"I live for those who love me, Whose hearts are kind and true, For the heaven that smiles above me, And awaits my spirit too;
For the human ties that bind me, For the task by God assigned me, For the bright hopes left behind me, And the good that I can do."
Such a soul was Miss Hinsdale. Her presence with us has ever been a ministry of gentleness, a benediction of friendliness and an atmosphere of peace. She had so woven her kindly personality into the best life of our town that we shall continue to think of her as having partnership in it. Having been brought here by her parents (Rev. & Mrs. Charles J. Hinsdale) when an infant, she became identified through her whole life with this town. She was prepared for Mount Holyoke Seminary (now College) in the public and private schools of Blandford. She entered the Seminary in the year 1850, and remained till 1852, when sickness prevented the completion of her course. She spent the remainder of her life in Blandford. She loved her home and she made valued strong friendships. She became a loyal and devoted member of the church, of which her father was the valued minister for a quarter of a century.
When a lady of fine taste, such as she had; and of means, as she also possessed; with a true artist's sense, such as hers; having leisure also, as she had leisure; voluntarily interrupts a course of study in art, as she did; not for necessity or other diversion, but solely because the pursuit was threatening to become an obstacle to her lavish giving; dropping the aesthetic art in order to become more adept in the still more beautiful art of friendliness; such a lady becomes a prophecy and a veritable token of heaven in the midst of our world.
It is no wonder that her long term of service as a Sunday School teacher, having such a background of character, bore fruit in multiplied and extended appreciation and sterling Christian worth in the person of many a pupil.
Besides her activity in the Sunday School, Miss Hinsdale devoted herself to service in the Ladies' Benevolent Society, of which she was the secretary for many years, and she was the moving spirit among the ladies in the work of the Woman's Board of Missions.
She contributed a thousand dollars for the erection of the Congregational chapel, about one-third its cost, a building singularly useful, and an ornament to the village. She gave liberally to missions.
As has been intimated, she continually sought and found opportunities for quietly bestowing favors, great and small, upon one another of her wide circle of acquaintance. She was a choice friend.
From Blandford Monthly, September, 1902
Reprinted In Stone Walls Magazine
For the human ties that bind me, For the task by God assigned me, For the bright hopes left behind me, And the good that I can do."
Such a soul was Miss Hinsdale. Her presence with us has ever been a ministry of gentleness, a benediction of friendliness and an atmosphere of peace. She had so woven her kindly personality into the best life of our town that we shall continue to think of her as having partnership in it. Having been brought here by her parents (Rev. & Mrs. Charles J. Hinsdale) when an infant, she became identified through her whole life with this town. She was prepared for Mount Holyoke Seminary (now College) in the public and private schools of Blandford. She entered the Seminary in the year 1850, and remained till 1852, when sickness prevented the completion of her course. She spent the remainder of her life in Blandford. She loved her home and she made valued strong friendships. She became a loyal and devoted member of the church, of which her father was the valued minister for a quarter of a century.
When a lady of fine taste, such as she had; and of means, as she also possessed; with a true artist's sense, such as hers; having leisure also, as she had leisure; voluntarily interrupts a course of study in art, as she did; not for necessity or other diversion, but solely because the pursuit was threatening to become an obstacle to her lavish giving; dropping the aesthetic art in order to become more adept in the still more beautiful art of friendliness; such a lady becomes a prophecy and a veritable token of heaven in the midst of our world.
It is no wonder that her long term of service as a Sunday School teacher, having such a background of character, bore fruit in multiplied and extended appreciation and sterling Christian worth in the person of many a pupil.
Besides her activity in the Sunday School, Miss Hinsdale devoted herself to service in the Ladies' Benevolent Society, of which she was the secretary for many years, and she was the moving spirit among the ladies in the work of the Woman's Board of Missions.
She contributed a thousand dollars for the erection of the Congregational chapel, about one-third its cost, a building singularly useful, and an ornament to the village. She gave liberally to missions.
As has been intimated, she continually sought and found opportunities for quietly bestowing favors, great and small, upon one another of her wide circle of acquaintance. She was a choice friend.
From Blandford Monthly, September, 1902
Reprinted In Stone Walls Magazine