by Laura Chase Smith, Dutton Press, 1903 Chapter XV Life at Worthington Of the mind and character and Christian sentiments of the wife and mother spoken by Mr. Chase in the preceding letter, one may judge from a letter written in 1817 to a dear friend, Mr. Mary Tudor, whom she had left in her happy home in Hartford, Connecticut: "My Dear Mrs. Tudor: It is not because I have forgotten my good friends in Hartford, or my promise to you in particular, that have delayed so long in fulfilling it. Indeed so rapid I have delayed and unexpected, and so evidently directed by Divine wisdom, are the late scenes of my life, that I have had no time but to wonder and be grateful. On the 13th of May, just before sunset, I imprinted the last kiss on the check of my son George, who had lingered behind the carriage unwilling to take his final leave of his mother and little brother; to say with what emotion I drew down the curtain would be impossible. 'Father of Mercies!' said I in my heart as I took my last view of the place where I had once hoped to spend my days. 'Into Thy hands I commend myself and the events of my future life. Whatever it be Thy will to inflict, give me grace to endure, and whatever of prosperity Thou hast in store for me, give me grace to be thankful. Preserve, O God, the life and health of my dear husband and for the rest "Thy will be done"' The Sunday after I left Hartford, I spent in Utica, where several friends called upon me. At Canandaigua Miss Clark, Miss Chapin and Miss Holley. There is a beautiful church here, built since these young ladies returned from Mrs. Royce's school, and they have in their clergyman a very amiable and promising man --- Mr. Onderdonk of New York. On the tenth day after I left Hartford I reached Batavia without accident, and in much better health and spirits than when I set out upon my journey. At this place I left the stage coach and hired a wagon to take me to my sister's in Clarence. On the evening of the 25th we arrived in safety at the habitation of my sister, and were welcomed with much cordiality to the woods and the comforts of an infant settlement. The next day, without allowing myself time to rest, I set about arranging things for a summer residence in the woods. A fortnight passed away and I was content and happy, anxious only to hear from my husband, of whom I had no intelligence. On the 9th of June, a person who had been at Buffalo on business, brought me a letter from Mr. Chase, which said ' I am on my way to Cincinnati; in good health. Send the goods to Sandusky and come yourself in a packet to Cleveland where I will (God willing) meet you by the middle of next month, with wagons, horses, conductors, etc., to your heart's content.' Dated at Columbus, May 12th, 1817. I found I had no time to lose and immediately set about preparing myself for the journey. At the same time, it set in to rain and it was not until the 15th of the month at 4 P. M. that I was able to go on board for Cleveland. The wind was fair and the hope of soon meeting my husband put me in good spirits. 'I think you have been at sea,' said a passenger, 'and must be acquainted with the danger of overloading the vessel. Pray, do you not think we are in danger if we should have a blow?' We had beside other lading, nine hundred barrels of salt on board. For a moment Hope let go her anchor! I was safely landed at Cleveland on the 17th of June about 10 A. M. and with other passengers went to the only decent public house in the place. As soon as I arrived and the host appeared, I asked him if there was a clergyman here by the name of Chase. 'No' 'Has there been any one of that name?' 'No. A Mr. Searle has been here, but no Mr. Chase.' I then directed my brother to go to the post-office for letters. He returned in a moment with no letter. Not more than ten minutes passed, when a gentleman inquired for Mrs. Chase, and when he was shown into the room said that he had just heard of my arrival and thought it would be gratifying to me to learn something of my husband! 'I heard him preach yesterday, ' said he, 'and he will be here in a few hours.' In a few hours, indeed only three, I found myself in my dear husband's arms. He is browner and older, but in good health and spirits. May the goodness of God to me this day ever warm and animate my spirit! We were in Cleveland two days, and then Mr. Chase left us to visit some of the newly formed parishes on the Reserve and to return a horse loaned him to visit throughout the State. I and my family proceeded in a covered wagon to Canton, where we waited four days for Mr. Chase; he having joined us, we again set forward, passing through Kendal to Worster, distant thirty-five miles from Canton, over the worst roads that can be imagined. From Worster to Frederick, forty miles, the roads were good, and the country delightful. Indeed when