Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-04-03
Anecdotes of Henry Ward Beecher.

Mrs. Stoves new book, Men Of the
Times" relates some anecdotes connected
with the early life Of her brother Henry.
We extract the following:
When Henry was eleven years old he
was placed in his sisters school in Hart
ford. All the other pupils we're girls.
Here is school scene:
The school room was divided into two
divisions in grammar, under leaders on
either side, and the grammatical reviews
were contests for superiority, in which 1t
was vitality important that every member
should be perfect. Henry was generally
the latest choice, and fell on his side a.
an unlucky accession-being held more
amusing than profitable on such occa-
sions
The fair leader of one Of these divisions
took the boy aside to private apart.
ment to put into him with female tact
and insinuation those definitions and dis
tinctions ON which the honor of the class
depended.
Now, Henry, A is the indefinite arti.
Gle, you see-and must be used only with
the singular number. You say man
but you can I say men can your" "Yes,
can say Amen, too" was the ready re-
joinder. Father says it always at the
end of his prayers"
Come. Henry. now don't be joking;
decline He." Nominative he, possess
i've his, objective him." "You see his ID
possessive. Now you can say his book
but you can t say him book" "Yes I
do say hymn book, too" said the imprac-
tible scholar, with quizzical twinkle.
Each one of these sallies made his young
teacher laugh, which was the victory he
wanted.
But. now, Henry, seriously, just at
tend to the active and passive voice.
Now : strike, is active, you see, because
you do something. But am struck
is passive, because if you are struck you
don't do anything, do your"
Yes, | dol strike back again" /"
Sometimes his views of philosophical
subjects were offered gratuitously. Be
ing held rather of a frisky nature, his
sister appointed his seat at her elbow.
when she heard her classes. A class in
natural philosophy, not very we'll pre-
pared, was stumbling through the theo-
ries of the tides. j can explain that"
said Henry.
"Well, you see the sun catches hold Of
the moon and pulls her, and she catches
hold of the sea and pulls that, and this
makes the spring tides.
1 But what makes the ebb tides r."
"oh, that's when the sun stops TO spit
on his hands, was the brisk rejoinder.
After about six months, Henry was re.
| turned ON his parents hands with the
reputation of being an inveterate Joker
and an Indifferent scholar. 1t was the
opinion of his class that there was much
talent lying about loosely in him if he
could only be brought to apply himself
/ A PRACTICAL JOKE.
While Mr.. Beecher was in Amherst
College. he led the life of merry Chris
tian, being something like Ga converted
| bob-o-link."
Mr.. Beecher, on one occasion, was in
formed that the head tutor Of the class
| was about to make him a grave, exhorta-
tory visit. The tutor was almost seven
feet high, and solemn as an Alpine for
est; but Mr. Beecher knew that like most
solemn Yankees, he was at heart deplo-
rable wag, mere whited sepulchre Of
conscientious gravity, with measureless
depths of unrenewed chuckle hid away
in the depths of his heart. When ap-
prised of his approach, he. suddenly
whisked into the wood closet the chairs
of his room, leaving only low one which
had been sawed off at the second joint, SO
that it stood about foot from the floor.
Then he crawled through the hole in his
table, and, seated meekly among his
| OOohS, aWuitCu tuC tiSibOA.
A grave rap was heard.
"Come in"
Far up in the air, the solemn, dark
face appears. Mr.. Beecher rose ingen-
iously, and offered to come out.
No, never mind" says the visitor, II
| just came to have little conversation
with you. Don't move"
"Oh," says Beecher, innocently. "pray
sit down, sir" indicating the only chair.
The tutor looked apprehensively, but
began the process of sitting down. He
i went down, down, down, but still no solid
ground being gained, Strengthened him.
self and looked uneasy.
Il don't know but what that chair IL
too low for you," said Beecher, meekly.
"Do let me get you another"
"Oh, no, no, my young friend, don't
rise, don't trouble yourself, it is perfectly
agreeable to me; in fact like a low