第3章

IshutmyeyesnowandlookbacktomynativetowninMassachusetts，andIseethecattle-showgroundonthemountain-top；Icanseethehorse-

shedsthere。IcanseetheCongregationalchurch；

seethetownhallandmountaineers"cottages；

seeagreatassemblyofpeopleturningout，dressedresplendently，andIcanseeflagsflyingandhandkerchiefswavingandhearbandsplaying。Icanseethatcompanyofsoldiersthathadre-enlistedmarchinguponthatcattle-showground。Iwasbutaboy，butIwascaptainofthatcompanyandpuffedoutwithpride。Acambricneedlewouldhaveburstmealltopieces。ThenIthoughtitwasthegreatesteventthatevercametomanonearth。Ifyouhaveeverthoughtyouwouldliketobeakingorqueen，yougoandbereceivedbythemayor。

Thebandsplayed，andallthepeopleturnedouttoreceiveus。ImarchedupthatCommonsoproudattheheadofmytroops，andweturneddownintothetownhall。ThentheyseatedmysoldiersdownthecenteraisleandIsatdownonthefrontseat。Agreatassemblyofpeopleahundredortwo——cameintofillthetownhall，sothattheystoodupallaround。Thenthetownofficerscameinandformedahalf-circle。Themayorofthetownsatinthemiddleoftheplatform。Hewasamanwhohadneverheldofficebefore；buthewasagoodman，andhisfriendshavetoldmethatImightusethiswithoutgivingthemoffense。Hewasagoodman，buthethoughtanofficemadeamangreat。Hecameupandtookhisseat，adjustedhispowerfulspectacles，andlookedaround，whenhesuddenlyspiedmesittingthereonthefrontseat。Hecamerightforwardontheplatformandinvitedmeuptositwiththetownofficers。NotownofficerevertookanynoticeofmebeforeIwenttowar，excepttoadvisetheteachertothrashme，andnowIwasinviteduponthestandwiththetownofficers。Ohmy!

thetownmayorwasthentheemperor，thekingofourdayandourtime。AsIcameupontheplatformtheygavemeachairaboutthisfar，I

wouldsay，fromthefront。

WhenIhadgotseated，thechairmanoftheSelectmenaroseandcameforwardtothetable，andweallsupposedhewouldintroducetheCongregationalminister，whowastheonlyoratorintown，andthathewouldgivetheorationtothereturningsoldiers。But，friends，youshouldhaveseenthesurprisewhichranovertheaudiencewhentheydiscoveredthattheoldfellowwasgoingtodeliverthatspeechhimself。Hehadnevermadeaspeechinhislife，buthefellintothesameerrorthathundredsofothermenhavefalleninto。Itseemssostrangethatamanwon"tlearnhemustspeakhispieceasaboyifhein-

tendstobeanoratorwhenheisgrown，butheseemstothinkallhehastodoistoholdanofficetobeagreatorator。

Sohecameuptothefront，andbroughtwithhimaspeechwhichhehadlearnedbyheartwalkingupanddownthepasture，wherehehadfrightenedthecattle。Hebroughtthemanuscriptwithhimandspreaditoutonthetablesoastobesurehemightseeit。Headjustedhisspectaclesandleanedoveritforamomentandmarchedbackonthatplatform，andthencameforwardlikethis——tramp，tramp，tramp。Hemusthavestudiedthesubjectagreatdeal，whenyoucometothinkofit，becauseheassumedan“elocutionary""

attitude。Herestedheavilyuponhisleftheel，threwbackhisshoulders，slightlyadvancedtherightfoot，openedtheorgansofspeech，andadvancedhisrightfootatanangleofforty-

five。Ashestoodinthatelocutionaryattitude，friends，thisisjustthewaythatspeechwent。

Somepeoplesaytome，“Don"tyouexaggerate?""

Thatwouldbeimpossible。ButIamhereforthelessonandnotforthestory，andthisisthewayitwent:

“Fellow-citizens——""Assoonasheheardhisvoicehisfingersbegantogolikethat，hiskneesbegantoshake，andthenhetrembledallover。

Hechokedandswallowedandcamearoundtothetabletolookatthemanuscript。Thenhegatheredhimselfupwithclenchedfistsandcameback:“Fellow-citizens，weareFellow-citizens，weare——weare——weare——weare——weare——weareveryhappy——weareveryhappy——weareveryhappy。Weareveryhappytowelcomebacktotheirnativetownthesesoldierswhohavefoughtandbled——andcomebackagaintotheirnativetown。Weareespecially——weareespecially——weareespecially。Weareespeciallypleasedtoseewithusto-daythisyounghero""(thatmeantme)——“thisyoungherowhoinimagination""

(friends，rememberhesaidthat；ifhehadnotsaid“inimagination""Iwouldnotbeegotisticenoughtorefertoitatall)——“thisyoungherowhoinimaginationwehaveseenleading——wehaveseenleading——leading。Wehaveseenleadinghistroopsontothedeadlybreach。Wehaveseenhisshining——wehaveseenhisshining——hisshining——hisshiningsword——flashing。Flashinginthesunlight，asheshoutedtohistroops，`Comeon"!""

