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CHiPTE& YVIII

THE. FAN=S A,:i Jt

American homes of the nineteenth Century usuat >,y contained one

room on which much treasure was lavished . Generally it was to be seen

and admired; seldom was it used. Its doors esung open , however,, on

formal oceabaons such as a bunCay afternoon cat , a wedding yr a funeaai.

searing into this room, which of coarse was the parlor, one saw shining

horsehair ciuiirs, a melodeon or piano, a "s.hatnot" In the corner, severe:

;:ictures on the wall, and In the carter of the room a . iarge table on which

the good housewife had carefu:J;; arranged three or four choice books.

One of these was a icsge e;:bossed edition of the Hoyt Hibse. Its presence

testified to the Chribtian character of the tardy. 6esdom, however, n.as

it opened. bihan a need arose for the Ho3,; -ord of God , one usna.aj :iis-

covered a smaller anu :nc+or i- copy on the fibrarj shelves or in the kitchen

alongside of an p^T':•nuc , motler*s de)end:,bie cookoook , am a voiaeu devoted

to household remedies.just

The. larger f;,mihy bible was not always, an auject of

admiration. :ith much formality, father ,,romyy entered into it the vital

statistics of the fami .j so th:.t future generations might not forget the

names of their i"u::trious ancestors . And when some visiting CM id en-

countered difficulty in sitting u1 to t„e dinner table, father was wont to

elevate the youngster by placing be::eath bin the precioas faaiay bible.

Many a chill received this much of a raiigicub foundation.

.Adjacent to this honorable tome was a smaller pWah Nook on chich,

in golden and fancy letters , api.eared the words, "Fandiy album.' In all

probability one of these adorned the arlor table in time ray home . Turning

its thick pages we discover several likenesses of ..aauei Joseph gay. A

genial face greets us and we hasten to look at eyes hnd south, those common

denominators of personality. Snail bron.n ejes, well-fortified by somewhat

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heavy eyebrows, have lids that droop a trifle. 'go the right aid left,

slight crow scratches which, on the inner, side of seta eye, c4S over the

'bridge of a large nose and be. themseaveb in furrows tact cross a broad

and high forehead. Nature sculptured a rather largemouth, though ithad.

been ratter stingy in respect to the tightly pressed lips. Determination

and fortitude are written boldy over the attire face. :;tern? Generally,

no. It was, as we have said, a genial face aria as we gaze taereon one can

almost catch a merry t..inklein the eyes, and tns mouth seems auoat ready

to widen into a happy smile. :hose echo know him intimates welled at

the nobility of his countenance. rurin€ most of his later situ, ile worea

beard a;hieh , starting out as sideburn :., cro,.t doxn the cheeks avoiding lips

and chin, and lost itself on the neck. 4 igin -r y it nut been a cask brown

beard, though by the Civil tar days it had bGcira sligntiy gray. un the

other hunt , his hair had :xarQl+ any gray in it at the time of his death

and retained the silky luster of his youth.

As a Sad, liaj was of delicate nature; never recast as ais Yiay-

metes. His lareiats, however,. sad bestowed upon him a good frame and a

sound constitution - advantages that gradually aaaertec tnemselves as he

grew older . Classmates at hha vard saw him as a young uxsa of midg e stature,

erect in carriage and weld proportioned though, some..hat slender. a n in-

crease in girth folowed as midd.e age approached, but he was never what

might be called stout. His step was firm and his body erect. He disliked

stooping shoulders and sagging abdomens and was forever at his children to

stand straight. long hours in the garden , the pruning of his aims and

maples , the daily chores about the house , ant: the carrying of a,^_nles from

orchard to cellar, made for strong muscles and itWsica- atrengta . Never-an

athlete, stial he was willing to engage in the piny and gnaw of the children

at the annual :iunday school picnics. Play and work i ,romoted a good appetite,

I

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though Lucretia solemnly declared be would eat like a horse at any time

