The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-11-21

At a tender age he was deprived of
the inestmable advantage, of a fathers
guidance and counsels. The mother, who
combined with surprising love and wis.
dom, the Offices of both parents, still sur
wives him. His boyhood was spent in
toll. Those who have titled the stony
acres of Vermont, can tell what
life they lead who wrest bread from that
sterile SOIL and who gather fuel in win
ter, from its snowy mountains, and from
its frozen swamps. The determination
had filed his youthful mind, however, to
fit his maturer years for other and high
er pursuits. lie felt immortal long
ings" In the weary intervals of labor,
he studied as he trudged a-ield," he
thought. lie boldly attempted classica!
lore: he mastered the elementary books
which were in his reach. At the proper
time, he entered Mddlebury College
not without discouragcmeut and Difficult
ties but also not without timely aid
| from one or two whom God raised up,
and who have since thanked Him, that
they were then disposed to make the
triHng advances, which yielded 50 rich a
return. But he never availed himself
of any aid however willingly offered.
which his own labor could supply In
the vacations lie labored and taught.
TIE writer is well aware that in this re-
spect be was not singular. We glory in
acknowledging that the noblest sons of
New England have trodden the same
rocky path. Yes--ycs that path has
been beaten By the feet of a multitude,
of whom the world was not worthy"
lie graduated with the highest honors,
and with what was better, the warm af
fecton and appreciation of his instruc.
tors and companions.
Having become, early in life, a sub
jcct Of religious impressions, which con-
tinually and to the end of his life gained
depth and breadth, it had now been for
long time his desire to become clcr-
gyman. In pursuan &c of this purpose,
he entered upon theological course in
the city Of New York, which he pursued
with his usual energy and success, for a
considerable time. 4 disease Of the
throat, ,however,which gained such ground
as to render it improbable that he could
ever speak successfully in a pulpit, en-
gagged him to review his purpose The re-
suit vas an abandonment Of his theologi-
cal studiGs--a step which he took with
pain and regret, and an application to
the business of teaching. For this pur-
suit, he had rare qualifications. Hecould
inspire desire for knowledge he could
impart instruction in a manner at once
thorough and felicitous and he possess
cd unusual forbearauce, and patieuce
lie continued in this employment for
about two years, after which, he turned
his attention to the profession Of tho
Law. lie had a high notion Of the digni
ty Of that profession. 1t was the opin-
ion of the friends whose advice he most
valued, that it was profession which he
was eminently adapted to elevate and
adorn, Yielding to the opinions, which
were seconded by his own convictions,
he entered upon the reading of the law ;
and through difficulties not interiOr to
those which obstructod his earlier educa.
tiou, he accomplished the studies which
are preparatory to an admission to the
bar. lie entered upon tho practice of
his profession, in his native town, in tho
year l65l.-With Characteristic modes.
ty,-a modesty which was not affected,
or self-depreciatiug, but which arose
from his superior standard of excellence,
aud from that very superiority of attain.
ment by which he was able to SEQ how
much was yet to be attained he was
apt to speak slightingly of his own legal
erudition. The united voice of his
brethren at the bar, however, has indi.
Gated, that however beneath his own
standard, his attainments were yet, in
comparison with those of others, 10 sim.
liar circumstances, of no common order.
lie was in the successful practice of
his profession when he became sudden.
ly conscious Of the presence of disease,
which had been insidiously introduced
into his system, and under which from
this period he suffered for Two years pre-.
viously to his death. 1t is proper to oh.
serve, however, that this was not tho m-
mediate cause of bis decease; which was
by abdominal typhus fever, consequent
to protracted dysentery, The chronic
ailment was peculiar, and seemed to be
a disorganisation of the nervous system.
The head was especially affected aud a.
cute mental application, intricate bust
ness, and particularly sympathetic ox'
element, were rendered impossible, 1t