National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-04-03
Anecdotes of Henry Ward Beechcr

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 Hartford. All the pupils
were girls. Here is a school scene:
The school room was divided into
two divisions in grammar, under
leaders on either side, and the gram.
matical reviews were contested for
superiority, in which it was vtaly
important that every member should
be perfect. Henry was generally
the latest choice, and fe!f OH his side
us an nnlmcly accessOn--beinG held
more amusing than profitable on
such occasions.
The fair leader of one of these
divisions took the boy aside to a
private apartment to put into him
with female tact and insinuation
those definitions and distinctions
on which the honor OF the class de
pended.
Now Henry, A is the indefinite
article, you see-and must be used
only with the singular number.-
You say Il man--but you can't say
Il men can y0u ! Yes, | can say
Amen, TOO was the ready reioind-
er, Father says it always at the
end Of his prayers
Come Henry, now don't be iok.
ing; decline Hc.' .Nominativc he.
possessiye his, objective him. You
see his is posseSSive. Now YOU can
say his book--but YOU can't say him
book Yes do say hymn book,
too, said the intraclible scholar " it'll
Il quizzical twinkle. Zach one OF
these Sallies made his young teacher
laugh. which was the victory he
wanted.
But now, Henry, seriously, Just
attend to the active and passive
voice. Now i strike is active YOU
see, because you do Something
But i am struck is passive, be.
cause if you arc struck you don't do
anything, do our
yes, | do strike back again =
Sometimes his views of philo.
S0phical Subjects were offered gratu.
itous'y. Being held rather of
frisky nature, his sister appointed
bis seat ut her elbow, when she
heard her classes. a class in natu-
raj philosophy, not very well pre-.
pared, was stumbling through the
theories Of the tides. Il can cx-
plain that, said Henry.
Wen, you see, the sun catches
hold of the moon and pulls her, and
she catches hold Of th1 sea and pulls
that, aud this makes the spring
tides
But what makes the cbb tides ?
'Oh, that's when The sun stops to
spit on his hands, was the b,isk re.
ioindUr.
After about six months, Henry
was returned on his parents hands
with the reputation of being an in.
Ncteratc joker and an indifferent
scholar. 1t WAS the opinion of his
class that there was much talent ~.
ing about loosely in him if he could
only be brought TO apply himself.
A PRACTICAL JOKE.
While Mr.. Bccchcr was in Am
herst College, he led the life of a
merry christian, being something
like II converted bob link
Mr.. Bccchcr, Oh one occasion, was
informed that the hCaN tutor of the
class was about 10 make him grave.
cNhoitatory visit. The tutor was
almost seven feet high, and solemn
as an Alpine forest; but Mr.. Beech
cr knew that, like most Solcmn Yam
KEGS, he was ut heart Il dcploYablc
wag, a mere whitcd scpulchre of
conscientious gravity, with measure.
less depths OF unrencwcd chuckc
hid away in the depths of his hoat.
When appiised OF his approach, he
>Gddenlv whisked into the wood
ciCSct It. hairs of his room, leaving
only II low one which had bccn
sawed oli'at the second Joint, 50 that
it stood about Il foot from the floor.
Then he crawlcd through the hole
/ in his table, and, seated meckly
among his books, awaited the yisi.
tor.
A grave rap was heard.
Come in
Far up in the air the solemn, dark
face appears. Mr.. Bccchcr rose IN.
gcniuusly, and offered 10 come out.
No, never mini,' aysthc visitor,
Il just come to have u little conver.
Sation with You Don't move.
OH says Bcccher, innoccntly,
pray sit down SIR indicating the
only chair.
The tutor looked apprehcnsively,
but began the process ol sitting
down. lie went down, down, down,
but still no solhl ground being gain.
ed, Strengthened himself ana looked
uneasy.
Il don't know but what that chair
is too low for YOU said Beecher,
meekly. do let me get you anoth.
er.'
'Oh, no, no, my young friend, do
not rise, dent trouble yourself, 1t Is
perfectly agreeable to me; IN iact l
like low seat -.
| And with these words, the tall
man doubled up like jack knife,
lnnd WIS seen sitting with bis grave