The American evangelists, Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey

Front matter

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Chapter I. The Moody And Holton Families

Lineage of the Moodys and the Tloltons. — Description of Northfield. — The Aborigines. — The House in which D. L. Moody was born. — Mr. Edwin Moody. — His Death. — Impression on his Son. — Mrs. Moody's Character and Trials. — Her Pastor. — Traits of D. L. Moody in Boyhood. — A Trial to Mr. Everett. — Love for his Mother. — His First Prayer. — His Work on the Farm. — His Boyish Pranks. — He attempts to buy a Yoke of Oxen. — His Oldest Brother leaves Home. — Anxiety of the Family. — Early Education. — Influences under which Young Moody's Character was developed. — The Remark of an Old Man. — The Story of a Money-loving Farmer

CHxlPTER II.

MR. MOODY IN BOSTON AND CHICAGO.

Young Moody leaves School. — A Clerk in his Uncle Holton's Store. — Conditions on which he entered it. — He attends Mount Vernon Church and Sabbath School. — His Personal Appearance at this Time. — Letter from Home. —He is visited by Mr? Kimball, and converted. — How he repays Mr. Kimball for his Kindness. — Opposition to his Speaking in the Meetings. — He is examined and admitted into Dr. Kirk's Church. — Deacon Palmer at Exeter Hall in London. — Dr. Kirk's Opinion. — Young Moody removes to Chicago. — The Advantages he derived from living in Boston. — His Opinion of the City. — He joins the Rev. J. E. Roy's Church. — Engages in Recruiting- Service for the Sabbath School 41

CHAPTER HI.

MISSION-SCHOOL AND ARMY WORK.

Mr. Moody's Study of the Bible. — His Mission. — His Business Relations. — His School at the Rookery. — His Method of managing it. — Description of the School. — Mr. Reynolds's Opinion. — Recruiting for Pupils. — Removal to

CONTENTS.

PAGE

the Hall of North Market. — J. V. Farwell, Superintendent. ^Increase of the School. —Energy of Mr. Moody. — His Character as a Man of Business.

— He pays a Bill for a Customer. — He devotes his Whole Time to God. — His Life in Danger. — An Assault. — One Idea. — Interview with Infidels. — Prayer in a Saloon. — A Drunkard saved. — Interview with Bishop Duggan.

— Thanksgiving at the Rookery. — Visit of Mr. Lincoln. — Prayer in the Cars.

— The Old Pony. — Mr. Moody's Army Life. — Marriage. — Answer to Prayer.

— Chapel. — Entrance into Bichmond 55

CHAPTEB IV.

ME. MOODY AS A PREACHER.

Plan of Mr. Moody's Church. — His Power of Endurance. — New Tear's Calls.

— His Trust in God for Daily Support. — President of the Young Men's Christian Association. —Dedication of Farwell Hall. — Open-Air Meetings. — Prayer of the Rich Man. — Sunday-School Conventions. — Mr. Moody visits England. — " Out and Out for Christ." — How he prepares a Sermon. — The Man at the Lamp-Post. — Farwell Hall Burned. —The New Home. — Mrs. Moody. — The Bible-Readings. — Love. — The " I ams " of John. — Alliance with Mr. Sankey. — The Great Fire. — Mr. Moody's Account of it. — Visit to Philadelphia. — The Tabernacle erected. — The Order of Services held therein.

— He revisits England 76

CHAPTER V.

LABORS EN T GREAT BRITAIN.

A. Memorable Day. — Why the Evangelists went to England. — Their Work at York. — Sunderland. — Newcastle-upon-Tyne. — The Promises. — Farewell to Newcastle. — They visit Edinburgh. — Distrust of the Scotchmen. — Mr. Moody's Faith. — The Infidel Club. — Eagerness of the People to hear the Gospel. — Meeting at the Corn Exchange. — Tolbooth Church. — Week of Prayer. — Farewell Meeting at Arthur's Seat. — Glasgow visited. — Open-Air Meetings. — City Hall. — Erving Place Chapel. — Waiting. — Meeting for Children. —The Crystal Palace. — Results of Labors. — A German Pastor.— Temperance. — Activity of Christians. — Return to Edinburgh. — All Scotland interested. — Perth. — Aberdeen. — Tain. — Huntley. — An Outdoor Meeting at Elgin. — Rothesay. — The Evangelists visit Belfast. — Last Meeting in that City. — Londonderry. — Dublin. — View of an Episcopalian. — An Aged Man converted. — Unity of Sentiment. —A Convention of Ministers and Others. — Visit to Manchester. — Sheffield. — Birmingham. — Assemblies described. — Liverpool. — Visit to London. — The City described.— Plan of Labor. — Results of the Revival on England and America 94

