Litchfield enquirer., 1842-12-01

Senb 10 cOlIcgeS Out all xn0 a&pIr0tlOnS 01 ms young ambition. his mis-iudging relatives opposed.
 At fourteen, he was placed in a store be- longing to the Union Manufacturing Com pany, at Marlborough; Connecticut. He performed the duties of this station with such zeal and fidelity, !hoNgh So contrary to his inctinations, that he was made the agents assistant book-keeper at Manches. ter. His father, about this time, took hin on an excursion to New York. It seemed to him paradise. On every hand were stores of knowledge and food for thought..- He found, too. excitement, which; for the time, he entered into with the zest of early youth. His ambition to acquire an educa- tion increased, and he determined to have one at all hazards; with the profits of a years clerkship in his pocket, he left his situation and came to New York. He soon after get from his father promise that he should be allowed to fit himself for college.
 At an academy near Hartford, he vigor- ously resumed his classical studies. He labored night and day, and astonished every one with his progress. Three months had glided away insensibly, though not nnprofi- tably; when, at the quater's close, he was surprised by mandate from his father, re- quiring his return home in the next mail stage.
 The influence of the stepmother was at work against him. He left the home which she made uncomfortable, and went to ,Balti. more, unfriended, almost pennyless, and but seventeen years of age. But it was not long before he found employment as teacher of mathematics in ladies' semina. ry to which he soon added further occu- patton, as assistant in high school.
 He made many friends by his excellent conduct and remarkable talents and among the rest, a gentlemen by the name of Everett, a canal contractor, was SO char med with his energy. requirements, and excellent traits of character, that he offer ed him large salary to go upon theNwork as an engineer, and entrusted to his charge one of the most extensive as we'll us difficult jobs on the north branch of the Susquehannah.
 The young teacher was struck dumb with his expectations. and the salary offered him greatly beyond his hopes.
 At the age of eighteen, and entirely mex. perienced, he performed the labor of Her. cuies, to the satisfaction of his employer, but to the ruin of his own health, and with the money he had saved of his wages, he went to Wilbraham, Massachusetts, resolv- ed to devote himself 10 study. He accord ingly placed himself under the tuition of the late President Fisk, late President of the Wesleyan College. ,..
 At home he had one beloved sister, round whom twined Every tendril of his heart.- She was the only being who made the tho't of that home endura ble-and she became a victim to the persecution that had twice driven him from the parental roof She could not fly into the world for refuge-hpt she found it in the grave; S4Esh Ann Colt died from taking "r0oniS' TIA Ae29iaI the age of twenty-one!
 The brother's soul was paralyzed. Eve. r,y prernpfing of his ambition was drowned in the despair which this most unhappy event occasioned. He resolved to quit the country. Accident brought beneath his eye q navy order for fitting out the frigate Con- stitution for the Mediterranean. He resolv- ed to get on board of her in any capacity. He hastened to Norfolk. But how could he get on board the Constitution He met an intelligent acquaintance attached to the marines, and was persuaded to enlist in that corps. He proposed to go to Constantine pie, then to Alexandria, to Calcutta, to Can ton and return home through South Ameri- ca. It was a mad project, and he had not reflected that, enlisted as he was in the corps such thing was impossible.
 The coarse fare. uncouth companionship, and arduous duties of soldier, sooh cured him of his folly. The excitement died away, and the state of mind and body, brought on by his situation, produced violent fever.- After several weeks confinement in the hos- pital, during which time the Constitution had sailed on her cruise, he recovered. and procured discharge from Washington.
 We next find him engaged for one year, as clerk, at a small salary, in the office ot Dudley Selden, Esq. of this city distant relation of Colt. Mr. Selden found his young kinsman regular, studious and in. dustrious, and became much attached to him. as he has shown in defending him in his late trial. Not intending to study law, but wishing to qualify himself as a civil en- gineer and teacher. he made arrangements to take years instruction in mathematics in the Vermont University. When his year was expired, and he was about to take his departure, Mr. Selden said to him. "your father has sent me hundred dollars for you." "Give i: back to him with my thanks" replied the son. He has said that he could not, even destitute as he was, bear to re- ceive supplies from fountain which had been sealed to his poor sister.
 At the Vermont University, our subject was an inmate at the house of President Marsh, to whom he became much attached. During his stay he thoroughly mastered the theory of his designed profession. He also became distinguished in debating society of the institution.
 The severity of his studies produced an attack of bleeding at the lungs. His inten- ded employment was too full of exposure for his health, and he accepted partnership in trading voyage up the lakes. He re- gained his health, made small sum of mo- ney. and bought him farm in the most