The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-05-12
For the Free Trader.
TElE OLD MAN.
BY CLOVER.

Our minds are often turned back 10 the
time Of our youthful days, when nought save
mirth and jollity ran Ger our thoughts, and
when we knew nothing OF hte's sorrows or
decay. and, in rejecting on those days OF
beautiful sunshine and happiness, we are
often made to rejoice that there is a period
in our lives when we know of no sin or sor>
row, temptatio or vice.
1t is enough that we find out such things
when we arrive at an age sufficiently mature
to be able to discern right from wrong, or
good from bad. Among some of the items OF
the picture of life, which | remember as
happiness. when | was young and thoughts
less, apparently cared for nothing but
sensual, present enjoyment, was the case of
an old man by the name of Thomas Mon>
tegue. He was then living in one Of the
western couEties of the state of Ohio, and
was surrounded with 4 numerous family of
children and grandchildren in neat little
village of some five hundred inhabitants,
noted alike for the industry OF its citizens
and sociabilitv of uei ghbors. Here in a neat
little cottage lived old " Captain Thomas,
as they used to call Mr.. Montague, who,
although over one hundred years Of age was
as livel-, genial. and active, as most men OF
half his age. lie had seen many hardships
and met with maay trials during has long
lie Of usefulness, but amid all the tenn pta
tious which he had undergone, 1t was ever
said Of him tha. ne had ne'er harmed any
one. nor caused u man, woman, or child, 10
weep on account Of any wrong for It was salt
that he ''wronged no mau" during his whole
course Of life. The poorest beggar with
hardly clothes sufficient to cover his back,
was as welcome 70 shelter under his root as
the richest aIist0Crat. With him there was
no difference between the high or low, rich
or poor. No willow or orphan, ever suffered
when lie knew their desi.tution, and when
ever hungry person came into his house he
vas never tu-Hed empty away, but would be
welcome to the best his housd afforded. Well
do | remember the cneegl lul looks OF old
CAPTAIN Thomas, as he use u 10 be seated
near the old fire place some evening IL win
ter. telling some incident relative to his boy
hood DAYS. or relate the history of a battle IN
which lie had been engaged during The war
Of the revolution. Sometimes when the
young people Of the immediat neighborhocd
would be gathered together, listening to 'he
old man tell OF q interesting IOrE hunt, or
delineate the features Of Ali iEd.aq encamp-
msnt, he would seem to change h:s usually
soft easy voice. as if he were al resslnc hI9
troops, or delivering ali Oration t. the pub,:c.
afternoon in the month of May, and the
oh man was seated in the doc r of his cottage,
reading some book of ancient history, when
4 young man Of apparently twenty five sums
mers rode mp 70 the gate in ir3Gt Of the house
and thus commenced qu:zzIng the old man.
Well, old man, yoa seem to be very much
engaged in reading old books, | presume
YOU are studying the way to get rich IN your
Old age, are YOU not? Not receiving an
immediate reply, he then continued, Ii you
do not know any way to get rich without
reading an Old book, | think it would be =
good plan for vou too go to school, don't YOU
think so too p Mr. Montague gently raised
his eyes from his book, cast glance at the
Young man, and ia a clever tone exclaimed
well sir YOU seem 10 know q good deal, but
love to read books, especially those which
are wholesome aud useful, and moreover,
can never be too old to learn. | presume
Won are very well acquainted with the ancient
history oC Greece aud Rome, are you not ~
- yea, sir" said the young man, Ny
{. ,er early taught me to REP history with
care. eui-i can repeat very mich of the histo-
rie7 winch learned in my youth" 81 Did 1t
ever make you rich ?" asked Mr.. Montague :;
40. sir = Was the laconIe reply, " but my
father advice made me rich and no; mach
labor. either, and | an now trying to find
him IN til. western county: he was taken
prisoner By a tribe of Indians and learn he
lives in this section Of the world somewhere.
and = "W hat was your fathers name,'
interuped ed the old man, perhaps | can tell
y,u where he lives, for l am pretty well
acquainted With the people around hete, and
maybe can tell 5ou the best road to his
house for this part Of the country is infested
with several tribes who are foes Of the white
man."
NY fathers name was Thomas Montague,
he was called Captain Thomas by all who
knew him, he served under the. American flag
durIug the war of the revOlutldn.'
At this juncturc little grandson of the
Old mans came in the room in which he was
seated and told him supper was now ready,
when the old man told him to show the
stranger his way the barn and feed his horse,
at the same time telling the young man he
must now stay till morning as ft was now late
and he was perfectly welcome 10 the common
fare of which he had plenty.
During tke time Of the supper Mr.. Mon>
tague narrated some inciden,i of his life in
camp life and finally told the stranger hat
lie had once been taken prisoner by the saw
ages bat bsing naturally swift on foot he ran
away from them while running the gauntlet,
and then settled where he now lived. "What
is your - eagerly inquired the young
man. Thames Montague, formerly OF New
York
80 my father, my own dear father, have
at last found your said til Q young man
iondIy embracing him. God be praised my
son, for his goodness, but eyer remember
that We are never too old to ehrn."
The young man 5 history wal soon unveil,
ed. He had left home when q bite young and
being OF a rambling disposition, had purchase
ed merchant vessel, raid for it, made sew
eral trips to the Indies, ira led ana got rich,
and then went to box for his,.father and found
him in the manner described.
SERENA, Nav, 1866.