Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-05-08


stood connected, il i, supposed, with his CONVEX
sion in childhood, and produced happy influence
on his moral feelings through life.
Some years after, an incident occurred, which,
in like manner, had strong influence in deve-
Looping and giving direction to his intellectual
powers.
"Court day." in the "Old Dominion" is a gene
raj holiday. Schools are dismissed, labour >us-
pended, and the people, old and young, flock to-
ge,hcr 10 see and gree, each other, and "get the
news" On the morning ofone of these holidays
about the year 1890, while the people Of Bedford
county were assembling at the court house, there
came a long over the stiles into the court. yard,
father, with pale and cmaca,ed boy walking by
his SIDE. Meeting with the celebrated Patrick
Henry, after exchanging the usual sauaions, the
father says, "llere, Mr.. Henry, IS my little son,
who, | hone, will make something byand-ly."
The orator took the lad aieconately by the hand
and said to him. in his own frank and hearty good
way,-"l3c of good courage, and be sure, my son,
to remember that the best men always make them
seves."-This sentence was like Ia I>man. Fal-
ling from the lips Of such a man, whom Uhough
a distant relatively he had probably never seen
with uncommon reverence it operated like charm
upon the feelings of our youih.-Though he had
already exhibited the elements Of strong mind,
yet he had leen sckly, and was, leside>, naturally
lndolent, slow and reserved. This memento rotis-
ed his resolution, and seems to have Leen the
which, otherwise might have lain dormant for
ever.
These two incidents had much, very much to do
IN moulding the intellectual and moral character OF
the future man,
The subject Vt cur sketch was born in Bedford
county, Virginia, November 2Sh, l777. His pa
rents were pious and intelligent, but poor. His
father was deputy clerk of the court of his county.
The son manifested a very early tondnes> for
books; and though he had the appearance otbeing
weakly, and through some constitutional defect,
was, al that time, Of an ndolent turn, he learned
TO read very young From earliest childhood he
was Thoughtful, and warmly interested in religious
things He committed TO memory large portions
the Bible, Of Watts Psalms and Hymns, and of
the Book of Common Prayer and when five
years of age, he used to collec, the Children black
and white, abon his fathers house, and mount
ing block or chair in the midst of them, would
recite those portions to them in the solemn form
Of preaching.
At the age oftwelve years, he lost his excellent
mother. HIS father by a series Of mstortunes had
become poor man, and Is he kept no servants,
all the work of the family, together with that Of
cutiva,ing the few surrounding acres, fell upon
the children.
Another calamity now befel him. His father, in
year or two, saw fit TO marry again. Being
poor, and unduly attracted, las some very gravely
suspected,) by the lure OF property, che took for
his wife Mrs Henry, widow of Mr. John Henry.
the brother of Patrick-a woman of proud spri,
and bad temper She soon found that the balance
of power was in her favour, and accordingly she
made use Of it by ruling with rod of IRON Though
she pc >sessed beauty, and some good and re-
dceming qualities il inns, bc admitted thai she
treated the children Of her new husband with great
rgour, and especially our feeble and kindheaIted
youth, who had the misfortune to he favourite
with every body else. She seemed TO take delight
IN ihwartlng his plans. Knowing well hi, passion
Tor books and reading, She would refuse hun