I passed over this part of the country I forgave those writers who,in describing this new world appear rather to be speaking of a world of imagination than one of reality. This country is varied with hill and upland, and one may fancy the prairies to be cultivated meadows adorned with beautiful and fragrant wild flowers, and skirted with a mingling of wild plum and crab-apple. The uplands are gently ascending and thinly scattered with beautiful forest trees. Here one may imagine some gentleman of taste and fortune has fixed his residence, and in adorning the lands about his home has so artfully disposed his vines and trees as to be taken for Nature's rival. Were it not for the certainty that this beautiful and picturesque country is inhabited by persons not famous for neatness, taste or civilization, one could imagine some castle or villa amid the scenery so delightful. >From Frederick to this place, the soil is rich but the country is new, yet everywhere affording abundance where man is not sparing of his labor. On the first day of July we arrived at this place. I cannot tell you with what emotion I beheld this spot, which is probably to be my home for life. At any rate, if I should ever be called upon to seek a new home again, I shall be spared the pain of breaking attachments and separating from friends as much to be valued of their mental attainments as for their Christian lives. But may God avert the necessity of another removal. With my husband and children around me and living in the mist of people whom the ordinances of religion have a beneficial influence, and where the sphere of my husband's influence is greatly enlarged, I am content till the Great Shepherd shall call me to the fold of everlasting rest. Oh! if there is anything that wholly weans us from the world, it is having no place in it that one can call home, living like our ancient exemplars, 'strangers and pilgrims' even in a land of promise. Worthington, the place of our present residence, is pleasantly situated on the left bank of the Whetstone, one of the branches of the Scioto River. It is but thirteen years since the first family moved to this wilderness. The settlers are for the most part from New England, sober and industrious people. There is a large brick academy with several handsome brick houses; a large cotton factory and a church are to be built next year. Mr. Chase is appointed principal of the Academy, an office at present merely nominal. This is the field designed for Philander, if it shall please God to preserve his life and health and to keep him 'unspotted from the world.' (She must be referring to her son,Philander) To you, who can so readily enter into my feelings, I can say, that if any evil should come to this dear boy, it would require the utmost exertion of my Christian faith with unfeigned sincerity and resignation to say 'Thy will be done'; knowing my own heart, I pray our Father in Heaven that He will spare me the trial I should be so little able to bear. I endured the journey hither much better than could have been imagined, but my little Dudley has not been so well and requires much care." Here this letter was laid aside and nothing was added to it until October 20th, a period of several months, during which the brave heart of this gentle and lovely woman had evidently been fighting with homesickness in the strange and ungenial conditions of life in a new country, where competent nurses and ordinary household service could not be obtained, ill herself, and gradually sinking with that illusive disease, consumption, and her little son seriously ill, she evidently rallied all her failing strength to do her utmost to live for the sake of those she loved. This touching letter is resumed October 20, 1817: "You see, my dear Mrs. Tudor, by the different dates of my letter that I have been long neglectful of my acknowledged obligation. This is owning to my baby's illness and that we are unable to procure any help. With a sick child who requires by day and night my constant care, it was not surprising that this state of things should bring on my old trouble, hemorrhage of the lungs. This brought on so great weakness at times, that I could scarcely arise from my bed, but as the weather became cooler and the little boy is better, I think I am somewhat improved. The weather is fine and I have been able of late to ride every moring, which has contributed much to my health and to that of my little son. May I be duly thankful for all my blessings. I have just learned by a letter from Philander of the alarming sickness which prevails at Cambridge. May the good God protect my boy! I know not how it is, now why it is, but my heart has been full of anxiety ever since I have been in this place. My imagination is not apt to get better of my judgment, but in this case I own myself to be a very child. I