regardless of exercise . Meat atL fish he but as was particularly

fond of boiled rice and cauiifioaer. Many of the vegetables that adorned

his table were gnovn by his own hand. Par drink, there was nothing likethat

a cu; of tea. Only on his 4uopecan tour does it appear/he touched sis.uor

to any degree. Rio strict temperance views forbade its uses though his tip-

king of a bottle of Kidder's Qordiag. gave rise to a goospatured fenily gibe

that he 'should not drink health in medicins.w

It is a pity that none of the records =ads at the tic-e of his

membership in the American Phonogra1h -ociety have been preserved. mere

they available, we might verify Theodore. Parker 'a characterization of Lay's

smooths effective and powerf :il }mice. "Cow made tat voices" Parker stated

on one occasions "on purpose to pronounce tLe acatitudea .w Others u3o

heard his public addresses and &eru:ona ..LLve -cft A-1- Vatimnyws to

his skill in speech . Although not Lulck or clever in debate , his well

thought out utterances were listened to with mu.:n resi ect. It was shays a

pleasure to Neer hie talk rega:rd^ess of ;.hat he had to . say. Consequently

he was repeatedly invited to address some grout' o ot:aai. :.itness the

several times he rend the bcciaration of -entiments before toe meetings of

the American Anti-Slavery Society. Note the occasions where he de.ivered

the key address at some peaces education, or «omenvs rigats meeting. And.

it was not merely because he was an intimate friend that he vas invited to

preach the comnomorativ , sermon on the occasion of the death of Theodore

Par`:er. Efficiency in oratory was matched by ability to sing. Nagy a

student gathering at Harvard enjoyed it rich musical, tones. P e sang because

he had a good voice; he also sa.aE because he enjoyed it. in the evening with

his son Joseph at the pianos he would lead the family in singing some church

hymn or a favorite English ballad. At church, he almost acted in the role of

the choirmaster.

Blessed with a powerful voice he had lithe difficulty in bald-

ing the attention of an audience . To entertain, however, was never his

purpose when to stunted platform or pul,,it. His voice was but an effective

tool by means of which he hoped to ctimuhr:te his listeners to some desired

end. Consequently what he said was usually well-considered ant weighed in

advance. First of all he sr_turcted himself cith a thorough knowledge of

his chosen topic. This required a:uch rec:cin;., thought ant meditation, and

he faithfully fo3loeed this rocedure whether it was to be an address be-

fore at.t-.7ortcact public meetly; or a serson to his congregation. Seldom

did he appear in church h;.ifpr.parea. Having steeped hi:se f in his sub-

ject, the next step ass the orgac:ization and drafting of his material. Here

the hours s, ent in nngliah coa{oa ition at ii:,rvcrd ant: his wide acquaintance

with the writings of t c nast_rs cane in good stem-- inch Nord was tare

fully chosen and ;arch thought vas s; :ent in turning saes so as to bring

forth their precise mek ning. bawl San;trurg once `said Uat he considered May

one of the ablest writ.:rs of his age and that he in. t::e mac:: of being able

to ernress himself by using the right cord at the right tile . ALL of which

required such sturdy and nervous energy. Uiiuceasary noise about the home

disturbed his Oven %hen hie cioottea hi;.;se .Lf within the sacrcu confines of

his study. And thou„h he emerge -- fr^c this retreat with a smile and a

118PPY word, his face and bo:.j ciearl, showed the :rice he ;aid for its

rigorous a procedure . No wonder aucretia attributed this e,s the real cause

for his illness in 1858.

Within his study, which in winter s_.a heated by an open rite, he

was surrounded by his precious books and ,a,er-. Files of the 4berator.

the Advocate of Feace. and other r ews a era are piled high in the corners

and on the floor. On the shelves were hesvy and serious world on theology,

religious history, iitercture :.na h'iloaophy. Not a library sit, that

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N

possessed by friend Parker , but still a working collection of some size

and value. Campbell's Systematic Theolozv. Gerari's nibaical Criticiaz.

