Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/154

Rh institution was to be opened with appropriate ceremonies, Miss Hatch was very ill with la grippe. A year later she fell and broke her right wrist, but she retained her office as secretary of the Hospital Board, and accomplished the usual committee work.

The year 1888 proved unfortunate. Having passed three years at 60 Bowdoin Street, she spent time and money in the expectation of staying there years more. But, the place suddenly changing owners, she moved out, and stored her furniture.

As chairman of the nominating committee of women voters. Miss Hatch labored to secure a suitable list of men and women to report for the fall campaign. The A. P. A. element came to the front, and in some cases men as well as women joined it, but many soon left on learning its narrow and deceptive platform. Miss Hatch went to Washington in December, remaining there for several months. She there conceived the idea that the thing needed in Boston was concerted action by the women and men of a liberal turn of mind, to educate the people against the wave of narrowness sweeping the State in the shape of lectures and literature. In letters to the old workers she explained this plan. The Rev. Samuel J. Barrows being in Washington the same season, she conferred with him, and was greatly encouraged by his approval and promise of aid. Miss Hatch reached Boston in July in time to attend the meeting called to discuss this new plan. It proved a disappointment, as some of those present advised that it be an organization of women. But wiser ways prevailed, and soon the Citizens' Public School Union, composed of men and women, was in working order, with Dr. Salome Merritt as president and Mrs. Frances E. Billings (wife of the artist Billings) as the secretary. Meetings were held, literature printed and circulated, and in time much of the mischief was stamped out. After Mrs. Billings removed from the city, her place was filled by Miss Hatch as long as she remained in Boston. In 1889, as delegate from the Woman's Charity Club, Miss Hatch became a member of the Committee of Council and Co-operation; and in the years following she held much of the time the office of clerk. When Dr. Merritt passed on, in November, 1900, Miss Hatch was unanimously elected chairman.

Having been brought up in the liberal atmosphere of Unitarianism, Miss Hatch early became a member of the church and a teacher in the Sunday-school. To her early religious belief she added that of Spiritualism, of which she became a consistent and persistent student. Unwilling to encourage by her presence any sensational display, she was never found where any doubt could exist of the genuineness of the phenomena exhibited. Though neither clairvoyant nor clairaudient, she seemed always aware of the presence of spirit guides and friends, and talked with them in familiar style as if they were in the body. She has been heard to say, "My life would not have been worth living the last twenty-five years but for the constant help and companionship of my spirit friends."

Removing from Boston in 1897, Miss Hatch spent the closing years of her life at East Pembroke, with summers at Onset. Invited by Susan B. Anthony to prepare the chapter giving the work of the Massachusetts National Association for the fourth volume of the History of Woman Suffrage from 1884 to 1900, that writing was crowded into her busy life. Many hours each week she passed out of doors, often for whole days riding with an invalid brother, camping out in suitable weather and as late as was comfortable. Work in the home garden was not neglected, however numerous might be other cares, and at all hours of the day she was out of doors, taking a rest from her pen in pulling off dry leaves or picking bouquets for the numerous children who frequented the place. She reported herself but a few months ago as feeling each year younger than the last.

Though nearing the old age of which many speak as a dreary season, she had no such thoughts, but contemplated many busy years, possibly the happiest of her life, before the coming of the change which is "but crossing, with bated breath and with set face, a little strip of sea, to find the loved ones waiting on the shore, more beautiful, more precious, than before."

This change came March 20, 1903.