To Mary Bennett Holden
A NOBLE woman has passed from earth, and great was her reception when she crossed the Harbor Bar.
I speak of Mary Bennett Holden, a young woman of leisure, who, for two years chose to employ her time in uplifting work among seamen, and made upon them the impression of a sweet, earnest soul.
She was much of her time at the Sailors’ Haven, joining with the sailors in their games and other forms of amusement, and was regarded by all as their personal friend. Her greatest joy was when contributing in some way to a sailor’s welfare, whose honest, and other good qualities she learned to admire. Her delight was to take the trimmer from the stoke hold, dressed in his rough clothing and show him the educational features of the City. She was constantly doing for them things which contributed to their comfort and pleasure, and the very day of her funeral, some of the seamen in port were given a number of comfort bags which she had made before and during her illness.
Many a sailor has been led from a careless life to one of high purposes and Christian ideals, by having known her.
In the spacious reading room of the Haven, hangs her portrait, perpetuating her self-sacrificing labors. The sailors gather round it and find consolation in looking on the picture of the one they loved.
One evening the boatswain of an ocean steamer dried his eyes with his bandana and said “I like to look at her even though it makes me cry.” Another old “Shell Back,” who had wasted his years in reckless living said “I never drew a sober breath in Boston till I met her.” I could fill a volume telling the various expressions of appreciation tendered her by the men of the sea, but forbear. Let it suffice when I say she was their friend in the truest sense; there emanated from her heart that genuine hospitality which cannot be described, but was immediately realized, and made the sailors feel at ease.
Her very presence diffused pleasure, she was the fountain of gladness, brushing, as it were by magic, the cares and troubles from their faces, and making everything in her vicinity freshen into smiles. It took but a moment for her joyous disposition to breed a perfect contagion. She made the youthful heart glad and forced old age to throw off its apathy and live again the freshness of life.
There was a healthful hardiness about her, that never dreaded contact and communion with others however humble.
Her whole demeanor was easy and natural, and without any pretension whatever, she won the confidence and respect of the sailor men.
They sadly miss her, and will ever do so. She has weighed her anchor and sailed for a happier shore. We know she is waiting to welcome her friends of the sea into her world where there are no farewells and separations.
To her memory I affectionately dedicate this volume.
S. H. K.