Ohdear，dear，dear!howlittlethatgoodmanknewaboutwar。IfhehadknownanythingaboutwaratallheoughttohaveknownwhatanyofmyG。A。R。comradeshereto-nightwilltellyouistrue，thatitisnexttoacrimeforanofficerofinfantryeverintimeofdangertogoaheadofhismen。“I，withmyshiningswordflashinginthesunlight，shoutingtomytroops，`Comeon"!""Ineverdidit。DoyousupposeIwouldgetinfrontofmymentobeshotinfrontbytheenemyandinthebackbymyownmen?

Thatisnoplaceforanofficer。Theplacefortheofficerinactualbattleisbehindtheline。Howoften，asastaffofficer，Irodedowntheline，whenourmenweresuddenlycalledtothelineofbattle，andtheRebelyellswerecomingoutofthewoods，andshouted:“Officerstotherear!Officerstotherear!""Theneveryofficergetsbehindthelineofprivatesoldiers，andthehighertheofficer"srankthefartherbehindhegoes。Notbecauseheisanythelessbrave，butbecausethelawsofwarrequirethat。Andyetheshouted，“I，withmyshiningsword——""InthathousetheresatthecompanyofmysoldierswhohadcarriedthatboyacrosstheCarolinariversthathemightnotwethisfeet。Someofthemhadgonefarouttogetapigorachicken。Someofthemhadgonetodeathundertheshell-sweptpinesinthemountainsofTennessee，yetinthegoodman"sspeechtheywerescarcelyknown。Hedidrefertothem，butonlyincidentally。Theheroofthehourwasthisboy。Didthenationowehimanything?

No，nothingthenandnothingnow。Whywashethehero?Simplybecausethatmanfellintothatsamehumanerror——thatthisboywasgreatbecausehewasanofficerandthesewereonlyprivatesoldiers。

Oh，IlearnedthelessonthenthatIwillneverforgetsolongasthetongueofthebelloftimecontinuestoswingforme。Greatnessconsistsnotintheholdingofsomefutureoffice，butreallyconsistsindoinggreatdeedswithlittlemeansandtheaccomplishmentofvastpurposesfromtheprivateranksoflife。Tobegreatatallonemustbegreathere，now，inPhiladelphia。Hewhocangivetothiscitybetterstreetsandbettersidewalks，betterschoolsandmorecolleges，morehappinessandmorecivilization，moreofGod，hewillbegreatanywhere。Leteverymanorwomanhere，ifyouneverhearmeagain，rememberthis，thatifyouwishtobegreatatall，youmustbeginwhereyouareandwhatyouare，inPhiladelphia，now。Hethatcangivetohiscityanyblessing，hewhocanbeagoodcitizenwhileheliveshere，hethatcanmakebetterhomes，hethatcanbeablessingwhetherheworksintheshoporsitsbehindthecounterorkeepshouse，whateverbehislife，hewhowouldbegreatanywheremustfirstbegreatinhisownPhiladelphia。

HISLIFEANDACHIEVEMENTS

BY

ROBERTSHACKLETON

THESTORYOFTHESWORD[2]

[2]_Dr，Conwellwasliving，andactivelyatwork，whenthesepageswerewritten。Itis，therefore，amuchtruerpictureofhispersonalitythananythingwritteninthepasttense_。

ISHALLwriteofaremarkableman，aninterestingman，amanofpower，ofinitiative，ofwill，ofpersistence；amanwhoplansvastlyandwhorealizeshisplans；amanwhonotonlydoesthingshimself，butwho，evenmoreimportantthanthat，istheconstantinspirationofothers。IshallwriteofRussellH。Conwell。

Asafarmer"sboyhewastheleaderoftheboysoftherockyregionthatwashishome；asaschool-

teacherhewondevotion；asanewspapercorrespondenthegainedfame；asasoldierintheCivilWarherosetoimportantrank；asalawyerhedevelopedalargepractice；asanauthorhewrotebooksthatreachedamightytotalofsales。Heleftthelawfortheministryandistheactiveheadofagreatchurchthatheraisedfromnothingness。

Heisthemostpopularlecturerintheworldandyearlyspeakstomanythousands。Heis，sotospeak，thediscovererof“AcresofDiamonds，""

throughwhichthousandsofmenandwomenhaveachievedsuccessoutoffailure。Heistheheadoftwohospitals，oneofthemfoundedbyhimself，thathavecaredforahostofpatients，boththepoorandtherich，irrespectiveofraceorcreed。

