Mary Harris Toy Dodge

“ Her whole heart was given to her family. It was her highest joy to make home bright and happy for her husband and children, though her heart was large enough to take in the church and the neighborhood and every one to whom she might do a kindness. From year to year she toiled patiently [54] and quietly on, with very little to relieve the monotony of her life. Vacations were a thing unheard of in that day, especially for women, and though my father made frequent journeys to various parts of the country on business, it was not thought of as possible that the mother could leave her post. ”

“ She was much occupied by business, but often on evenings she would take a walk in a quiet, beautiful lane near our home, with your Aunt Phillis and myself. In these rambles I first learned to love nature and poetry, for, to our delight, she would repeat to us choice poems which I have never forgotten. She sowed the seeds of a love of literature in my mind, which [28] time has never effaced and which has been a solace to me in prosperity and adversity. I never think of my dear sister Jane but as the most perfect and consistent Christian I ever knew. ”

“ It is no uncommon thing for a Cornishman to build his own house, make his own shoes, be both fisherman and miner, and, possibly, small shop-keeper besides; and wherever the Cornish miner emigrates, he is pretty sure to take the lead in enterprise and danger.
Wilkie Collins says: "As a body of men they are industrious, intelligent, sober, and orderly, neither soured by hard work, nor depressed by harsher privations"; and the old poet Taylor, in 1649, writes: "Cornwall is the compleate and repleate Home of Abundance, for high, churlish hills and affable, courteous people. ”

“ I hope the winters will be more mild than we expected, and that by the blessing of the Almighty you will all be happy and comfortable. Oh! how I would love to see my beloved little Mary, and my darling little Joseph, who seems inclined to remember me by expecting to find me in his new home, and I should have been much pleased to see my dear, sweet, pretty little Susan take to run off, but suppose the misfortune of pulling the hot tea over into her tender bosom put her back some time. ”

“ But the chief interest of Cornwall for our present purpose lies in the town of Camborne on the Cam, or "crooked river." It is one of the great mining centres, and has numerous rich mines, of which the principal is Dolcoath, one of the deepest and most ancient in Cornwall. It is a busy town, built mostly of stone, with nothing of note in the way of architecture. The plain parish church, with its three sharp gables, contains nothing of special interest. ”

“ The plain little church has been transformed into a neat modern one with a corner tower, [4] and the worshippers with whom my memory fills those pews all lie quietly sleeping on the hillside in the neighboring cemetery. Only their children remain to remind us of them and the good work they did in those early days, but their memory is green, [50] and the fruit of their labors is enjoyed by their children to-day. ”

“ In 1844 my father served as pastor of the Simsbury church, giving his services that the church might free itself from debt, which it did. He conducted during all those years a Bible class of ladies in the Sunday School, by whom he was greatly appreciated and beloved. The Sabbaths of those early days were far from being "days of rest" to my father and mother. They were obliged to rise early to get the family ready for church, leaving home at about half-past nine for the two-mile ride to Hopmeadow. ”

“ Eldridge of Yarmouth, who played such an important part in our life there, whose friendship and sympathy were so constant and helpful during all the years, and whose frequent and well-chosen gifts added so much to the brightness of our home life, especially of the great kindness of Dr. Eldridge in providing a night nurse at his own expense all through my husband's first long illness. They have both passed to [86] their reward, but their memory is a treasure to us. Our people also manifested their love and appreciation by numerous and valuable gifts. ”

“ My mother was the daughter of Benjamin and Jane Osler of Falmouth, and was born August 1, 1802. The family was a very excellent one. Benjamin Osler was the son of Edward Osler and Joan Drew, sister of the famous Cornish metaphysician. He was a man of very decided character, a "gentleman of the old school." His discipline in his [18] family was very strict, though kind, the rod always occupying a conspicuous place over the mantel for the admonition of any child inclined to disobedience. A fine miniature of my Grandfather Osler is in my possession, and it is our most cherished heirloom. ”

“ There was considerable natural musical talent in the family, and, as my father had a sweet voice, he was early taken into the surpliced boy-choir of the parish church, to which one or two of his brothers belonged, though his family were devoted members of the Wesleyan church of Camborne. The beautiful ritual of the church and its impressive services had a refining influence upon the sensitive boy, and the musical training he there received was of much value to him, and gave him much enjoyment in after life. ”

“ His parents were honest, God-fearing people, training their children to a life of industry and integrity, and early leading them into the ways of piety and obedience. Joseph, being a bright, attractive child, and possessing an [12] affectionate nature, was very naturally the pet and darling of the family. While he was quite young his father died suddenly, and as the elder children were mostly married, the home was broken up, and he, with his widowed mother, was received into the family of his brother John, a man of much energy and ability, who afterwards became captain of the West Seaton mine. ”

“ So apparently trivial events often change the whole current of our lives. We became engaged during that winter, which was Mr. Dodge's junior year in college. I attended his graduation in August, 1857, accompanied by my cousin, Sarah Jane Tuller, and visited his home in Newburyport in the summer of 1859. Though hampered by delicate health and small means, he completed his theological course at Andover in 1860, and our marriage took place as soon as he secured a suitable parish.
The first wedding in the family was a great event, and no pains were spared to make it a delightful occasion. ”

“ My mother became a member of the Church of England, to which all her family belonged, at the age of seventeen, and so continued till near her marriage, when she united with the Wesleyan church in Camborne.
My grandfather Osler died at Simons Town, after some years' residence there. My grandmother returned to her English home, but most of the children, being married and settled in business at the Cape, made their homes permanently there, and their descendants are now living mostly in Simons Town and in Cape Town. After my grandmother's return to England, she taught for a time a school for girls ”