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI.

EVANGELISM EST BROOKLYN AND PHILADELPHIA.

Farewell to England. — Mr. Moody visits Northfield. — His Bible. — How he is Supported. —His Brother Converted. — Begins to preach at Brooklyn. —The First Meeting. — A Battle-Field. — The Singing of Mr. Sankey. — Conversion of an Infidel. — The Interest deepens. — " Hold the Fort." — How God forgives Sin. — Dr. Cuyler's Account of the Work. — Meeting of Ministers. — Letters to Converts abroad. — " Only Trust Him." — Mr. Moody's Activity. — Conversion of a Lady. — Preparations in Philadelphia. — The old Freight Depot. —The Opening 'Service. —The Classes of People attending. — How a London Lady works for Christ. — Cause of the Success of the Revivalists. — Thanksgiving Day. — President Grant. — Midnight Watch-Meeting for Sabbath-School Teachers. — George H. Stuart's Letter. — Results. — Closing Words to Converts. — The Orange-Tree. — Visit to Princeton 125

CHAPTER VH.

NEW YOKE, AUGUSTA, AND CHICAGO.

The Hippodrome. — Use of Means. — The Meetings opened. — Setting Christians at Work. — Mr. Moody's Sermons. — Extract from a Letter. — The Gospel. — Tramps. — A Scotchman's Idea of Christ. — Distinguished Men present. — Secular Press. — Going to the Stake. — Dom Pedro. — Young Converts. — Convention. — Witty Replies. — Music. — Closing Services. — Residts. — An Editor's Opinion of Mr. Moody. — Augusta, Ga. — Mr. Moody's New Church Edifice. — Dedication. — He visits Northfield. — Springfield. — Work in Chicago commences. — The Tabernacle. — Harmony among the Clergy. — Open Service. — Ministers affected. — Death of Samuel H. Moody. — Sermon on the Same. — Inquirers. — Interest deepening. — Faithful Sunday-School Teacher. — Germans interested 154

CHAPTER VHT.

CONTINUATION OF THE "WORK IN CHICAGO.

Meeting in Farwell Hall. — A Conversion. — Singular Notions in Respect to Mr. Moody. — A Convention. — Great Meetings. — Letter from a Prisoner. — A Pledge. — An Incident. — Spread of the Revival. — An Appeal to the Churches. — Christmas. — Death of Mr. Bliss and Wife. — Influence of the Work. — An Account by the Rev. Mr. Pentecost. — Great Audiences —Reports from Churches . — Union of Christians . — Plan in the Work. — Sectarian Walls demolished. — Christians awakened. — Assurance. — Worldliness. — An Incident. — Dumb Christians. — Backsliders restored. — Effect on the Clergy.— Mr. Moody's Belief. — The Intemperate. — The Inquiry-Room.— Talk with a Sceptic. —Converts 177

10 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.

THE REVIVALISTS IN BOSTON.

Preparations for the Revival — The Tabernacle. — Unity of Sentiment. — Dedication of the Building. — Obstacles to the Work. — The Beginning. — Luxury of Doing Good. — Sir. Moody's Ann. — He asks for Prayer. — His Success. — Temperance. — Ladies' Meeting. — Reasons for Separate Services. — Jericho and Boston. — Rooms of Inquiry opened. — Spirit of the Meetings. — An Intemperate Man. — Days of Fasting. — Ministers at the Meeting. — "Faith."

