Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1843-01-19
EIIIIu BuRRlI~r, he harmed Blacksmith

Every thing that throws light upon the course
of Mr. Bunu. will be read BY all with interest
He has light before thuse whose opportunities have
been limited and cramped, that will moi be without It's
beno fits in stimulating Others To exerilen aud study
The following from Of his letters. not written Tor
publication, however very interesting, and We nave
clIr it iron exchange, where appears without ere
dit, richly deserving perusal aud preservation Inc
young. especially, may IN II what PERSEVERANCE, aud
resolution TO succeed will accomplish. backed by an
elevated ardor Tor the acquisition Of knowledge. heao
| his own story:
81 was the Youngest of many brethren and my parents
poor. My m,ans Of education were limited 10 me
advantages of district school, and those again were Ell
cumscrbed BY my fathers doa winch deprived me, al
the ace of fifteen Of those scany orpoftunltirs which
had previously enjoyed. few months alter his decease
| apprentced m,selfto blacksmith in my native wi
lape Thther carried indumabe taste for reading
which | previously acquired through the medium Of
the Society IibTary-sl tie historical works III which
had al the tine peruscd. At the expiration Of little
more OF my apprenticeship suddenly conceived The idea
of STUDYING Ialin-l Trough The assistance OF my elder
brother who bad himself aeqnircda collegiate education
completed my Alrn during the evenings OF one WIN
Ter After some Time devoted to (eero. and few 9th
er Latin authors, | commenced Tia, Greeks At this
tune II necessary thai should devote every hour
Of daylight, aud part of the evening To the duties OF
my apprenticeship. sill carried my Greek Grammar
il my hat. aud often found moment when was heat
ing some barge iron when could place my book open be-
tore against the chimney Of my forge aud 90 through
with hgt0. tvpteis. tuJion, un".rccHed by my fellow
apprentices aud, my Confusion Of face, with detrI.
mental effect my charge IN the fine. At evening |
sat down unasssied and alone the Had OF Homer,
twenty books OF which measured my progress In that Ian
guage during the evenings OF another winter. ! next
turned IN the modern languages. and WAS much Grahcd
to learn that nowlcdce OF The Latin furnished with
keyto the literature ol must vi the modern iangua-
ges 81 Europe.
"Ths circumstance gaye new impulse to the desire
of IA 4S,t
and affinity Of The different European tongues | could
not BIZ rcconclled 10 limit mysi these Investigations
10 few hours after the afduaus labors o the day.
therefore land down my hammer, aud went Ia New la
ven whore fcrd to native TEACHERS III French, Span
sh Germanand Italian. returned at the expiration
Of two years oie forge bringing with me such books
IN those languages A. could procure. When | read
these books through commenced the Hebrew, with an
ardent desire ar examining another field aud by assldu
Gus application was oAalltd in n few weeks 10 read
this anguaoe with such facility that allotted 10 myself
task chapters the Hebrew Bible before break
fast every marn.ig-ths, aud an hour AT noon, beng
the only time that allotted tom, self during the day. Ac
becoming somewhat familiar with tins language, looked
around me for the oil Initiating myself into the
field OF oriental literature, and 10 my deep regret aud
concern, found my pngess IN this direction hedged up
by the want 81 requisite bo0k5
Il Immediately ncgan 10 devise means of remoy ng
This obstacle; and alter many plans concluded TO seek
place sailor bound 10 Europe thinking In Ibis
ports such works IN the modern aud oriental languages
as found Necessity Io tbs object lett the forge and
my native place. 10 carry Tins plan INTO execution. |
travelled On feet 10 Iuson, distance Of more than
hundred miles, 10 find vessel bound 10 Europe. In tins
| was disappointed; aud while revolving in my MINI
whai steps 10 take accidentally heard ofhc American
Antiquarian Society. aud found here omy infinite graf.
oaon such collection OF ancient. modern and oriental
languages, n never conceived 10 be collected IN
place aud, sir. you may imagine with what sentiments
OF gratitude MAS Affected, when upon eyinclug desire
To examine 81 ihrse rlri and rare works. was
kindly invited oan unlimited participation in all the
benefits of this mobile institution. Awaiting mystli Of the
kindness OF the Directors spent about three hours a
day the hail. which with an hour al noon and abonl
three IN the evening, make up the portion of the day
which appropriate 10 my studies, the rest bcng
pied III arduous manual labor.
"fhrough the facilities afforded by this institution
have been able Ia add much tony previous acqnan-
lance with the ancient, modern and oriental languages,
as to be able 10 read upwards oity Of them with
or less facility