“The first week the subject of composition chosen by the class was ‘The Difference between the Natural and Moral Sublime.’ One may smile at this for a child of nine years of age, but it is the best account I can give of his manner of teaching to say that the discussion which he held in the class not only made me understand the subject as thoroughly as I do now, but so excited me that I felt sure I had something to say upon it; and that first composition, though I believe half the words were misspelled, amused him greatly. “As you may see, our subjects were not trashy or sentimental, such as are often supposed to be the style for female schools.” Having thus begun what was to her the fascinating work of writing compositions, in her tenth year, so rapidly did Mrs. Stowe progress, that her essay was one of the two or three selected to be read at the school exhibition held when she was twelve years old. These exhibitions attracted to them an august assembly of visitors. Of this event Mrs. Stowe writes:[45] “I remember well the scene at that exhibition, to me so eventful. The hall was crowded with all the literati of Litchfield. Before them all our compositions were read aloud. When mine was read I noticed that father, who was sitting on high by Mr. Brace, brightened and looked interested, and at the close I heard him ask, ‘Who wrote that composition?’ ‘Your daughter, sir,’ was the answer. It was the proudest moment of my life. There was no mistaking father’s face when he was pleased, and to have interested him was past all juvenile triumphs.” “That composition has been carefully preserved, and on the old yellow sheets the cramped childish handwriting is still distinctly legible. The subject was certainly a grave one to be handled by a child of twelve.” In the personal reminiscences of Edwin D. Mansfield, we find the following passage: