6 



bridge, by the name of Southbridge. Thither the 

 family removed when young Jenks was about a year 

 old ; — and here his childhood and early youth were 

 spent. The religious community at Southbridge was 

 about equally divided between Baptists and Congre- 

 gationalists, who worshipped alternately in the one 

 meeting-house of the place, which was also used as 

 the town house. The Professor in his private 

 memoirs gives a glowing description of this old fash- 

 ioned, yellow painted, two story building, with low 

 steeple and a bell. On three sides was a gallery, 

 and on the fourth side a high pulpit that brought 

 the minister's head above the level of the gallery 

 floors. On the ceiling, back of the pulpit, was a 

 fresco of two large owls' heads with big staring 

 eyes, and wings dropping downward three feet, the 

 whole designed to represent the angels overshadow- 

 ing the Mercy Seat. Square pews that compelled a 

 part of the occupants to sit with backs and sides to 

 the minister, and seats that turned on hinges for con- 

 venience of standing, and, in the words of the Pro- 

 fessor, "slammed with a bang at the close of the 

 prayer," completed the interior. The use of cushions 

 would have been deemed sacrilegious in those days, 

 and foot stoves for the aged and infirm were the only 

 means of warmth in winter. 



Physically the elder brother of the family was 

 somewhat precocious, as also mentally, being able to 

 read, it is said, when a little more than three years 

 old. At the age of five or six he was required to 

 aid his sisters in making wool cards and braiding 



