Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-04-15

clear that the Redfelds never would
Daniel took to books Not that he
disliked work, but he yearned for knowl-
edge; so that there was not book 10
the whole region, of whose contents be
was not perfect master. Happening |
to light upon a stray Euclid, the parents
wondered much over the beautiful fig
ures which he drew on the white birch |
bark, gathered from the forest. Every |
pitch-pine root which he found was care
fully saved to give him light for study
after the labors of the day. At the age
of seventeen the father of Daniel began
to droop. 1t was evident that he must
die. Like a wise man, he had set his
house in order; and the only regrets
which he had on the conviction that he
must die, were that he left his widow so
poorly endowed. But he knew the pro-
misses of God to be faithful, and his eye
of faith did not grow dim.
A few days before he died, Squire
Ordway came to pay his friend visit.
They had never quarreled, and had no
malice to overcome. They had lived and
loved like brothers and the tears which
they now shed were of the true currency
of the heart.
j do not doubt it, said the dying
man; do not doubt that you will ad-
wise and encourage the poor woman as a
brother would; and she'll need it.
l have my little farm paid for, and the
COW and the pony; but that's all, neigh
Dor. And then, my boy Daniel! I've
tried hard, perhaps not so faithfully as l
ought, to wean him from his books; but
it's in him, and fire couldn't burnt out of
him, What can be dJne for him and
with him ?
Its no use in trying, my old friend.
It's jest as natural for him to study as
for trout to bite at fly. Study he
will, and study he must, and I'll promise
to help him all 1 can
God bless you for that, James Ord
way. And if he don't feel grateful, and
thank you, sure you are that you have
the thanks of dying father beforehand
Who can tell but that, like one of
our own rough logs which we send down
the river, and which is worked into a
beautiful house at Boston, he may yet
become something that will honor us all.
So said the friend and neighbor, and
the eye of the dying man kindled with
joy, and Hope was there to cheer him,
and Faith to strengthen him and so his
last interview with his old friend was
one of consolation.
The good old man was buried in the
little graveyard and the deep SHOWS
soon laid their white sheet over him, and
the winds that sighed through the lofty
forest tolled bis requiem. In short
time, Mr.. Ordway went to see the near
est educated mind in the region-a
humble minister of the gospel-who liv.
, ed in a poor shanty six miles off through
, .I,o ,r-ooJ- o1J ,rbo b,I f,fIorro5 L.
sheep there to keep them from the wolves
: The good man was finished scholar
= and with a smiling face, told Mr.. Ord
] way to send the young man without fet
2 or reward. He promised to do so bu
r the Squire had occasion to go that wal
t often, and it was noticed that he alwaS
5 stopped, ostensibly to inquire about hi
: protege, but in reality to drop bag 0
!; potatoes, quarter of beef, few yard
:, of flannel, or something to add to tn
It real comfort of the minister's family
y Daniel was a good and profitable pupi
d Twice week on his pony, Shag, did h
1t 60 to recite, and never without stoppin
it at DR.. Ordway's a momens-since b
/ must needs go past his door. It was 500
e found that Daniel could in a measur
y compensate Mr.. Ordway, for he no.
gave lessons regularly to little Susan
l. as she was still called, though she was no
= fairly in her teens. She had never mar
); ifested any very great love for books, ,br
ct under Daniels superversion, she actuall
le studied and made rapid advances. 1t
re impossible to tell why, but young misst
TX do so sometimes. They become apt scho
rs ars.
d, Time moved on, or else our story coul
10 not. The Revolutionary War bad br
as ken out, and ragged. The call of the il
Id fant nation, invoking the spirit of FIRE
a dom, had penetrated even the wilderness
as and the young Ordways had every Oh
sy dropped the axe, left their clearings, al
es gone to join the army of Washington
u Young Redfeld had completed his CT
W. lege course, within few months, by Il
lie great efforts and economy of his wido'