Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-02-05

oondish adventures and sometimes urged
him into trays where feuds with his
young companions were the inevitable
results of his desire to stand foremost and
submit to no leader over him.
At length, depredatory excursion, in
common with the clique of other Cromar-
ty boys, upon a fruit orchard, led TO the
menace of punishment in manner quite
too public to suit the youthful hero's
taste-viz., at the hand of the village
magistrate and the valiant trespasser on
fruit guarded as the golden apples of the
Hesperides, took refuge in flight, and re-
treated to his quondam fastness, the inac-
cessible cave by the seaside, armed with
two redoubtable weapons-therusty bar
rel of a horse pistol, and an old bayonet.
Here, day or two of starvation cooled
his youthful arior, and he emerged
stealthily to seek by night the house of an
uncle who acted as his guardian; and, af-
ter much persuasion, and the promise of
a helping hand for the support of his
mother, he followed his uncle's wish to
become apprenticed to mason Of his na-
tive town. Thus the wild, cratic youth,
| foregoing his olden rambles by the sea-
shore and through the forests, set himself
to work right earnestly, preparing him
self by useful occupation, for the still
further knowledge of that science to which
he afterwards wholly devoted himself
So he passed his days in the labo~s of his
arduous occupation, though his migratory
nature continually prompted him TO
change the scene of his tolls; now work.
ing long day at his trade, now explor
ing at twilight the woods and seashores
still adding fossils, rocks and sea-weed:
to his cabinet, and at evening arranging
and labelling them, or, as youth of hi
ardent temperament are prone to 30
scribbling verses under the inspiration 0
the MUSES..
Thus Hugh Miller's youth went by
with no heralding of his future greatness
and the embryo man of science bore n
character among his associates other tha
''a 1ighty, good-for-nothing, clever sort c
fellow" Like a ship without a ruddel
n he drifted astray, blown by every chanc
wind, till another hand joined with hi
: own, another voice gently reclaimed hin
and by her kindly and firm counsels le
4 him into a new path whose end Wa
: Fame. And that gentle teacher otht
p great and good men have had before
: wife!
= The circumstances of their meetir
were romantic. At Iverness, where Il
rowing young man had gone to engage
O. a common mason, at Inverness dwelt
is proud family-"of noble birth, though
le somewhat decayed circumstances" al
OF like other proud families of Scotland, the
P boasted beautiful daughter. Now II
at beautiful daughter, though fully cogni
or ant of her birth, and educated and I
ny fined, yet was none the less prevent
in from pausing one evening in her acct
OF toned twilight walk BY the kirk-yard, a
he holding chat with the bright-eyed, comt
in young mason, whose trowel was employ
in plastering up the kirk-yard wall; a
be- so, twilight after twilight brought tn,
of meetings, till the trowel was laid asi
his and the young mason paused TO chat,
ich gather the wild roses that oyerrun
ion wall, and finally to imprison her wi
int fingers in his-and, later, his work.
.th- day clothes lain aside, for q neat suit
ler- gray and the picturesque tartan pl
the over his shoulders which wen became
ach manly figure, they two walked far
an, late under the summer moon, through
e Of romantic environs Of Inverness, and
iese beautiful young girl, listening to
'ous words of love which escaped bis lips
0 oftener than the creed of schools, or
-ory logical lore, surrounded her heart int
'ast, keeping and became his betrothed. I
eky and there Hugh Miller met the good
his gel Of his life; at Inverness they =
7ing married.
less. Years had gone by, and wealth
soli- fame had come to the mason geolo
her The world-and most Of all, his
was Scotland-had Acknowledged his ge
,log- Men of science took this man, unlea
ards in the creed of the schools, but ric
the the lore of nature, by the hand, and
-iller nounced him more than peer, their /
it is for his daring mind and active resol
On Of had opened new path wherein
' his might follow and gather crumbs of
free dom.
the But not at first, or speedily, had Il
xplo- ward of bis labors come. There
Ito days devoted TO other pursuits :
sea- must earn the livelihood Of his "a