habits and Manner of Workinge—The Last Hymn he Wrote—The Music burned at Ashtabula— PAS Ha cility tot, xpos SiON Greta meisctstelcrstets atari elels setetens/slelel etielete oleate =eet 57

Chapter VII

The Joyful Experiences of 1876—Gospel Meetings at St. Louis—Trip to Alabama—‘‘ Not Tom Thumb ”—Visit to Kenesaw Mountain—The Inspiration of the Scene—“ Hold the Fort” and the Incident which sug- AECL I, SoA gonssooeHoeanoan Snare SBn cena hess nme sono 9c Sse 65

Chapter VIII

Four Days’ Work at Augusta, Georgia—Homeward Bound—Revy. Dr. Vincent’s Tribute—Visit to Mr. Moody’s Old Home—Return to Chicago— Relations with Mr. Sankey and the Brethren in Chicago—Visit to Kalamazoo, Michigan—Mr, Bliss’ Personal Influence there—Interesting TUGHUOTE crstalo lle rslara aye wie alcieisie 6 sets aS noe <n em em eOnmetaei’s & eine REN Sei sue

Chapter IX

Mr. Bliss at Jackson, Michigan—An Affecting Scene at the State Prison—- Return to Chicago—The Ministers’ Meeting at Farwell Hall—The Last Time Mr. Bliss sang in Chicago—‘‘ Are Your Windows Open Toward OUURA LET ie case) <Tornssicisio! tm a ate han es os eleleien tae cco pS cree Ba tes!)

Chapter X

Meetings at Peoria, Illinois—Proposed Trip to England—Letter from a Boy Convert—Thanksgiving Day—‘‘ Jolly Jonathan” ................22- 85

Chapter XI

Foreshadowings of the Separation—Mr., Bliss’ Last Visit to Chicago—Merry Christmas at Home—The Last Earthly Labors—The Journey to the Valley of the Shadow of Death—‘‘ His Works do live After Him ”— OA Vole rom EG VEN fie ver laicim srsgindyeerars ease & Meianniaitin iecetsin reir 90

CHAPTER XIL

Mr. Bliss’ Hymns—‘‘ Press Forward ”—‘‘ Hail, Happy Morning ”—“ Peter’s Denial ”—‘‘ Lord Save Me”—‘‘ Once More with Mournful Step ”—

CONTENTS.

PAGE

‘““Nauga . Charges False”—‘‘ The Ascension” — ‘‘ Bethesda ”— « There’s a Light in the Valley ”—‘‘ Hosanna, Hosanna ”—‘‘ Safe with the Master”’—‘ The Beggar by the Wayside”—‘“‘I Must Abide with Thee ”—‘‘ And yet there is Room ”—‘‘ Remembered ”—‘‘ Follow Me” —‘‘Look and Live ”—‘‘ Only Believe””—‘‘ Look not upon the Wine” cathe iSpirity bree 7 Deaureenlelya ie wcrc evetsisteisies’talelonnealeiere Soenio

Chapter XIII

‘My Savior’s Charms ”—‘‘ Let the Lower Lights be Burning ”—“ Jerusalem so Fair”—‘‘ How goes the Battle ?”—‘‘ Only a Little Child ”— «“ Where He Leads we will Follow ”—“‘ Waiting at the Well ”—“ Wondrous Love ”—‘‘ On what Foundation ?”—“‘ Sailing into Port ”—* Over Yonder ”—‘‘ Remember the Poor ”—* Passing Away ”—“ God is always Near Me”—“‘ Man the Life-Boat ”—‘‘ The Temperance Ship ”—* Turn to the Right ’—‘‘ Only a Step to Heaven”—*To Depart, which is Better ”—“ Praying Always”’—‘ Soon and Forever”....... SOOUD EA OOS 6 5

Chapter XIV

Incidents suggesting some of Mr. Bliss’ Hymns—% Whosoever Will”—

Mr.

