The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-03-19
dear about mere. Try and get suited at
home.
HENRY WARD BEFoHRR
ESENIINESCENCE OF EEHAES.
STEW Rms.

Early Life of the Great Oommoner."
From the Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
Snugly nestled among the mountains o.
Nortern Vermont lies the good farming town
OF Peacham. Some years since, the writer,
while passing few months in that billy
country with the pastor Of the village, call.
ed one day on an aged parishioneF, who
lived IN small red house in the outskirts
OF the town. 1t was during , ; war, and
the wrinkled hands of the good woman were
employed in knitting socks for the soldiers.
OF course the conversation turned naturally
upon the affairs of the country. While
talking of the army, the President, and
Congress, the name of Stevens was men
tioned Instantly the large black eyes OF
our hostess frightened, aud she said sit
was over there, on that farm, Thaddeus
Stevens was BORN" and she pointed to a
gray house, in sight, mile or more across
the hills
''You knew him, then p | asked.
Indeed did, ma'am J" was the enthu-
siastic reply. ''We used to sit on the same
seat, in the old school house down in the
hollow yonder''
1t required little questioning to draw from
the willing and garrulous old soul, the story
of the early life of her former school
mate.
1.-The family was poor" said she, ''aud
Mrs. Stevens was one of those hard work
ing mothers who toll from morning till
night, week in and week out. She would
have worked her fingers to the bone that
her boy might get book learning. Thad-
deus was sickly boy, and very lame. Folks
never supposed they'd be able to raise him.
But they did! Why, l remember him as
though had seen him yesterday, He was
still and quick like; different from other
boys and sometimes they'd laugh at him,
boy like, aud mimic his lilnping walk. They
didn't mean any harm, but Thaddeus was
sensitive little fellow, and it ranked I've
always thought prshaps that's the reason he
has never been back to the old home
stead'
care any of the family left here n ask
ed
mo, not any near kin. The old folks
died many years ago, of course, for I'm an
old woman now,' and she stopped to heave
q sigh over the dead and buried years.
''But, dreary me how plain | can see the
old school house. Senath Jones, she was
our teacher, and | remember sac used to go
round and tap us GIL the head with her
thimble finger to make US sit STILL Pears
to me to this day, that | can feel the dent of
Senath Jones' thimble on my head won
der if Thaddeus Stevens ever remembers
the old times 'Taint at all likely. Hes
had so many other things to think Of I've
heard he's got to be a great man amongst
'em there at Washington
AS said, four years have passed since
the story was told me, and SOME items of
the accoufst have escaped my memory. But
think | shall never lose the impression of
that sad, silent boy, ploddiug YEARLY and
haltingIy over those Vermont Hills, smart
ing under ridicua and battling with power
ty, but full of high resolve in spite of all.
Who can tell how much of the power which
is felt throughout the nation to-day, may
have been wrought i'll the character of Thad
deus Stevens by the cruel struggle of that
early warfare ''The strength of the hills"
thought, as | stood that night on the steps
of the low farm. house, and saw the sun set
behind the Green Mountains, forty miles to
the westward, while the crimson flush Of
the after glow redeemed the white hills,
whose pyramid peaks are sharply defined
against the sky as many miles to the east.
How many men who, generation hence,
are to-day concealed among these towering
hills In how many obscure homes patient
woman, labors, ready to coin her very life's
blood that the boy of her pride may rise
and slime, when her own eyes are closed
and her toll hardened hands folded in
their last almost said their frst--long
rest ?