The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-06-16

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comforts, or incurred debts to equip him
above her pecuniary means. We cannot
here refrain from copying sentiment Of
fered at Fourth Of July dinner, in
Campbell county, Virginia, by Robert
Hughes: "Henry Clay-he and were
born close to the Slashes of old Hanover.
He worked barefooted, and so did / /; be
went to mill, and SO did /; he was good
to his mamma, and so was l. know
him like book, and l love him like a
brother"
Henry Clay was what may be termed
an extra clerk'in the Office OF Mr.. TinSley;
for when he was taken in, there was no
vacancy. The favor was procured at the
earnest solicitation OF his friends. II he
had been idle, negligent, or inefficient, it
will readily be supposed that he could not
have retained his place. lie was put to
the task Of copying-and of all drudegry.
that Of writing off the intermnable words
of legal documents, is to lad the most
tresome. Correctness and clean writing
are required; blols. and misspelling, and
interlineations canno, be tolerated. And
although lawyers themselves are proven
bal for bad penmanship, the clerks who
copy documents for reference or for re-.
cord, must write clean and egible hand.
He soon won The respect Of his office
companions, and although the youngest
clerk, his superior abilities gave him pre-.
cedence in their regard. lie did no, buy
their good opinion by partnership in their
tollies. He was not merely pheasant
fellow" for when the others, out of office
hours, devoted themselves to amusement,
Henry Clay applied himself to his books.
He was a most assiduous student, and
verified in his experience that change cI
occupation is relief and rest. MANY
young men seek in vain for recreation in
the excitement OF the theatre, or even
more questionable places; laboring har.
der, and faliguing the mind and body
more in the pursuit of amusement, than
they would in the calm prosecution Of
some useful employment. Henry Clay
had higher ambition than to remain a
copyist of the results of the legal knowl,
edge OF others. He filled up his leisure
hours in study. The hints Of erudition
which he obtained in his routine of occu.
patons, caused him to thirst for knowl.
edge and to its requisition he applied
himself with earnestness.
Merit ensures success. Among those
whom business brought frequently into
the office of Mr.. Tinsley, was venerable
man, whose own life and experience re.
commended to his notice the struggles Of
the boy into whose history he had inqui.
red. Himself left an orphan at an early
age, he knew the dangers aud difficulties
OF such position. In his case, they rose
from the uncontrolled possession of great
wealth-more dangerous, perhaps, than
the temptations OF poverty. He could
see the lures to dissipation which sur.
rounded the young, and he admired the
steadiness with which Henry Clay resis.
ted them. lie knew what industry could
accomplish; for after having wasted the
years which are usually devoted TO edu-
cation. he had commenced in manhood
to recover the time he had lost; and go
successfully had he labored, that at the
time we speak he was sole Chancellor OF
the State of Virginia, trust which he
filled for twenty years--without suspicion.
Conspicuous before The Revolution, in the
Virginia Legislature, as an ardent patri-
OF; delegate 10 the first Congress; sign,
er of the Declarations; member of the
Convention which formed the federal
Constitution George Wythe was friend
OF whom a young man might well be
proud His patronage and direction de.
veloped the character OF the young clerk,
and the employments which he assigned
to him increased, while in degree they
met the thirst for knowledge which kept
alive the ambition OF Henry Clay.
/ Chancellor Wylhe procured from Mr.
Timsley the services Of Henry Clay, as
an occasional secretary to copy his de-
cisions. At length he became, in effect,
The private secretary of the Chancellor,
though nominaly in MIR. Tinsley's Office
The studies of Chancellor Wythe were
prosecuted with great industry and far.
reaching research; in learning, industry
and sound judgement he had few superi.
ors; and for a lad like Henry Clay 10 be
such mans private secretary, was itself
an education. And not only in strictly
legal knowledge, but in the classics, in
history, in polite literature, the friendly
advice oi the Chancellor was the guide
Of the young clerk. Under such judi
cious instruction, Henry Clay was SO
trained that he was more than able TO
cope with his compeers, whoreceiYed the
benefits of education in Universities
He was continual student, needing only
suggestive advice; and he rewarded
counsel by obedience; thus encouraging
his friends to direct him. Nothing is
more discouraging to one who wishes
well to a youth, than TO find him inatten.
tive TO the direction of his elders. No
labor was thus lost upon Henry Clay
He not only availed himself Of the kind
ness Of his friends, but remembered their
good Offices with gratitude, and referred
to them with emotion, when he had
reached a position in which he no longer
needed patronage or advice, but could
confer both.
Many youths read-but :heir reading
may be desultory; without any established
aim, and perhaps with no higher objec
than amusement. Henry Clay read with
an object, as is evident from the facttha
when his name had been entered fol