Chapter 14: the minister's wooing, 1857-1859.
- Death of Mrs. Stowe's oldest son. -- letter to the Duchess of Sutherland. -- letter to her daughters in Paris. -- letter to her sister Catherine. -- visit to Brunswick and Orr's Island. -- writes the minister's Wooing and “the Pearl of Orr's Island.” -- Mr. Whittier's comments. -- Mr. Lowell on the “minister's Wooing.” -- letter to Mrs. Stowe from Mr. Lowell. -- John Ruskin on the “minister's Wooing.” -- a year of sadness. -- letter to Lady Byron. -- letter to her daughter. -- departure for europe.
Immediately after Mrs. Stowe's return from England in June, 1857, a crushing sorrow came upon her in the death of her oldest son, Henry Ellis, who was drowned while bathing in the Connecticut River at Hanover, N. H., where he was pursuing his studies as a member of the Freshman class in Dartmouth College. This melancholy event transpired the 9th of July, 1857, and the 3d of August Mrs. Stowe wrote to the Duchess of Sutherland:
