The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1854-12-28
The Apprenticeship of
HDBB GB GRRBbBY.


Mason Brothers, New York
1t was a fine spring morning in the
year 1895, about ten clock, when Mr.
Amos Bliss, the manager, and one of the
iproprlctors of the Northern Spectator,
might have been seen in the garden be
hind his house planting potatoes. lie
heard the gate open behind him, and,
without turning or looking round, became
dlmIy conscious of the presence Of boy.
But the boys of country villages go into
whosoever garden their wandering fancy
impelS them, and supposing this boy to
be one of his own neighbors, Mr. Bliss
cotinued his work and quickly forgot that
he was not alone. In few minutes, he
heard voice close behind him, a strange
voice, high pitched and whining.
| 1t said, Are you the man that carries
on the printing Office ?
Mr.. Bliss then turned, and resting up
on his hoe, surveyed. the person who
has thus addressed him. He saw stand
! ing before him boy, apparently about
fifteen years Of age, Of a light, tall, and
slender form, dressed in the plain, far
merS cloth Of the time, his garments cut
with an utter disregard Of elegance and
fit. His trOwsers were exceedingly short
and voluptuous, lie wore no stockings +;
his shoes were of the kind denominated
high lows and much worn down, his hat
was of felt, zone Of the old stamp, with so
small brim, that it looked more like Il
two-quart measure inverted than any
thing else and it was worn far back on
the head his hair was white, with tinge
of orange at his eXtremeties, and it lay
thinly upon broad forehead and over a
head rocking on shoulders which seemed
too slender to support the weight of a
member so dispropoftioned to the gener-
al outline The general effect of the
figure and its costume was so outre, they
presented such a combination of the rus
tic and ludicrious, and the apparilion had
come upon him so suddenly, that the
amiable gardener could scarcely keep
from laughing.
He restrained himself, however, and
replied, yes, I'm the man.
Whereupon the stranger asked, Don t
you want boy to learn the trade !?
WELL said Mr.. Bliss, I'VE have been
thinking of it. Do you want to learn to
print ?
I've had some motion of it, said the
boy in a true Yankee fashion. as though
he had not been dreaming about it, and
longing for it for years.
Mr.. Bliss was both astonished and puz
zled--astonished that such a fellow as
the boy looked to be, should have ever
thought of learning to print and puzzled
how to convey to him an idea of the alb
surdity of the notion. So, with an ex-
preston in his countenance, such as that
of tshder. hearted dry-goods merchant
might be supposed to, assume if hod-
carrier should apply for place in the lace
department., he said, well, my boy
but, you know it takes considerable learn
ing to to be printer. Have you been to
school much I?
NO, said the boy, q hay'nt had much
chance at school. I've read some
What have you read? asked Mr.. Bliss.
We'll, PVe read some history, and
some travels, and little of most every.
thing.'
Where do you live q
AT Westhaven.'
How did you come over"
4 came on foot.
What's your name I!
Horace Greeley
Now it happened that Mr.. Amos Bliss
had been for the last three years an In
spector of Common Schools, and in full.
filing the dutie of his ofice-examining
and licensing teachers-he had acquired
an uncommon facility in asking questions,
and fondneSs for that exercise which
men generally entertain for any employ
ment, in which they suppose themselves
to excel, The youth before him was, in
the language of medical students, a fresh
subject, and the Inspector proceeded to
try all his skill upon him, advancing from
easy questions to hard ones, up to those
knotty problems with which he had been
wont TO stump candidates for the office
of teacher The boy was match for
him. lie answered every question
promptly, clearly and modesly. lie
could not be 'stumped' in the ordinary
school studies. and Of the books he had
read he could give a correct and complete
analysis. In Mr. Bliss's own account of
the interview, he says, 'On entering into
conversation, and a partial examination
of the qualifications of my new applicant,
it required but little time to discover that
he possessed mind of no uncommon or
der, and an acquired intelligence far be
yond his years. He had had but little Op
portunity at the common school, but he
said he had read some, and what he had
read he well understood and remember
ed. In addition to the ripe intelligence
manifested in one so young and whose
instruction had been so limited, there was
single .mindedness, truthfulness and
common sense in what he said, that at
once commanded my regard.
After half an hours conversation with
the boy, Mr.. Bliss intimated that he
thought he would do, and told him to go
intot the printing office and talk to the fore.
man. Horace went to the printing office
and there his appearance produced an ef'
feet on the tender minds of the three ap'
prentices, who were at work therein