Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-03-27
The Cambridge Learned Leather
Dresser.

Did our readers know there was such a man
in New England as the one described below f.?
Believing they generally did not, we have pro-
cured the following to apprise them. ED.
For many years, and for many times year, l
have passed by the shop of a digent, industri.
Gus mechanic, whom have often seen at his
trade, with his arms bare, busy at his work.
His industry and steadiness have been success
ful, and he has gained competency. But he
still remains devoted to his trade. During the
day you may see him at his work or chatting
with his neighbor. At night, he sits down in
MS little parlor by his quiet tiresde, and enjoys
the company of his friends. Aud he has the
most e1stroldr1y ocll yotiyT,{ si....j tse.
man in New England can bu5st of.
William II. Prescott goes out from Boston,
aud talks with him about Ferdinand and Isabella.
Washington Irving comes from New York, and
tells him about the wars of Grenada, and the
adventurous voyage of Columbus, or the legend
of Sleepy Hollow, or the tale of the Broken
Heart. George Bancroft sits down with him,
and points out on the map of the colonies and
settlements of America, their circumstances
and fates, and gives the early history of liberty
Jared Sparks comes down from Cambridge, and
reads TO him the letters of Washington, and
makes his heart glow with the heroic deeds of
that god-like man for the cause of his country.
Or Alstan, the great painter, steps IN and tells
him story-and nobody tells story so we'll
or repeats to him lines of poetry Bryant comes
with his sweet wood notes, which he learned
among the green hills of Berkshire. And Rich
ard H. Dana, father and son, come, the one to
repeat grave, hear-stirring poetry, the other to
speak of his 1.-TWO Years Before the MAST
Or, if this mechanic is in speculative mood.
Professor Hitchcock comes to talk to him of all
the changes that have befallel the soil Of Mas g.
sachusetts since the food or before-or Profess
sor Espy tries to predict storm. Nor is his ac-
quaintance confined to his own country.
In his grave hours he sends for John Herschel
from across the ocean, and he comes and dis
: courses eloquently upon the wonders of the
vast creation of all the worlds that are poured
upon our sight by the glories Of starry night.
Nor is it across the stormy ocean of the blue
alone that his friends come to visit him-but
across the darker and wider ocean of time come
the wise and good, the eloquent and the witty,
and sit down by his table, and discourse with
him as long as he wishes to listen.
That eloquent, blind old man Of Scio, with
beard descending to his grdle. still blind, but
still eloquent sits down with dim and as he
sang almost three thousand years ago among
the Grecian Isles, sings the war of Troy, Or the
wanderings of the sage Ulysses. The poet of
> the human heart comes from the banks of the
Avon, and th} poet of Paradise from his small
garden house in Westminster; Burns from his
cottage in Ayr, and Scott from his dwelling by
the Tweed ; and at any time these three years
past, may have been seen by his freside a man
who ought to have been hero with school
boys, for no other ever felt so for them-.a man
: whom so many of our Boston neighbors strove
q in vain to see-Charles Dickens. In the midst
i Of such friends, our friend the leather dresser
lives happy and contented lite--not less re-
F.. spected, and far more happy, than if an uneasy
ambition had made him Representative to Con.
gress, or Governor of SLate--and the more
, respected and happy, that he disduins not to la
+ :, Dor in an honorable calling.
: My friends, this is no fancy sketch. Many
a who hear me know as well as ! do, Thomas
Dowse, of COmbridgeport, and many have seen
n his choice and beautiful library. But suppose
S there is no one here who knows neighbor Of
e his, who had, in his early years, the same ad.
O vantages, but he did not improve them-whc
J. never gained this love of reading and who now
in consequence, instead of living this happy and
desirable life, wastes his evenings in low com
- pany, or taverns, Or dozes them away by his owl
}. fire. Which of these lives will you lead p
:. They are both before you.-G Geo. B. Emerson