During the summer, a small volume appeared, entitled "Uncle Toby's Stories on Tobacco." Mr. Lawrence read it; and the views there inculcated so nearly coincided with his own, so often expressed during his whole life, that he caused two editions, of some thousands of copies, to be published and circulated, principally by the boys of the Mather School. On this subject, he writes to President Hopkins, under date of Aug. 5:
"My two last scraps told their own stories to the children, and to-day you will receive a package by express that may require explanation. Uncle Toby has hit the nail on the head in telling his tobacco stories to American lads; and I think your students will do good service in carrying them among their friends wherever they are, to show them how much better it is to prevent an evil than to remedy it; and, taking school-boys as they are, these stories will do more good than any that have been published. I met the author yesterday accidentally at the American Sabbath School Union Depository, where I had just paid for the fifty copies sent to you, and he was very earnest to have me write a few lines for him to publish in his book; but I referred him to the three hundred boys of the Mather School, who are full of the matter to help other school-boys to do as they are doing. However, I may say to him, that, as a school-boy, I was anxious to be manly, like the larger boys; and, by the advice of one, I took a quid, and kept it till I was very sick, but did not tell my parents what the matter was; and, from that time to this, have never chewed, smoked, or snuffed. To this abstinence from its use (and from spirit) I owe, under God, my present position in society. Further, I have always given the preference to such persons as I have employed, for more than forty years past, who have avoided rum and tobacco; and my experience has been such as to confirm me that it is true wisdom to have done so. The evil is growing in a fearfully rapid ratio among us; and requires the steady course of respected and honored men to prevent its spread, by influencing the school-children of our land against becoming its slaves. You will please use the fifty copies in the way you think best. If my life is spared, the Mather School boys will be allowed to tell their own experience to the boys of all the other public schools in this city and neighborhood. In short, I look to these boys influencing three millions of boys within the next thirty or forty years. Is not this work worth looking after?"
The following well-merited tribute to the character of a respected citizen, who devoted his life to the promotion of every good object, is extracted from a note written by Mr. Lawrence to the Hon. Benjamin Seaver, then Mayor of the city, and dated Aug. 23:
"My friend Seaver: I have desired, for some weeks past, to inquire of you some further particulars of the disposition our friend Tarbell[16] made of his property. You mentioned that something would be paid over to A. & A. Lawrence, and something to the Old Ladies' Home, which institution he helped forward by his labors and his influence, in an important stage of its existence; and he was called off just as he was beginning to enjoy the fruits of his labor, in making a multitude of old ladies happy in thus supplying them a home for the remainder of their days on earth. Our friend has passed on; but I doubt not that his labors have prepared him to enter that world where there is no weariness or want, and all sufferings are at an end. I have journeyed side by side, for more than three-score years, with our friend; and can say, with truth, that I never knew him guilty of a dishonest or dishonorable act, and that his life was a practical exponent of his Christian principles. I pray to our Father to make me more faithful in doing the work our friend had so much at heart, while I can do it. My share of the money,[17] coming from his estate, I shall wish paid over to the Old Ladies' Home, and I doubt not brother A. will wish the same done with his share. This appropriation will increase our friend's happiness, even in his heavenly home; for the voice from Heaven proclaims, 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.'"
The editor feels some delicacy in inserting the following, from a gentleman still living, and in our own vicinity; but the tribute to Mr. Lawrence, coming, as it does, from a divine so distinguished in all those qualities which adorn his own profession, as well as for every Christian virtue, is too flattering to be omitted:
"Elmwood, Sept. 3.
"My dear Friend: I take such paper as happens to be near me, in my sick chamber, to thank you for the books and pamphlets, which I have read as much as my dim sight and weak nerves will allow me at present to read. I wish, when you write to your friend Dr. Hamilton, you would thank him for me for his eloquent and evangelical appeals for Christian truth and duty. Tell him I am a Congregational Minister of Boston, but no sectarian; that I was matriculated at the University of Edinburgh, fifty years ago, and studied divinity there under Drs. Hunter, Micklejohn, Moodie, &c., and moral philosophy, under Dugald Stewart;—that my particular friends were David Dickson, since Minister of St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh; David Wilkie, since Minister of Old Gray Friar's Church, Edinburgh; Patrick McFarlane, since Minister in Glasgow and Greenock; Thomas Brown, since Professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh; David Brewster, since Sir David, &c.: most of whom he probably knows. Tell him I should be glad of his correspondence, as I have that of his friend, Principal Lee, of the University of Edinburgh; and that we should be glad to see him in Boston. I was happy to see your name appended to a petition on the subject of the liquor law, though I always expect to find it among the advocates of every benevolent enterprise within your reach. Your visit did me much good. I have much valued your friendship, and your manifestations of respect and regard for me. Heaven bless you and yours, and make you more and more a blessing! Come and see me when you can, my dear friend. With much affection and respect,
"Your old friend,
Charles Lowell.
"P. S.—I write with a feeble hand, dim sight, and nervous temperament."
In enclosing the preceding note to the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, Mr. Lawrence writes, Sept. 4:
"The writer of the foregoing is the Rev. Dr. Lowell, of this city, who is broken down in health, but not at all in his confidence and hope and joy in the beloved Jesus. Of all men I have ever known, Dr. Lowell is one of the brightest exemplars of the character and teachings of the Master; for all denominations respect him, and confide in him. For more than forty years I have known him; and, in all the relations of a good pastor to his people, I have never known a better. I have met him in the sick chamber, with the dying, and in the house of prayer. In the character of a teacher, and a leader of the people heavenward, no one among us has been more valued. Although I have not been a member of his church, he has, in times of great urgency, supplied our pulpit, and has always been ready to attend my family and friends when asked. I sent him such of your writings as I had in store for circulation, 'The Royal Preacher' among them; and I must say to you that I think no living man is preaching to greater multitudes than you are at this day. I have circulated tens of thousands of your tracts and volumes, and, if I am spared, hope to continue the good work. Millions of souls will be influenced by your labors."