hope all Mr. Chase's friends will forgive him for seeming want of attention to them. He has scarcely an unoccupied moment, the care of his parishes and of the infant church in this new world, and the necessity of providing a shelter for his family during the coming winter, completely fill his time. Tell dear Mrs. Adams that I have the satisfaction of informing her that I am not likely to become joint inhabitant with the pigs and fowls of a log cabin, and though we have not everything we could wish for, we have enough to be thankful for. Among those I knew in Hartford I know of none whom I am likely to forget. My illness and that of my family must apologize for my delay in writing; even now, I write with my boy at my elbow, talking or crying, while on the other hand is the daily provision for my family. Remember me most affectionately to Mr. Tudor, and may God have you both in His Holy Keeping. Ever your Friend, Mary Chase Letter from Mary Chase to her son George, giving impressions of the early days at Worthington: "Worthington, Ohio, Nov. 11th, 1817 My Dear Son By Mr. Russell I write you for the first time since my arrival in this new world. Not that I have ceased to think of you very often and to pray to God for you, with fervor of a fond parent separated from her darling children. O, when I meet you again, may I find you such as my heart will fondly acknowledge and my mind justly commend! Your father having written to both of you, when we first came here, and given a description both of our journey and situation in this place, our hopes and prospects to come, it remains to me only to pick up the scarps of information which may perhaps be links in the chain of information communicated to you by your father. It was a rather singular circumstance in the events of my life that the first intelligence I should receive of you after my arrival in this country, should have been by the way of the President of the United States. <<< James Monroe>>>. Yet so is the fact; he said he saw you and left you in good health with your uncle in Vermont. Your father has quite recovered his health since his coming to this country, and he enters into the business of farming with the enthusiasm which is so peculiar to himself. He has been setting out apple trees, and six hundred is to complete his orchard of the present. Peach and apple trees there are now growing and producing fruit; a nursery and a variety of other fruit trees will complete the projects of the present year. Little Dud is full of mischief as he can be, and altogether a most lovely and interesting boy. His hair is rather long with accrue at the ends, soft and glossy, his eyes bright with intelligence, rosy cheeks, a double chin, and is altogether one of the best formed children I have ever seen, insomuch that a lady told me she would take him for a model if she were going to draw a Cupid; and as to his mind, thanks to a merciful Creator, it is by no means below mediocrity. He has, what I dare say will please you, an evident partially for martial music, and will dance and march with all the fervor imaginable. Without being able to yet speak plainly he will point out a number of the letters, and seems to delight to be able to do so. He is preserving in his disposition, but will relinquish his most favorable pursuit out of affection to his friends. Blessed be God of all His mercies to me, in making me the parent of children with so many and rich endowments. May neither I nor they forget that the life and talents He Has given were for the improvement and for eternity, and when we go thither, may none of us be wanting. My health has not been good since I have been in this country, but it seems better now than it has been. A blessing seems to be attending everything relative to our coming to this country. Our journey and meeting were next to a miracle, and everything we have put our hands to do seems to have had the Divine blessing added. May I ever be duly sensible of and thankful for all the mercies of God toward me and mine; and what I say more --- be a good boy and remember that you are as a son to your uncle and aunt; never forfeit their love for you by any downright disrespect or disobedience. Friendship is easily kept, but lost when not is not easily regained, and you are now arrived to manhood, and what was excused and forgiven in the child will long be remembered in the man. I do not feel quite well or I believe I should not have written you quite so dull al letter and one so little interesting, but my spirits are not always good, and when I think of the distance between me and my children, I am quite in the blues; but now I can do nothing for them but commit them with my blessing into the hands of a merciful God. May He have them now and ever in His Holy keeping." "Mary Chase" End Chapter XV Harriet M. Chase hatchase@uswest.net