Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-06-04
THE SORROWS OF GREATNESS.
The Tall Young Mans Story.
IProm Chambers' Journal


the youngest. My worthy father had a Gus
tom of measuring the stature of his growing
family once year. Ii was solemn cere-
nony. Dressed in our best clothes, and our
heads rasped to a preternatural smoothness
by nurses uncomprOmising hair brush, We
we're marshaled in the paternal dressng-room.
Well do | remember that apartment. Ii was
pervaded by penetrating odor OF boot
leather. Rows of boots met the eve in every
direction. In those days | used TO wonder
why my father had only two legs-I fancied
he should have been a centipede but i have
since learned that he never had corn in his
life, and that he attributed his immunity to
the fact of never wearing pair of new
boots for more than two hours at a stretch.
Enough of boots l did not take up my
pen 70 write of them, but of my miserable
self. Let me proceed with my allotted
task.
was FIVE years old on the first measuring
day of which can recall distinct memory.
Bidding me remove my shoes, my father
gently placed my head against the dressing
room door, which was scored over with pen
Gil notices of names, dates and heights. He
applied his infalible four-foOt rule.
'Bless me, Bellal" he exclaimed, address
sing my mother, this boy is growing pro-
digiously. Six inches in the twelve month
He is already taller than you, LizZy, who are
three years older; and he will soon be up 10
your pencil line, Master Bob. Yes, Bella"
continued my father, smiling and rubbing his
hands-for, beinga small man himself he was
proud of my increasing stature-''yes, Bella,
David will out-tcp US ALL az
Hitherto, Bob and l had been a loving pair
of brothers; but the ordeal of measurement
aroused his jealousy. The privileges of elder
birth were invaded by my growing propensi-
Al. u, 10, 10 srrsf 10
petualIy placing his back against mine, for
the purpose of comparing heights, and would
on these occasions vieiously bump our heads
together. As his skull was incomparably the
thickest, Jared much the worse from these
collisions.
soon became an object of public remark.
"What fools some parents are !" remarked
one gentleman to another in the street; "look
at that great lubberly boy in a tunic and bare
legs, still hanging on to his nurses apron
string Why, he is nearly old enough TO be
leaving school"
The gentleman did not know the character
of my nurse, Mrs. Crossley; she Redeemed
with anger, and, turning sharp ON her heel,
addressed him thus:
"Soyou know when the child was chriSten-
ed do you, Mr.. POke-your nose-into-people's
business :"
% suppose about fourteen years ago. re-
piled the gentleman, somewhat abashed
YOU'RE wrong, Mr.. Impudence, and I'll
thank YOU not 10 make insulting speeches in
the public thoroughfares, or the New Police
the Police and the General Postolfice were
both styled new in those days" may have
something 10 say TO you. This blessed lamb
is not seven years yet, as his pa aud ma can
testify"
why, he is a monster y exclaimed the
fellow in blue satin scarf perfect mon
sterl Not seven yet You should put him
in show" sa
was a sensitive boy, and at these harsh
words began 20 weep. Mrs Crossley was
furious, and shook her umbrella in the faces
of the foe.
"You call yourselves men, and come here
90 mock and jeer at a poor infant who is as
heaven made him, and can't diminish a cupid
of his own stature. Shame on you YOU de-
serve 60 be pelted through the town, ysu
mean, cruel creeturs, you'll" ie WAR
As the crowd who had assembled, though
entirely ignorant of the cause of ofense,
strongly sympathized with Mrs. Grossly. the
two gentlemen beat hasty retreat
But had not always Mrs. Grossly 20 defend
me, and the street boys of the neighborhood
made NV life miserable by dancing a sort of
CdTnsagnole round To the following words:
'.omy o my 0my seven years old
and six foot high; would | be sich a regu-
lar Guyl"
Six foot high was huge exaggeration.-
Still matters we're dismal enough On NV
eighth birthday l was privately measured bv
my father; he found that was FIVE feet four,
or half an inch taller than himself. His face
became grave.
when a boy of eight, Bella, buttons his
FaNhar - hsaS said oef hs S,Na F..
thing must be DONE
" But what f" demanded my mother, with
an anxious look.
'Procrastes {" sniggeped Bob. as he sat
waiting for his pes. soup 10 cool.
Leave the room, sir y thundeled my faith
er. and take your dinner with You. I'll per-
init no unfeeling jests,~ -
"who was Procustes ?" asked my mother,
wonderingly.
a person of Iawless propeEsities my dear,
with an extreme passion for uniformity. Ha
exclaimed my father, suddenly striking hiS
forehead, like Handel, 81 have an idea. Ii
shall be carried out at once"
was sent TO country school, where, on
my arrival, the head master addressed me in
these words: ~
T'My boy, it Is your fathers wish that Won
should call yourself fourteen years old"
The effect of this pious fraud was, that in
stead of being regarded as a rather intelli- |
gent child Of my age, was looked upon as a |
babyiSh hohbledlehoy. Nv muscles we're
haecid and undeyeloped, SO that was use |
less at cricket; my unwieldy size flor was |
thick as well as tall prevented my achiesinc |
success az prisoners base, aad my sympa-
thies naturally led me 60 seek companion. /
ship among my real equals in age, the small. /
est boys IN the school. They, however re-
jected my advances with fear and repuls;ao /
just as chipping brood of Sparrows wonl5
shrink az the intrusion of a Young rOok. Da-
spised by the elder BOYS. and dresded bv The
younger, wandered solidarity Sbout the pieT
ground, immersed in bitter Peseessou. Rut
unfortunately, grief did not stop nv growth.
Tear after year a. | came heuae for the mid
summer and Christmas holidays. nv fAs.ser
rsSAc-e1 ~ Increasing stature witk face Of
PA-z-1- hszSllsAEent He hardly had the /
,=Irs q Measure me, especially IS he was /
SOU iiiInzs@-e. - mount = stool for the par,
zs.a's- $50 - ao1SeE dared 10 bully ne. lie /
Wa ave. ~ ny monStroas presence. Nurse /
CroSs-sy, Who had retired On halfway. and
look IN plain needle work az an agiloiaing COS.
'agc, VAS sssn pleased % see me. bus even
she began 90 regard me with face Of apprs.
hens'oa. She grieved me very bitterly cue
pay by saying
Master pavy, year parents being small.
vhseh year pa Is but few inches eif
dwarf, begin % be feared that yoa. or !