The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-03-10
rhe Early Life o;the ssCreat Com
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me IaTit Life offhe 'stsreaf Z ON.
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snugly nestled among the mount.
aims q northern Ydfmout hes the good
farming town of poaoham Soms
years since, the writer. while passing a
few months in that hill country, with
the pastor Of the village, called one dav
on an aged parishoner, who hvcd in a
smah red house IN the outskirts Of the
town. II was during the war. and the
wrinklod hands Of the good woman
were employed IN knitting socks for
4 the soldiers. OF course the converse.
ton turned naturally upon the affairs
of the country. While talking Of the
army. the president, and Congress, the
name of Thad Stevens was mentioned
Instantly the large black eyes Of our
hostess frightened, and she said
lit was over there on that farm. that
Ihaddeus Stevens was born !" and she
pointed TO a gray farm house, in sight
a mile or more across the hills.
You knew him then ?" asked.
Indeed | did, naaml' was the en-
thusiastc reply. I'VE used to sit on
the same seat, in the old sehool-house
down in the hollow yonder."
1t required little questioning to draw
from the willing and garulous old soul,
the story of the early life of her former
school-mate.
The family were poor" she said,
"and Mrs. Stevens was one OF those
hard working mothers, who toll from
morning till night, week in, and week
out. She would have worked her fin-
gers to the bone, that her boy might
get book-learning. Thaddous was
sickly boy, and very lame. Folks new
er supposed they would be able to raise
him. But they did Why / remember
hun as though had seen him yester-
day. He was still and quick like
different from the rest of the boys
and sometimes they'd laugh at him,
boy-hke, and mimic his hmping walk.
they didn't mean any harm, but Thad-
deus was a sensitive little fellow, and
1t ranked. I've thought perhaps that's
the reason he had never been back TO
the old homestead.
Are any of The family left here ?" |
asked.
No, not any near kin. The old
folks died many years ago, of course
for I'm and old woman now" and she
stopped to heave sigh over the dead
and buried years "But deary me how
plain can see the old school-house
Senath Jones, she was our teacher.
and remember she used to 90 round
and tap us on the head with her thin
ble finger to make us sit still. Pears
to me to this day, that / can feel the
dent OF Senath Jones's thimble on my
head. wonder if Thaddeus Stevens
ever remembers the old times. 'Tain't
1t all likely. He's had 50 many other
things to think Of. I've heard that he's
got to be a great man amongst EN-
here at Washington
AS said four years have passed since
,he story was told me and some items
II the account have escaped my memo
y. But / think / shall never lose the
impression Of that sad, silent boy,
YEARLY and haltingly over
hose Vermont bills, smarting under
'idicne, and battling with poverty
,ut full of high resolve in spite Of all.
Who can tell how much of the power
which is felt throughout the nation to-
lay, may have BEEN wrought into the
character of Thaddeus Stevens by the
'ruel struggle of that early warfare
The strength Of the hills" | thought
hat night as | stood on the steps of
he low farmhouse, and saw the sun
et behind the Green Mountains. forty
niles to the westward, while the Grim
on flush ofthe aftor-glow REDEEMED the .
White hills whose pyramidal peaks are
barply defined against the sky as many
niles to the east. How many men
Who, generation hence, are TO stand
. giants among their kind, are to-day [
oncealed among these towering hills {?
n how many obscure homes a patient
1oman labors, ready to coin her life's (,
lood, that the boy Of her pride may
ise and shine, when her own eyes are
losed, and her own toil-hardened
ands folded in their last-I almost
aid their first long rest2 1AE a