The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-09-15
Written for the Abbeville Banner.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SCHOOL BOY.
PY TIE Roy WHO STEI'k EiIlv r,TrI:i:s"N Fox
FOLLOWING "SciiooL UUlTEn.'

since, on hot, sultry day in June, | think
It was the fourth, at any rate it was lust one
month before the fourth Of July, (tlle events
OF which day always forms part of every
American boys cxi$tcnce) as | distinctly
remember, some ten or more vcars ,hcrvaf.
ter noticing the striking coincidence, and.
IN Il boyish way, asking my mot cr Why
:he event was not postponed one mon,h
later, 10 that | might celebrate our com
mon natal day-tlc Republics and mine.
However this may bc, let it suffice to say,
that though was present ut the time
don't rccullect much about it. The time
OF my birth have often thought had some.
thing to do with my peculiar disposition
and physiquc--f the time did not, 1T any
ratio my birth dil--alhou-ll am unable
10 account for the connection philo>olli--
cally, physiologically, or rhy,icnI".i ic.!Iy,
and only mention it to cluciIatc inquiry
upon the subject The month MAS hot
sc am |; the nights were sl.orl-so am l.
L was born on the fourth sun of the month
Il am the fourth son the old folks il.
June, was named after Il distinguished
hcatlen Goddess, Juno | am NAMED
after 4 distinguished jew Historian,
Joscphus. | mi "ht remark OF ,nauv
such strange condolences, hut will r,:!.,,.
late but one other remarkable circull> tancr
connected with my birth ] canno; but
mention, as a wonderful event, tie fact that
Immediately after WAS ,lSIlrrr., i,:.o this
busy breathing world, Il large Llack cloud
cnrelorcd the sun, and tremendous lIun
ler storm followed two buzzar,!s Ii, upon
he chimney top, aud after rcnairiny dur
nS the storm, flew away. Tic >iyniiica,cr
OF these omcns wcr: 'inIy nprrc!cndcI hv
the assembled multitude, a..! many sup
pose 1t had some marked Influence Oh NIX
after liic. ! WAS always rryau!yl aS a re
mMkab!c srccr.irn Of home maluIac.urc.
and am sure ll;,,! Worlds Fans been rs com
common tlicu Is now, wvull have been sen,
us Il" Wa>ra,la-Saw Summer ri..." Tb,u.h
not given 10 speak ui myself, must I,r allow
cd to SAY that | Wa, TIC li,!c aud l,v q; :,
whole host al unc.cS, al.ut~ ar.l nr~ru..s. c,.i,
,lcing with other to sec VIII, cpu!L make.
NE >I"all The loud.S; and kick Tie hardest.
lime, however, which waits fp: ,.o one.
So"n ciinc to my rc.ic:--.o ia. relic:
Of my tender neither pants | m,.an-:.,rl
put lne without the Influence Of ,:y PIN.
TT "l 0ntn" genuS.
There was one ,:rcuuls:a.ir. ;lnut t!.,
putting off small clothes w!,ic! | r:,nuu,
fali to remember, ani that WAS :. wonderful
l'oc'ivny I" Put pepper in my Oh :.uLt>
>hnlf box, whci, male the OH lady par
''culary anxious TO keep nc from her s,x.
and her box from me-. At the ace .. three
years, the time began 20 act for nv.
sell, was quite boy and wore Loo,s. j
was sent to school, and recolvct with
pride the astonishing proyreS, made in
those branches Of educ ,tion Uly catching,
llE-pu.ling, &c.) usually taught, and have
thought since that Thompson mus: have
had lis eye OH this period Of life when he
says
Delightful task to rear the tender thought,
And teach the youn. idle, how to sl.nnt
marbles, popguns and tle<. Well do nc.
member how drxt"rou,ly could "r'uuk
doubs from taw," before was six years
old, and with what pride ! ratified ny
"pocket-fu! marbles" which my dcx;cri,y
had won.
At the age Of six my elementary nstruc.
tion had prepared me for - more extended
field of research. | wash accordingly sen.
to Grammar School, kept hy worthy
old gentleman, who wore specs and drank
beer, particular friend Of my father.
was received very cordially, and gradually
initiated into the mysteries Of I.inl!cy
Murry, and the higher mysteries Of Pike
My readers must not suppose that this was
the work of day, by no mcans-it was
the work Of strap, and circumstances o.
the most striking character, which combined
at the time, made deep impressions on my
tendcr-body. You must not he surprised
then when | tell you that can get up al
any hour Of the night and, in my, "unmcn
t'onajle," repeat "Lindlcy," from Eng
Iisll Grammar is is the art" &c, through
Addison's Universal Prayer down TO iini.
Il for figs and for jigs, and N fol
Nuck'e.bone, } for Jack the Waterman
and $ for Sally Stone. Alas what change.
have taken place since then. Englisl
Grammar can now be learned on the tcle
graph principle, in 20 lessons.
Many incidents Of an interesting nature
happened at that school +; there first fell
the tender flame, and there | first began tc
write poetry. Caroline S. was nv idol