Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-08-18
no elective affinity for anything in par,ie.

no elective affinity Tor anything in partic-
uIar
There was good naiurcd shoemaker.
who offered freely to teach him the myste.
ries OF the craft, and his mother looked up-
on It as proyidental opening, and George
was persuaded TO essay upon the Iapstone !:
but It would not do. Then Jonathan Par.
sons, being neighbory advised man.
thought he knew what was best for him.
snd offered TO take him on his farm and
make something Of him and so Georre
welded spade and hoe and axe, and a very
| capable young farmer he promised to be
but aiier while he declared of from this
also. la short he seemed in the eyes of
many TO be IN danger OF falling into that
very melancholy class Of instances Of cley.
er people, who, in common phrase, don't
seem TO stick to anything"
But the gossips Of the place we're for
once mistaken, for there was that which
George did stick to, after ALL lie had in
his being that inslrucling something or 9th.
er, which leads one to feel after aud fluid
what he is made for. George had como
across various odd volumes Of books--his-
tory. travels, biography---and these had
awakened ia his mind burning desire TO
do or be something in the world-he scarce
knew what-and he determined he would
go TO college. And what signing and
wondering there was from his old mother,
and what talking and Amusement among
the village worthless. Jonathan Parsons
gave the young man faithful and faiherly
lecture, from the top OF a goldfish barrel, on
the subject OF tempting Providence, and
other kindred topics, enforcing his remarks
by aluding to the example Of Jack Simp-
son, poor nondescripi who was generally
reported to have lost his wits in the attempt
TO study Latin, as a most forciblc illustration
Of his argument Poor George had but
one friend TO encourage him amid all this
opposition and that was our warm-hearied
aud trusting Mary. lie had become &C.
quainied with her during his stay at her Ia
theirs, and she had entered warmly into all
his plans, and encouraged his scheme with
girls confident, undoubting enthusiasm
They had never until the evening interview
we relate. settled any definite expectation
for the future, for both knew that it was
not a subject TO be mentioned to jonathan
Parsons, who would set il down for a clear
indication of lunacy on the part OF Mary,
and Of something worse upon that Of the
gentleman.
We will not tell ofthe years long efforts
that had been made by our hero. up 10 the
date Of his last iuierview-of the ragged
Latin Grammar studied by freight at lis
mothers hearih-the Euclid pored over
during the long hours Of the night. while he
was tending a saw.mill for neighboring
farmer. Suffice it to say, that alone aud
unasslsled, he had now conquered the pre-
paraiory studies necessary TO Fl him for COL
lege, and had earned, beside, a small stock
OF money. This, his little all, he laid out
in peddler's box and the necessary outfit,
and bidding adieu 10 Mary, and promising
his mother 10 send her portion Of all his
earnings, he left his native village with the
determination never TO return, ill he had
fulfilled the destiny he had appointed for
himself
Six years from this time. and Mary was
a beautiful woman Of three-and.twenty, but
not only beautiful, but educated and accom-
plished; for her own efforts had procured
for her advantages Of culture superior TO
what II is the lot Of many to attain. George
returned to his native village, a newly adj
mtted lawyer, with the offer of partner.
ship IN very extensive business in Boston.
vi course, every body in the village altered
their minds about him directly. His old
mother laughed and almost blushed when
complimen,ed on her son, and said that
somehow George always did seem TO have
1t III him, and his neighbors, one and all.
remembered how they had prophesied that
George would he remarkable man. Asto
Jonathan Parsons. he shook hands with him
IN extra style, invited him TO drop in at any
time. and even inquired his opinion as to
one or two measures of Congress, about
which he had not yet made up his mind !;
and Mary-ah, well Mr. George and Miss