“Jesus Loves Me’”—“ Blessed are they that Do”—‘“ Free from the Law ”—“ Only an Armor-Bearer ”—‘‘ Pull for the Shore”—‘‘I Know not the Hour”—“‘ Down Life’s Dark Vale we Wander”—‘‘The Light of the World is Jesus”—“The Holy Spirit”— Wishing, Hoping, Knowing ”—*“ Almost Persuaded ”—“ Hallelujah, “Tis Done” —“ Good News ”—‘“‘ Will you Meet me at the Fountain?” —“ Hallelujah! He is Risen ”—“ Seeking to Save”—‘‘ At the Feet of Jesus”—‘‘ The Half Wats OVC Ua WO Ueeuenreye core batercietel efelelerereyalckotsoreraiesieistalel ys eutes|oinieistee

Chapter XV

Bliss’ Second Collection of Hymns—“ My Prayer ”—*“ More to Follow’ —‘‘ Calling Now ”—‘‘ Spirit Divine ”—“ Beautiful Song of Love ”— “‘Daniel’s Band”—“ Ask, Seek, Knock”—“ Love One Another ”— «Wear Not’—‘ Mourn, Pray, Praise ’—‘“ Song in Scripture ”—‘‘ Good Cheer ’”’—Innocent Childhood ”’—< Lord Jesus, Come ”—‘‘ Good Night till Then ”—*“ The Four Rulers ”—“ To Die is Gain”. .....00...+..-0.

Chapter XVI

Gospel Songs—‘‘ Nearer to Me”—“ We Trust in the Lord ”"—* How much

Owest Thou? ”—* The Three Mountains ”—Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs—“ Where are the Nine?”—‘‘ Where hast thou Gleaned To- Day ?”—* No Other Name ”—Gospel Hymns No, 2—‘“‘ In Zion’s Rock Abiding ”—* I’m on the Lord’s Side "—‘‘ Hallelujah! what a Savior!”

12 CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII

PAGE Song Incidents—Letter from Ira D. Sankey—The Influence of Mr; Bliss’

Songs for Good—Gospel Hymns in China and Japan—Letters from Missionaries—Letter from Rev. Arthur T. Pierson—lIllustrations of UMM EON alos NSIC AR Ge Ann gaooneD Ss HNau0ddr oo JOOAbASGse ae aersad 168

Chapter XVIII

Mr. Bliss’ Hymns in England--Letter from Rev. Henry Burton—A Life Changed by a Hymn—Singing at Nashville, Tennessee—Letters from Ministers sin gens allde COWMVERtSs ener steelers le cts sleet cere lat iit eieasiole 179

Chapter XIX

Mr. Bliss’ Miscellaneous Poems—‘ Fortune’s Best Gift ”’—‘‘ Farewell Old Year ”—“ The Wood Bird’s Song— Let us have Peace”—‘‘ Aunt Tabitha’s Trials ”"—“ The Last Bugle ”’—* Boys Wanted ’—“ Work and Pray ”—‘‘ There’s Monny a Shlip”—‘‘ Sire and Son ”—* For Me”— “?Tis the Heart makes the Home ’”—“ Loving Little Lou ”—* The Photograph ”—‘‘ Room for one More ”—‘‘ Mr. Lordly and I1”—“ The Tin Wedding ”—* Willie’s Wooing”— ‘John Chinaman”—‘ A Tragical Tail ’— When Grandmamma is Gone ”’—‘ Resolution ”—* Bushnell” ENN COVITEY Tce. ror SOOT ICI AO TO SOSA BOS SOS AGS so OS 192

CHAPTER XXIV. PAGE The Disaster at Ashtabula—The Newspaper Accounts—The Story of an

Hye-Witness—Mr. Bliss goes back to save his Wife and is burned to Death CHAPTER XXvV.

In Memoriam—Feeling and Glowing Tributes, in Poetry and Prose, from Editors, Clergymen, Singers and Friends, to the Memory of the De- DALLECE SONO VV LUO Ls npemenensiace sets eee ces ROBO t OSC OARS 6x 298

CHAPTER XXVI. The Last of Harth—Memorial Services at Rome, Pennsylvania—Hloquent

Address bya neve DraGoodwin or Chicago... .cjess 277s ee ee nels 822 CHAPTER XXVII.

The Memorial Services in Chicago—Addresses by Mr. Moody, Dr. Goodwin,

and Others—The Song Service at the Tabernacle CHAPTER XXVIII.

