Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-03-10
From the Nashville Union.
ATennessee Statesman.

ATennessee Statesman.
About thirty years ago son ofons of th'
wealthy men Of North Carolina was bathing
in q river in that State. He ventured toi
far into the deep water, and, being unable
to swim, he was about to be drowned. Ar
elderly man was on the bank, and, seeing
the imminent peril of the little boys situa.
tion, he lesped into the water, and by Sc.
we're exertion succeeded in reaching ,hr
spot where he saw him sink for the third
time. By diving to the bottom he found
the body ofthe boy, and succeeded in swim
ming with it to the shore. The energies Of
the old man were exhausted; and so soon as
he had placed the boy on the bank in life
less condition, he sank under the over-ex-
ertiol, and soon after died, leaving moth
erless son Of about ten years of age. The
timely exertions ofa skilful physician res
cued the little boy, who was thus saved by
the old man from the grave, but his skill
could not save the life Of the old man.
The Old man was poor, and upon his death
his son was bound out to the tsilor's trade,
under the laws Of North Carolina. He ser
ved bis apprenticeship in the city of Ralei.
gh, and at the age of twenty-one he wen,
forth into the world with decent suit OF
clothes, but without having been taught e.
ven so much as to read and write. After
tramping short time through South Caro-.
lima, he determined 10 wade his way 70 the
western district Of Tennessee, where he
understood the wealthy gentleman then re-.
sided whose son his father had rescued from
a watery grave at the expense Of his owr
life. He set out on his tramp westward
with his bundle on bis back, intending tc
work his way BY hating short time, snd
doing Journey work in the several towns on
his route. He resched Greenville, in East
Tennessee, and determined to call shor1
halt. He soon discovered that there was q
good opening for another shop, and he con.
cluded to hang ont on his own hook. In q
short time he found himself hanging on an.
other hook. He had succeeded in winning
custom, and he had also won the heart OF
an intelligent and highly accomplished
young lady. They were married, and that
was the end of his trsmping.
The responsibilities of a family induced
him to double his exertions, and his stten-
tion to business secured him abundance of
patrons. He piled his needle diligently du.
ring the day, and at night he went to school
to bis wife, who undertook TO teach him to
read and write. He was an apt scholar,
and he had an excellent teacher. He be-
came enamored of books, and to them he
devoted all the time he could spare from his
shop-bosrd. He prospered in business and
grew in knowledge. In few years he was
considered q man of fine Intelligence aud
Of untiring perseverance,, whilst his char.
scter for sterling integrity was fully estab-
lished. In looking around for a suitable
representative in the legislature. the peo-
pie fixed their eyes upon the intelligent and
energetic tailor. He was elected to the
house Of representatives of the Tennessee
legislature in 1887. He attracted no par
ticular attention for some weeks after the
commencement of the session, except for
the regularity of his attendance. He had
but little to say on the foor, although he
was aiways at his post and ready to vote
1t became necessary on one occasion for
him to say few words in opposition to
some measure, when, to his surprise, he
was sssailed with something like rudeness
by one Of the leading lawyers and speakers
Of the assembly. By way of making the
attack entirely overwhelming, the lawyer
alluded to the occupation of the tailor
This allusion kindled the indignation of the
young msohsnie into blaze. He took the
foor in reply, and poured forth torrent
ofbold, biting, crushing philippe end denun-
cistion, mingled with eloquent vindication
Of the mechanics Of the State, which CON-
pletely overwhelmed his assailsnt, and de-
yeloped the powers Of his own capacious,
intslieet. He took the house and the gall
isry completely by surprise. He had their
synPathies on account Of the rudeness Of,
tas assault and the odds in favor Of bis as
aaaat. But no one looked for such burst