No. 39

The Elders in 1832 with More for Henry

Dear Stewart,

Henry Brother and his wife Mary Ann buried their baby in 1832 at the Grove Cemetery in Bath, New York.

A few words were spoken by their Episcopalian minister to never lose sight that God’s plan is not for you to see, and to want less.

On their walk home, Henry could not contain his annoyance with the advice from the pastor.

So he started making a list of complaints about him.

Number one, his second son, now in the ground, was his namesake.

Number two, the energetic delivery of their pastor reading the words of Bishop Hobart seemed to roll out as if from an athlete, or as if he had to use the outhouse.

Number three, he should have brought in one of his tavern friends to deliver the balm; a familiar regular man would have been better.

Number four, the tone was all sharp, over-corrective, and no one did anything wrong, so why the intensity?

By the time they walked onto the back porch, greeting their pets, who could have written a better eulogy, but Henry was done counting.

And as he pulled off his boots, he determined that yes, they would have another son, the sooner the better.

"I will even name him Hobart or Henry Hobart, for we will be happy to roll out an athlete this time."

A few nights later, he reached for Mary Ann, who was asleep. Despite the July heat, he pulled her close in that automatic maneuver, announcing, “What about the name ‘Henry Hobart’?”

As things cooled off, he returned to Mary Ann, and they agreed to the name, and to have more.

— Miss Minnie

2025 Copyright Christine Friesel