Memorial Services at South Bend, St. Paul, Louisville, Nashville, Kalamazoo and Peoria........ PAO TOME OIC Beinn ecalayete si Melee iene 349

BLESS” LAS To Yos

SET TO MUSIC BY HIS FRIENDS.

Set to Music BY Pa@E ANOTHER SOLDIER FALLEN. ........-..-+--- Geo, F. Ro0tscsce shinee 274 Wie ESFOTIDEN VaR verry a) cusya seshenaee acces Sveycieistue steuetcrsstensiayater CQO Ee: LOUIE Nectar ete eae 275 Vai ETE) HNESIMOEVIR »y ccathevey aol etalecahs staets's sre: stels 'e!ereleis Jas. McGranahan......... 276 WitHin, ABOUT, ABOVE. ...........2.5 «os TRO SOUR GR ese eee ae 277 TLL Mm.MoORE ABOUT JESUS........5..0.0. Jas. McGranahan......... 78 WHAT wintT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?....... Wee Doane:... sac anes 279 GRORGIEVA: VV WLUCOME!, cia. esis ele aiemls oe --.das. McGranahan......... 280 BV VEreS I ETIOUA WYAEN teva. arate ive ave ave: alan gfe aeatevaie eet QO Gee ie ss cance ee 281 CONTUVMCAS LUTINIIUR, vs rore eiatrosMirstols lnataac aus acta ardiels Wilbur A. Ohristte........ 282 CONSTRAINED BY LOVE. ..255 0.0022 tee cece (FeO AH ROG... once on eee 283 I Trust, O Lorp, TO 2A ae ne ae Thi. MURVGY tonic cnn aknene 284 STAND STILL, O CHILD OF GOD............ Bea. C.Stenbinauc.. «akon 285 ARISE, WORK AND PRAY. ....... Sister SAN Lg AN Masi Aan ri is 5, 286 CMEC OOD VINES. ic siete alsyeieh 14's 91 naa elgisnncelere EEE PQUNCT naxiiasicons 287 WHEN My Weary HANDS ARE FOLDED.....J7ra D. Sankey............ 289

LAST SONG OF P. P. BLISS.

NE VEO ERO bs BUSS,

Chapter I

MR. BLISS’S ANCESTRY—HIS FATHER, JOHN BLISS—HIS EARLY DAYS—LOVE FOR MUSIC—FIRST SIGHT OF A PIANO—CONNECTION WITH THE CHURCH —INFLUENCE OF A PIOUS FATHER’S EXAMPLE—FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUC- TION—W. B. BRADBURY AND BLISS’S TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY.

COPY the following from a memorandum found among Mr.

Bliss’s papers, endorsed “P. P. Bliss, 1861,” and containing the genealogy, memorial and statistics of the Bliss family, obtained from his father, uncles and ‘‘ The Seventh-day Baptist Memorial :” <The earliest notice of our ancestors that we have is contained in the will of Governor Arnold, dated 1677, in which he gives to his daughter, Damaris Bliss, wife of John Bliss, a parcel of land in the precincts of Newport. Governor Arnold also mentions the name of George Bliss as one of whom he had bought land, and whom he named as one of the first purchasers of the island of Quononicut : Beginning, then, with John Bliss—who, with his brother George Bliss, and, tradition says, one other brother, came from Wales with their widowed mother and were early settlers of Connecticnt—we have the following genealogical table, which, with one exception, we know to be correct : John Bliss married Damaris Arnold, 1670. Josiah Bliss, their son, died 1748. William Bliss, son of Josiah, born 1728, married Barbara Phillips, October 20th, 1750. ‘They had seven sons and five daughters. The third son, John Bliss, was born January 17th, 1760, and was the grandfather of the writer. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, and on the fourth day of November, 17—, married Reliance Babcock, of Dartmouth, Mass. In 1788, he moved to Greenfield, Saratoga County, New York, and purchased a farm of one hundred acres; there being at that time ad but one log hut at Saratoga Springs, situated near High Rock Spring, seven miles from his house. In February, 1801, he walked from Greenfield to Newport, Rhode Island, for the purpose of submitting to the ordinance of baptism.