— Praise Meeting. — Dr. Mallalieu preaches on the Revival. — Mr. Moody's Belief . — His Sermons on Heaven. — Story of Mr. Sankey. — Service of Song.

— Elements of his Power. — Simple Language. — Imagination. — Study of the Bible. — Earnestness. —Naturalness. — Rapidity of Utterance. — The Spirit

of God. —Mr. Moody's Personal Appearance. — Voice. — Marnier 204

IRA D. SANKEY.

HIS BIRTH, BOYHOOD, EDUCATION, AND MISSION.

Birth. — Education. — Love of Music. — Religious Impressions. — Conversion. — Unites with the Church. — Superintendent of Sunday School, and Class Leader. —Study of the Bible. — Army Life. — Connection with the Revenue Service. — His Character. — Sings in Conventions. — President of the Young Men's Christian Association. — Meets Mr. Moody. — Consents to labor with him. — Singing in Chicago. — His Manner and Motives. — A Touching Story. Takes Charge of the Service at the Tabernacle. — His only Hymn. — Visits Great Britain. — Overcomes Prejudice. — His Singing Popular. — Effects of his Music. — In the Highlands. — Opinion of ah Edinburgh Journalist. — Of Another Writer. — Popularity of Certain Songs. — Theatre and Circus, London. — " Ninety and Nine." — His Singing at Brooklyn; at Philadelphia. — His Views of Church Music. — His Singing at New York. — Address at the Close. — Gospel Songs No. 2. — Singing in Boston. — A Prayer for Song. — Mr. Sankey's Tact and Power. —Remarks of "The Inter-Ocean; " of Mrs. Barbour. — Mr. Sankey's Personal Appearance. — An Address to him by Mr. Caverly 233

THE BIRTH AND EDUCATION OF MR. BLISS. — HIS MUSIC, WORK, AND DEATH.

Birth of Mr. Bliss. — Early Taste for Music. — His Disposition. — Comes to Chicago. — His Wife's Lmuence over him. — He conducts Musical Institutes. — Effect of his Singing on Mr. Moody. — At a Sunday-School Convention. —His Publications. — His Connection with Major Whittle. — A Notice of one of their Meetings. — A Letter. — " The Gospel Songs." — Style of the Music. — Sources of his Hymns. — " Lower Lights." -"I am so glad." — " Life-Boat."

CONTENTS. 11

PAGE

" More to follow." — " Meet me at the Fountain." — Effects of his Music. — An Incident. —His Mission. — Mrs. Bliss. — The Royalty on "The Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs." — " Gospel Hymns No. 2." — "Waiting and Watching." — Singing at Chautauqua —Remarks on Church Music. — A Letter. — A Prophecy. — Disaster at Ashtabula Bridge. — Death of Mr. and Mrs. Bliss. — Telegrams. — Letter of Condolence. — Memorial Services at Chicago. — Boston. — Notice from "The Tribune." — Mrs." Bliss. — Personal Traits of "Mr. Bliss. — His Monument. — Birth of Dr. Tourjee. — Education. — His Praise-Meetings. — Conservatory. — Character 263

DR. EBEN TOURJEE 291

ILLUSTRATIONS OF MR. MOODY.

CHOICE SAYINGS, INCIDENTS, STORIES, AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF MR. MOODY.

Christ Conquering. — The Net. — Realities. — God here. — Feeling. — Jesus. — Mysteries. — Knowledge. — Purgatory. — The Blood. — Feeling and Faith. — Morality. — Consequential People. — The Devil in Church. — Down Grade. — Thankf ulness. — Judas. — Nearness to God. — Book of Wonders. — Strength. — Juniper-Tree. — Reason for Faith. — Lost. — Faith. — Three Steps. — Garibaldi. — Laziness. — Wesley. — Bravery. — Rushlight. — Dead Sea. — Adversity. — Workers. — Missing Stone. — A Smile. — Conversion. — Roll-Call. — Light. — Prairie on Fire. — Love. — Not Me. — Duty. — A Lie. — Your Life. — Law. — The Earth. — The Law. — Man a Failure. — Chain and All. — Scarlet Thread. — A Resolve. — Infidel. — A Substitute. — The Crown. — The Surgeon. — " Blazing." — The Soul. — Burden-Bearer. — God and the World. — The Shadow. — God's Love. — Now. — Life-Boat. — Heart and Head. — The Rescue. — A Lady Converted. —Belief. —Norwegian Boy. — The Worm. — A Want. — The Bible. — Not Enough of Them. — One in Christ. — Money. — Higher Up. — Sympathy. — The Check. — Silence in Heaven. — Eleventh Hour. — Prayer. — Enthusiasm. — A Line. — A Scotch Woman. — Trust. — Pride. — The Bible. — Run upon the Banks 329