Hilnan's History of "hristianity. Dymond' n £ssats. Priesttey ' s Notes on the

Old Testament and so on ran the titles of his books. liere am there ap-

peared a coy of Sronning 's poems or a stn,;; tor:: of fiction. Generali,ya

he disliked both poetry and fiction. X. acs Like Tei::q/::on'a layils of a

he could not endure, though a music al sonaet from one ofthe lake

Poets or better still a verse from goo. old "hittier strucz an apiweciative

note in his mina. He Liked i.ouisa Ira, alcott's Little women and a story

slice Tog. Brown at Oxford, but wnen :at _ucretia's.suggestion he opened some

novel she had brought fran the city libra:, he became bored and ill at ease.

Nevertheless he would wade through t---.e sa-:a, misaing so much that was of

inter.:st that ..um tie and Ciyazlotte gave him up in despair. Charlotte, in

s;ieaking of him to ner ri,i'da'ea, rwr:.ed taut he s.as:.a Little a reader

for pleasure that he looked awktart•xith a book.

Similar reactions followed is the field of :architecture. ail in-

tense admiration for hotre Dame, :.t. Peters and aest:.inctcr rssted upon his

deep reverence for these historic Ghriotien temples and not upon any keen

appreciation of their architectural beauty. ka for ;aintingo, welly he

tram . ed through the galleries of -urope and i:hise :ie admired in:.'ividual

canvasses he was somewhat bored b, having to appreciate art in such quantity.

A simple engraving depicting a runaway slave tith a b4,opdhound in ttecis-

tance gained instant approbation. On hi:. study wail hung a ;:icture of Mrs.

Fry, edinent English . humanitarian, reading to a group of rrisonera. This

was art at its best . Still he admired the works of the masters . The wails

of his home had many a reproduction of a rkapbae s or 'aitian, some of which Is

brought Lo.e'with hii from rauope.

From his diary one gains the impression that he usually retired

to his study after having eaten a bountiful breakfast.prepared by his

faithful wife. There was nothing like a Juicy beaf steak to start the

day off-with. Loacretia had to arise egr1y to attanc to his wants as he

was up and about by seven in the morning. While i.ucratia and the children

were setting the table - as3isted it times by a stout German girl - May

night tend to the fires or tanler into his study to read or write for a

few minutes . but on call from or.e of the children - it was an established

custom for the entire fuzily to be rreseut .t this me" he hcutened to

breakfast. Luring the winter conthr, he se,dxa left his study until noon,

but during the s tring, summer and fa.i. he ofteri s,)snt dart of the morning

in the garden or orchard .

He loved thib work and ..as bitt:r/j disappointed than the weather

proved incle.-cnt. vut what else co,,U, he ex cct at ayracuse, a city of

clouds,, rain and snow? "Snoring ..gaiL,w he recorus in his diary for March

24, 1969. 'Four days late= it was snow and rain. early April was no better,

though by the t..entieth of the month he rot.dthe temi:eraturawas seventy-

two degrees . Jut on May 4th he writes, "Rinter come again lit Snoring,

cold, glooq.w On such a day he most cartainsr aeferr;d the comforts of

home to the dismal weather outside . lkiin or suina, ho::ever, usually found

him leaving home directly after dinnaz. "ith cane in hen:, often a market

basket in the other , he calked forth regarciess of heat or cold. Certain

days seem to have been assigned to business activities , others to ca,rin

on his parishioners with whom he always loved to visit. . Of course this routine

web frequently interrupted by attendance at various reetings or trips to

neighboring towns. -onetimee it was the bbrber , doctor , or dentist that

broke the accustomed rocadure. If at a,ll rofisiole, he preferred tp send

his ev.^uinga at home, reading or playing game with his children.