Heisthefounderandheadofauniversitythathasalreadyhadtensofthousandsofstudents。

HishomeisinPhiladelphia；butheisknownineverycornerofeverystateintheUnion，andeverywherehehashostsoffriends。Allofhislifehehashelpedandinspiredothers。

Quitebychance，andonlyyesterday，literallyyesterdayandbychance，andwithnothoughtatthemomentofConwellalthoughhehadbeenmuchinmymindforsometimepast，IpickedupathinlittlebookofdescriptionbyWilliamDeanHowells，and，turningthepagesofachapteronLexington，oldLexingtonoftheRevolution，written，soHowellshadsetdown，in1882，I

noticed，afterhehadwrittenofthetownitself，andofthelong-pastfightthere，andofthepresent-

dayaspect，thathementionedthechurchlifeoftheplaceandremarkedonthestrikingadvancesmadebytheBaptists，whohadlately，asheexpressedit，beenreconstitutedoutofveryperishingfragmentsandmadestrongandflourishing，undertheministrationsofalaypreacher，formerlyacolonelintheUnionarmy。AnditwasonlyafewdaysbeforeIchanceduponthisdescriptionthatDr。Conwell，theformercolonelandformerlaypreacher，hadtoldmeofhisexperiencesinthatlittleoldRevolutionarytown。

Howellswentontosaythat，sohewastold，thecolonel"ssuccesswasprincipallyduetohismakingthechurchattractivetoyoungpeople。

Howellssaysnomoreofhim；apparentlyhedidnotgotohearhim；andonewondersifhehaseverassociatedthatlaypreacherofLexingtonwiththefamousRussellH。Conwelloftheserecentyears!

“Attractivetoyoungpeople。""Yes，onecanrecognizethatto-day，justasitwasrecognizedinLexington。Anditmaybeaddedthatheatthesametimeattractsolderpeople，too!Inthis，indeed，lieshispower。Hemakeshischurchinteresting，hissermonsinteresting，hislecturesinteresting。Heishimselfinteresting!Becauseofhisbeinginteresting，hegainsattention。Theattentiongained，heinspires。

Biographyismorethandates。Dates，afterall，arebutmile-stonesalongtheroadoflife。AndthemostimportantfactofConwell"slifeisthathelivedtobeeighty-two，workingsixteenhourseverydayforthegoodofhisfellow-men。HewasbornonFebruary15，1843——bornofpoorparents，inalow-roofedcottageintheeasternBerkshires，inMassachusetts。

“Iwasborninthisroom，""hesaidtome，simply，aswesattogetherrecently[3]infrontoftheoldfireplaceintheprincipalroomofthelittlecottage；forhehasboughtbacktherockyfarmofhisfather，andhasretainedandrestoredthelittleoldhome。“Iwasborninthisroom。Itwasbedroomandkitchen。Itwaspoverty。""Andhisvoicesankwithakindofgrimnessintosilence。

[3]_ThisinterviewtookplaceattheoldConwellfarminthesummerof1915_。

Thenhespokealittleofthestrugglesofthoselong-pastyears；andwewentoutontheporch，astheeveningshadowsfell，andlookedoutoverthevalleyandstreamandhillsofhisyouth，andhetoldofhisgrandmother，andofayoungMarylanderwhohadcometotheregiononavisit；

itwasataleoftheimpetuousloveofthosetwo，ofrashmarriage，oftheinterferenceofparents，ofthefiercerivalryofanothersuitor，ofanattackontheMarylander"slife，ofpassionatehastiness，ofunforgivablewords，ofseparation，oflifelongsorrow。“Whydoesgrandmothercrysooften?""

heremembersaskingwhenhewasalittleboy。

Andhewastoldthatitwasforthehusbandofheryouth。

Wewentbackintothelittlehouse，andheshowedmetheroominwhichhefirstsawJohnBrown。“Icamedownearlyonemorning，andsawahuge，hairymansprawleduponthebedthere——andIwasfrightened，""hesays。

ButJohnBrowndidnotlongfrightenhim!

Forhewasmuchattheirhouseafterthat，andwassofriendlywithRussellandhisbrotherthattherewasnochanceforawe；anditgivesacuriousside-

lightonthecharacterofthesternabolitionistthatheactually，withinfinitepatience，taughttheoldhorseoftheConwellstogohomealonewiththewagonafterleavingtheboysatschool，amileormoreaway，andatschool-closingtimetotrotgentlyoffforthemwithoutadriverwhenmerelyfacedinthatdirectionandtoldtogo!ConwellremembershowJohnBrown，intrainingit，usedpatientlytowalkbesidethehorse，andcontrolitsgoinganditsturnings，untilitwasquitereadytogoandturnentirelybyitself。