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of Me. Moody Frontispiece.

Northfeeld Village (looking north) 22

iNORTHFEELD VILLAGE (looking SOUth) 23

Birthplace of Dwight Lyman Moody 26 -

Mount Vernon Church 46-

Farewell at Glasgow 109 -

The Rink, Brooklyn 128-

The Old Depot, Philadelphia . . . . . 144 ~

Young Men's Christian Association, Philadelphia . . 152 o

The Hippodrome, New York 156-

Young Men's Christian Association, Chicago . . . 170

Interior View of Farwell Hall, Chicago .... 172-

Interior of Tabernacle, Chicago ...... 185

Moody and Sankey's Tabernacle, Boston 206-

Interior View of Tabernacle, Boston 208v.

Portrait of Ira D. Sankey . . 233

Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. P. P. Bliss 263

Portrait of Dr. Eben Tourjee 291

LIFE OP DWIGHT LYMAN MOODY.

THE LIFE OP DWIGHT LYMAN MOODY.

CHAPTER I.

THE MOODY AND THE HOLTON FAMILIES. — THE TOWN OF NORTH- FD3LD, MASS. — THE BOYHOOD OF D. L. MOODY.

Lineage of the Moodys and the Holtons. — Description of Northfield. — The Aborigines. — The House in which D. L. Moody was born. — Mr. Edwin Moody. — His Death. — Impression on his Son. — Mrs. Moody's Character and Trials. — Her Pastor. — Traits of D. L. Moody in Boyhood. — A Trial to Mr. Everett. — Love for his Mother. — His First Prayer. — His Work on the Farm. — His Boyish Pranks. — He attempts to buy a Yoke of Oxen. — His Oldest Brother leaves Home. — Anxiety of the Family. — Early Education. — Influences under which Young Moody's Character was developed. —The Bemark of an Old Man. — The Story of a Money-loving Farmer.

"What manner of child shall this be?" — St. Luke. ■ " A mother's love is next to God's love." — D. L. Moody.

The celebrated evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody, who now has gained a world-wide reputation as a herald of the gospel, was born on the 5th day of February, 1837, in the beautiful town of Noithfield, Franklin County, Mass. His paternal grandfather, Isaiah Moody, was born in 1772 ; went to Northfield about the year

18 LIFE OF DW1GHT LYMAN MOODY.

1796, and it may have been from Hadley, where his brother Jacob lived, before he removed to Northfield. The whole fortune of Isaiah, it is stated, was "the horse he rode on, and his kit of tools in a bag." He was a mason by trade. He married Dec. 15, 1799, Phila, daughter of Medad Alexander, and died Feb. 20, 1835 ; Phila his widow died Nov. 1, 1869, aged 89. They had nine children, — five sons and four daughters. Their eldest son and child, Edwin, was born in Northfield Nov. 1, 1800, and died there May 28, 1841. He married Jan. 2, 1828, Betsey, daughter of Luther Holton. They, like his parents, had nine children, — seven sons and two daughters, — as follows : 1, Edwin J"., born Oct. 8, 1828, and died young ; 2, Cornelia M., born Feb. 26, 1832, and married Bigelow Walker of Worcester ; 3, George jP., born June 17, 1833, and married Julia Johnson, (2) Harriet Brown; 4, Edwin J"., born June 26, 1834, and settled in Chicago, 111. ; 5, Luther H., born Aug. 27, 1835 ; 6, DwigJit Lyman, the subject of this memoir; 7, Warren L., born Oct. 23, 1838, and settled at Elmira, N.Y.; 8, 9, Samuel H. and Elizabeth 0. (twins), born June 24, 1841: the latter married Bryant Washburne.

