Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-07-15
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Mlisrellpnp.
My First Courtship.

my trSC CourCSnlp.
FROM THE MEMoRANDoM-Boo OF THE SCRIBE.
Fifty years ago, more or less, the Scribe
was faxen-headed, knock-kneed, gray-eyed
boy, just big enough to scare the crows away
from his paternal ancestors corn-feld, and from
the yots'g turkeys, which were the delight of
his rsothAr's heart This, to the best of his
knowledge aud belief, as they say in copt,
(Which is tantamouAt, we suppose, to saying
that it is solemn fact, for we presume The
courts do not compel man to testify to what
he has no knowledge of or belief in,) was his
earliest occupation. And he well remembeis
that it was glorious one, inasmuch as it earn
ed for him no small amount of the birch, as we'll
as sugar-candy.
These glossy little varmints,' the crows,
were very destructive to the young poultry, as
they went forth, day by day, in pursuit ofgrass-
hoppers, and to the tender shoots of corn, as
they peeped out of the earth in the early spring,
to seek the genial rays of the sun, and regale
themselves in the cooling zcphyrs.
Now by what right the aforesaid sable gen
try claimed large share of his mothers and
fathers property, or won for him so many in
Productions to the rod, the Scribe could never
gather from the law-books--and he has studied
them profoundly for knowledge on this point,
even to Chitty on Bills, and the learned Hooker
upon Laws in general, and ecclesiastical laws in
particular, without arriving at satisfactory
conclusion. 1t is source of irritation and
modification to the present day, that the books
are silent on the subject. He has never indeed
been called upon to plead cause of the kind
and he hopes never to be--for without more
light from the books, he could hardly expect, in
such cause, to rival the speech of P.nkney in
the case of the Nereide
But not to dwell en- particulars we sum up
the cause in these words The crows surely
had right, or they would not have trespassed
SO glaringly, in the face of day, upon the rights
and property of another
Now, the reader, we trust, will not get up
the idea, that the early experiences of the
Scribe in crow soaring, were over-resplendent
with noble exploits; for as they are wise folk
it must be related to their honor and fame,
(which it is said from no conditions rise) that
the y often proved to be too smart for him.
His weapon, offensive and defensive, was a long
stick, which he bore with defiant and trium-
phant air. upon his shoulders, and which, ever
and aliob as tin.t and clrlnoe permitted, heI
pointed at one of his crafty little enemies, and
screamed at the top of his voice. Bang
g-a-w' But it was no gun there was no
smoke and the feathers flew away with the
meat ? His crowship as emphatically replied,
Cav. cav! !! as he bore off, in his pride
, and naughtiness, young turkey, OR plucked
up grain of corn.
Years added to the Scribe's stature he got
tired of shame and pretensions, and has ever
remained of the opinion that they are too in
significant to pay. genuine gun was intro
duced and though the Scribe was wholly un-
able to see straight enough to shoot one OF them
yet, as they were not aware of the fact, you
may rest assured that their sable majesties
had no desire of trifing with that instrument.
They understood powder too well, to be caught
a-napping. But it saved the corn and turkeys;
the Scribe was minus the birch, and plus the
sugar-candy!
In the courss of events, it so happened that
our friend the Scribe, having graduated with
many marks of honor in this profession was
sent to school, That, | consider was the grand
est epoch of his life, as it marked his entrance
upon the theatre of that great world in which
he has playtd so important q part.
His debut was made in a full suit of home
spun, as red as sumach and sundry other COM
pounds could make it. The boys called him the
Red Fox which was the occasion Of three
fights the first day, (the Scribe was not as wise
then as he grew afterward,) and two or there
bit thumbs, and several black eyes, not to name
the Aoggings. However, as all novitiates at
school, have to go through the mills to be
ground into something like decency and com
,mon-sense, the Scribe passed through his pro-
baton, was ground, and ground, underground,
until he finally became one of 'em,' and was
ready to play his part in grinding over all new
comers.
We write not this for the benefit Of philoso-
pliers, or those learned in the law and natural
sciences, but for the comfort of all boys who
have rough road to travel, on entering a
school as novices. They must submit to be
ground over. 1t is universal law, from which
there is no escape. We pity the petted, chick
en-hearted fellow, who has all his life been only
Mamma darling son, and had his own way,
even to the kicking over of the table, and
breaking all the china, when We behold him
gathering up his books and his limbs for an en-
trance upon the dread realities of that life
yclept school-boy days Many knock and
punch in the ribs art thou destined to vince
and groan under, my pet lamb But we will
add do more, lest We alarm the tender nerves OF
some of the great ones yet'to be
1t must be told as we pass along, that the in
stltution into which we have seen our young
friend introduced, was neighborhood affair,
composed of boys and girls-the best sort of Il
school, we must remark, by way of episode
for we cordially believe, that more great men
not to speak of women, are manufactured al
them than at any other.
And now, Sir, with your permission, viii
ask you question. Did you ever know of {
country institution, devoted to the scholastic
interests of the young, composed. of boys and
girls, that was minus another institution, whicl
whatever may be said against it, can at lcas
boast the sanction of age, namely, the institu
tion OF Sweet-hearts? If Won did, you arr