Hip children meant no much to him. There was nothing he would

not do to promote their growth and happiness . He wanted them to develop

into . splendid an and women. Often in the evening,when they were asleep,

he and Lucretia would talk and make plane about their future . And as the

years sped by the parents began to see the fruits of their efforts. One

by one the children grew to mans estate and embarked upon their on lives

and fortunes. but they never forgot their old home and on nary occasions

returned,mach to the joy of mother and father. During their aosences,

many letters passed back and forth and when, for some reason or.other, none

had been received , the aging parents found solace and comfort in.lookb at

their likenesses in the family album. end as they gazed upon quaint

daguerreotypes and photographs a flood of happy memories rushed through

their minds . Too bad they nod none of poor sittse.Joseph, now dead for so

many years , but still an object of love and affectiont

Here, however, was a picture of John Mward - what a fine boy he

had been and how, like Lucretia, he had disliked his father's repeated ab-

sences during the days spent at Brooklyn. fchooldays had been spent withhe

his sister, Charlotte, at south Scituate and Lexington, and for a time/had

been sent to a boarding school in Boston. 24 high school life had beenhe

in Syracuse and,whhile he showed a distinct attitude for study ,iniicated no

desire to enter college . His mind ran torard practical things ; be panted

to be a man of business. Possibly , so his parents reasoned, be might profit

from technical training and so he was shipped off to Troy , There he became

a student in the hensselaer Politechnical Institute . Later, he returned to

Syracuse and in 1852 became a member of the firm of lard Hay and Heermane,

wholesale and retail dealers in hardware at 13 Mat later Street. For the

next fin years he worked hard at this business . ++uring this period, such

to the delight of the family, he lived at home. His areseace was "ways a

_3"_

source of great comfort to Lucretia , especially when father had dashed

away on some trip or other . bonnie loved him and was forever visiting

his brother's office where , perched high before some table, he would writ

letters to friends and relatives . John ldward'a business venture terminated

in 1137. iuring .. the course of the next few months , he made several trips

to Boston, Albany and New York in the hope of discovering some other work

that interested him. Nothing , however , materia used.

Although saddened by their sons disappointments, lay and his .

wife were cheered by the good fortunes that attended Charlotte , their one

and only daughter. During the k1outa -cituate and Lexington dayys, Charlotte

had grown in mind and stature. Often when her mother visited the Coffins

in Boston and ?ortsmouth, Charlotte assumed direction of household duties

and showered much attention upon father and brothers . Her education was

the best these towns could afford . Additional training in Clench was given

by Lucretia and the family purse web stretched so as to provide piano ^so-

sons . She was twelve years old when her parents moved to Syracuse qnd after

a few years at Liss Braabury's School settled down to a Life at home which

she greatly enjoyed and always cherished. May's diary .provides many en

interesting glimpse of her doings. 'he seems to have shared with her mother

the duties about the home and often helped her father in the social work

of the perish. jhe made friends easiyy and soon became a favorite among

those of her own age. One of these, Alfred hilkinson, son of May's most

loyal parishioner, and a young awn of considerable promise, showed more than

usual interested in pretty, brown-hued Charlotte. By 1854 the-friendship

between the two assumed a more serious aspect and in J%4 of that year theyammo, oL gaT7tpfwere married. Late in September of the next year , Alfred and Charlotte

very proudly introduced their parents to their first grandchildt Margaret

May Wicinson, who most unfortunately succumbed to an attack of scarlet

''t

fever in 1857. A year later a son Alfred was born. Almost at once he be-

came known assfred to distinguish him from his father , abo commonly ws

called "Alf." Three more children were born during the course of the next

six years, Marion, Josephine and-Louisa. Ard their pictures were duly

added to the family album.

Turning the pages of this expanding volume , father and mother

would pause as they looked upon the likeness of Joseph, who, received most

of his elementary and high school training at Syracuse . }tamed after his

father, young Joseph determined to folio- in his footstes and in 1852

matriculated as a freshman at Harvard College. After a difficult start,

caused more by lonel3necs then anything else, Joseph.zapidl,j advanced in his,

studies, much to the delight of those at home. A con stant stream of letters

passed between Cambridge and byracuse. .,ucretia was forever watching over

her son even though they were miles apart. Careful directions were given as

to what he should eat and wear a :,d as to Use com,;nions he should associate

with. nlou have always been good," she trots on one occusicnv "ant very

litt.e exposed to evil influences and it is my most earnest desire and prayer

that you should remain so . "ome young man and nomen are very corrupting in

their conversation, full of vlsgar innuendoes, obscene hints and vile images.

Xy soul abhors it. I know darling , nothing can supply the cant of virtue

and goodness. n At other tines she inquired about his professors, studies

and his visits to the ?Says , Alcotts and Coffins.