We have not been able to connect this branch of the Moody family with those of the name in Hadley, though probably they belong to it. About the year 1660, Samuel Moody went from Hartford, Conn., to Hadley, where he died Sept. 22, 1689. His widow Sarah was a daughter of John Deming of Wethersfield, Conn., and died Sept. 29, 1717. This Samuel is supposed to have been the only child of Deacon John Moody of Hartford, Conn., who was son of George Moody of Moulton, County of Suffolk, Eng. ; " a man," says the Candler MS., " famous for his housekeeping and just and plain dealing." This John Moody 1 came to New England in the year 1633, with his wife Sarah ; and settled in Eoxbury, Mass., where they became members of the church. He was made freeman Nov. 5, 1635. Sarah, widow of John, died at Hartford in 1671.

1 The following is a verbatim copy from the Eoxbury Church Records, p. 19, in the handwriting of the "Apostle Eliot," minister of the First Church in Koxbury : —

"John Moody, he came to the Land in the yeare 1633: he had no children* — he had 2 men servants y* were vngodly, especially one of them, who in his passion would wish himself e in hell : & vse desperate words, yet had a good measiire of knowledge — these 2 servants would goe to the oister bank in a boate, & did, against the counsell of theire governor, where they lay all night; & in the morning early when the tide was out they gathe r ing oysters, did vnskillfully leave theire boate afloate In the verges of the chanell, & quickly the tide caryed it away so far in to the chanell y* they could not come neare it, w ch maide them cry out & hollow, but being very early & remote were not heard, till the water had risen very high upon them to the arme hols as its' thought, & then a man fro Rockbrough meeting house hill heard them cry & call, & he cryed & rarj w th all speed, & seing theire boate swam to it, & hasted to them, but they were both so drowned before any help could possibly come, a dreadfull example of God's displeasure against obstinate servats.

Sarah Moody, the wife of John Moody."

* His son Samuel was subsequently born, it is supposed, in Hartford, where the father resided as early as 1639, as the following from the Colonial Records of Connecticut, under date of Aug. 1, 1639, shows : " Jno. Moody had an attachment graunted vppon the g[oods of Thomas] Gaines, in the hands of Mr. Stoughton, for ft debt [of 5K> weight of Tobacco]." T.

Betsey (Holton) Moody, the mother of Dwight Lyman Moody, was born in Northfield Feb. 5, 1805. She was the daughter of Luther and Betsey (Hodges) Holton. She was descended in the seventh generation from William Houlton, who in 1634, at the age of twenty-three, came from Ipswich, County of Suffolk, Eng., in the ship " Francis ; " was an original proprietor of Hartford, Conn., and in 1654 was of Northampton, Mass. He was ordained deacon of the first church in Northampton in 1663 ; was a representative to the General Court five years from Northampton, and one year from Hadley. He made the first motion in town-meeting to prohibit the sale of intoxicating drinks, and was the first commissioner to the General Court in Boston in that temperance effort. He died in Northampton, Aug. 12, 1691, at the advanced age of eighty years ; and his widow Mary, in the month of November following. His son John 2 was the father of William 3 , whose son William 4 had a- son Lemuel 5 , born in 1749, and died Oct. 1, 1786 ; " a very worthy and valuable man," says the church record of Northfield. Luther 6 , son of Lemuel 5 , born in 1777, died Sept. 24, 1835; he married April 2, 1801, Betsey Hodges, who died Jan. 30, 1845, aged sixty-three. They had thirteen children, among whom were Fanny, born Aug. 6, 1803, married Oct. 16, 1825, Simeon P. Moody: Betsey, married Jan. 3, 1828, Edwin Moody; these were the parents of Dwight Lyman Moody : Martha and Mary (twins) born June 11, 1809;

the former married May 20, 1838, Zebulon Allen ; the latter married Jan. 14, 1841, Lewis Ferrell of Greenfield: Calvin, born Oct. 11, 1811, married Susan, sister to Anson Burlingame : Samuel Socrates, married (1) October, 1843, Elizabeth J. Clapp of Boston, (2) Tryphenia S., her sister, (3) Nov. 24, 1859, Georgiana D., another sister : Lemuel, born Feb. 21, 1822, married in 1848 Maria Brown, (2) Amelia Smith. Samuel S. and his brother Lemuel have long been engaged in business in Boston. 1

The town of Northfleld, in which the evangelist had his birth, is situated in the north-easterly part of Franklin County, Mass., and. is noted for its picturesque and varied scenery.

