American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-10
REMARKABLE PROPHECY.


preface he gives the following account of
the youth who was member of one of
his classes. 1t is most interesting doc
ument. and shows how the character which
Col. Fremont has ever exhibited, was form
cd, and illustrates the early development
of the energy and talent that have borne
him on through life
6: For your future encouragement will
here relate Il very remarkable instance OF
patient diligence and indomitabe persc-
verance.
'sIn the year 1927, after | had return
ed to Charleston from Scotland, and my
chsscs were going On, a very respectable
lawyer came to my school, / think some
time in the month of October, with
youth apparently about sixteen, or per-
haps not so much (fourtoen) of middle
size, graceful in manner, rather senderbu
well formed, and, upon the whole, what !
should call handsome of keen, pierce
inc eve, and noble forehead, seemingly
the very seat of genius. The gentleman
stated that he found him given to study,
and that he had been about three weeks
learning the Latin rudiments, and (ho-
ping, | suppose, to turn the youths at
tcntion from the law to the ministery,) had
resolved to place him under my care for
the purpose of learning Greek, Latin and
mathematics, sufficient for entering
Charleston College, very gladly re-
ccived him, for | Immediately perceived
he was no common youth, as intelligence
beamed in his dark eye, and shone bright
" ON his countenance, indicating great
ability, and an assurance OF his future
progress. Tat once put him into the high
est class Just beginning to read Caesars
Commentaries, and although at first infe-
rior, his prodigious memory and enthusl-
astic application soon enabled him to sur
pass the best. He began Greek at the
same time and read with some who had
been long at it, in which he also soon ex-
celled In short, in the space of one year,
he had. with the class, and at odd hours,
with myself, read four books of Caesar,
Cornelius Nepos, Salust, six books OF Nir-
gil, nearly all of Horace, and two books
of Livy; and in Greek all Gr@ca Minora,
about half the first volume of Greca Ma
iora, and four books of Homer's llliad.-
And whatever he read he retained. 1t
seemed to me, in fact, as if he learned by
mere intuition. | was myself utterly as
tonished, and at the same time delighted
with his progress. have limited that he
was designed for the church, but when |
contemplated the bold, fearless disposition,
h powerful inventive genius, his admi-
ration of warlike exploits, his love of he
roic and alveturous deeds, did not think
Il likely he would be minister of the
Gospel lie had not, however the least
appearance OF any vice whatever. On the
contrary he was the very pattern of vir-
tue aud modesty could not help loving
nm. so much did he captivate me by his.
gcntlemanly conduct and extraordinary
progress 1t was easy to see that he
would some day raise himself to eminence.
While under my instruction, / discovered
lis early genius for poetic composition, iu
the following manner. When the Greek
class read the account that Heroditus
gives of the bravery OF Miltades and his
ten thousand Greeks at the battle of Mar
.athon it raised his patriotic feelings to en-
sthusiasm, and drew from him expressions
that | thought were embodied a few days
afterward, in some well written verses in
"A Charleston paper, on that far-famed, un-
equal, but successful conflict against tyr
amy and oppression; and suspecting my
talented scholar to be the author, | went to
his desk and asked him if he di / not W lie
them and hesitatingly at first, rather
biushiagly confessed he did. then said
:" knew you could do such things, and
suppose you have some such pieces by you
which | would like to sec. Do you bring
them to me-" He consented and in day
.or two brought me number which | read
with pleasure and admiration at the strong
marks Of genius stamped on all, but here
and there requiring, as | thought, very
slight amendment.
:" had hired mathematician to teach
both him and myself, (for l could not
teach that scicnce,) and in this he also
made such wonderful progress that at the
end of a year he entered the Junior class
IN Charleston College triumphantly, while
Others who had been studying four years
or more, were obliged to take the Sorho-