The Northern galaxy, and Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1843-1844, 1843-12-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Philadelphia Saturday Conrier.
Che kemar0 of perssnframre.
BY EDWARD WEBSTER.

| "Ilonor and shame from no condition rise"
,"Was the Saturday Courier in the mail
to-day ?" inquired lad dressed in the hum
bic garb of mechanics apprentice, at the
Post Office of flourishing village in one
of the Northern States, soon after the com.
mencement of that excellent miscellany.
'Tll take the contents of our box, if you
please" said young gentleman, stepping
from an elegant carriage at the door, con-
tanning several ladies, and pushing rather
rudeiy before his humble neighbor, who
quietly drew back to give him room.
81 will wait on you as soon as | have
looked out Thomas Hunters paper" repli-
ed the officer.
"Thomas Hunter can wait" replied the
other, casting look of contempt upon the
apprentice boy "Col. Thornton's daugh-
tiers are at the door.-It is high if they are
to be detained for the sake of accommoda-
ting such fellow"
A sudden blush passed over the face of
the apprentice. and taking the paper tossed
him by the Post Master, he withdrew in
silence
Mr.. George Washington Masterton, for
such was the young gentleman's name, was
now served, and if anything could excite
the Just envy of less favored individual,
it was the extent and variety of literature
to which he had access, as periodical after
periodical, both domestice and foreign,
were produced upon the counter, which he
ordered the servant to deposit in the car
| riage, and then entering it himself, was
whirled away by as noble pair of horses
as ever started at the crack of whip.
In the meantime, our apprentice hurried
home on foot; it being noon, and having
an hour allowed him for his meals, he usu-
ally managed to devote half of it to reading
and study. Seating himself at a rude desk
in one corner of the shop, he hastily IN
folded the sheet. and glanced with anxious
eyes, over the very last page; then at the
middle ones; and finally turned with dis
appointed looks, to the first murmuring as
he did SOL was a fool for sending it, or
dreaming a mechanics apprentice could
write an article worthy the public eye,
when he gave sudden start, turned pale
as death, and in spite of all his efforts to
restrain it, dropped tear upon its yet
damp folds. The first item upon the page
was his own production-some chasre and
beautiful verses-the first he had ever of
fered for publication his want of confidence
in his own powers preventing him from
looking at first where their superior merit
entitled them to stand In the editor
gossip with the readers and correspondents
was compliment, unexpected as it was
gratifying; and he could scarcely believe
his eyes as he read the high encomium.-
Light was tie heart with which he applied
himself to his afternoons task; and week
succeeding week, found him still at his
post, an industrious, faithful and trusty
lad; never neglecting an opportunity tc
improve his mind, or to acquire the mas.
tership of his trade, until, four years from
the Post Office incident, found him com
manding a salary of five hundred dollars {
year, with the respect and confidence O
all who knew him. Nor was he unknown
in the literary world; some of his produc
! tons, both prose and verse, having beer
published in several of the best periodical:
of our country, proving clearly, that fol
I iOWiil9 d Luxurious oOOupdtlOu uOcS HUI CA
clude an idividual from that elevated posi-
ton, in the intellectual world, too Otter
considered as belonging to affiuence and
freedom from the sterner duties of exis
tence. His father had been private sol
der in the Northumberland and patri
otic-and though he had fought the battle.
of his country with unhinching courage
he returned at the close of the war, ex
hausted by privation and suffering-undeck
ed with military distinctions, and with the
written promises only of Government too
poor to meet demands upon her treasury
instead of arrearages of pay. These hi
was obliged to sell at an enormous discount
in order to sustain himself during the inter
val of prostration that fell upon every
branch of business Immediately succeed
, ing the treaty of peace-so that, although
Government subsequently redeemed it
pledges, in his case, as in too many others
: it enriched Spectators instead of those t,
whom it was justly due. Still, he was abb
to obtain an honorable livelihood, and mar
ried at rather late period of life. He CAV
his children a good common education