New-York tribune., 1868-10-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
GREELEY's RECOLLECTIONs OF A BUSY
IIIE.

before the public several years ago in the lively vol
ume devoted to his biography by Mr.. James Parton.
No materials, however, were furnished for that work
by Mr.. Greeley himself who had never been IN the
habit of preserving any memoranda relating to ms
own history and the present volume accordingly, IS
the first production the subject which can claim
an autobiogaphical character At the same time. it
of course involves cOpiOus "reminiscences OF the po-
litical developments of the last twenty-five years.
notices of the statesmen and public officials with
whom the writer has been placed IN intimate con-
tact and comments on the leading questions of
American policy during the period just referred to.
The substance of the volume has already been
spread before a wide circle OF readers in the
columns of The Ledger. but it is
Tcpublished after a careful revision by the author,
portion of il has been entirely rewritten. and several
original papers give an additional variety and interest
to its contents, The motive of the publication, as
stated by Mr.. Greeley, some apolegetic predatory
remarks, TO make of the opportunity afforded
by Mr. BonueTs proposal to furnish series Of Re-
collections" for his journal. to commend TO many
thousands of mainly young persons convictions winch
were part of his being and conceptions OF pubhc
events and interests, which might never again so
fairly invoke their attention. The essays which con-
cude the volume are added as part of the writer's
mental biography. completing its character as an ac-
Uurae record of his seXperence and ms AIMS Ot the
manner in which the work has been accomplished
and .he points of interest which it presents to the
public, we are not at liberty 10 speak in tins Jour
nal hut the few extracts which we select from It's
pages. VIII give orr readers, who are not already
acquainted with their contents, some imperfect idea
of their scope and execution.
NY FARN.
sIoNld have been farmer All my rper tastes ~, m
ruc To that blessed calling whereby the human fanny
aud It's humber auNiaies are fed It's Quiet its seGIe
raon strife aud brawls. and heated riNaires' at
I'm Of ard 1
calling which comphcateS my prosperity IN some tort
Will others adyersty-my success with others defeat
The farmers floors may grOan with the weight ot ms
crops vet no deems himself the poorer therefor
IL may 100 bushels al corn or AZ OF Wheat 10 every
arabic acre. without arousng Jealousy or melting TO de-
am content with my lot and grateful for the gener
osity whcrewh my lahO-s have been rewarded ana YET
/ say that, were now 20 begin my hfe anew, would
choose 10 earn my bread by enluvatlns tne son, biee
he whose days eNerton ends with the evening tMlSh
and who can sleep unbIokeny and without anXiey tl
the dawn awakrs him. with energies renewed and senses
heightened bv fresh activity aud that fuueSs OF heath
most of their waking hours in the free, pure air and
renovaing sunshine OF the open eounlry; ~, s,oir
been known TO those among whom my earlier boyhood
then. educated intelligent people and relatively
considered. were there was no person among u.s.
over twelve years old had not enjoyed the privileges
of common schools and learned therein read write and
cipher; All read books and newspapers and read
NEARLY all Of both that were 10 he found IN our neehDo
hood; yet cannot remember that had ever seen a
periodical devoted 20 farming, 20 the day wherein IN
my sixteenth year. abandoned me larnlor me pIeIy
book which treated Agriculture seeking TO set
4
which they are based certainly had not seen. Nay,
during the twelve years in which attended
Geology Botany, in schOO-r0Om. l hardly saw one
anywhere. That true Agriculture is grand ennoblmg
science based ON other sciences and its pursuit liberal,
ecyatng profession was not even hnted much less ln-
cucated m any essay speech OF Sefh4' D%Oh, pIpe pa p
Work for oxen: and FOR me the life of an or
Most OF those knew seemed TO I'll the earth
mainly because they could not hcpt; and felt that
could help it. so shook from my broSaus the dust OF the
potato patch and stepped out IN quest OF employ neh
better suited 70 an intelligent, moral being -,
IL quarter Of century after this before felt able
10 buy make the farm whereon TO ABIDE the coming OF
decay and death had been some twenty years resi-
dent Of the city and fifteen the head OF household
Six children had been born to me- and four OF them had
died-ss / confident some OF them would not so
preaturey have DONE had they been born ana reared
had earned and bought small but satisfactory house
in the very heart Of the city but who. II be has any
10 and ucared Tor by the deizens Of Nos. 237
For my famiyS sake, II not for my own, country home
was required, so looked about and found one.
The choice substantially directed by NV Wife who
said she insisted but three requisites peerless
ing brook 8. Woods largely composed OF eyergreens
These may seem light matters yet ! was some ONE time IN
reasonable distance from the city. ,...
dd ind them, however; and those who object to my
taste in choosing for my rocky, wooded, hillside.
sopng 10 the north of west with bog at its foo.
not Judge me fairly unless they consider the above re-
My land was previously the rugged mainly wooded,
Ouskirt OF two adjacent farms, whereof my Dabbhng
Nine miles above White plains and thirty-hve NNE.
of City Hall, the Harlem railroad when nearly
abreast of the village Of SingSng and six miles
of IT, just after entering the township Of Newcastle.
crosses quite small though pretty constant stream,
by the Indians ChaDpaqua, which IL said TO have
meant falling or babblng water. and which, here run
ming TO the southeast soon takes southwesery turn
recrOsses under the railroad and finds ITS way into the
Hudson. through the Sawmn ON Nepperhan Creek, at
YOnkers A highway, leading westward to singsing.
the railroad Just north OF the upper crossing OF
the brook. and gives twenty rods from the north
west corner OF my farm, station ana posOhce winch,
with modest village of twenty thirty houses take
their name from our nstream Chappaqua Is not avery
liquid trisylaDe, but there IS comfort IN the TACT
Washington,
often re-apped that half the Letters intended for
of them likely 10 bring up at some other (Bow can
rational creature De so thOughllss as 10 uate Is ette
merely Greenfield" or Jackson" or Sprinefeld and
imagine that the stranger he addresses possibly guess
whittier 10 mail the alswerO
My brook has it, source in wooded, granite hills the
East SOUTHEAST, and comes brswug or tnklng thence
10 6e iost IN he Shappagaa Ie~ rJuS Ei 1e Ioad
drOuth exbaus breaking out along the foot Of my hill,
at the base OF higher ridge which forms It's crest
Ny woods the pride of the farm, which, without
bonf o. OF the IS acres which compose III aud say 10
them, with Oriental courtesy and more than Oriental
sincerity, MAY yOur shadow never be less" For the
ronnd Rey cover is in good part fan ire gular sideng
granite ledge or portions OF ledge, thinly covered by
granite gTaYey soil, which could not be MADE 10 grow
,vthine but wood 10 the profit of the grower whereas
II grows wood better than arch Illinois or Kansas prairie
often cOndescends TO do Its trees mainly Hemock
wood. Chestnut White aud Blue Beech, Dogwood White
Ash. Sugar and Soft Maple, Elm, Hickory Butternut,
Ilack yellow aud White Birch. There were Just two
trees that could not name, after twenty years absOrp
zion The city, of them is known Pepperdge, the
other as yellow Poplar. There were good many Wild
Black Cherries but these nearly exterminated
they caerplars nfest my Apple trees OF shrubs
there many that cannot name Wltch Hazel,
Bunch Willow, Choke Cherry. Hazel, Sassafras,
aud Sunac are among those that readily recog-
Doggy ground at the foot Of of my hills, till
exiirpaied it, and the DOgwood is marked 1or speedy
destruction. IL beauthes-nay, glOTiDes-the woods
while IN blossom for week early in May but II is
of account timber While II s9%s IT'S seed every
than II will pay for