Mayes letters to him rewind one of Lord Chesterfield's sittls

volume which fond parents of the late eighteenth century often presented to

their sons about to embark upon a site at Oxford or Cambridge. Jisy was as

much concerned about his son's health ani morals as Lucretia but wisely

elected to leave such matters to his wife . He was more interested in Joseph's

academe standing and kept constantly urging him to the boat he could. One

of his letters reads in part as follows;

I hear indirectly that you have been called upon to deliveran address or lecture or s;.eech of some sort. .set us :mow all about it.The more thought you ex_ress the more you will have. and there is noexercise of the mind that is so quickening and strengthening to all ourmental facilities as carefully arranging and clearly expressing ourthought on any subject worth thinking about.

hope too you will trice pains to acquire an excellentelocution. Do learn to read weli and speak well . accustom yourselfto speak extempore. In common conversations cultivate the,pabit ofsaying exactly what you wean to say; of using clear and appropriatelanguage and of finishing your sentences. A slovenly# slipshod style inconversation will be likely to insinuate itac:f into ones exjemporespeeches.

Joseph scee^ted this good advice and applied hiLself to tin studies

in a manner taut justified t:= s: critic's the.fat:iyy -de to keep his in

college . Unfortunately, he :xzriced too hard and on hie, retu: a hone from

graduation in 1857 was compelled to t&:e Ja rest. Part of this time was

spent with his fut.her at Glen Aauvcn. Although his health improved, he was in

no condition to return to Cartridge and enter the 'ivinity cchoo. as had been

planned. Aceordinr.L;rs he ar-d John e4r arus who was still without definite em-

ployments were sent abroad in tde summer of. 13,3. lases be retur.:eti in the

fall, his brother remaining; in "uropas his pareoto :ere disap&- anted to note

that the trig ha:. not benefited him as had beau exacts::. Additional rest

xas needeas and so Joseph re=intd in kyracuse for- lost of the net too

years . During 1861 he spent several months in xinnesota and on his. retru was

so improved that he returned to Cambridge in the fall. Such to hit : ;rents'

delights Joseph profited from his training at the ":ivinit,; School fro= which

he was gradiated with honors in the summer of 1865.

During these years,, young ssonuie had finished high school and a

year at an academy near west newtons Uassecnusetts. :.Ike Jobs :.warns he

wished to enter a business career am in 1861 he lived at home while employed

as a clerk in a local hardware concern. .ateri it would seem that he spent

considerable tine away as a traveling salesman. Precisely what he did is

not known' though he could hardly have neglected the opportunity of seeking

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the advice and counsel of John lduard, who by 1865 apeara to hove estab-

lished himself in New York.

1865 was a turning point in the -of the Nay family. All of

the children were away from home. Joseph was at Cambridge, John Edward in

New York and George hmeraon was on, his business tours. Only Charlotte was

in Syracuse and whiie she was now in a none of her own, .:ucretia and her

husband saw less of her than before. As it was, the two families kelt close

to each other. Dinners were I uently eacbenged and CRy often made it a

point, during the course of his afternoon calls, to atoy1 and have tea with

his daughter. Lucretia would love gems more frequently but for the fact that

she was quite unwell. Indeed, ever since the iummer of 1357, her health had

been none too satisfactory. Occasional vacations and trips back to dear old

Boston, Brooklyn and bouth boituato, there she had so a ty close friends,

did itch to bolster her courage and spirit, out did little it, the wry Of im-

proving, her health. Sti.1 she kept her hind and hands busy, trying in every

way to do the best she couid for herself and those she loved. ,.hen the weather

permitted, she would walk in the fields north of James Street studying

Italian or reading gone new work of fiction.

During 1363 and 1364 her strength and vitality rapidly declined.

May's nights frequently were turned into day by long vigils at her bedside.

