The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-07-29


proved his few leisure hours in reading, or
even spelling, to his mother when her day y
toll was also done, and practising tho chance
lessons he could obtain from tho school mas
ter. Reading was mt that period II rare thing
in his class, and cheap books Of instruction
were equally so, but from the Spelling Book,
Ralph Allen advanced to tho Dictionary and
Grammar: from "stroIc" TO writing II good
fair hand. Savings also increased by slow
degrees, for both lie and his mother were
prudent; and Ralph only wished for the
timo when no might aspire TO some bottcr sit
uation and he abo to add 10 hor rest and
comfort. Five years had thus passed away;
Ralph Allen bad grown almost man, when
all the mcssagG-senders of Bath, among
whom ho was well known, rcioiccd, even u
mid their regrets that they must look out for
another carrier, 10 hear that Ralph Allen had
been promoted through the kindness of Mr.
Leathem, to Il clerkship in the Bath Post OF
flee, and was actually seen in n new suit per-
forming his now duties ut the Post Office
window After this his mother washed moth
ing hut lace and cambria, and Ralph was rs
stendy and obliging in the Post Office as he
had been with the mail OH his back. Ills sal
airy was comparatively small, but his prud-
cnco was great, and i'm another year or two,
in the hank. His habits of reading and
thought also gave him an ability to invent
ncedful improvements in the Post Office,
which was then very impcrlccty managed.
These were modcstly proposed; and as their
necessity was seen, they soon obtained the
sanction of tho superior authorities, and rails
cd the young clerk, not only in their ostimu-
lion, but in Office also, rs in three years after
his entrance he succeeded tho senior clerk,
Mr. Durton,hy whom his application for the
carriage Of the Marlborough bag had been so
ungrncously received, and who now retired
to n small property lc had purchased in tho
country. Two years more, and Ralph him
self began TO think of purchasing properly
also. There was largo sterile farm called
Coomc Down in the ncighborhood Of tho cit
" which the last three tenants had left sue
ccssivcIy in disgust and WEAKNESS, declaring
that their labor and money both were lost on
such IN Improbable spot, and the landlord
Offered ii for cheap grazing ON tho very low
est terms. Great was the astonishmcnt ofall
who knew him, when Ralph Allen became
the purchaser Of these poor and barren acres.
Some said the young man brains were turn
cd with books lac read, and even his mother
shook her head, and hoped it would turn out
for The hest; but Ralph gave up his situation
AZ the Postunicc, collected around him work
llltu alllislbtS, anu llot Nlllpul
creating much wonder and many surmiscs,
10 break up tho ground in all directions, as if
i'll search of Il mine.
"Ncighbor, do you expect TO find pot
Of gold in that farm ?" said an old farmer
to him over tho fence one morning, where
he and Ills men were dulving AZ Il rocky
spot that could not bC cultivated.
mo-" said Ralph "but expected, md
thank Providcmcc, | nave found, n good
stone quarry, which will repay me, and he
useful 10 yon good town ) and he pointed To
tho cpirco Of bath.
"Ny stars - cried tho farmer "hc's not
mad after all! !" And so thought all RaIph's
mcighborG, when buyers came and worlncn
llIrouGcd 10 the new quarry; and scarcely Il
gcnllcmans house or public buildings of
and description could he commenced IN Bath
without supply of stone from MIR Allen, us
the Bath possibly was now dCscrvcdly cal
led.
Mrs Allen had long givonup washing, and
gone to reside in neat cottage which her
son built out ofthc first produce Of his quarry
ami many Of her former employers salulcd
the good woman us she passed 10 ST. Mary :
church in her snrsauCt sac, high lCclCd shoes,
and velvet hood, like respectable old lady
olllc period. About this time tho works OF
the great DIR. Wurburton were attracting
public attention, and much talked Of in the
best society Of Bath. Ralph Allen brought
the latest published volume home one day,
and found his mother seated in the small
paror with his old friend Mr. Lcathcm, who
was about to retire fom public business, aud
had called 10 see him. "Wlat books you do
buy, Ralph !" said tho old woman, who had
always Il suspicion other sons extravaganza
on this point and sho pointed to large
bookcase, where Dryden, TilluIson, and all
the best authors Of the preceding ago might
be soon in their works. closely ranged to-
gethcr.--'lt WAS only last week." continued
tho good dame, olhnt you brought home that
book about Fame, written by ono Mr. Pope"
And don't you know, mother, who is tho
writer of this volume ?" said Ralph. "Don't
you remember MIR Warhurton, the parson of
our own Grcasley, in nGlIamshirc, who
gave me the certificate which presented to
you, Mr. LCathcm, ten years ago, when |
wished to be postboy to Marlborough 7"
This was true the vicar of Groaslcy be-
came tho celebrated DR.. Warburton, after
wards Bishop Of Gloucester; and it was said
Mr. Loathem's family kept the certificate like
n sort ofroic.
"Ralph Aliens making his fortune" was
the usual remark of everybody about Bath
when the quarry was mentioned; and II had
now grown an important matter, as the
whole property of Coomc Down, which so
many farmers had called dead loss. was
found TO be ono vast bed of the best building
| stonc
Ralph was making money fast, and his de-
posts in tho bank increased every year but
his aims did not end thcrc-thc experience
of his former situation in the Post Office was
at length employed to some purpose. Sun
dry useful arrangements and inventions had
long ago made his name and abilities known
to the authorities of that Department. Al
the period of our story, the Post Office in al