"
* * * * *
The Hutchinson family often visited St. Paul, the enterprising town of
Hutchinson, McLeod county, being named after them. They were a very
patriotic family and generally sang their own music. How deliberate
the leader of the tribe would announce the title of the song about to
be produced. Asa Hutchinson would stand up behind the melodeon,
and with a pause between each word inform the audience that
"Sister--Abby--will--now--sing--the--beautiful--song--composed--
by--Lucy--Larcum--entitled--'Hannah--Is--at--the--Window--Binding--
Shoes.'" And sister Abby would sing it, too. During the early
part of the war the Hutchinson family was ordered out of the Army of
the Potomac by Gen. McClellan on account of the abolition sentiments
expressed in its songs. The general was apparently unable to interpret
the handwriting on the wall, as long before the war was ended the
entire army was enthusiastically chanting that beautiful melody to the
king of abolitionists--
"John Brown's body lies moldering in the grave
And his soul is marching on."
Gen. McClellan was at one time the idol of the army, as well as of the
entire American people.
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