Charlotte, ever loving and gracious, spent matey an hour at the old home re-

lieving her mother of necessary household duties and rendering other services

of mercy. Continued kindness of this nature brought its reward . Lucretia+s

health gradually improved, though she xeua.ined core or less an invalid.to

Oceaaionainy she mustered enough strength to write/her sons , particularly

to Joseph whose success at Harvard greatly pleased her . She ti.ouid compliment

his on his splendid work ana urge him to greater efforts. At the eats time,

she cautioned him against over:ork and suggested his spending the summer of

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wan1865 at home. Interest in Josepb/matched by the love she showered upon

her husband as though she sensed bar approaching end - there was so mach

she wanted to do and such a brief time remained. Hoar her heart must have

leaped with joy for her husband's happiness when a group of parishionerswith

called one evening to present hit/an e..egant atuc./ gown and a purse of

$250.

Suddenly in May, 1865 , she took a decided turn for the worse.

Little could be done beyond making her last days comfortable and free from

worry. ' Frequently her husband real to her and a:hea duty took him awayp. there

was Charlotte ready and wining to do her share . A tinetj letter from

Joseph bolstered her spirits and a c:reery sLiie a.nd a happy word was sent

upward to his picture which hung by :er be... 1inaldy on the sixth of the

month, it became evident that death was ii;mirent. •.dth a heavy and anxious

hearts !!.ay hastened to the teiegr a h office to seed urge:.t appeals to his sons

to hurry home. ou day, the seventh, was a day of muc._ urxiety. Churn;,

services were forgotten as May tctc ued the ebbing of his "dear wifa'a earthly

life.9 Joseph' s arrival see:ied .il.wect providential a::d possibl, account: for

a mar_:ed improvement. The doctor, hov:ever, cautioned the family against false

hopes and intimated quite clearly that it was only a matter of a fee hours be-

fore she would be gone. Sensing her father ' s disturbed and tired conditi:a,

Charlotte hurried him off to bed and eat betide her dying mother until four

in the morning. She than arous ed her father and triad to catch a little

rent herself.

At six-thirty on the morning of the eighth, John i4ward arrived

home . on entering his mother's room, her face lighted up - she was so

happy to see his and tried valiantSy to speak. But in a Attie while she

sank into a state of unconsciousness and quietly, passed away early in the

afternoon. 'What, a change is thin,' May ..rota in his diary. Indeed it was

a great change. Dark-eyed Lucretia was gone - Lucretia who had done so much

for bin. Once again in his mind she stood beside bin before Dr. James

Freeman in historic Einges Chapels timidly promising to be his faithful

wife. Lucretia, the daughter of a proud and eriatoeratioi family of

Portsmouth, had chosen him - a poor and unknovu .minister - as her husband.

Once again, he brought her to dear old Brooklyn and watched by her side as

she presented his r:ith poor little Joseph. Happy aid sad days sent at

South Scitaite and.:.exington ;eased before his stressing eyes . And had she

only been s1arod J/: the first of June, th•_y would have celebrated their

fortieth wedding.anniversery . She way of the Lord passed all understanding.

News of her death spread rapidly throu,jwut the.city,am a large

number of friends ex4'ressed t_.eir sorrow by letters, flowers and personal

calls. Coi :doiences poured in from lioston,and fa*way in quiet Concord

dear Abigail rourned the loss o_- one chose kindness had been so pronounced

when she snared their h=e in Brooklyn . shortly after midnight as father and

children moved silent.4 from room to room, the sound of approaci:inc horse

hoofs an-no nced the longaw•cited no:a:ie. He rasped up the walk ^nd mounted

the porch, stout and strong,' where he was greeted by Joseph who broke

the sad news . 3onnie's heart pelted at dnee. pausing to welcome his favor,

Charlotte and John Edward, he eauickLy climbed the stairs and entered his

eotherts room. It was as though he was merey* coming in to say a good night as

he had often done before . with his hat still on, he. leaned Over, kissing

her forehead and talking as though nothing had happened. A sweet peaceful

smile greeted him and he noticed how natural she looked with her little

night cap on •pert as ever.'