“ The funeral service was held in the Methodist Episcopal church, which was filled with friends who loved and honored my mother in life and sincerely mourned her death. A funeral sermon was preached by her pastor, Rev. M. N. Olmstead, from Acts xxvi, 8,—"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?"—in which the sorrowing family were led for comfort to the glorious certainty of the resurrection; and afterwards the sad procession took its way to the cemetery on the hillside. ”

“ Julia Osler, who, with Aunt Philippa, went out to the Cape after we left England, was married there and had one child, but died early. I have not the name of her husband.
Amelia married Gilbert Williams of Falmouth, who followed the sea. She sometimes went with him, leaving her two children, [25] Gilbert and Amelia, with her mother. The son, Gilbert, lived in Falmouth. He was an engineer, and had a large family. We visited them while in England. One daughter was named Mary Harris Dodge, for me, and one Julia Osler, for my sister Julia. ”

“ Two other children came to bless the home, Ann Jane, named for her two grandmothers, born February 23, 1842, and Julia Osler, born June 14, 1845. I must not fail to make mention of one who played quite an important part in the history of our family at this time. This was a young woman named Lucinda Andrus, who came into the family [55] April 1, 1843. She had employment in the factory and assisted my mother in such ways as she could for her board. She was a woman of excellent Christian character and great kindness of heart, though possessed of strong peculiarities. ”

“ My father early developed a fondness for reading which grew into an earnest thirst for knowledge, leading him to devote much of the time spent by other boys in play to the search for it as for hid treasure. ”

“ She was Mary Paddy Osler, the wife of my grandfather's eldest brother, Edward. Their eldest son, Edward, has descendants in Canada, with whom we have had very pleasant relations, and a daughter, Mary, was the mother of Mrs. Truran of Truro. Another son, Rev. Featherstone Osler, came out to Canada as a missionary, and became the founder of a large and influential family there. Our own relationship to them has been only lately discovered, and has been the source of much pleasure to us. Mrs. Featherstone Osler died at the age of one hundred, in 1907, a woman very remarkable and greatly beloved ”

“ Her married life was burdened with hard work and poverty, but her last years were made quite comfortable by the kindness of many friends who respected her and were glad to assist her. She died in the autumn of 1896. She is remembered by the young people of our family as "Aunt Lucinda."
We come now to the time when the clouds gathered heavily over the happy family, and its sweet light went out in darkness. My mother had not been in her usual good health during the summer, and had been at times a little low-spirited. ”

“ The manufactory was located at Tuckingmill, a village a little distance from Camborne. The business, at first small, has grown and become very successful, and has branches in many parts of Europe and America. The original firm, as represented by its successors, still carries on the business in Tuckingmill.
One of the noteworthy features of the town life is the Saturday market-day. On this day are gathered the people from all the outlying country, with varied products of farm, garden and dairy, as well as wares of all kinds, which are offered for sale in the great market-house of the town. ”

“ A contribution was secured by his efforts from the English firm to aid in building the church. It was a plain white structure with long windows and green blinds. The steeple much resembled that of the present Congregational church, but was smaller. They have been not inaptly compared to two boxes piled on one another. The pleasant-toned [48] bell still hangs in the church tower, and it was music in the ears of the little company of Methodists, when its clear notes rang out over the meadows and hillsides, calling them to worship in a church of their own. ”

“ The love of our people stood the trying test bravely. They continued the salary and supplied the pulpit, and were unwearied in their kindness and sympathy.
In the spring of 1882 we had the long-desired privilege of a journey to Europe. Our people granted us a vacation of six months, and the means were furnished by my father. We left our little Susie with my sister Susan, the other children remaining with friends in Yarmouth. It was a season of great enjoyment and profit. We visited England, Scotland, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. ”

“ She married Edward Brundell, and their home was in London. Louisa, the younger, always lived with her parents. My cousin Amelia died quite suddenly about two years ago. Jennefer married Philip Morshead of Camborne. They had two children: a son, John, who has always been a teacher, and a daughter, Annie Davis, who has been also a very successful teacher. My cousin Jennefer was a little older than myself, and was very fond of us as children before we left England. She was a favorite of my mother, and I always corresponded with her occasionally. Both she and her husband have recently died. ”

“ Her adopted sister had married Mr. Rush Tuller, a merchant in good business at Spring Hill, and with them she found a home and all needed sympathy and help in this time of trial. She was a woman of strong character and most indomitable energy, and rising [62] above her sorrow, she bravely set herself to the task of earning a support for herself and her child. She remained in her position as teacher till her son was old enough to be left, and then coming north she left him in the care of her mother and grandmother, and returned to take up her work. ”

“ His nature was cast in a merry mould, his wit was original, and in the social circle he was the happy pivot on which the pleasant moments swung. The death of our friend is a general loss to this community. ”

“ It has been said that the devil himself would be put into a pie if he were caught in Cornwall. Most of them are richly saturated with clotted cream, a real Cornish dainty, which is very popular, as are also Cornish seed-cakes.
From time immemorial Cornwall has had a leading part in the mineral industries of England. Mines of tin, copper, lead, and zinc abound, and have been the chief source [4] of revenue to the county. They give abundant employment to the laboring class, and men, women, and even children are freely employed in various ways about the mines. ”

“ As was most natural, my parents immediately connected themselves with the church of their choice in their new home. The little band composing the Methodist Episcopal church, which answered to the Wesleyan they had left at home, had at that time no church edifice and were holding Sabbath services in the schoolhouses, mostly at West Weatogue, about a mile from our house. ”