Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-02-13

In a few minutes de- heafd asoice close behind
him, a strange voice, high pitched and whining.
1t said, 'sAre you tho man that carries on the
urintne Office ~ sat6iIo.i ssiin-lse4 hss',9slsO
Mr.. Bliss then turned. md resting upon hishoe.
surveyed the person who had,thus addressed him.
He saw standing before him boy apparently
about fifteen years Of age, of Light, tall, ana
slender form, dressed in the plan, farmers clo.h
of the time, his garments cut with an utter DIS
regard to elegance and fit. Ills trousers were
exceedingly short and vo.uminous; he wore no
stockings; his shoes were OF the kind denOmna-
ted sshigh-lows," and much worn down ms nat
was of felt some of the old stamp, with so small
a brim, that it looked more like a two-quar: mea-
sure inverted than any thing else;" and 1t was
worn far back on his head his hair was white,
with tinge Of orange at its extremities, and it
Law thinly upon broad forehead and over
head s:rocking on shoulders which seemed too
slender to support the weight of a member so dis
proportional to the general foutline."i The gen
erai effect Of the figure aud its costume was SO
outre, they presented such combination of the
rustic and udicrous, and the apparition had coEio
upon him so suddenly, that the amiahle gardener
could scarcely keep from laughing. -
lie restrained himself, however, and replied,
'sYes, Pm the man." .ssG
Whereupon the stranger asked, ssDon't you
want boy to learn the trade?"
"Well," said Mr.. Bliss, sswe have been think
ing of it. Do you want TO learn to print9"
"l've had some notion of it," said the boy, in
true Yankee fashion, as though he had not been
dreaming about it, and longing for it for years.
Mr.. Bliss was both assonished and puzzled,-
astcnished that such 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 absurdity of the notion: So, with an ex-
preston in his countenancc, such as that Of a
tender hearted dry-goods merchant might be sup
posed to assume if a hod-carrier should applyfOr
a place in the lace department, he said, swell,
my boy-but, you know, it takes considerable
learning to be a printer. slave you been to
school much?" .ft-e ~
''No,'' said the boy, 81 hav'nt had much chance
at school. Pve read some." y ...~q .t@
''What have you read? ," asked Mr.. Bliss.
ssWell, Pve read some history, and some tray
els, and little of most every thing"
s'Wherc do you lve?"
s'At Westhaven." ...t
sslIow did you c,me over?" ., ,r....
81 came on foot" -.I 49,. =
s'What's your name?" }Nts
| ssHorace Greeley
| Now it so happened that Mr.. Amos Bliss had
been for the last three years Inspector of Com
mon Schools, and in fulfilling the duties of his
ohce-examining and licensing teachers-he had
acquired an uncommon facility in asking quest ons,
and fondness for that exercise which men gen.
orally entertain for any employment in which they
suppose themselves to excel. The youth before
him was-in the language of medical students
"a ssfresh subject" and the Inspector proceeded
to try all his skill upon him, advancing from easy
questions to hard ones, up to those knotty prob
lens with which he had been wont to s'stump''
candidates for the Office of teacher. The boy
ton promptly, clearly and modestly. He could
not be 'sstumped' in the ordinary school studies.
and of the books he had read he could give q
correct and complete analysis. ''c
After half an hours conversation with the boy.
MIR. Bliss minated that he thought he would do
| and told him to 90 into the printing Office and
ing Office, and there his appearance produced an
effect on the tender minds of three apprentices
who were at work therein, which can be much
better imagined than described, and which is
most wildly remembered by the two who survive
To the foreman Horace addressed himself, regard
and remarks OF the boys. The foreman, at first,
was inclined to wonder that Mr.. Bliss should, for
a moment, think it possible that boy got up in
that style could perform the most ordinary duties
of q printers apprentice. Ten minutes talk with
him, however, effected partial revolution in his
mind in the boys favor, and as he was greatly in
want of another apprentice, he was not inclined
to be over particular He tore off slip of proof
| paper wrote few words upon it hastily with n
pencil and told him to take it to Mr. bliss. That
piece of paper was his. fate. The wo.dS "olo;
{. G,ies. sred better fru h;n.." -..r.. 0IF--
s.iou're not going to hire that tow-head, Mr..
Bliss, are you?'' asked of the apprentices at
the close of the day. 6 | am" was the reply,
&c and if you boys are expecting to get any fun
out of him, you had better be quick about it, OR
you will be too late. There's something in that
tow-head, as you'll find out before you're a week
older.'
This was in 1926. About FIVE years later young
Greeley made his debut in New York. For an &C
count of his career since, as printer, editor, pub
Usher, lecturer, politician, member of Congress,
ect., must refer the reader to MrParton's deep
ly interesting volume.