The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-12-11
OF an Orphan Boy.

Towards the latter part Of the summer
q 1910, lad Of prepossessing appear
auce entered the beautiful town of c.,
situated at the foot of Seneca Lake, New
York, near the centre of the State. He
had travelled from the western part of
Ohio, where his father a widower, had
died from one Of those malignant feyers
socommoni in newly made countries, while
overseeing the cultivation Of large tract
Of land, in order to regain fortune
lost during the disastrous specplations of
1886.
Being au only son and left among
strangers at the death of his father,
George Wentworth resolved to leave Ohio,
and remove to the State of New York for
the purpose of trying his fortune in any
manner that chance might offer He
had passed through several towns and
villages on his route without meeting
with anything TO attract his attention,
until reaching C.. This fine town,
vithits lovely lake and fine scenery struck
his fancy SO he determined to obtain
employment if possible, aud make it his
future home.
While walking along tie principal
street of the shady avenue overlooking
the lake on which were located several
fne churches aud other public buildings,
be saw a large crowd of people assembled
around a newly erected liberty pole, in
front of one of the principal hotels. On
approaching the spot, he found it a pub
lie meeting, held for tho purpose of
raising the pole aud making party
speeches.
Our hero forced his way into the crowd
just as they were raising the "Stars and
Stripes" with the names Of their candi-
dates to the top of the flag staff. The
flag had scarcely reached half way; the
enthusiasm being at its height, when the
cord twisted and caught in the little
wheel at the top. They pulled aud tried
every way, but were unable to raise or
lower the flag a single inch The excite
ment and cheering ceased and all eyes
we're turned to the half-masted flag. 4
portion of the opposition party, who were
grouped little in the rear of the main
body, began to jeer and joke about the
apparently bad omen, to the evident dis
comfture of their opponents.
At length Judge s., editor and
publisher of the c. Journal, then a
candidate for Congress, offered fifty dol
lars to the person who would climb the
staff and draw the cord through the wheel
The utmost silence reigned for several
minutes, but no one advanced to make
the daring trial.
"Will no one volunteer 2" shouted the
Judge, strongly excited as peal of laugh
ter went up from the ranks of the oppo-
sition.
The chuckle had scarcely died away,
however, before George, with his cap and
shoes of, stepped before the Judge, and
with confident look exclaimed,
"Yes, sir, I'll climb it,
"You, my lad, are you strong enough?"
ooh, yes, sir; l am used to climb
ing"
"Then go ahead, my little Spartan" I"
said the Judge, at the same time giving
him an encouraging pat upon the shoul-
der.
Steadily, hand over hand, his feet
clutching the pole ina manner that proved
HIM to be an expert climber, George made
bis way to the very top of the staff which
was so slender that it swayed to and fro
with his weight. Nothing daunted, he
wound his legs right aud left around the
pole, and with his right hand untWisted
the cord. Shouting fearlessly to those