MARION HARLAND’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY THE STORY OF A LONG LIFE [Illustration] HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON MCMX Copyright, 1910, by HARPER & BROTHERS ———— _All rights reserved_ ———— Published April, 1910 _Printed in the United States of America_ WITH REVERENT TENDERNESS THIS SIMPLE STORY OF MY LONG LIFE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. FOREBEARS AND PATRON SAINT 1 II. LAFAYETTE; REVOLUTIONARY TALES; PARENTS’ MARRIAGE 16 III. A COUNTRY EXILE; DEATH OF THE FIRST-BORN; CHANGE OF HOME; A FIRESIDE TRAGEDY; “COGITO, ERGO SUM” 27 IV. A BERSERKER RAGE; A FRIGHT; THE WESTERN FEVER; MONTROSE; A MOTHER REGAINED 37 V. OUR POWHATAN HOME; A COUNTRY FUNERAL; “OLD MRS. O’HARA” 52 VI. OLD-FASHIONED HUSBAND’S LOVE-LETTER; AN ALMOST HOMICIDE; A “SLAUGHTERED MONSTER”; A WESLEYAN SCHOOLMISTRESS 61 VII. MY FIRST TUTOR; THE REIGN OF TERROR 70 VIII. CALM AFTER STORM; OUR HANDSOME YANKEE GOVERNESS; THE NASCENT AUTHOR 84 IX. A COLLEGE NEIGHBORHOOD; THE WORLD WIDENS; A BELOVED TUTOR; COLONIZATION DREAMS AND DISAPPOINTMENT; MAJOR MORTON 90 X. FAMILY LETTERS; COMMENCEMENT AT HAMPDEN-SIDNEY; THEN AND NOW 104 XI. BACK IN POWHATAN; OLD VIRGINIA HOUSEWIFERY; A SINGING-CLASS IN THE FORTIES; THE SIMPLE LIFE? 110 XII. ELECTION DAY AND A DEMOCRATIC BARBECUE 117 XIII. A WHIG RALLY AND MUSTER DAY 129 XIV. RUMORS OF CHANGES; A CORN-SHUCKING; A NEGRO TOPICAL SONG 143 XV. THE COUNTRY GIRLS AT A CITY SCHOOL; VELVET HATS AND CLAY’S DEFEAT 149 XVI. HOME AT CHRISTMAS; A CANDY-PULL AND HOG-KILLING 162 XVII. A NOTABLE AFFAIR OF HONOR 171 XVIII. THE MENACE OF SLAVE INSURRECTION 186 XIX. WEDDING AND BRIDESMAID; THE ROUTINE OF A LARGE FAMILY; MY FIRST BEREAVEMENT 196 XX. OUR TRUE FAMILY GHOST-STORY 203 XXI. TWO MONUMENTAL FRIENDSHIPS 218 XXII. THE “OLD AFRICAN CHURCH” 227 XXIII. HOW “ALONE” CAME TO BE 237 XXIV.