We went to the neighborhood Sunday night sings in the long front room
 of the [Scoville] farmhouse. When we were all seated, with Mrs. Hedden at the piano, the well-worn 1886 Gospel Hymns were passed around. People all over the room, children and all, called the numbers of the hymns they wanted. My brother, who sang joyfully under cover of the men’s voices, called every single week for “Hold the Fort, for I am Coming.” and “Pull for the Shore, Sailor! Pull for the Shore!” The men gave these their all and how they did sing out! They might have been heard a mile away. And must have ripped to rags everyone’s tensions for the whole next week. – Harriet Soule