«John Bliss had sixteen children. Twelve were sons, all but two of them survived. My father, Isaac Bliss, was one of twins. He, with his brother Josiah, was born April 29, 1797. He was married to Lydia Doolittle, June 7, 1831. They had five children : Phebe, born May 27, 1832; Reliance, born May 14, 1834; Philip Paul, born July 9, 1838 ; Hlizabeth, born May 1, 1842; James D., born July 10, 1846. Reliance died November 4, 1847; James D., February 15, 1847.”

Under date of January, 1864, in Mr. Bliss’ diary is this note: “ January.—Pa Bliss died, the best man I ever knew.” Mr. Bliss had great affection for his father, and dearly loved his memory. I have often heard him speak with great tenderness of his simple, child-like faith. ‘‘ He lived in continual communion with his Savior; always happy, always trusting, always singing. Mother used sometimes to say to him, Jaughingly, that all his hymns commenced with the word ‘come ;’ and I can remember many of thém that he used to sing. There were ‘Come, ye sinners, poor and needy ;’ ‘Come on, my partners in distress ;7 ‘Come, ye that love the Lord.’ He was always a poor man, but early in the morning, and after the toil of the day, in the evening, sitting in the porch of his humble home, his voice would be heard in song, and I can almost hear him now, singing upon the other side, ‘Come to that happy land, come, come away.’ He was a diligent reader of the Bible, and had the most implicit faith in its teachings, and a deep reverence for its commands. My first recollection of him is his daily family prayer. Devout, tender and child-like ; repeating over and over again, year after year, about the same words, until we all knew them by heart, his prayers were very real, very holy to me in my childhood. It was very hard for father ever to punish us children, and when he did, he suffered more than we. He would talk to us with great solicitude, and when we would say we were sorry, and would do better, he would be full of joy, and would say, ‘That is right; that is right.’”

Tn addition to this testimony of Mr. Bliss, all the recollections of his sisters and neighbors go to show that he was a man of lovely

FAMILY HISTORY.. ie simplicity and tenderness of nature, and of devoted piety. His character and example had much to do in moulding the character of his son. This father died at Rome, Pennsylvania, in the home of Philip, and was buried in the village cemetery. His wife, Lydia Bliss, and her two daughters survive to mourn over the loss, to them, of the son who had taken for many years the place of husband and father, but also to rejoice that father and son, who were so dear to each other on earth, are reiinited in Heaven. The last words of the dying father were, ‘‘ Philip, take care of your mother ;” and most unselfishly was the charge fulfilled until death called+him away, and most fitting does it seem that the writer of these lines should be penning them to fulfill the loving task from which the son is forever removed in bodily presence, but which shall still be performed by his memory, cherished and perpetuated in these pages. ‘The work is thrice hallowed in the memory of the dying father’s charge, the tender associations connected with this dearly loved brother and friend, and the privilege of a ministry of love to ‘‘ his mother and mine.”

Philip P. Bliss was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1838, in the usual log home occupied by the early settlers of the mountain and forest region of Northern Pennsylvania. In February, 1844, the family removed to Kinsman, Trumbull County, Ohio, where they resided for three years. In 1847, they returned to Pennsylvania, residing in Espeyville, Crawford County. In November, 1848, they removed to Tioga County. During these years of his boyhood, Philip had few advantages in the way of schooling. Moving from place to place and in sparsely settled regions, he had to take such teaching as he could get. His father’s singing and praying and reading the Scriptures, his mother’s daily lessons, with the contact of the grand scenery around his home, the mountains, valleys, forests and streams of which were ever dear to him, made up, for the most part, the influences that were brought to bear upon his first ten years of life. He early developed a passion for music, and would sit and listen with delight to his father singing, when but a child, and very early sang with him. He would readily catch up a tune, and whistle it or play it upon some rude musical instrument of his own manufacture.