TheConwellhousewasastationontheUndergroundRailway，andRussellConwellremembers，whenalad，seeingtheescapingslavesthathisfatherhaddrivenacrosscountryandtemporarilyhidden。“Thosewereheroicdays，""hesays，quietly。“Andonceinawhilemyfatherletmegowithhim。Theywerewonderfulnightdrives——

thecoweringslaves，thedarknessoftheroad，thecautionandthesilenceanddreadofitall。""

Thisundergroundroute，heremembers，wasfromPhiladelphiatoNewHaven，thencetoSpringfield，whereConwell"sfatherwouldtakehischarge，andonwardtoBellowsFallsandCanada。

Conwelltells，too，ofmeetingFrederickDouglass，thecoloredorator，inthatlittlecottageinthehills。“`Ineversawmyfather，"Douglasssaidoneday——hisfatherwasawhiteman——`andI

rememberlittleofmymotherexceptthatonceshetriedtokeepanoverseerfromwhippingme，andthelashcutacrossherownface，andherbloodfelloverme。"

“WhenJohnBrownwascaptured，""Conwellwenton，“myfathertriedtosellthisplacetogetalittlemoneytosendtohelphisdefense。

Buthecouldn"tsellit，andonthedayoftheexecu-

tionwekneltsolemnlyhere，fromeleventotwelve，justpraying，prayinginsilenceforthepassingsoulofJohnBrown。Andasweprayedweknewthatotherswerealsopraying，forachurch-belltolledduringthatentirehour，anditsawesomeboomwentsadlysoundingoverthesehills。""

ConwellbelievesthathisreallifedatesfromahappeningofthetimeoftheCivilWar——ahappeningthatstillloomsvividandintensebeforehim，andwhichundoubtedlydiddeepenandstrengthenhisstronganddeepnature。YettherealConwellwasalwaysessentiallythesame。

Neighborhoodtraditionstilltellsofhisbraveryasaboyandayouth，ofhisrecklesscoasting，hisskillasaswimmerandhissavingoflives，hisstrengthandendurance，hisplungingoutintothedarknessofawildwinternighttosaveaneighbor"scattle。Hissoldierscamehomewithtalesofhisdevotiontothem，andofhowhesharedhisrationsandhisblanketsandbravelyriskedhislife；ofhowhecreptoffintoaswamp，atimminentperil，torescueoneofhismenlostormiredthere。ThepresentConwellwasalwaysConwell；

infact，hemaybetracedthroughhisancestry，too，forinhimarethesturdyvirtues，thebravery，thegrimdetermination，thepracticality，ofhisfather；

andromanticism，thatcomesfromhisgrandmother；

andthedreamyqualitiesofhismother，who，practicalandhardworkingNewEnglandwomanthatshewas，wasatthesametimeinfluencedbyanalmoststartlingmysticism。

AndConwellhimselfisadreamer:firstofallheisadreamer；itisthemostimportantfactinregardtohim!Itisbecauseheisadreamerandvisualizeshisdreamsthathecanplanthegreatthingsthattoothermenwouldseemimpossibilities；andthenhisintenselypracticalsidehisintenseefficiency，hispower，hisskill，hispatience，hisfineearnestness，hismasteryoverothers，develophisdreamsintorealities。

Hedreamsdreamsandseesvisions——buthisvisionsarenevervisionaryandhisdreamsbecomefacts。

Therockyhillswhichmeantadoggedstruggleforveryexistence，thefugitiveslaves，JohnBrown——whataschoolforyouth!Andtheliteralschoolwasatinyone-roomschool-housewhereyoungConwellcameunderthecareofateacherwhorealizedtheboy"sunusualcapabilitiesandwasabletogivehimbroadandunusualhelp。Thenawisecountrypreacheralsorecognizedtheunusual，andurgedtheparentstogivestillmoreeducation，whereuponsupremeeffortwasmadeandyoungRussellwassenttoWilbrahamAcademy。

Helikestotellofhislifethere，andofthehardships，ofwhichhemakeslight；andofthejoywithwhichweek-endpiesandcakeswerereceivedfromhome!

Hetellsofhowhewentoutontheroadssellingbooksfromhousetohouse，andofhoweagerlyhedevouredthecontentsofthesamplebooksthathecarried。“Theywereafoundationoflearningforme，""hesays，soberly。“Andtheygavemeabroadideaoftheworld。""

HewenttoYalein1860，buttheoutbreakofthewarinterferedwithcollege，andheenlistedin1861。Buthewasonlyeighteen，andhisfatherobjected，andhewentbacktoYale。Butnextyearheagainenlisted，andmenofhisBerkshireneighborhood，likewiseenlisting，insistedthathebetheircaptain；andGovernorAndrews，appealedto，consentedtocommissionthenineteen-year-

oldyouthwhowassoevidentlyanaturalleader；

andthemengavefreelyoftheirscantmoneytogetforhimasword，allgayandsplendidwithgilt，andupontheswordwasthedeclarationinstatelyLatinthat，“Truefriendshipiseternal。""

