The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-09-01
T--I-.. WooDsFIEIR OHIO WEDNESDAY,. sEPTEMBER i 1852

~ s.s
+ - = =
From the Sandusky Commercial Register.
4 NJ 1.-THE TWO BOYS.
I MANY wears ago, in one Of the valleys
i ofthe eastern extreme Of the State Of New
4 York known ~ the Indian name of Anna.
4 oua ssicook. Beyond the Hudson, there
Il whefS New Enpland's purple mountains
4 ossrshadow ii Win something Of that ed.
4 ucstional influence and Yankee spirit for
4 which, she III world renowned. lived two
! boys WHO haye since become somewhat
noteds IA the history Of their country. The
4 oIA! wlion We shall denote as "Jed p had
I parents distin cuished for nothing but their
tnoyertv. George was Of Scotch des cent.
\ vhoseS Siather was. and il. flor the old man
4 nm Ifvss 70 rejoice over the.successsul ca.
fssf df I'LL ssa} ! wealthy farmer ", ihe
lcornpafatiye sense in which the word
,ceaithy is used. /. e. worth $4,000 Der.
haps. 81 f5it
7 The parents Of Jed, or rather his moth.
er, who appears to have been the "b etter
man Of the two," being un nable to pro vide
for his support and education, had bound
him by indenture. to neighboring farmer.
| By the terms OF his indenture, he was to
serve till the age Of twen,y.one. to have
N{hree month s sch o oling;" and al the end
of his period Of service to receive new
suit of clothes and Bible.
+ At this time, George would seem to have
eyery advantages; but he was not particu.
larly distinguished for industry in busin ess
or for his application to study. And al.
though his father was assidions in sending
him to the "district school," we do not un.
derstand that he in any manner seconded
his fathers desire for his mental improve.
ment. So idle am strong headed did he
become, and so far did he transcend the
rigid notions of dutiful obedience enter
tanned by his father, that the old man felt
compelled to administer frequent admoni-
lions and an occasional application of his
cane. All this, however, had little effect
in producing a reform; the father had
clearly mistaken the character and dispo-
sition of his son. and his very harshness
confirmed the habits he wished TO correct.
After one of these collisions with his father,
which exceeded all others in violence,
George. who was approaching the wears
of manhood, found himself under the ne.
Icessity of leaving the paternal roof, or of
! confessing his errors and conforming his
habits and character to the exact will Of his
\ }Ifather. Toe proud spirited-and selfwill-
ed to submit 10 what he considered such
EhumiIiating terms, he set out upon the
| world without character, without money,
but, as we may believe, with the high re.
] solve ..to be something, )" and convince the
mistaken Judges of his youth, that there
were in the elements Of his constitution,
an energy and a purpose which they had
wholly failed to discover. His departure.
from home at that time, and under the cir
cumstances, would be considered by the
experienced guardians of youth as the GER
tain step to ruin, and so it would have
proved in nine cases out of ten; but with
him. il was the turning point of life.
With whatever feelings we view his early
history, from that time forward, we shall
find nothing Of his career but that chal.
lenges our approval and admiration. With
a strong purpose Of "doing something"
glorious within linn, and fortified by the
natural energies Of his character, we can
readily conceive. that it was little matter
what vocation he chose. So we find him
selecting an humble stone layer as com.
panion. and to him hiring out at ordinary
wages upon some of the public works of
New York. Here he commenced his ap-
premiership in life in earnest. Day after
day, and week after week. he toiled on at
his humble employment, neither repining
at his task, nor sighing that fortune had
not opened 10 him some more promising
entrance into her domains.
His active mind found employment,
rather in learning the elementary principles
of his profession; and. when on one occa.
sion sent to perform piece Of masonry. he
was able 10 perceive a glaring defect in the