Mary Thacher Higginson, Thomas Wentworth Higginson: the story of his life

[138] convention in another State. In explanation of his failure to do this, a speaker at the convention, who called Mr. Higginson the heart and head of the temperance cause in Massachusetts, said, ‘He came here at the call, but declined to serve on a committee that could not recognize his sister as well as himself.’

With all this remarkable activity, the indefatigable pastor did not neglect outdoor exercise and recreation. His love of boating found a happy outlet at Worcester where he was instrumental in organizing a boat club for young men and also one for girls, the latter being practically an unheard-of thing in those days. These novices he patiently and enthusiastically coached, to their own great delight. Once with a few young friends he camped for the night on a tiny island in Lake Quinsigamond to see the pond-lilies open at sunrise. There they sailed among ‘acres’ of white lilies and hung wreaths of them on bow and mast. The boat he had owned at Newburyport went with him to Worcester, and he wrote to his mother: ‘This afternoon, under those wonderful clouds, I have been floating on Lake Quinsigamond, in the painted and rejuvenated Annie [Laurie].’

Another diversion was found in long walks, in which Mr. Higginson was sometimes accompanied