Andwiththatswordisassociatedthemostvivid，themostmomentousexperienceofRussellConwell"slife。

ThatswordhangsattheheadofConwell"sbedinhishomeinPhiladelphia。Manofpeacethatheis，andministerofpeace，thatsymbolofwarhasforoverhalfacenturybeenofinfiniteimportancetohim。

Hetoldmethestoryaswestoodtogetherbeforethatsword。Andashetoldthestory，speakingwithquietrepression，butseeingitallandlivingitalljustasvividlyasifithadoccurredbutyesterday，“Thatswordhasmeantsomuchtome，""

hemurmured；andthenhebeganthetale:

“AboyupthereintheBerkshires，aneighbor"sson，wasJohnRing；Icallhimaboy，forweallcalledhimaboy，andwelookeduponhimasaboy，forhewasunder-sizedandunder-developed——

somuchsothathecouldnotenlist。

“Butforsomereasonhewasdevotedtome，andhenotonlywantedtoenlist，buthealsowantedtobeintheartillerycompanyofwhichI

wascaptain；andIcouldonlytakehimalongasmyservant。Ididn"twantaservant，butitwastheonlywaytotakepoorlittleJohnnieRing。

“Johnniewasdeeplyreligious，andwouldreadtheBibleeveryeveningbeforeturningin。InthosedaysIwasanatheist，oratleastthoughtI

was，andIusedtolaughatRing，andafterawhilehetooktoreadingtheBibleoutsidethetentonaccountofmylaughingathim!Buthedidnotstopreadingit，andhisfaithfulnesstomeremainedunchanged。

“Thescabbardoftheswordwastooglitteringfortheregulations""——theghostofasmilehoveredonConwell"slips——“andIcouldnotwearit，andcouldonlywearaplainoneforserviceandkeepthishanginginmytentonthetent-pole。JohnRingusedtohandleitadoringly，andkeptitpolishedtobrilliancy——It"sdullenoughthesemanyyears，""headded，somberly。“ToRingitrepresentednotonlyhiscaptain，buttheverygloryandpompofwar。

“OnedaytheConfederatessuddenlystormedourpositionnearNewBerneandsweptthroughthecamp，drivingourentireforcebeforethem；

andall，includingmycompany，retreatedhurriedlyacrosstheriver，settingfiretoalongwoodenbridgeaswewentover。Itsoonblazedupfuriously，makingabarrierthattheConfederatescouldnotpass。

“But，unknowntoeverybody，andunnoticed，JohnRinghaddashedbacktomytent。Ithinkhewasabletomakehiswaybackbecausehejustlookedlikeamereboy；buthoweverthatwas，hegotpasttheConfederatesintomytentandtookdown，fromwhereitwashangingonthetent-

pole，mybright，gold-scabbardedsword。

“JohnRingseizedtheswordthathadlongbeensoprecioustohim。Hedodgedhereandthere，andactuallymanagedtogainthebridgejustasitwasbeginningtoblaze。Hestartedacross。Theflameswereeverymomentgettingfiercer，thesmokedenser，andnowandthen，ashecrawledandstaggeredon，heleanedforafewsecondsfarovertheedgeofthebridgeinanefforttogetair。

Bothsidessawhim；bothsideswatchedhisterribleprogress，evenwhilefiringwasfiercelykeptupfromeachsideoftheriver。AndthenaConfederateofficer——hewasoneofGeneralPickett"sofficers——rantothewater"sedgeandwavedawhitehandkerchiefandthefiringceased。

“`Tellthatboytocomebackhere!"hecried。

`Tellhimtocomebackhereandwewilllethimgofree!"

“HecalledthisoutjustasRingwasabouttoenterupontheworstpartofthebridge——thecov-

eredpart，wherethereweretopandbottomandsidesofblazingwood。TheroaroftheflameswassoclosetoRingthathecouldnothearthecallsfromeithersideoftheriver，andhepusheddesperatelyonanddisappearedinthecoveredpart。

“Therewasdeadsilenceexceptforthecracklingofthefire。Notamancriedout。Allwaitedinhopelessexpectancy。AndthencameamightyyellfromNorthernerandSoutherneralike，forJohnniecamecrawlingoutoftheendofthecoveredway——hehadactuallypassedthroughthatfrightfulplace——andhisclotheswereablaze，andhetoppledoverandfellintoshallowwater；andinafewmomentshewasdraggedout，unconscious，andhurriedtoahospital。

