Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-21
Poor Boys and Great Men.

A hundred years ago, there lived poor
boy in the city Of Oxford, England, whose
business was to clean the boots of the students
in the University. He was compelled to re-
sort to this mental employment to obtain the
necessaries Of life. He was an active, ener-
getic, bright, generous lad, and he soon won
the confidence Of the students. Some of
them proposed to instruct him a short time,
every day, which proposition he accepted
with DELI ht. He surprised his teachers by
his rapid progress He lost not moment,
but gave himself so diligently and persever-
ingly to his studies, as to excite the admra-
ton of all. Of course, he was eminenty
successful. Every youth with the same ex-
celent qualities will succeed in any laudable
undertaking. This lad became the eloquent
George Whitc6eld, who preached the gospel
to thousands upon thousands in the open
fields. The favor of the students would have
availcd him nothing without his energy, in
dustry, and perseverance. Indeed, it was
these qualities in connection with others,
which first attracted the attention of the stu
dents.
Eighty years ago boy was born in Salem,
Massachusetts, Of obscure parentage, and in
very lowl y circumstances. His mother died
when he was ten years of age, though she
lived long enough to impress his heart with
the love of truth. His father was so poor
that he could afford his boy but limited adj
vantages to acquire an education. On ac-
count of his poverty this lad wore his summer
clothes to school one winter, and became the
laughing stock of the scholars. When only
eleven or twelve years of age, he was appren-
ticed to shoemaker, who kept him in the
shop, though he allowed him slate and pen.
Gil on his bench. Yet this boy improved ev-
cry opportunity, and without teachers ad-
vanced daily in knowledge, and finally be.
came the renowned mathematician, Nathaniel
Bowditch.
Patrick Henry was the son of poor man
in Virginia. In early life he struggled hard
with poverty, and gave little promise of dis.
tinction in any pursuit. But he finally de.
voted himself with energy and perseverance
to his studies, and became the most gifted or
ator of his age.
Benjamin Franklin was the son of Il tai
ow-chandler in Boston. He was the young
est but two of seventeen children, and having
a poor father, pcnury was his lot. At ter
years of age he was taken from school, an(
placed in his fathers workshop. OF course
his early advantages were few, but he ri
umphed over every obstacle. by his own ex
ertions and placed himself in the front ranl
of philosophers.
Here, then, is divine, mathematician,
statesman, philosopher, each of whom dis
tinguished himself without any of thos
worldly advantages to which you often at
tach so much Importance. The above ma,
be taken as few illustrations of large par
of honored men in the various department
of human effort.
We may add in word, that Virgils ia
ther was potter Luther was the son Of
poor miner, and Zuinglius of shepherd
Bunyan's father was a travelling tinker. Go
lumbus was the son of weaver, and Miltol
of a scrivener Bromfeld, Gibbon, Clifford
Linn@us, DIR. Carey and Roger Sherman
were shoemakers. Cowley was the son of
grocer, Pope of linen draper, Collins of
halter, Beattie and Butler of farmers, an
Akenside and Henry Kirk White of butch
ers. Jeremy Taylor was the son of a barber
tJohn Hunter OF carpenter, and Scott, tn
commentator, of a glazier. The father {
John Opie, the great English portrait-pain
, er, was carpenter, and Opie was raised frol
the bottom of a saw-pit, where he was en-
ployed in cutting wood, to the professorshi
} of painting in the Royal Academy.-Fro1
3 he Poor Boy and Merchant Prince.