Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-10-21
EVENING STAR.
A VERMONT FAMILY

a FEnMONT FAMILY.
There is much philosophy and good nuuo,
! IN the following sketch, which We find In IN,
Manchester IN III } Mirror. We understand
it is frem the pen Of G. Q. Cotton, the assac;
ate OF Dr. BoyntOn, the lecturer:
AFANILY PICTURE.
Mr.. EDIToR Il propose to iraw a ,:.tu re-
OF "our family" for your readers, asd [ prom.
ise il shall be as truthful as the majority O,
biographical protraitures, drawn By interested
parties.
Our family is only remarkasfs for numbers.
there being ten sons and tive daughters. We
were raised among the greez hills of Vermont
BY the aid ct coarse fare snd the absence of
doctors, al! the children, with the execution
of one infant, lived till the youngest had
reached the age of thirty-six years Only two
nave since died, as also our sainted mother
The limited means of our father only enabled
him to furnish us a common school education:
but We were trained to habits of in sustry and
the most rigid integrity With these endow-
ments-the best that could be giveu-we were
thrown u zen our own resources tor success in
life AT the age Of fifteen O. sixteen, each
was consulted as to the choice OF business or
profession he desired to adopt. With faith
er's blessing and mothers prayers, we went
forth to seek our fortunes. Let US see the re-
suit
have one brother, Justice of the Peace,
with falr round belly and good capon lined :"
though he never read Blackstone
have another brother, a clergyman and
chaplain in the U S Navy, who, having trav.
eied through all parts Of che world, has lost
his sectarianism, and because he has trans
ierred bis religion from mis- head (or facet to
his heart, Is thought by some to have lost il.
He has been Governor OF California. was
appointed HistoriograFser of the South Sea
Exploring Expedition, and filled several other
N Qnf nfTI ,Inr
the honor Of instituting the first trial by Jury
IN california, building the first school house,
publishing the first newspaper, and making
tho hrst public announcement of the discovery
OF gold. His poems and literary productions
are his best memorials. He died four wears
since.
have another brother, 4 clcrgymen, who
Is theological book worm, and points out to
others the way to Heaven with mathematical
accuracy, but stays behind himself to pick up
the stragglers
have another brother a cloth dresser, who
II not gentleman himself, has been mainly
instrumental in making gentlemen Of others
have another, book binder, whose art
has been consulted in the selection of many a
library.
have another brother, slave holder. who
regards slavery an evil and liberty a blessing,
but holds hiS slaves for their good.
L have another brother, a farmer, who
thinks his duties performed, when he reads the
Tribune, and is for liberty and the Maine.
Law.
L have another brother, a tanner, currier
and shoemaker, who has been so long tinker
ing the understandings Of other peoDie. that
be has become quite a philosopher himself -
Is this the reason why all shocmakers are pro
verbally philosophers
L have a sister, who has around her nine
representatives Of her obedience to one OF the
commands; and another sister who not bsy.
ing any children Of her own to provide for haS
assumed the care OF whole brood ready pro-
vided.
And then there is your humble correspond.
ent-the ttman, as he was for d time called
who was once doctor, lin embryoD but bay-
Ing thrown "physic to the dogs is now living
by his wits In a throw Of the dice, ;of for
tune) he once came down a Judge in Califor-
MIA, and after dispensing (or dispensing With
Justise for time, came home with his pockets
filled with "dust, and saited it dow a in Syra-
cuse, believing that salt would save him
from poverty He is now managing, by hook
and crook and In an honorable way, to add to
this pile
We have over US our venerable father now
in the ninety-second year of age, to whom we
all look with the highest reverence and flial
affection He can walk six miles a day with
great ease, and his memory is SO strong that
ASPSot a pOItiOn OI the DlDl6,
also whole sermons, ard more than seven
hundred stanzas of w ats psalms and hymns.
We believe that to the early religious train.
ing we received frcm him, aided by the strong
common sense of our mother, united to habits
OF economy and industry which he inculcated,
we owe whatever success VIC have attained in
life. We are all I" well to do' in the world,
and some have become wealthy. We arc ali
temperance men, if not tetotalIers. We are
professors of religion, if not christians-though
We take widely different roads on the heav-
emily way. L was reminded Of good Metho.
dist preacher, when addressing a congrega-
tion of different denominations
Brethren, it is true we dont't hitch horses
very we'll here, but we arc comforted with
the reflection that we shall be able to do so
when we arrive in the stables of eternal SAL
vation."
There is one reflection to he drawn from
the above picture. Wealth acquired by gift
is no blessing, but often n curse. If our father
had been wealthy, and had given each Of us
ten thousand dollars, some of US would have
grown up in idleuess and dissipation, and
ended in poverty and crime. There can be no
question Of this,
HHonor and shame from no condition rise;
Act well your part-tkere al the honor lies"
Yours, G &C.