In accordance with her last wishes, the funeral services were

simple and brief. Only the family and a fee close friends were present as

Mr. G. V. B. Mills, one of Mays most intimate parishionera. reed the last

rites. Shen, one by one all loosed for the last time upon the fees of dear

Lucretia. She was dressed in a pretty black merino . dress and lace cap

which, so Joseph thought, wade Liar look most natural and motherly. hanks

of pansies, her favorite flower, were all about her. at her feet were

mr--tle and leaves from the rose bushes in the garden. In her hand she

clasped a sprig of myrtle and an unread letter from Johnrdvard, both

reverently placed there by May himself. Finally, she was brought down-

stairs and in a few moments the funeral procession moved down Jas Street,

crossed the Erie Canal, then turned right on Genesee, climbed the •aisr and

soon •.ntered the gates of Oa'srood l%emetery. after a few brief words, she

disappeared from sight and the May fami.>y hastened home . everything nod been

as beautiful . as she would hive wished it. Only the usual gray ekies and rain

of a spring day in Syracuse concealed the sun which she so hoped would shine.

Lucretia was gone - Lucretia whose modest and retiring nature ex-

plains the absence of a picture in the family album. Frequently her children

and husband had implored her to have a Acture ta::en, but each time she had

pit them off . Her character ant erson-iity was o sensitive and reserved

that she could not bear to face a.photogrupher . Nor .ou d.she allow the date

of her birth to appear on her gravestone - she canted no one to know her age.

She had lived a quiet aad retired life with none of the vivid interest in her

fellow men that her husband always felt and showed . Her sole interest in

life was centered in her family, her home am in her books. Upon these am

showered her attention. From a physical point of view she was most attractive.

She inherited the good looks of the Coffins , even to the point of beauty.

Her features were artistic, fine dark eyes , dark hair and a clear white skin.

May needed no picture to remind bin of one who had meant so such. His memory

was rich in vivid recollections - memories that time could never erase and which

he imparted to his children and grandchIAdrea3which they have ever honored

and blessed.

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For the next few days following her departure , the children did

all they could to make their fattier forget the loss all bad sustained.'

Fortunately May had taken his bereavement with hardly a ruri=. No one

doubted how heavy his heart was though his sadde::ed eyes, so we are told,

showed only a sign of a tear now and then. Probably, in the quietness of

his on room he poured forth his Pont up emotions and possibly, in his

dreams , she visited him as his brother had so many years ago at Federal

Court. Pals courage and fortitude was shown as he busied himself about the

house sure with the help of his children he rearr:,nged his books and study -

for it was agreed that Ch_rlotte and alfred and the grandchildren would leave

their own home and make his their own. Four days after the funeral, John

Edward was forced to leave for New lork, though Joseph and Bonnie remained un-

til the twenty-aecond. Freyuent.y, accaa hied by his sons and daughters, !tiny

would visit Oaam,ood Ceneterj, or wander through the garden and the open fields

beyond the home, each foot of which .ucretia had. walked so many times . Finally,

Joseph and Donnie left; only Charlotte now remained, but how loyal and loving

she was to her father. After his sonst deartures, May settled doin to a

new life. Daytime was filled with parochial aid civic duties. In the evening,

he would converse with Alfred and Charlotte or play canes with 'Freddie, who

often was his grandfather's bed companion.

sate in the month, he journeyed to Boston to attend the meetings of

the Unitarian Association and Massachusetts anti-Slavery Society. Aster he

visited friends and re.ntives at Donor,, , Roxbury and +.exingtona and on

June 4th he preached in his old church at South Scituate . Joseph was with

hin at the time and delighted his father by occupying the pulpit at the

evening service . A few days afterhard he went by boat to New lark where he

was warmly greeted by John Ydward . Ou the sixteenth of the months he took

the steamer to Albany mid arrived hone on tisa afternoon of the next day.

For the next few see=s list' busied himueif with church work,meetings of the

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B o a r d of E d u c a t i o t w and sundry o t h e r matters . Much time w s in

.reading and receiving callers of whom one was the t'everend i'r^ Caithrops

lately of Marblehesn" who informed May that be might settee-as pastor of

Gerrit Smith'a Free Church in Peterboro. ..ate one evening on returning honf)

from a visit to one of his parishionera, May stepied on a rotten plank in

the wooden sidewalk. As it gave way under his weight he was thrown in such

a manner as to wrench his right hip and thigh. It proved a more serious

injury than at first ex•ected" and while he was able to get about in a few days$

he was more or less dependent upon a cane for the remainder of his life.