Mr. Bliss has told me of the impression made upon him, when he was about ten years of age, by the first piano he had seen. He viata oor \esiern | nien College rae LE WAga lange, overgrown boy, and one day, down in the village, as he was passing by @ house, he heard music, sweeter than anything [ve N he had ever beforejlistened to. The door stood open and he was

©: isvesistibly drawn toward the sweet sounds that came from within. ©

He was barefoot, and entered unobserved and stood at the parlor door, listening, entranced, as a young lady played upon the piano. As she ceased playing, he exclaimed, with an intense desire, “‘ O, lady, play some more.” She looked around, surprised, and with no appreciation of the tender heart that had been so touched by her music, said, ‘‘Go out of here with your great feet,” and he went away crushed, but with the memory of harmonies that seemed to him like heaven.

In 1849, at the age of eleven years, he went away from home to work upon a farm. His sister says: ‘‘I remember well the morning he left. All of his clothing was done up in a handkerchief and carried in his hand. When he went out of the gate, he threw back to us children two pennies and went on down the road and would not look back.”

In 1851, he had this memorandum: ‘‘ Worked on farm for Marvin at nine dollars a month.” He was then only thirteen years of age. The next year, he was in a lumber camp, on Pine Creek, as assistant cook. In 1853 he was on Dyer’s Hill, in Covington, cutting logs. The next year, he worked in a saw-mill in Portage, New York. Thus five years of his life, from the age of eleven to sixteen, passed on the farm and in the lumber camp, in toiling for bread. With a great desire for education, a portion of the seasons during this period was passed in school, and every opportunity that presented for improvement was eagerly taken advantage of.

In 1850, while at school near Elk Run, a revival commenced among the scholars, conducted by a Baptist minister, and he at that time made his first public profession of Christ. A short time after, he was immersed in the creek near his own home, some four miles from the school, by a minister of the Christian Church, who was at the time holding meetings in the neighborhood. He became connected with the Baptist Church near the school. His own relation of his Christian experience has always been that he never had any marked period of conversion ; that he could never remember the time when he did not love the Savior—when he was not sorry for his sins, and when he did not pray. He undoubtedly ex-

EARLY LIFE. 19 perienced regeneration in answer to the prayers of a godly father at a very early age, andall through life manifested that he was a child of God. :

In 1855, he spent the winter in a select school at East Troy, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. In 1856, he worked on a farm in the summer and taught school in the winter, at Hartsville, Allegany County, New York. He was then but eighteen years of age, and his quickness of mind for learning, and his industry in the improvement of opportunities, are in a marked way indicated by the fact that he was fitted to become a teacher. It was, to be sure, a humble position, but still it was a position, and indicated aspiration. The place sought him because, in the judgment of the School Board, he was the man for the place.

The following winter he passed at Towanda, Pennsylvania, and at Towner Hill. Here he met for the first time Mr. J. G. Towner, who was afterward associated with him in concerting, and received that winter, in Mr. Towner’s singing school, his first systematic instruction in music. The same winter, he attended a musical convention at Rome, Pennsylvania. This was the first convention he ever attended, and it did much to strengthen his growing passion for music, and to develop his native talent in harmony. In the providence of God, the convention was in charge of W. B. Bradbury, then in the commencement of his life-work as a composer of sacred music for the children. From the time of this meeting, Mr. Bliss cherished a deep affection for Mr. Bradbury and a reverence for the gifts God had bestowed upon him as a composer. How much this meeting had to do with the moulding of his future life, in the turning of his thoughts, almost unconsciously to himself, in the direction of a work similar to Mr. Bradbury’s, we can never know. How appropriate now to Mr. Bliss is the song written by him upon the death of the lamented Bradbury :

WE LOVE HIM.

We love him,though his friendly hand Has never clasped our own ;

His gentle voice and loving smile We never yet have known.

We love the sweet, the blessed songs That he to us has giv’n;

We know he loved us here on earth; We love him though in heaven.

CHoRUSs.—We'll roll the chorus of praise along, Till “ Over the River” we go; He’ll lead us then in more beautiful songs Than ever we knew below.

We love the sparkling “Golden Chain,”

The “Shower” of beauties rare;

The “Censer” full of joyous praise, “Fresh Laurels,” green and fair.

We love to sing his songs of heaven, Of Jesus and His love;

They make us happier here below, And raise our thoughts above,

We love the things that he has loved; We love his earthly name;

And when we know his angel form, We'll love him just the same.

