and the neighboring towns." Included in the
bequest for founding the still existing so-called
"Hale Donation" was a portrait of the donor's
husband, Major John Hale;--well painted, for
the period, and now of great interest. Mrs. John
Hale died a few months after her husband. It is
easy to believe that, though born of different parents,
the Hale and Adams families were congenial
mentally and morally, and that Deacon Richard
Hale was a wise and fortunate man in his choice of
a second mother for his children.

According to his mother's and grandmother's
wishes, it was early decided that Nathan should be
prepared to enter college. After the fashion of
those times, he and two of his brothers began their
preparatory studies under the direction of the Rev.
Joseph Huntington, D.D., then pastor of the
church in Nathan's native town. He is said to
have been a man noted for his intellectual power,
for his patriotism, and for his courteous manners.

It may be well to say here that, in those early
days, the New England ministers usually settled
in one pastorate for life, and they were not only
teachers in spiritual things, but were noted for
their courteous and dignified manners; so that
even before he entered college Nathan Hale must
have had ample opportunities for the cultivation

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