The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-08-07
CFrom the Atlantic Monthlyl
"Reminiscences of Stephen A.
DOugyas.

tire popuIauOn OF DrNnuOn township. YER
lmont, namely, whether Douglas was born
in the Pomersv or the HYATT mansion. 1t is
lenough for our pnrposn to record the fact
that he ras born and apparently weN born
las, from the statement Of Ann De Forrest,
his nurse, he first appeared stalwart babe
. Of fourteen pounds weight.
He lived lie Of sensations; and that he
commenced early is clearly shown bv the
fact that he was subject Of newspaper CON-
ment when but two months old At that
age he had the misfortune to lose his father,
who, holding the baby boy in his arms. fell
back il his chair and died, while Stephen,
dropping from his embrace was canght from
the fire, and thus from early death, hv a
neighbor, John Conant who opportunely
entered the room at the moment And here
let me saw, that for generations back the
ancestors of Douglas were sturdy men, of
physical strength and mental ability. His
grandfather was noted for his strong practi.
cal common sense, which, rightly applied
with industry, made him in middle life the
possessor of wealth, AMI the finest farm on
! Otter Greek This, however. in later years
was gradually taken from him. by means
which had better. perhaps. remain unmen
toned The father Of Stenhen was phvSi
clan of more than ordinary talent and Of
much culture He bad attained hutto early
manhood, when sudden attack of heart
disease removed him from life, and compel.
led his widow, with her infant boy, to face
the world alone.
A bachelor brother Of he widow DOUGLAS
took her and the baby to his farm. where for
several years, the one mourned for the loss
Of her husband. while the other grew in
strength and muscle. The earlier develop
ments Of the boy were characteristic. and
| typical Of those in later life He was very
quick, magnetic in his temperament. and
full to the brim with witand humor Bevond
his uncle's farm ran the far-famed Otter
Creek whose waters in nv hoyhood, were
forbidden me- as inevitably leading the in
cautious bather to "a fife of misery and a
premature death" There It was, however.
that Stephen earned his earliest triumphs
It is long pull across the O'tcr Pond. and
the schoo'master's last charge was aNwavs.
keep this side Of the rock in the middle
don't try to cross": but reckless then oflife as
since in politics selfconfident and daring as
always. Douglas. fan the boys alone dare''
disobey the charge and succeeded in resch-
ing safely the opposite shore
His companions, sons of farmers we'll to
do in the world. were preparing to enter col
lege, and Douglas, the best scholar in his
class, the finest Mathematician in the town.
ship, and who without instruction had mas
tered the Latin Grammar and ssViri Ronae, /"
applied to his uncle for permission TO Join
them. The uncle, however, never noted for
much liberality either Of brain or pocket,
having taken to himself boy, was unable
to see the necessity Of giving the orphan a
college education, and piti'esslv bound him
to a worthy deacon Of the church as on an
prentice to the highly respectable. hut rarelv
4 famous, trade Of cabinet making IN this
Douglas did we'll It has been stated else
where that "he was not fond of his trade" ,"
and that "h:s spirit pined for iof.ier employ.
1 ment" Possibly But for all that he sue.
ceeded in it, and these lines are being writ
ten on mahogany table made by him while
an apprentice at Brandon It Is a strong.
substantial, two leaved table. with curiously
carved legs terminating In bears feet. the
claws of which display an intimate acquaint
. ance on the part Of the maker with the phys
biological formation Of those appendages. and
1 more than ordinary amount Of tlexterity
IN the handling Of TOOLS It was while in
this occupation that he gained the so5rigue.
Of the Tough I'm" He was nearly seven
/ teen years of age, and, though not handsome
4 was very intelligent and bright in his ap-
pearance, so that he was able TO compete
successfully for the smiles and favors Of a
young country lass who reigned the belle OF
the village This did not suit the "mitten-
ed' ones, anil they determined to draw
young Douglas into controversy which
should result in fight,-he, OF course. to
| be the defeated partv The night chosen
| for the onslaught was tho "sin~ing school
night and the time the home walk Of Ste
phop from the house of the fair object Of con
tention. The crowd met him at the corner
store. From jests to jibes from taunts to
blows, was then, as ever, nm easy path and
4 in reply to some unchivalrie remark con.
cerning his lady.iove, Douglas struck the
slnnderer with all his might. Immediately
ring was formed, and kept; until Donrlas
rose the victor, and without further ceremo
ny pitched into one Of the lockers on, and
stopped not until he, too. was, seuudly
thrashed, when, wiihhashing eyeani cleneb-
ed fist, he said, Nov, boys, if that's not
enough, come on, and III taRs you all TO.
togetherl' At this juncture, the good old
Deacon, who had been trying cider in tho
cellar Of the store, came along. and, taking
Stephen by tho arm, said, ,--"Well Steve
you are tough 'un Whatl whipped two
and want more? Come home. nv boy, oornt
homer He was allowed ever after TO gc
and come with his bright,e eyed beauty. un
molested, and for years was known therl
and in the neislboripg townships as tn.
Tough 'Un." Here, too, he gained tn.