and Braddock is killed,' and of the dread that settled upon the community as the news went through. Proudly she would tell of the War of Independence; that all of her family were true; there was not one Tory among them all.'

"After removal to Kentucky one of the first objects to which Mrs. Hardin devoted herself was to supply, as far as possible, the comforts of life left behind. To this end she planted seeds and raised fruit trees-a matter generally neglected by the adventurous but improvident population of the new State. For awhile she shared her orchard products with her neighbors, exhorting them, however, to plant seeds and raise orchards of their own. But these admonitions were long unheeded. Plant for yourselves this year,' she would say, 'for at the end of three years if you have not fruit trees you must do without, for we will not give to you after that.' The third year came and the improvident ones came as usual asking their portion of the fruit, although they had planted no orchards. Mr. Hardin would have yielded, but his wife said 'no; what we have said we will abide by.'

"Too conscious of many neglected warnings to remonstrate against this just decision they departed; but young Ben, with the ready sympathy a boy feels in the matter of getting fruit, hied away unnoticed to help them get the forbidden fruit. When he reached it, what was his surprise to find his ever kind father ahead of him, and he chuckled to himself as, hiding, he heard his father say: 'Now, you must plant the seed this year, for Sarah is a woman of her word, and will do what she says.' Well they knew that Sarah would do what she said. They reverenced and depended on her strong nature. In sickness and sorrow she was their best friend; but when she stood before them, tall, erect, proud of her courage, with purity and truth written on every line of her fair face, her clear blue eye flashing so brightly with indignation at wrong-doing, they feared to do evil, for she would look with no degree of allowance upon aught that was not honest and true.

"They resorted to her for advice in sickness until there came to the neighborhood a young physician, who, on acquaintance, she found was qualified to administer the healing art. Then when the neighbors came to her for the unremunerated advice they were in the habit of receiving she told them no; they had a doctor now-they must go to him, and pay him, too, or he would not be able to remain among them."*

Mr. Hardin, though more yielding, was equally kind with his wife. He erected a school-house upon his place and himself taught a charity school during those portions of the year when the children of the poor were released from labor.

The Hardin emigrants were clannish after coming to Kentucky, and much together. Sarah Hardin all her life was regarded by them as the strongest-minded of the family, and was deferred to as such.

Miss Lucinda B. Helm, in Lebanon Times.

She was of great personal beauty and superior intellect. Her complexion was very fair; her hair bright auburn; eyes clear and blue; in person, tall and commanding. She had the nerve and courage of a Cæsar. Moving to Kentucky when it was molested by Indians and abounding in game, she learned to use the rifle, and became a superior marksman; she killed squirrels from the tops of the tallest trees. In old age she taught her grandchildren gunning. She was a great reader, reading daily until within a few days of her death. She became an excellent historical scholar. Her conversational powers were unusually fine. She had enjoyed the best of Virginia society in young womanhood, and at that period associations more refined and intelligent were not found this side the Atlantic. "I have heard her say," writes a granddaughter, "that she was well acquainted with General Washington-had frequently met him in the social circle, and was often his partner at the whist table. "'*

On the death of her husband (about 1820) she took up her residence with her son Ben, with whom she lived until her death in 1832, in her eighty-eighth year.

The theory asserted by Napoleon and others that it is the mother, rather than the father, that imparts greatness to the child has here another corroboration. It is fancied that between Mrs. Hardin and the imperious spirit of Lady Macbeth a resemblance may be traced. Of the one as well as the other it seems appropriate to say:

"Bring forth men children only!

For thy undaunted metal should compose naught but males."

Mr. Hardin had four sisters, of whom two married husbands named Tobin, another married Andrew Barnett, and the fourth (Rosa) married James McElroy. His brother Martin lived to middle age in Kentucky, in pursuit of agriculture. At the period when Texas was engaged in her unequal struggle with Mexico for independence, many chivalrous souls rushed to the aid of the republic of the Lone Star. Among these were Houston, Milam, Bowie, Crocket, etc. Martin Hardin also went thither, and did important service at the battle of San Jacinto. Afterward, when Texas was free and at peace, he procured title to the land where the battle was fought, and there spent his last days. Warren, the youngest of the family, was a farmer of Meade county, and survived the late civil war. He was noted for integrity and courage. He had fine natural endowments, and if he had had requisite culture, and chosen intellectual pursuits, he would have made his mark.

Mrs. Kate Riley.

Benjamin Hardin (or Ben Hardin, as he was always called), so christened for his father, and third in descent of the same Christian name, was born at George's creek settlement, on the Monongahela river, Westmoreland county, Pa., February 29, 1784. He was the sixth of the seven children of his parents. He early gave indication

of decided vigor of body and mind.

Not unnaturally, he was a favorite in his immediate family, and his most commonplace performances were deemed worthy of note. When the emigrant boat that bore the Hardin family down the Monongahela, in March, 1788, started on its voyage to Kentucky, a married sister, who remained behind, remarked afterward that the last sight she caught of little Ben, then four years of age, he was sitting on a barrel beating lustily on the head of it, unconscious and uncaring whither he went or what the future had in store for him.

