This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1894 Excerpt: ... CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. CHAPTER I. I Am well aware that hearsay evidence, whether oral 01 written, is not of any great value in a court of justice; but it may be admissible here as proof of my parentage, and also as proof of the influences for good which clustered around me, even from the hour of my birth. Among the letters of my father, in my possession, I find the following, addressed to the widow of Samuel Abbott, Esq., the founder of the Professorship of Christian Theology in Andover Seminary:--"MV DKAR MADAM, ANDOVER, Altf/USt 19M, 1815. I have the joy to inform you of the birth of a daughter, Harrictte Newell. The mother and child are very comfortable. Oh, help us to bless God for all His goodness; and do pray for us that we may be faithful. And pray for this dear child, that God would make her a child of grace and an heir of heaven. With sincere and dutiful love, We are yours, MRS. ABBOTT, I.EOXARD and ABBY WOODS." Andover Hill used to be famous for its high winds and drifting snow storms. My earliest recollection is connected with a bank of snow which covered the fence in front of the seminary buildings. I was at that time about three years old, and was occasionally allowed to accompany my sisters to a private school not far from home. My youngest brother, Daniel, had improvised a carriage by covering the old family sled, into which, with my two elder sisters, I was packed--our ears and fingers well protected by woollen scarves and mittens. Daniel, with long stockings drawn over his pantaloons up to his knees, as was the fashion of the time in such emergencies, did duty for the horse, and we started off in high glee, our big pail of dinner being placed between us. But the memories of what followed and my narrow escape from death are so dim and shadowy ...