The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-01-22

creature could be OF no use to his father,
gave him away to his mothers sister, Mrs.
Lot Benton, or North Guilford. He was
sucha Tom Thumb, for size, that he wa.
often set. for exhibition, in q silver tankard
Ian indigaity for which he afterward, took
brave revenge on all wine-cups "Pity,"
| said the neighbors. who looked without hope
at the puny face for two OF three years
"pity that the little sickly thing did no,
follow its mother into the grave! ~ Bat Gods
finger touched the weakling, till he waxed
strong for long life and great work.
Asa boy, he was trained to farm work,
expecting to boa farmer. my uncle" said
the Doctor, and he often repeated the re
mark, des2sired, aft,r long trial, Of my
coming to anything as a farmer. and finally
concluded that was good for nothing but
to be ellicltsl. 81, ons day when I was
in the apple.orchard, at work. my uncle
said. Lyman, would you like to go to col.
lege!'I male no answer, and neither of us
spoke another word on the subject that day.
The nsxt day, when we both were at work
in the orchard, broke the silence by an.
swering, Yes, uncle, would like to 20 q
college, Not word further on the sub
jcet was said by either of US, but went to
college ~
This Uncle Lot Benton was the original o,
Mrs Stoves "Uncle Tim," in the f" May
fowern
| During his college career, he earned no
distinction by scholarly acluirem,nts, but
was early noticed as a remarkably vigorou,
and original thinker AMI reasonsr. In q de-
bate on Baptism, started among the stu
dents, he took the Baptist side, because, y
as hs said, mo oae else would take it,
Winning the victory over all the students
he forced his opponents to b1rrov tutor to
help their side, bat the tutor himself was
ignominiously beaten. "Thcn," said the
Doctor, president Dwight came and took
hold Of my argument, and very soon shred.
Ell it all Out" Bnt the stu lent who could
thus, in a discussion, vanqlish everybody in
the college, except its President, was already
marked for inevitable future fame. =
During his c,lleye life, one night while
sleeping near window that had lost pane
Of glass; he was awakened by noise, and,
turning his eyes togard the window, saw a
thief standing outside, reaching his hand
through the hole, and drawing out the sleep.
er's coat snd trousers which had been
thrown across chair near the sash. In.
stantly leaping out Of bed, and out Of the
window, the halfnaked student put after
the scamp, caught him after hard run,
drasg,d him back step by step to the house,
forced him into the bedroom, where he shut
him fast all night, and next morning took
him befarc magistrate. Thc culprit then
made tho customary plea Of being the wrong
man. and that some other had stolen the
clothes. The magistrate. like Dem cratic
judge. willing to favor vay,bonds, asked his
accuser, Did you, for single moment, lose
sight Of rhis man while pursuing him 9"-
"Yes, bgt only for single mona while he
turned corner" was the reply. "Then
you cannot establish his Identity" said the
judge, "and [ must let him CO." This &C.
quittal always made the Doctor indignant,
whenever afterwards he related the incident
-as violating his sense of justice.
| Graduating in 1897, he then studied The
olo,y with DR.. Dwight for one year; was
licensed to preach by the New Haven West
Association in 1898; was ordained in 1899,
and in the sans year was installed a. pastor
at East HAMPTON. Long Island, succeeding
DR.. Buell.. Working here industr,ously for
eleven years, ata salary Of $500 year. he
was favored" as he narrates in one of his
letters, with three seasons Of special divine
influence, in which almost three hundred
souls were added to the church."
In 1910 he removed to Litchfield, then the
intellectual center of Connscticut-th seat
Of the famous law school in which so many
Of the statesmen Of the last generation were
trained-among whom was John G. Calhoun.
His preaching labors dusing this past orage
extended through all the neighboring region.
It was his habit to hold meeting some.
where every night in the week. showing a.
industry as indefatigable as old John wes-
ley's Tho sixteen years Of this charge he
truly called "the most laboriou. part Of his
lifs." 1t was amid these lsbors that he
wrote his famous "Six Sermons on intem
perance," which were suggested by the sud.
| den downfall Of tvo Of his most intimate
friends. 1t was during this period, also, ,ha,
he set himself, with few well.known CO.
workers, to tho gigantic task Of creating the
great missionary and benevolent societies
which now, in successful operation, hold
their May anniversaries in this city.
In 1926, finding that his salsry Of $500
did not cover all the wants of his eight chill
dren, he applied for $1,000. Why this rss-
sonable request was not granted, We know
not. But the parish Of Litcfilield allowed
their brilliant minister. whose fame had now
gone abroad through all New England, to
strike his tent in Connecticut and to set it
up anew IN Boston. His Boston Charge was
the Hanover Church. which was the year
aftsrward burned. and new building erect
cd in Bowdoin street, whose con ,re, "a ton
Last year was disbanded. The thrsngs which
attended his ministry in that city were like
the tarongs which attend the ministry of
hia SON In Rronklvn AlthouUh his .fev