0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

         AUTOBIOGRAPHIC REMINISCENCES 


 1	    This venerable grandmother had thirteen children,
  	the youngest of whom was my father, Mark Baker,
 3	who inherited the homestead, and with his brother, James
  	Baker, he inherited my grandfather's farm of about five
  	hundred acres, lying in the adjoining towns of Concord
 6	and Bow, in the State of New Hampshire. 
  	    One hundred acres of the old farm are still cultivated
  	and owned by Uncle James Baker's grandson, brother of
 9	the Hon. Henry Moore Baker of Washington, D. C. 
  	    The farm-house, situated on the summit of a hill, com-
  	manded a broad picturesque view of the Merrimac River
12	and the undulating lands of three townships. But change
  	has been busy. Where once stretched broad fields of
  	bending grain waving gracefully in the sunlight, and
15	orchards of apples, peaches, pears, and cherries shone
  	richly in the mellow hues of autumn, — now the lone night-
  	bird cries, the crow caws cautiously, and wandering winds
18	sigh low requiems through dark pine groves. Where
  	green pastures bright with berries, singing brooklets,
  	beautiful wild flowers, and flecked with large flocks and
21	herds, covered areas of rich acres, — now the scrub-oak,
  	poplar, and fern flourish. 
  	    The wife of Mark Baker was Abigail Barnard Ambrose,
24	daughter of Deacon Nathaniel Ambrose of Pembroke, a
 
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  Retrospection and Introspection --- Autobiographic Reminiscences         


 1	small town situated near Concord, just across the bridge,
  	on the left bank of the Merrimac River. 
 3	    Grandfather Ambrose was a very religious man, and
  	gave the money for erecting the first Congregational
  	Church in Pembroke. 
 6	    In the Baker homestead at Bow I was born, the young-
  	est of my parents' six children and the object of their
  	tender solicitude. 
 9	    During my childhood my parents removed to Tilton,
  	eighteen miles from Concord, and there the family re-
  	mained until the names of both father and mother were
12	inscribed on the stone memorials in the Park Cemetery
  	of that beautiful village. 
  	    My father possessed a strong intellect and an iron will. 
15	Of my mother I cannot speak as I would, for memory
  	recalls qualities to which the pen can never do justice. 
  	The following is a brief extract from the eulogy of the Rev. 
18	Richard S. Rust, D.D., who for many years had re-
  	sided in Tilton and knew my sainted mother in all the
  	walks of life. 

21	     The character of Mrs. Abigail Ambrose Baker was distin-
  	 guished for numerous excellences.  She possessed a strong
  	 intellect, a sympathizing heart, and a placid spirit.  Her
24	 presence, like the gentle dew and cheerful light, was felt by
  	 all around her.  She gave an elevated character to the tone of
  	 conversation in the circles in which she moved, and directed
27	 attention to themes at once pleasing and profitable. 
  	     As a mother, she was untiring in her efforts to secure the
  	 happiness of her family.  She ever entertained a lively sense
30	 of the parental obligation, especially in regard to the educa-
 
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  Retrospection and Introspection --- Autobiographic Reminiscences        


 1	 tion of her children.  The oft-repeated impressions of that
  	 sainted spirit, on the hearts of those especially entrusted to her
 3	 watch-care, can never be effaced, and can hardly fail to induce
  	 them to follow her to the brighter world.  Her life was a
  	 living illustration of Christian faith. 

 6	    My childhood's home I remember as one with the open
  	hand. The needy were ever welcome, and to the clergy
  	were accorded special household privileges. 
 9	    Among the treasured reminiscences of my much re-
  	spected parents, brothers, and sisters, is the memory of
  	my second brother, Albert Baker, who was, next to my
12	mother, the very dearest of my kindred. To speak of his
  	beautiful character as I cherish it, would require more
  	space than this little book can afford. 
15	    My brother Albert was graduated at Dartmouth Col-
  	lege in 1834, and was reputed one of the most talented,
  	close, and thorough scholars ever connected with that
18	institution. For two or three years he read law at Hills-
  	borough, in the office of Franklin Pierce, afterwards Presi-
  	dent of the United States; but later Albert spent a year
21	in the office of the Hon. Richard Fletcher of Boston. 
  	He was consequently admitted to the bar in two States,
  	Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In 1837 he suc-
24	ceeded to the law-office which Mr. Pierce had occupied,
  	and was soon elected to the Legislature of his native State,
  	where he served the public interests faithfully for two
27	consecutive years. Among other important bills which
  	were carried through the Legislature by his persistent en-
  	ergy was one for the abolition of imprisonment for debt. 
30	    In 1841 he received further political preferment, by
 
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  Retrospection and Introspection --- Autobiographic Reminiscences         


 1	nomination to Congress on a majority vote of seven
  	thousand, — it was the largest vote of the State; but he
 3	passed away at the age of thirty-one, after a short illness,
  	before his election. His noble political antagonist, the
  	Hon. Isaac Hill, of Concord, wrote of my brother as
 6	follows: —  

  	     Albert Baker was a young man of uncommon promise.  
  	 Gifted with the highest order of intellectual powers, he trained
 9	 and schooled them by intense and almost incessant study
  	 throughout his short life.  He was fond of investigating ab-
  	 struse and metaphysical principles, and he never forsook
12	 them until he had explored their every nook and corner,
  	 however hidden and remote.  Had life and health been spared
  	 to him, he would have made himself one of the most distin-
15	 guished men in the country.  As a lawyer he was able and
  	 learned, and in the successful practice of a very large business.  
  	 He was noted for his boldness and firmness, and for his power-
18	 ful advocacy of the side he deemed right.  His death will be
  	 deplored, with the most poignant grief, by a large number of
  	 friends, who expected no more than they realized from his
21	 talents and acquirements.  This sad event will not be soon
  	 forgotten.  It blights too many hopes; it carries with it too
  	 much of sorrow and loss.  It is a public calamity.
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