A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Fiske, Catharine
FISKE, CATHARINE,
A true Benefactress, because she earned what she gave, and, while doing deeds of mercy, never forgot the claims of justice. Catharine Fiske was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on the 30th. of July, 1784. Her father died when she was a few months old, committing his only precious child to her Heavenly Father. Her mother married a second husband, who was not a provident man; he removed with his family to different places, residing for a time in Vermont, in one of its most remote and wild settlements. Still the self-education of Catharine Fiske went on wherever she was, for she had a mind that would improve. One who knew her well gives this account of her early years:—
"She ever appeared different from most other children, in that she was remarkably uniform in her feelings, and perfectly mild as to temper. When ever so much crossed or tried she had good command over her passions. She was never gay and flighty, like others of her age; never in the least uneasy in her situation, let it be ever so unpleasant. She could always find some one that had many more disagreeable tasks to perform than herself, and patiently endured all her disappointments, which were many, in early life. She was very fond of her little companions, endeavouring as much as possible to make them cheerful and happy. And they were not all that she endeavoured to make happy, for the aged she always felt interested in, and endeavoured to do all for them that came within her sphere. She was uncommonly attached to books, and read a great many hours and days when other children were at play. And when she did not understand the author, some one must explain it to her satisfaction, or she could not very willingly lay her book aside; and, when once made to understand, it was never forgotten. She was exceedingly kind in her feelings toward the poor and distressed, administering to their wants all that was in her power. Her opportunities at school were rather limited, even for those days, excepting that her friends at Worcester gave her some advantages in schooling."
She commenced her life-profession of teacher when only fifteen, continuing it till her death, May 20th., 1837, aged fifty-three years. She was a faithful and efficient labourer in the service of humanity; preparing the young, especially of her own sex, for their important stations and responsible duties. For a number of years she was instructor in the public or district schools, but in 1814, she opened her Female Seminary at Keene, New Hampshire, where she presided during the remainder of her life. Thus for twenty-three years was she steadily engaged; having under her care, in all, more than two thousand five hundred pupils, young ladies from every state in the Union; and her success in moulding this variety of character to an uniform model of high moral excellence was astonishing. In no single instance did her influence fail to effect a salutary impression; nor ever did a pupil leave her school but with respect for its principal.
Miss Fiske performed her arduous duties while frequently a sufferer from pain, her health being always delicate, and often so feeble, that a person of less fortitude in duty would have become a confirmed invalid. Her strength was not physical, but moral; this was the compelling power of her mind.
Her piety was not only without ostentation, but almost without expression in words—it was through her daily deeds that the beauty of her Christian character was manifested. The field of her usefulness was by no means limited to public instruction. In her household, at the fireside, her life was one sweet strain of moral humanity; the inspiring breath of every virtue; a benign gospel, preached to every listening and attentive ear in tones and acts of kindness and love, in a spirit of overflowing benevolence, and in the silent teachings of patience under sufferings.
In the wise allotment of Providence, men are the providers, women the dispensers; the earnings of the one sex, to become most beneficial, should be submitted to the economy of the other. Few are the instances recorded where a female has accumulated property; what she earns is for immediate and pressing exigencies, to supply which is really the province of the stronger sex. Miss Fiske is a remarkable exception; she united in her character the best qualities of both the sexes. Well might Mr. Barstow close his notice of her by asserting that "she was a woman of great originality, of uncommon powers, of great influence, of true humility, of comprehensive plans, and of real philosophical greatness." Her history belongs to her country. And may it prove to all that the circumstances of birth, orphanage, or physical weakness, and, we may add, of sex, militate nothing against the usefulness and respect which talents and virtue ever secure. May it shew the trifling, the giddy, and the thoughtless, that it is no proof of greatness to despise religion, and that true piety is the only passport to heaven!