Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910Richards, Laura Elizabeth Howe
History
Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910
Richards, Laura Elizabeth Howe
Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography; Feminists -- United States -- Biography; Howe, Julia Ward, 1819-1910
Not long after this, on May 27, 1819, a second daughter was born, and
named Julia.
Julia Ward was very little when her parents moved to "a large house on
the Bowling Green, a region of high fashion in those days."[6] Here were
born three more children: Francis Marion, Louisa Cutler, and Ann Eliza.
For some time before the birth of the last-named child, Mrs. Ward's
health had been gradually failing, though every known measure had been
used to restore it. There had been journeys to Niagara and up the
Hudson, in the family coach, straw-color outside with linings and
cushions of brilliant blue. Little Julia went with her mother on these
journeys; the good elder sister, Eliza Cutler, was also of the party;
and a physician, Dr. John Wakefield Francis, who was later to play an
important part in the family life. Julia remembered many incidents of
these journeys, though the latest of them took place when she was barely
four years old. She sat in a little chair placed at the feet of her
elders, and she used to tell us how, cramped with remaining in one
position, she was constantly moving the chair, bringing its feet down on
those of Dr. Francis, to his acute anguish. In spite of this, the good
doctor would often read to her from a book of short tales and poems
which had been brought for her amusement, and she always remembered his
reading of "Pity the sorrows of a poor old man," and how it brought the
tears to her eyes.
[6] _Reminiscences_, p. 4.
At Niagara Falls she asked Dr. Francis, "Who made that great hole where
the water came down?" and was told "The great Maker of all!" This
puzzled her, and she inquired further, but when her friend said, "Do you
not know? Our Father who art in heaven!" she "felt that she ought to
have known, and went away somewhat abashed."[7]
[7] _Reminiscences_, p. 4.
She remembered a visit to Red Jacket, the famous Indian chief, at his
encampment. Julia was given a twist of tobacco tied with blue ribbon,
which she was to present to him. At sight of the tall, dignified savage,
the child sprang forward and threw her arms round his neck, to the great
discomfiture of both; baby as she was, Julia felt at once that her
embrace was unexpected and unwelcome.
Sometimes they went to the pleasant farm at Jamaica, Long Island, where
Lieutenant-Colonel Ward was living at this time, with his unmarried
sons, and his two daughters, Phœbe and Anne.
Phœbe was an invalid saint. She lived in a darkened room, and the
plates and dishes from which she ate were of brown china or crockery, as
she fancied her eyes could not bear white. Anne was equally pious, but
more normal. She it was who managed the farm, and who would always bring
the cheeses to New York herself for the market, lest any of the family
grow proud and belittle the dignity of honest work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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