We'll love each other better then, We'll love “ Our Father” more ;

We'll roll a sweeter song of praise Along the “ Golden Shore.”

CHAPTER IL

TEACHING IN ROME—ACQUAINTANCE WITH AND MARRIAGE TO LUCY YOUNG —HER CHARACTER—WORKING UPON THE FARM AND TEACHING MUSIO— LETTER FROM REY. DARIUS COOK—MR. BLISS IN HIS NEW HOME—HIS FATHER’S LAST DAYS—‘‘ GRANDFATHER’S BIBLE,”

N 1858, Mr. Bliss was at Almond, New York, and in the winter

of that year he taught in the Rome Academy at Rome, Pennsylvania. ‘The previous year, his musical gift had brought him into an acquaintance with the family of Mr. O. F. Young, a thrifty farmer and a devout Christian man, who, some thirty years before, had come into the valley to teach school, and had married one of his pupils, the daughter of Peter Allen, a leading citizen of Rome, and was now the head of a happy family, consisting of Grandma Allen, her daughter his wife, with their five children, two sons and three daughters. The whole family were singers, and Mr. Young being one of the School Board, Mr. Bliss was invited to make their house his home, and soon became as one of the family. He brought here his younger sister, that she might attend school and be with him for the winter.

The descriptions given of Mr. Bliss by his friends, and a daguerreotype taken at this time, indicate that he was possessed of unusual personal attractions. Of large frame and finely proportioned, a handsome, frank, open face, with fine, large, expressive eyes, and always buoyant and cheerful, full of the kindliest feeling, wit and good humor, with a devout Christian character, and of unsullied moral reputation, he became a universal favorite among young and old. Among his pupils were the children of Mr. Young, who became his most intimate friends. The eldest daughter, Lucy, then about eighteen years of age, was the associate and companion of Mr. Bliss’ sister, and thus these young people were thrown much together. During the winter, the singing school, the spelling class and the choir meetings went on as is wont in the country villages of the Hast, and these two ‘“‘kept company,” and found ere long that they were necessary to each other’s happiness. So, one beautiful morning in the following spring, June 1, 1859, with Pa and Ma Young accompanying, they went in a very quiet way to the little town of Wysocks, six miles down the valley, and were married by the minister, in the parlor of the minister’s house.

It is a beautiful ride down the valley of the Wysocking. The hills rise up grandly on either side; the brook flows rapidly by, its babbling and murmurings heard from the road, hidden sometimes in deep dells by overhanging trees, and gleaming in the light through open fields. The woods were filled with wild flowers and singing birds, that June morning, and the world was full of poetry to these two dear friends as they rode to their wedding. Happy in the love of God, happy in each other’s love, how rich they were! Of money they had absolutely none. Mr. Bliss did not possess at this time fifty dollars’ worth of worldly goods. Mr. Young derived a comfortable support from his farm, but had nothing wherewith to endow the young couple, beyond the warm welcome to the old homestead of the loved daughter and the one whom he had long loved asa son. They came back to the home, and Mr. Bliss, taking off his Sunday clothes, went out to work on the farm, and Lucy went into the kitchen to help her mother.

I find in his diary this mention of this event in his life: ‘‘June 1, 1859—Married to Miss Lucy J. Young, the very best thing I could have done.” And looking back upon the eighteen years they have lived together on earth, and all they were to each other, in the experiences of, joy and sorrow, of poverty and prosperity, that they passed through, no one who knew them but would acquiesce and recognize the providence of God in bringing them together. Mrs. Bliss was in many things the opposite and the complement of her husband. He was by nature poetical, impulsive, demonstrative, easily moved ; she strongly practical, steady, reticent, and with great adherence of purpose. She was both wife and mother to him from the first of their union. She was of a deep nature, loving, tender in her affection, beyond what most who knew her gave her credit for. His buoyant, joyful, affectionate, warm-hearted demonstrativeness naturally made her more reserved manner seem constrained ; but all who learned to know her loved and admired her, and thanked God that Philip Bliss had such a wife. At

STUDYING MUSIC. 223 the time of her marriage, she was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Rome, having made profession of faith in Christ at the age of sixteen. Mr. Bliss, about the time of his marriage, became connected with the same church, and labored efficiently with them in church work, being for some time the Superintendent of a Union Sunday School in the village, and is remembered by many of the grown-up people in this connection.