The Connecticut River winds gracefully through a rich alluvial soil in the westerly section of the town ; while various mountain-peaks, with charming valleys intervening, present delightful scenic views upon the right and left. Several mountain streams, as the Squakeag and the Mill Brook, on the latter of which are the celebrated Glen Falls, glide through the landscape, set in motion here and there a saw-mill, and then enter the main river.

The principal street of Northfleld extends along an elevated plain on the left bank of the river ; and the

1 The above sketches of the Moody and Holton families have been compiled chiefly from that excellent work, the History of Northfleld; by J. H. Temple and George Sheldon, published by Joel Munsell, Albany, N.Y., 1875; and the chart of a portion of the Holton family, by David Parsons Holton, M.D., of New York City.

LIFE OF DWIGHT LYMAN MOODY.

dwelling-houses, ornamented with gardens, fruit and forest trees, present a scene of quiet rural beauty such as a Shenstone or a Goldsmith might admire.

The population in 1875 was 1,641. The men are mostly farmers, — healthful, robust, independent; and their extensive herds, as well as ample barns, attest the

NORT

LD VILLAGE LOOKING NORTH.

fertility of the soil in this part of the beautiful valley of the Connecticut River.

The Massachusetts and Vermont Railway follows the direction of the main street; and at the centre, near the station, may be seen the two churches of the town, and the rural cemetery where the ashes of the Moody family repose. The Indian name of the place was Squakeag ; and people from Hadley and Northampton

THE MOODY AND THE HOLTON FAMILIES.

began to settle here as early as 1663. Being, however, on the frontier, they suffered greatly from the savages, who saw with no good-will the encroachment of the whites upon their territory.

Several assaults were made upon the settlement; and the memory of one of them, in which Capt. Richard

NORTHFIELD VILLAGE LOOKING SOUTH.

Beers was killed, is perpetuated in the name of a mountain in the southerly part of the town.

Some remains of the aborigines still appear, among which are two Indian mounds about fifteen feet in height, in the vicinity of the Moody place. There is also a ledge between the Moody place and the centre of the town, which marks the spot where Mr. Aaron Belding was killed by the Indians as late as 1748.

The town was incorporated Feb. 22, 1713, and is noted as the birthplace of the Rev. Caleb Alexander, D.D. (1755-1828), author of several schoolbooks ; and of Joel Munsell, well known as a writer and an antiquarian publisher.

It is also noted as the residence of Timothy Swan, composer of the original tune " China," who died here July 23, 1842, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.

The first minister of the place was the Rev. Benjamin Doolittle, ordained in 1718 ; and among his parishioners were the Holton family, of whom William Holton had been one of the committee appointed by the General Court to lay out the town.

The house in which Dwight Lyman Moody was born, and which is still occupied by his venerable mother, is of two stories, and stands at a little distance from the main street, about a mile north of the centre of the town, and about one-fourth of a mile east of the Connecticut River. It is a plain, commodious farmhouse, well shaded by some fine old rock-maple trees, and having near it a pleasant garden and an apple-orchard.

The view from this point is superb. The fair Connecticut River is seen for several miles sweeping along down through the luxuriant meadows, and spanned by a distant bridge; the grand old mountains raise their wooded sides and isolated peaks on either hand ; while smiling valleys, in which flocks and herds are feeding, serve to heighten the enchantment of the scene. If delightful Alpine prospects have some tendency to invigorate and inspire the mind with vivid and original ideas, then certainly to the early home of the evangelist, may we not ascribe something of the vigor and strength of thought which he now manifests ?

