a new england girlhood-第40章
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charts of cranial 〃bumps。〃 This was profitable business to them for a while； as almost everybody who invested in a 〃character〃 received a good one； while many very commonplace people were flattered into the belief that they were geniuses； or might be if they chose。
Mesmerism followed close upon phrenology； and this too had its lecturers； who entertained the stronger portion of their audiences by showing them how easily the weaker ones could be brought under an uncanny influence。
The most widespread delusion of the time was Millerism。 A great many personsand yet not so many that I knew even one of them believed that the end of the world was coming in the year 1842； though the date was postponed from year to year； as the prophesy failed of fulfillment。 The idea in itself was almost too serious to be jested about； and yet its advocates made it so literal a matter that it did look very ridiculous to unbelievers。
An irreverent little workmate of mine in the spinning…room made a string of jingling couplets about it； like this：
〃Oh dear！ oh dear！ what shall we do In eighteen hundred and forty…two？
〃Oh dear！ oh dear！ where shall we be In eighteen hundred and forty…three？
〃Oh dear！ oh dear！ we shall be no more In eighteen hundred and forty…four；
〃Oh dear！ oh dear！ we sha'n't be alive In eighteen hundred and forty…five。〃
I thought it audacious in her； since surely she and all of us were aware that the world would come to an end some time； in some way； for every one of us。 I said to myself that I could not have 〃made up〃 those rhymes。 Nevertheless we all laughed at them together。
A comet appeared at about the time of the Miller excitement； and also a very unusual illumination of sky and earth by the Aurora Borealis。 This latter occurred in midwinter。 The whole heavens were of a deep rose…coloralmost crimsonreddest at the zenith； and paling as it radiated towards the horizon。 The snow was fresh on the ground； and that； too； was of a brilliant red。 Cold as it was； windows were thrown up all around us for people to look out at the wonderful sight。 I was gazing with the rest； and listening to exclamations of wonder from surrounding unseen beholders； when somebody shouted from far down the opposite block of buildings； with startling effect；
〃You can't stand the fire In that great day！〃
It was the refrain of a Millerite hymn。 The Millerites believed that these signs in the sky were omens of the approaching catastrophe。 And it was said that some of them did go so far as to put on white 〃ascension robes；〃 and assemble somewhere； to wait for the expected hour。
When daguerreotypes were first made； when we heard that the sun was going to take everybody's portrait； it seemed almost too great a marvel to be believed。 While it was yet only a rumor that such a thing had been done； somewhere across the sea； I saw some verses about it which impressed me much； but which I only partly remember。 These were the opening lines： 〃Oh； what if thus our evil deeds Are mirrored on the sky； And every line of our wild lives Daguerreotyped on high！〃
My sister and I considered it quite an event when we went to have our daguerreotypes taken just before we started for the West。 The photograph was still an undeveloped mystery。
Things that looked miraculous then are commonplace now。 It almost seems as if the children of to…day could not have so good a time as we did； science has left them so little to wonder about。 Our attitudethe attitude of the timewas that of children climbing their dooryard fence； to watch an approaching show； and to conjecture what more remarkable spectacle could be following behind。 New England had kept to the quiet old…fashioned ways of living for the first fifty years of the Republic。 Now all was expectancy。 Changes were coming。 Things were going to happen； nobody could guess what。
Things have happened； and changes have come。 The New England that has grown up with the last fifty years is not at all the New England that our fathers knew。 We speak of having been reared under Puritanic influences； but the traditionary sternness of these was much modified； even in the childhood of the generation to which I belong。 We did not recognize the grim features of the Puritan； as we used sometimes to read about him； in our parents or relatives。 And yet we were children of the Puritans。
Everything that was new or strange came to us at Lowell。 And most of the remarkable people of the day came also。 How strange it was to see Mar Yohannan； a Nestorian bishop； walking through the factory yard in his Oriental robes with more than a child's wonder on his face at the stir and rush of everything！ He came from Boston by railroad； and was present at the wedding at the clergyman's house where he visited。 The rapidity of the simple Congregational service astonished him。
〃What？ Marry on railroad； too？〃 he asked。
Dickens visited Lowell while I was there； and gave a good report of what he saw in his 〃American Notes。〃 We did not leave work even to gaze at distinguished strangers； so I missed seeing him。 But a friend who did see him sketched his profile in pencil for me as he passed along the street。 He was then best known as 〃Boz。〃
Many of the prominent men of the country were in the habit of giving Lyceum lectures； and the Lyceum lecture of that day was a means of education； conveying to the people the results of study and thought through the best minds。 At Lowell it was more patronized by the mill…people than any mere entertainment。 We had John Quincy Adams； Edward Everett； John Pierpont； and Ralph Waldo Emerson among our lecturers； with numerous distinguished clergymen of the day。 Daniel Webster was once in the city； trying a law case。 Some of my girl friends went to the court…room and had a glimpse of his face； but I just missed seeing him。
Sometimes an Englishman； who was studying our national institutions； would call and have a friendly talk with us at work。 Sometimes it was a traveler from the South； who was interested in some way。 I remember one； an editor and author from Georgia； who visited our Improvement Circle； and who sent some of us 〃Offering〃 contributors copies of his book after he had returned home。
One of the pleasantest visitors that I recall was a young Quaker woman from Philadelphia； a school…teacher； who came to see for herself how the Lowell girls lived； of whom she had heard so much。 A deep； quiet friendship grew up between us two。 I wrote some verses for her when we parted； and she sent me one cordial； charmingly…written letter。 In a few weeks I answered it； but the response was from another person； a near relative。 She was dead。 But she still remains a real person to me； I often recall her features and the tone of her voice。 It was as if a beautiful spirit from an invisible world had slipped in among us； and quickly gone back again。
It was an event to me； and to my immediate friends among the mill…girls； when the poet Whittier came to Lowell to stay awhile。 I had not supposed that it would be my good fortune to meet him； but one evening when we assembled at the 〃Improvement Circle；〃 he was there。 The 〃Offering〃 editor； Miss Harriet Farley； had lived in the same town with him； and they were old acquaintances。 It was a warm； summer evening。 I recall the circumstance that a number of us wore white dresses； also that I shrank back into myself； and felt much abashed when some verses of mine were read by the editor；with others so much better； however； that mine received little attention。 I felt relieved； for I was not fond of having my productions spoken of； for good or ill。 He commended quite highly a poem by another member of the Circle； on 〃Pentucket；〃 the Indian name of his native place； Haverhill。 My subject was 〃Sabbath Bells。〃 As the Friends do not believe in 〃steeple…houses；〃 I was at liberty to imagine that it was my theme； and not my verses； that failed to interest him。
Various other papers were read；stories； sketches； etc。； and after the reading there was a little conversation； when he came and spoke to me。 I let the friend who had accompanied me do my part of the talking for I was too much overawed by the presence of one whose poetry I had so long admired； to say a great deal。 But
