Brief Sketch of the Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe.
A Tribute to Her Sister Harriet Beecher Stowe
[Stowe, Harriet Beecher]. Hooker, Isabella Beecher. A Brief Sketch of the Life of Harriet Beecher Stowe, by her sister, Isabella Beecher Hooker. (Hartford: The Plimpton Mfg. Co., 1896).
Slim 12mo.; illustrated cardboard wrappers, string-tied; title page lightly foxed; with two black-and-white photographs.
First edition of this brief biography of Stowe, most likely printed in a limited number to promote the Uncle Tom’s Cabin commemorative spoon designed by Hooker. Hooker writes, “In the latter years of her life Mrs. Stowe was unable to aid the benevolent objects which had greatly interested her, by reason of the failure of receipts from ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ the copyright having expired. I have designed this Souvenir Spoon as a memento of my sister, and, should the sale of it bring some return to me, I shall delight to spend it largely in ways which she would have approved and for objects that always had her sympathy.”
When Uncle Tom’s Cabin was originally published in 1852, a copyright could only be held for 28 years, and was renewable by a living author for another 14 years. Houghton, Mifflin & Company took over the rights from Stowe’s first publisher, John P. Jewett, and brought out a new edition in 1892, one year before the allowed l4-year extension was to expire. In 1893, Uncle Tom’s Cabin became part of the public domain, which is why the Stowe estate had stopped receiving royalties by the time this pamphlet was published.
The upper wrapper is illustrated with a portrait of Harriet Beecher Stowe and the pamphlet contains a photograph of Mrs. Stowe’s home in Hartford and a portrait of Hooker, followed by an account of Stowe’s childhood and family history. After describing Stowe’s peaceful death, Hooker concludes with a loving summary of Stowe’s unique qualities and legacy:
In the retrospect, it seems to me that her genius was well matched by her gentleness and patience under great trials, her indomitable courage and power of execution, her hatred of all wrongdoing, yet tender pity toward the transgressor, and her heavenly mindedness in the midst of earthly cares and sorrows. She lived as seeing the invisible.
Finally, the booklet contains the lyrics of a hymn written by Stowe, entitled “The Other World.” This hymn, described by Hooker as “the clue to [Stowe’s] whole life,” was sung at Stowe’s funeral and reads in part:
Scarce knowing if we wake or sleep,
Scarce asking where we are,
To feel all evil sink away,
To sorrow and all care.
Sweet souls around us! watch us still;
Press nearer to our side;
Into our thoughts, into our prayers,
With gentle helpings glide.
Let death between us be as naught,
A dried and vanished stream;
Your joy be the reality,
Our suffering life the dream.
The lower wrapper is illustrated with a drawing of the sterling silver souvenir teaspoon and the inside of the lower wrapper contains an advertisement for the commemorative spoon, which was available for $1.75 through M.H. Basinger, a jewelry and watch repair specialist in Lima, Ohio.
OCLC locates 9 copies.
(#9927)
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