On one occasion a young gentleman of a heroic turn of mind proposed to write Mr. Hardin's biography, and asked for the incidents. of his early life. Mr. Hardin thereupon related an adventure of his childhood for the benefit of his would be biographer. The latter, however, expressing the opinion that he could not make use of such a trivial circumstance, further communication was declined. The rejected adventure was this: When about seven years of age (after removal to Kentucky), he was sent by his mother from his home in

the wilderness on an errand to the house of one of the nearest neighbors, some few miles distant. Road there was none-merely a path, and that dim from infrequent use, yet distinct enough when closely observed.

Having accomplished his mission, on his return, by inattention, he missed his way. He soon found himself in the trackless woods with no conception of the direction of home. In the midst of his perplexity he heard the familiar bell worn by the milch cow that led his father's cattle on the range. Reasoning to himself that by nightfall that cow would return home, or, if she failed, would be sent for, he made his way to her and kept her in sight until she guided him home.

In that period and locality the schoolmaster was abroad but seldom. Ichabod Radley taught at Hardin's settlement, in Nelson county, not far from 1790. Mr. Hardin was one of his pupils and so were Robert and Charles A. Wickliffe and Samuel Haycraft. He also, about the same period, attended a school taught on Cherry Run, in Washington county, by an educated Irishman named Knott-the grandfather of the present governor of the State. One of his schoolmates at that school, the late Rev. Stephen Ray, often spoke of Hardin's slovenliness and neglect of his person in school days, a characteristic never overAt one time he attended the school of Dr. James Priestly, at Bardstown. Dr. Priestly was the brother of the distinguished Dr. Joseph Priestly, of England, and enjoyed wide reputation for talents. He afterward taught at Frankfort, and from thence, in 1803, removed to Tennessee, where he became prominently identified with the educational interests of the State, and there he spent the close of life.

come.

Mr. Hardin's brother-in-law, Andrew Barnett, resided in Green county. Barnett had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a man of considerable estate. He was childless, and this, perhaps, influenced his partiality for the youthful Benjamin. At any rate, the latter spent a considerable part of his leisure in youth with his kinsman, and there had an experience somewhat rare for those days. Barnett was a pioneer in the sport of horse-racing. He kept a stable of fast horses and ran them when occasion offered. Hardin accompanied him and assisted in this business, for which he developed a keen taste. He at the same time learned, as a sort of concomitant, the art and mystery of "old sledge." So expert in this did he become that his brother-in-law freely staked his money on his playing. Mr. Hardin bet but little himself, although exceedingly skillful and successful. In after life he claimed credit for resisting a temptation so

alluring. In September, 1839, when he rode on horseback, from his home at Bardstown to Louisville, to witness the celebrated race between Grey Eagle and Waggoner, few realized how much the passion of his youth was aroused, when, on that occasion, he declined an invitation of Charles M. Thruston to the grand stand, and was criticised for it. It was little imagined how much he felt at home among the jockeys, trainers, and groundlings, with whom he preferred to consort.

"Young Ben stood more in fear of his mother than of his indulgent father," says his granddaughter,*" for in those rude times it took a stronger hand than in these days to guide and mold a robust, strong-minded boy, fuller even than usual of that life and energy which in boyhood are apt to run riot. Quick-witted and daring, he was hard to keep at school, and to hold back from frolic. Evading his indulgent father he was found one day in a billiard-room, watching with interest the game in which he was too young to join. It was Felix Grundy, who, coming in, saw the bright-eyed boy, intently enjoying what might lure him in time. Recognizing him, he exclaimed: What are you doing here, Ben?' and persuaded him to go with him and be signed for a year's tuition to an accomplished Irishman, by the name of Barry, who he foresaw would be able to attract and interest the restless mind that revolted from the tramping pedagoguery of the half-taught teacher of the neighborhood. He then went to inform the parents what he had done. The father was inclined to resent this unexpected interference with his family affairs; but the mother, glad that so suitable a teacher had been found for her favorite son, thanked Mr. Grundy, and said he should be kept where he had put him."

6

Daniel Barry was an Irish refugee who had fled from his country for participating in efforts to throw off the British yoke. He was versed in the languages, an accomplished scholar, and, withal, a polished gentleman. The commission of a homicide, after Hardin became his pupil, although justifiable, compelled him to abandon Bardstown. He was indicted in the district court but was granted, by the Legisla ture, a change of venue-November 26, 1801-to Danville "on account," said the act, "of the unusual prejudice and party spirit prevailing at Bardstown." He went to Hartford on his acquittal and again engaged in teaching. Hardin followed him thither and assisted in teaching the English branches, and in return was taught Greek and Latin. On the organization of the Circuit Court, in 1802, Barry received from Judge Christopher Greenup the appointment of clerk for Ohio county.

Miss Lucinda B. Helm,