Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-01-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Christian Citizen.
LETTERS TO AN APPRENTICESHIP. l.
NV DEAR GEORGE:

we'll know, was my eldest brother But the idea /
usually attached to that relation can but fecbIy
express the nature of the connection that subsist-
ed between us. A deep feeling Of reverence
chastened the fraternal affection | cherished for
him into kind of tilial confidence and love. He
was to me, indeed, father, friend, counsellor,
and companion; and his presence and conversation
Iarlook Of each Of these characters. The cir |
cumstances of his history added novel interest |
to my attachment. For the first twcnty-One years
of my life, | had known but little of him person.
ally. Before was bOrn he left his native village,
and entered rs an apprentice to blacksmith, in Il
distant part of the state. He carried thither IL
growing taste for mathematical studies, which he
had acquired through the medium of those slender
opportunities which he had enjoyed at a district
school; an institution which, thirty years ago.
hardly suficed for the simplest rudimens Of a
common education.
He had served but year or two III this pro
fesson, when an accident propelled his mind into
a new direction. One day, while engaged in shoe
ing vicious horse, he was thrust backward
against the pairing knife called the hgttress, and
received deep cut in his ankle. This painful
wound laid him up for a long time; during which
! he resumed his mathematical studies. These he
prosecuted with so much interest and industry
that, when he became able to resume his post ut
the anvil, he found he had acquired taste for
another class of pursuits, which he could not sub
due into an acqulescence with mere physical la
DOT. TIC uiIiHly pullCH VII MS upItI, anu,
by dint Of that ingenious activity and perseverng
effort which necessity alone calls FORTH and which
regard every obstacle a foothold to higher at
tanmcnt-he entered college at WILLIAMSBURG
sometime in 1916 or II. Here, with an ambitious
application that spurned a second place in his
class, he brought out a mathematical and aslrO-
nomcal work, containing a new and corrected
Table of Logarithms; and an easy method for
their construction and application to the more diff
fcut parts of Arithmetic; adding number Of
astronomical tables, and a simple system for cal
culatng Solar and Lunar Eclipses illustrated with
Geometrical Projections think he was hardly
twenty-o years of age, when he suspended his
collegiate course to publish this first essay of his
mathematical genius. Like most of the works of
inexperienced learning, it lacked an easy adapta-
ton to a popular education, and was, consequent
w. more crcditabIe than profitable.
The next point, which remember, of his his
tory, found him just landed on the wharf at .Sa-
vannah, Georgia, without the knowledge of q
friend or acquaintance, in a land of strangers
While looking about, or rather waiting for some
suggestive indication of Providence to direct hi,
steps, he WAS greeted by northern man, 10 whom
when lad of seventeen, he had impaired some
valuable principle Of chemistry, from which he
had derived some advantage in his business Th:
gentleman took him to his house, aud introduced
him to several citizens of the place; and he wa,
soon provided with situation as teacher
and enlolument; which, you can easily conceive
were the cause of qualification and comfort to hi
parents, who had watched his progress and pros
poets, from the time he left the forge, with deel
parental solicltute, quckened by the rapid yics
STUDIES of hope and fear. He was their first -horl
= son, and the distance which removed him from
their sight, seemed to bring him nealer to thei
hearts. His image was ever present to thei
III thoughts and his name fingered on their lips am
lie the avocationS of the day, and the mcditatonS O
Y the night. The whole family held jubilee, an
e. even invited the neighbors to join in it, when til
'e mail brought long-Iooked for letter from Eijal
n, The seal was broken amid the unchecked gratula
ne tons of the little ones, who eapt danced, an
" sung for joy at every expression of remembrance
ne from their distant brother.
Ell Until | was twenty years Of age, may saw
ne had no personal acquaintance with him. But h
~ mother had drawn out his character upon ~,
lis mind in such lines as mother can ONLY pain
Sl Not an cyening,-when the cares Of the day ha
given place to a moment of penSiyc reflection owe
ed the dying cmbcrS on the hearth-hod she failed
add a new lineamPnt to that picture in sonIe ne
he touch of maternal affection, which commended
ct' to my heart. Therefore. previous to his rctuI
a to the North, about twelve years ago. | was MOI
familiar with his portrait than his person l Ia
Is seen HIM bnt few times previous to his return ar
was virtually introduced to him for the first tin
do in the zenith Of his manhood. This meeting ca,
lty sttues an era in my own history, to which sha
'ut ever advert with lively sentiment of pleasuI
tul and gratitude 1t gave discriminating directi,
to my course of life, and to all my subseouc
cal tastes and pursuits. | never came into his prc
ence without being impressed with rcyortuli
ne, admiration of the great vgor of his Intellect: II
De lofty caste and enthusiastic temperament Of /
genius, his indomiable energy of application. Al
ISL that bold and sangulne magnannity of SlG
ou which was ever mpelling him forward, to
nto what man dare do for the cause of truth anf 81
aD ence. To these qualities, he added all those Il
you can endear brother,s com anion, and friend.
VIII There was an expansive generosity of kindness
: his voice, countenancc, and department, which
spired all his words and actions wit1an afecti,
ate benignlty, that won upon our hearts till {
souls were bound up in his The story of his
MO from the time he left the anvil to the evening II
Il listened TO 1t with strange feeling of ntcre
as he laid down his pen, and, lifting the orr
shade from his eyes, welcomed me with one IF
uxurlant smiles to his study-was a history VIII
lple will be somewhat identified with nv own: far
g IN inspired me with determination to foIlow hi
very though with uneaual stems. in that corrao f -
axes severlng application by which he had attained
emnence in science.
his have not adverted to his character. merely
use, remind you what father and brother YOU an,
anu have lost; but to convince you of the peculiar
mas terest feel IN your welfare, and of my carr
MS desire to do all IN my power to aid you in the
nan. tvatloq and developementof your Intellectual
ears moraltacutles, and the acquisition of that oh
st OF acter and capacity for usefulness which shall
der you valuable citizen, as we'll as an emn
:, artisan; christian, as well as a scholar.
rev. AS a little earnest of my desire to assist .
n mn 0nt Il 4