In August, he went on a aiz- weeks visit to friends and relatives.

in New England. Everyone WP Most kind to hi-. The Carritwns" Mumfords,

Montgomerys and Mays opened their homes-to him and almost drowned bin with

an endless procession of teas and conversations. In spite of his poor nags

he managed to t...eal any from these social events am walk down to Federal

Court" the scone of his boyhood, and to the derot .here he `wok a train to

Concord. Abigail and Bronson were delithted-to see him and on the first

evening of his visit, Frank banborn, friend and patron of John Brown called

and the entire company incnlged in "talk that the Vods might have enjoyed"

certainly Apollo and perch y.e These deities might also have profited from

the conversations he had the following day wit, Ralph Ialdo Emerson" Miss

Elizabeth Hoar and other celebrities of the village. Before leaving Concoxd#

he hobbled around the streets until he caned to the school where be had taucht

way back in the winter of 1316.

From Concord he returned to Boston where once again his friends

overwhelmed his with many acts of kindness. On Sunday he attended service

at King's Chapel and was graciously ut:hered to his father's old pew. Finally.

in September, he journeyed to tankers, hew fork, -,here he was greeted by his

son Joseph, who had recently accepted an invitation to adminiuter to the

spiritual needs of the local Unitarian bhurcb. His visit was rendered happier

I

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by reason of.his being asked to pre::ch the serum at his son 's ordination.

A few days later, he returned to Syracuse where he remained. until the

middle of October, when he was called to tankers to attend the marriage

of Joseph to Hiss Harriet Johnson, who during the coin-se of the previous

summer had visited in Syracuse.

_And so another picture was added to the family album, and at311

another in December when George Lmerson married Miss Caroline M. Mathews

of :+yracuse.About the same tins, space had to be made for a picture of

kiss 5atherine Horton of Pomeroy, Ohio, whose engage. out to John Edward had

just been announced. The marriage took place in October of tie next year

and the couple spent art of their honeymoon at Syracuse weree they were

cordially received by Father, Charlotte and Donnie. Early in November, ?day

received the glad tidings of the birth of Lucretia to Joseph and Harriet May,

In Zarch, 1868, a bon was born. whom Joseph and his cite thougntfussy named

John Edward after his brother, while in love:.iler of the same year John Edward

himself becarac the proud father of a ooy who was honored by being called

Samuel Joseph May. May was trememous.iy proud of his grandchildren and was

delighted to see his. namesake when he visited Boston in the summer of 1870.

Unfortunately, the little feii ow was in bed with an attack of dysentery, and

after a day or two tray wisely decided to leave sa he could do nothing to help.

Accordingly, be moved onto Hewburyport where Joseph was now located. Two

days later , August 23rd, he received the sad nets of his grandson 's death, -

wthe most beaatifui and attractive infant I ever saw.! Joseph and his father

hurried to Boston and arrived in time to attend the funeral of the little

boy who was buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery , tembridge.

Shortly thereafter, May returned to Syracuse , never again to visit

Now England . So far as he was concerned, the family album was finished.

What a collection of pictured chat a _ity that dear Lucretia had not Lived to

see those of her daughters and grardchiidron! How happy she would have aeon

to have known that Jody's first child bad been named after tier l but such is

the way of life. One may well iaagine the intense Measure May got out of

turning the pages of the old album. And in the sizing of 1871 be received

Bonnie,or Charlotte,, Abby May and Katharine ray, children of Charlotte And

Nor did he ever lay eyes on Lena Irene and Charlotte 1auise, daughters of

word that John Edward and itatherine were ex1ecting another child. May

never saw Clara Horton though she me born about six weeks before his death.

Alfred Wilkinson. Other loving hands would have to place their pictures in

the family album. !lay's lands were silently folded in Oaawooc Cemetery close

beside those of his dark-eyed 3ucretis.