“Helingeredforadayorso，stillunconscious，andthencametohimselfandsmiledalittleashefoundthattheswordforwhichhehadgivenhislifehadbeenleftbesidehim。Hetookitinhisarms。Hehuggedittohisbreast。Hegaveafewwordsoffinalmessageforme。Andthatwasall。""

Conwell"svoicehadgonethrillinglylowashenearedtheend，foritwasallsovery，veryvividtohim，andhiseyeshadgrowntenderandhislipsmorestrongandfirm。Andhefellsilent，thinkingofthatlong-agohappening，andthoughhelookeddownuponthethrongingtrafficofBroadStreet，itwasclearthathedidnotseeit，andthatiftherumblinghubbubofsoundmeantanythingtohimitwastherumblingofthegunsofthedistantpast。Whenhespokeagainitwaswithastilltensertoneoffeeling。

“WhenIstoodbesidethebodyofJohnRingandrealizedthathehaddiedforloveofme，I

madeavowthathasformedmylife。IvowedthatfromthatmomentIwouldlivenotonlymyownlife，butthatIwouldalsolivethelifeofJohnRing。AndfromthatmomentIhaveworkedsixteenhourseveryday——eightforJohnRing"sworkandeighthoursformyown。""

Acuriousnotehadcomeintohisvoice，asofonewhohadruntheraceandnearedthegoal，foughtthegoodfightandnearedtheend。

“EverymorningwhenIriseIlookatthissword，orifIamawayfromhomeIthinkofthesword，andvowanewthatanotherdayshallseesixteenhoursofworkfromme。""AndwhenonecomestoknowRussellConwellonerealizesthatneverdidamanworkmorehardandconstantly，“ItwasthroughJohnRingandhisgivinghislifethroughdevotiontomethatIbecameaChristian，""hewenton。“Thisdidnotcomeaboutimmediately，butitcamebeforethewarwasover，anditcamethroughfaithfulJohnnieRing。""

ThereisalittlelonelycemeteryintheBerkshires，atinyburying-groundonawind-swepthill，afewmilesfromConwell"soldhome。Inthisisolatedburying-groundbushesandvinesandgrassgrowinprofusion，andafewtreescastagentleshade；andtree-cladhillsgobillowingoffformilesandmilesinwildandlonelybeauty。

AndinthatlonelylittlegraveyardIfoundtheplainstonethatmarkstheresting-placeofJohnRing。

II

THEBEGINNINGATOLDLEXINGTON

ITisnotbecauseheisaministerthatRussellConwellissuchaforceintheworld。HewentintotheministrybecausehewassincerelyandprofoundlyaChristian，andbecausehefeltthatasaministerhecoulddomoregoodintheworldthaninanyothercapacity。Butbeingaministerisbutanincident，sotospeak。Theimportantthingisnotthatheisaminister，butthatheishimself!

RecentlyIheardaNew-Yorker，theheadofagreatcorporation，say:“IbelievethatRussellConwellisdoingmoregoodintheworldthananymanwhohaslivedsinceJesusChrist。""Andhesaidthisinseriousandunexaggeratedearnest。

YetConwelldidnotgetreadilyintohislife-

work。Hemighthaveseemedalmostafailureuntilhewaswellontowardforty，foralthoughhekeptmakingsuccessestheywerenotpermanentsuccesses，andhedidnotsettlehimselfintoadefiniteline。Herestlesslywentwestwardtomakehishome，andthenrestlesslyreturnedtotheEast。Afterthewarwasoverhewasalawyer，hewasalecturer，hewasaneditor，hewentaroundtheworldasacorrespondent，hewrotebooks。

Hekeptmakingmoney，andkeptlosingit；helostitthroughfire，throughinvestments，throughaidinghisfriends。Itisprobablethattheunsettlednessoftheyearsfollowingthewarwasduetotheunsettlingeffectofthewaritself，whichthus，initsinfluence，brokeintohismaturelifeafterbreakingintohisyearsatYale。Buthoweverthatmaybe，thoseseething，changing，stirringyearswereyearsofvitalimportancetohim，forinthemyriadexperiencesofthattimehewasbuildingthefoundationoftheConwellthatwastocome。

Abroadhemetthenotablesoftheearth。Athomehemadehostsoffriendsandloyaladmirers。

Itisworthwhilenotingthatasalawyerhewouldnevertakeacase，eithercivilorcriminal，thatheconsideredwrong。Itwasbasicwithhimthathecouldnotandwouldnotfightonwhathethoughtwasthewrongside。Onlywhenhisclientwasrightwouldhegoahead!