The year after his marriage, Mr. Bliss worked upon the farm for his father-in-law, and received for his support thirteen dollars a month, the amount usually paid to farm hands. That winter he commenced teaching music in Bradford County, at two dollars an evening ‘‘and found.” The year 1860 he ever reckoned as a memorable one in his history. The little knowledge he had obtained of music made him feel deeply how little he knew, and gave him the most burning desire to prosecute a thorough study of the art. His soul was filled with that which he longed to express, but the future looked dark to him. He had no means and no prospect of being able to secure any further education. For a time he became burdened and depressed with these thoughts.

In July and August of that year,.a Norma] Academy of Music was held in Geneseo, New York, under Perkins, Cook, Bassini and others. It was the great event of the period among the musical people of the surrounding country. The advartages to be offered in training and culture were unusual, and of the utmost value to those desiring to cultivate music. Poor Bliss obtained the programme, and eagerly pored over the inducements and opportunities it offered. It was just what he needed. It would be such a joy to him to meet these masters in the art—such a help to him for all the future ; but the expense was far beyond his means. He had not a dollar in the world. It was impossible for him to go. He was almost heartbroken about it. He threw himself upon the old settee in the sitting-room one day, when no one but Grandma Allen was in the room, and he says, “‘I just cried for disappointment. I thought everything had come to an end; that my life must be passed as a farm hand and country schoolmaster, and all bright hopes for the future must be given up.” Grandma was full of sympathy, and wanted to know all about the trouble. After she had been told about the academy, she said, ‘‘ Now, Phil., what does that cost ?” ‘¢ Well, Grandma,” he said, ‘“it would take as much as thirty dollars.” ‘‘ Well, thirty dollars is a good deal of money,” said the kind old lady ; “I have an old stocking that I have been dropping pieces of silver in for a good many years, and I’ll just see how much there is. Perhaps there are thirty dollars, and if there ate, why, you can take it and go to the Normal.”

The stocking was brought out and found to contain more than the thirty dollars, and Bliss spent six weeks of the hardest study of his life at the Normal. God bless dear old Grandma Allen. The world owes her interest compounded a hundred times over as long as she lives, and a grateful remembrance after her death, for what she did that day for P. P. Bliss. In the winter of 1860, Mr. Bliss formally took up the business of a professional musicteacher. In his diary he says: ‘‘ Old Fanny (a horse) and a twenty-dollar melodeon furnished by O. F. Young set me up in the profession.” The next three years were passed in and about Rome. He was quite successful as a teacher, and during the winter months had plenty of employment. Inthe summer he worked upon his father-in-law’s farm, and again attended the Normal Academy in 1861, and in 1863. In 1861, he writes: “Summer at Geneseo, New York, T. E. Perkins, T. J. Cook and Pychowski, faculty this season.” In 1862, there is this memorandum: ‘‘ Worked onfarm. Did not go off to school this summer— partly on account of my health and partly on account of my wealth! Winter, Honesdale, Pennsylvania, made the acquaintance of I. Brundage, a good Rev. and singer.” To be a good minister and a good singer was to occupy a large place in Mr. Bliss’ affections, and he ever esteemed Mr. Brundage as a very dear friend. Indeed, long before he entered upon the life of an evangelist, while following the profession of music, he had scores of warm-hearted personal friends among the ministers of the Gospel. He had a great respect for their calling—a desire to be helpful to them in their work, and a love for them individually, which all who came to know him most cordially reciprocated. From no other class of persons have so many and so tender expressions of love for his memory and sorrow at his death been received as from the ministers. During these years at Rome, Mr. Bliss’ pastor was Rev. Darwin Cook. Mr. Bliss esteemed him very highly, and ever spoke of him with affection, He has often said that it was Mr. Cook’s encouraging words, more than anything else, that stimulated him to excel in his profession, and particularly turned his attention to the