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he sent me no message showing a change of view…
point； and the gulf between the family and its black
sheep remained unbridged。 Though the warmth of
Mary's love for me had become a memory； the
warmth of her hearthstone was still offered me。 I
accepted it； perforce； and we lived together like
shadows of what we had been。 Two friends alone
of all I had made stood by me without qualification
Miss Foot and Clara Osborn； the latter my
‘‘chum'' at Big Rapids and a dweller in my heart
to this day。
In the mean time my preaching had not inter…
fered with my studies。 I was working day and night；
but life was very difficult； for among my school…
mates； too； there were doubts and much head…shaking
over this choice of a career。 I needed the sound of
friendly voices； for I was very lonely； and suddenly；
when the pressure from all sides was strongest and
I was going down physically under it； a voice was
raised that I had never dared to dream would speak
for me。 Mary A。 Livermore came to Big Rapids；
and as she was then at the height of her career； the
entire countryside poured in to hear her。 Far back
in the crowded hall I sat alone and listened to her；
thrilled by the lecture and tremulous with the hope
of meeting the lecturer。 When she had finished
speaking I joined the throng that surged forward
from the body of the hall； and as I reached her and
felt the grasp of her friendly hand I had a sudden
conviction that the meeting was an epoch in my life。
I was right。 Some one in the circle around us told
her that I wanted to preach； and that I was meeting
tremendous opposition。 She was interested at once。
She looked at me with quickening sympathy； and
then； suddenly putting an arm around me； drew me
close to her side。
‘‘My dear；'' she said； quietly； ‘‘if you want to
preach； go on and preach。 Don't let anybody stop
you。 No matter what people say； don't let them
stop you！''
For a moment I was too overcome to answer her。
These were almost my first encouraging words； and
the morning stars singing together could not have
made sweeter music for my ears。 Before I could
recover a woman within hearing spoke up。
‘‘Oh； Mrs。 Livermore；'' she exclaimed； ‘‘don't say
that to her！ We're all trying to stop her。 Her peo…
ple are wretched over the whole thing。 And don't
you see how ill she is？ She has one foot in the grave
and the other almost there！''
Mrs。 Livermore turned upon me a long and deeply
thoughtful look。 ‘‘Yes；'' she said at last； ‘‘I see she
has。 But it is better that she should die doing the
thing she wants to do than that she should die
because she can't do it。''
Her words were a tonic which restored my voice。
‘‘So they think I'm going to die！'' I cried。 ‘‘Well；
I'm not！ I'm going to live and preach！''
I have always felt since then that without the
inspiration of Mrs。 Livermore's encouragement I
might not have continued my fight。 Her sanction
was a shield； however； from which the criticisms of
the world fell back。 Fate's more friendly interest
in my affairs that year was shown by the fact that
she sent Mrs。 Livermore into my life before I had
met Anna Dickinson。 Miss Dickinson came to us
toward spring and lectured on Joan of Arc。 Never
before or since have I been more deeply moved by a
speaker。 When she had finished her address I made
my happy way to the front of the hall with the others
who wished to meet the distinguished guest。 It
was our local manager who introduced me； and he
said； ‘‘This is our Anna Shaw。 She is going to be
a lecturer； too。''
I looked up at the brilliant Miss Dickinson with
the trustfulness of youth in my eyes。 I remem…
bered Mrs。 Livermore and I thought all great wom…
en were like her； but I was now to experience a bitter
disillusionment。 Miss Dickinson barely touched
the tips of my fingers as she looked indifferently
past the side of my face。 ‘‘Ah；'' she said； icily；
and turned away。 In later years I learned how
impossible it is for a public speaker to leave a
gracious impression on every life that for a moment
touches her own； but I have never ceased to be
thankful that I met Mrs。 Livermore before I met
Miss Dickinson at the crisis in my career。
In the autumn of 1873 I entered Albion College；
in Albion； Michigan。 I was twenty…five years of
age； but I looked much youngerprobably not more
than eighteen to the casual glance。 Though I had
made every effort to save money； I had not been
successful； for my expenses constantly outran my
little income； and my position as preacher made it
necessary for me to have a suitable wardrobe。
When the time came to enter college I had exactly
eighteen dollars in the world； and I started for
Albion with this amount in my purse and without
the slightest notion of how I was to add to it。 The
money problem so pressed upon me； in fact； that
when I reached my destination at midnight and dis…
covered that it would cost fifty cents to ride from
the station to the college； I saved that amount by
walking the entire distance on the railroad tracks；
while my imagination busied itself pleasantly with
pictures of the engine that might be thundering upon
me in the rear。 I had chosen Albion because Miss
Foot had been educated there； and I was encouraged
by an incident that happened the morning after my
arrival。 I was on the campus； walking toward the
main building； when I saw a big copper penny lying
on the ground； and； on picking it up； I discovered
that it bore the year of my birth。 That seemed a
good omen； and it was emphatically underlined by
the finding of two exactly similar pennies within a
week。 Though there have been days since then
when I was sorely tempted to spend them； I have
those three pennies still； and I confess to a certain
comfort in their possession！
As I had not completed my high…school course；
my first days at Albion were spent in strenuous prep…
aration for the entrance examinations； and one morn…
ing； as I was crossing the campus with a History
of the United States tucked coyly under my arm；
I met the president of the college； Dr。 Josclyn。 He
stopped for a word of greeting； during which I be…
trayed the fact that I had never studied United
States history。 Dr。 Josclyn at once invited me into
his office with； I am quite sure； the purpose of ex…
plaining as kindly as he could that my preparation
for college was insufficient。 As an opening to the
subject he began to talk of history； and we talked
and talked on； while unheeded hours were born and
died。 We discussed the history of the United States；
the governments of the world； the causes which led
to the influence of one nation on another； the philo…
sophical basis of the different national movements
westward； and the like。 It was the longest and by
far the most interesting talk I have ever had with
a highly educated man； and during it I could ac