The house was built by Mr. Lyman P. Moody, who married Fanny Holton, sister of Mrs. Betsey (Holton) Moody ; and the parents of Dwight Lyman Moody came to live in it soon after their marriage on the 3d of January, 1828.

The little district schoolhouse, painted red, stood near it ; and a short distance northerly the Squakeag Brook speeds merrily along into the river.

The house was then supplied with water by an aqueduct from the mountains.

Mr. Edwin Moody, father of the evangelist, was a strong, active, sensible man, who gained his livelihood by working at stone-masonry and at farming. In form and size his celebrated son resembles him. His wife was a good manager, and noted for her sterling womanly virtues ; so that for some time after marriage their home was prosperous, and they indulged the hope that the wants of their increasing family would be well supplied. But by an unfortunate speculation Mr. Moody lost a large part of his property ; and while engaged in laying stone on the twenty-eighth day of May, 1841, he was suddenly seized with illness of which in a few hours he died, — leaving a widow with six sons and a daughter, the oldest of whom was but thirteen years of

LIFE OF DWIGHT LYMAN MOODY.

THE MOOD? AND THE HOLTON FAMILIES. 27

age, and a homestead of a few acres which was heavily encumbered with debt.

About a month subsequent to the decease of the father, a boy and a girl (twins) were added to the family.

Dwight Lyman, who had been named from a friend of his father, was then a little more than four years old. " The first thing I remember, " says Mr. Moody in an impressive sermon on the Prodigal Son, " was the death of my father. It was a beautiful day in spring time, when he fell suddenly dead. The shock made such an impression on me, young as I was, that I shall never forget it. I remember nothing about the funeral; but his death has made a lasting impression on me."

It was fortunate for him that he had a good mother. Almost all great men have had good mothers. Lamartine, Cowper, Way land, Washington, had good mothers. It is the mother's gentle hand that traces the key-words of its destiny on the heart of the little child ; it is the mother's approving voice that wakens aspiration in the soul.

But, with nine small children in that fatherless home, what could Mrs. Moody hope to do ?

With no income, with the burden of such a family, with no visible means of sustenance at her command, how could the very best of mothers keep from sinking under the oppressive weight? Whence were the food for so many little mouths, the shoes for so many little feet, to come ?

To the God of the widow and the fatherless Mrs. Moody went ; and he sustained her.

Some of her friends advised her to give a part of her little ones away. But a good mother loves to have her children at her side ; and so this noble woman determined to keep them all at home, and by rigid economy feed and clothe them as she could.

This period of her life was one of care and trial, such as the daughters of ease and affluence learn only from the fashionable romance ; but out of such experience comes that nobility of soul that forms the fairest jewel in the crown of womanhood.

She kept the older children steadily employed in cultivating the garden, picking berries, apples, and chestnuts, which are abundant in that region, or in rendering assistance to the farmers of the neighborhood, who made the boys a fair compensation for their labor. She found in her pastor, the Rev. Oliver Capen Everett, 1 a sympathizing friend who took a lively interest in the welfare of her family. Her brothers and sisters kindly aided her in her struggles to sustain the household; and thus by her own incessant toil and forethought, by some assistance from the hands of the older children, by the encouraging words and aid of

1 He was the son of Otis Everett, and was born Aug. 20, 1811; H.C 1832; settled over the church at Northfield March 8, 1837, and was dismissed JSTov. 26, 1848. He married May 25, 1837, Betsy, daughter of Daniel Weld of Boston, by whom he had Oliver Weld, Edward Eranklin, Moses Williams, and Oliver Hurd. He was subsequently a minister at large in Charlestown, Mass.

her benevolent pastor, and the benefactions of her kindred, this brave woman managed to keep her fatherless group of boys and girls together, to send them to the little school near by, and to appear with them on the Lord's day in decent apparel at . Mr. Everett's church and sabbath school.

It was the custom of Mrs. Moody to read and explain to her little ones the books which they brought home with them, and to instil into their tender minds the simple precepts of the gospel. She often repeated to them, as they were seated around the scanty board, some verse of Scripture, or of sacred poetry, which they said over till it was fairly fixed in memory.