Yethelaughs，hisquiet，infectious，characteristiclaugh，ashetellsofhowoncehewasdeceived，forhedefendedaman，chargedwithstealingawatch，whowassoobviouslyinnocentthathetookthecaseinablazeofindignationandhadtheyoungfellowproudlyexonerated。Thenextdaythewronglyaccusedonecametohisofficeandshamefacedlytookoutthewatchthathehadbeenchargedwithstealing。“IwantyoutosendittothemanItookitfrom，""hesaid。Andhetoldwithasortofshamefacedprideofhowhehadgotagoodolddeacontogive，inallsincerity，theevidencethatexculpatedhim。“And，say，Mr。Conwell——Iwanttothankyouforgettingmeoff——andIhopeyou"llexcusemydeceivingyou——and——Iwon"tbeanyworsefornotgoingtojail。""AndConwelllikestorememberthatthereaftertheyoungmanliveduptotheprideofexoneration；and，thoughConwelldoesnotsayitorthinkit，oneknowsthatitwastheConwellinfluencethatinspiredtohonesty——foralwaysheisaninspirer。

Conwellevenkeptcertainhoursforconsultationwiththosetoopoortopayanyfee；andatonetime，whilestillanactivelawyer，hewasguardianforoversixtychildren!Themanhasalwaysbeenamarvel，andalwaysoneiscominguponsuchromanticfactsasthese。

Thatisacuriousthingabouthim——howmuchthereisofromanceinhislife!WorshipedtotheendbyJohnRing；leftfordeadallnightatKenesawMountain；calmlysinging“Nearer，myGod，toThee，""toquietthepassengersonasupposedlysinkingship；savinglivesevenwhenaboy；neverdisappointingasingleaudienceofthethousandsofaudienceshehasarrangedtoaddressduringallhisyearsoflecturing!Hehimselftakesalittleprideinthislastpoint，anditischaracteristicofhimthathehasactuallyforgottenthatjustoncehedidfailtoappear:hehasquiteforgottenthatoneevening，onhiswaytoalecture，hestoppedarunawayhorsetosavetwowomen"slives，andwentinconsequencetoahospitalinsteadoftotheplatform!Anditistypicalofhimtoforgetthatsortofthing。

TheemotionaltemperamentofConwellhasalwaysmadehimresponsivetothegreat，thestriking，thepatriotic。HewasdeeplyinfluencedbyknowingJohnBrown，andhisbriefmemoriesofLincolnareintense，thoughhesawhimbutthreetimesinall。

ThefirsttimehesawLincolnwasonthenightwhenthefuturePresidentdeliveredtheaddress，whichafterwardbecamesofamous，inCooperUnion，NewYork。ThenameofLincolnwasthenscarcelyknown，anditwasbymerechancethatyoungConwellhappenedtobeinNewYorkonthatday。Butbeingthere，andlearningthatAbrahamLincolnfromtheWestwasgoingtomakeanaddress，hewenttohearhim。

HetellshowuncouthlyLincolnwasdressed，evenwithonetrousers-leghigherthantheother，andofhowawkwardhewas，andofhowpoorly，atfirst，hespokeandwithwhatapparentembarrassment。ThechairmanofthemeetinggotLincolnaglassofwater，andConwellthoughtthatitwasfromapersonaldesiretohelphimandkeephimfrombreakingdown。ButhelovestotellhowLincolnbecameachangedmanashespoke；howheseemedtofeelashamedofhisbriefembarrassmentand，pullinghimselftogetherandputtingasidethewrittenspeechwhichhehadprepared，spokefreelyandpowerfully，withsplendidconviction，asonlyabornoratorspeaks。ToConwellitwasatremendousexperience。

ThesecondtimehesawLincolnwaswhenhewenttoWashingtontopleadforthelifeofoneofhismenwhohadbeencondemnedtodeathforsleepingonpost。Hewasstillbutacaptain(hispromotiontoacolonelcywasstilltocome)，ayouth，andwasawedbygoingintothepresenceofthemanheworshiped。Andhisvoicetremblesalittle，evennow，ashetellsofhowpleasantlyLincolnlookedupfromhisdesk，andhowcheerfullyheaskedhisbusinesswithhim，andofhowabsorbedlyLincolnthenlistenedtohistale，although，soitappeared，healreadyknewofthemainoutline。

“Itwillbeallright，""saidLincoln，whenConwellfinished。ButConwellwasstillfrightened。

Hefearedthatinthemultiplicityofpublicmattersthismerematterofthelifeofamountainboy，aprivatesoldier，mightbeforgottentilltoolate。“Itisalmostthetimeset——""hefaltered。

AndConwell"svoicealmostbreaks，manofemotionthatheis，ashetellsofhowLincolnsaid，withsterngravity:“Goandtelegraphthatsoldier"smotherthatAbrahamLincolnneversignedawarranttoshootaboyundertwenty，andneverwill。""ThatwastheoneandonlytimethathespokewithLincoln，anditremainsanindelibleimpression。

ThethirdtimehesawLincolnwaswhen，asofficeroftheday，hestoodforhoursbesidethedeadbodyofthePresidentasitlayinstateinWashington。Inthosehours，ashestoodrigidlyasthethrongwentshufflingsorrowfullythrough，animmenseimpressioncametoColonelConwelloftheworkandworthofthemanwhotherelaydead，andthatimpressionhasneverdeparted。

JohnBrown，AbrahamLincoln，oldRevolutionaryLexington——howConwell"slifeisassociatedwithfamousmenandplaces!——anditwasactuallyatLexingtonthathemadethecrucialdecisionastothecourseofhislife!Anditseemstomethatitwas，althoughquiteunconsciously，becauseoftheveryfactthatitwasLexingtonthatConwellwasinfluencedtodecideandtoactashedid。Haditbeeninsomeotherkindofplace，somemerelyordinaryplace，somequiteusualplace，hemightnothavetakentheimportantstep。ButitwasLexington，itwasbraveoldLexington，inspiringLexington；andhewasinspiredbyit，forthemanwhohimselfinspiresnoblyisalwaystheonewhoishimselfopentonobleinspiration。Lexingtoninspiredhim。

“WhenIwasalawyerinBostonandalmostthirty-sevenyearsold，""hetoldme，thinkingslowlybackintotheyears，“IwasconsultedbyawomanwhoaskedmyadviceinregardtodisposingofalittlechurchinLexingtonwhosecongregationhadbecomeunabletosupportit。I

wentoutandlookedattheplace，andItoldherhowthepropertycouldbesold。Butitseemedapitytomethatthelittlechurchshouldbegivenup。However，Iadvisedameetingofthechurchmembers，andIattendedthemeeting。Iputthecasetothem——itwasonlyahandfulofmenandwomen——andtherewassilenceforalittle。Thenanoldmanroseand，inaquaveringvoice，saidthematterwasquiteclear；thatthereevidentlywasnothingtodobuttosell，andthathewouldagreewiththeothersinthenecessity；butasthechurchhadbeenhischurchhomefromboyhood，sohequaveredandquiveredon，hebeggedthattheywouldexcusehimfromactuallytakingpartindisposingofit；andinadeepsilencehewenthaltinglyfromtheroom。

“Themenandthewomenlookedatoneanother，stillsilent，sadlyimpressed，butnotknowingwhattodo。AndIsaidtothem:`Whynotstartoveragain，andgoonwiththechurch，afterall!"""

TypicalConwellism，that!First，theimpulsetohelpthosewhoneedhelping，thentheinspirationandleadership。

“`Butthebuildingisentirelytootumble-

downtouse，"saidoneofthemen，sadly；andI

knewhewasright，forIhadexaminedit；butI

said:

“`Letusmeetthereto-morrowmorningandgettoworkonthatbuildingourselvesandputitinshapeforaservicenextSunday。"

“Itmadethemseemsopleasedandencouraged，andsoconfidentthatanewpossibilitywasopeningthatIneverdoubtedthateachoneofthosepresent，andmanyfriendsbesides，wouldbeatthebuildinginthemorning。IwasthereearlywithahammerandaxandcrowbarthatI

hadsecured，readytogotowork——butnooneelseshowedup!""

Hehasaruefulappreciationofthehumorofit，ashepicturedthescene；andoneknowsalsothat，inthatlittletownofLexington，whereAmericanshadsobravelyfacedtheimpossible，RussellConwellalsobracedhimselftofacetheimpossible。Apettiermanwouldinstantlyhavegivenuptheentirematterwhenthosewhoweremostinterestedfailedtorespond，butoneofthestrongestfeaturesinConwell"scharacterishisabilitytodrawevendoubtersandweaklingsintoline，hisabilitytostireventhosewhohavegivenup。

“Ilookedoverthatbuilding，""hegoeson，whimsically，“andIsawthatrepairreallyseemedoutofthequestion。Nothingbutanewchurchwoulddo!SoItooktheaxthatIhadbroughtwithmeandbeganchoppingtheplacedown。

Inalittlewhileaman，notoneofthechurchmembers，camealong，andhewatchedmeforatimeandsaid，`Whatareyougoingtodothere?"

“AndIinstantlyreplied，`Teardownthisoldbuildingandbuildanewchurchhere!"

“Helookedatme。`Butthepeoplewon"tdothat，"hesaid。

“`Yes，theywill，"Isaid，cheerfully，keepingatmywork。Whereuponhewatchedmeafewminuteslongerandsaid:

“`Well，youcanputmedownforonehundreddollarsforthenewbuilding。Comeuptomylivery-stableandgetitthisevening。"

“`Allright；I"llsurelybethere，"Ireplied。

“Inalittlewhileanothermancamealongandstoppedandlooked，andherathergibedattheideaofanewchurch，andwhenItoldhimofthelivery-stablemancontributingonehundreddollars，hesaid，`Butyouhaven"tgotthemoneyyet!"