Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-04

mounted the hills and soon arrived at his fathers
house, which was situated in that part OF Tyring-
ham now called Monterey.
He put tine horse in the stable, and then felt in
his pocket to be certain that his nne-penny pieces
and silver dollar had not been lost on the way
Some of his brothers and sisters had not as yet
gone from home, and some who had been away
had come home to enjoy the festive occasion. His
with the others As the shades Of evening
fell, they gathered in the large kitchen, and
| before the blazing fire on the hearth, they seated
themselves to take their comfort.
Soon the mother opened the door OF the large
brick oven and the children were delighted 80
one after another the pies were taken out. First
came some Of pumpkin, then some of tart, and last
some made Of mince meat. These we're set away
| to cool
Nathan. meanwhile, had taken one Of bis half
sisters on his lap, and she heard the money jingle
in his pocket, and asked to see IT,. SO the dollar
was produced It was admired by all. The
Younger portion had never seen large sum,
and we're anxious to know what he was going TO
do with it but he told them he had not made up
his mind.
The next day he went to church. 1t will not
surprise the reader to learn that he was in the
gallery with other boys of his age, that silver
dollar was exhibited, even while Mr.. Avery, the
| pastor WIS endeavoring to impress upon the minds
Of his congregation the duty Of Thanksgiving.
When the services were concluded, this compa-
! ny of boys formed little knot near one OF the
/ horse sheds. One said
Mate, where did you get that dollar 2"
Esquire Bidwell gave It to me-"
"He dd?n
| "Yesn
What are you going to do with it !"
81 don't know yet
II don't wonder said Charlie Jones, "you
don't know l shouldn't if l had SO much money
| as that
Come Nathan" said Mr.. Jackson, and this
broke up the conversation.
Thanksgiving passed off much as such occasions
| generally did in those days. The long table was
| loaded with various kinds Of good things. There
was the turkey and then the chicken-pie, and this
was followed by puddings and pies OF various sorts.
/ No one of that large circle could complain that
( there was not fullness Of bread.n There was
not however an abundance Of idleness," espe-
| cially among the younger members OF the family,
who oayed blind mans buff, and hide and seek,
and other games common to that period.
/ The next morning before Nathan left, he told
his father he wished to talk with him few min
utes The question, what to do with his dollar,
was one of considerable consequence to him. Had
/ his father been like some men, he would have TAX
en- the money and put it in his pocket, and this
| would have been the end Of it. He pursued no
such course He felt that the money belonged to
| Nathan and so ne wished him to decide for him
self. He began by saying:
ESQUIRE Bidwell gave it to me. Now ought
.
right for me to spend It'll"
What did Esquire Bidwell say about that?"
" Nothing, sir. He only said, Here. Nathan,
take this
Il don't see, Nathan, as there is any objection
to spending it, but | would not spend it foolish
al don't wish to. How had l better spend ite
| What can buy with it I"
/ "You can get good sheep with it, and you
can let out that sheep to some one to keep. He
y t.an - f...r as.s.a
two sheep as good as that one is. This is the
common rule among the farmers. If | were you
| | would lay out the money in this way"
Nathan followed his fathers advice. lie ssked
/ him to select the sheep for him. because he knew
| his Judgment was better than his own
/ He returned to Stockbridge, and role up to Mr..
Bidwell's office, that he might see that the horse
/ was in good trim.
MIR. Bdwe came to the door and said, You
have got back Nathan, at the time you said you
would
"Yes, sr.n
Have you had good time ?n
First rate, sir, but-(and here he hestated)
| have spent the dollar you gave me.n
"What, so quickP"
81 hope you will not be offended sir because
/ | have s. ent it.n
OaendedP No, gave it to you to spend.
What did you do with it n
." bought sheep, sir"
What in the world are YOU boy twelve years
old, going to do with a sheep?
Father advised me to buy one, sir"
"Well il Colonel Jackson advised you to,
presume it is all right, but should not want to
be bothered with a sheep
II shall not be bothered with it, sir. / have
let it out to farmer to double in four years"
q understand. You paid dollar for sheep.
and at the end of four years you are to have two.
Twenty-Five per cent interest, Ell? That is pret-
ty well for boy. You will have mutton to sell
one of these days
ssThen YOU are not offended, sr?"
90 no. You can put the horse in the barn.
In due time the boy became man. Owing TO
the largeness of his fathers family, he was thrown
upon his own resources. He spent some time in
Boston then lived in New London. and at length
found his way to New York. He bad still kept
his sheep.
After the flock became large, he divided il into
portions, and let them out, to double once in four
years.
Lots were advertised for sale in what was then
the upper part Of the city He thought it IA
vorable time to make an investment. He had now
kept the sheep forty years They now numbered
ten hundred and sixty-four. Thus has his Thanks
giving sheep multiplied more than thousand fold.
He sold them and received the Of fifteen hun
dred and ninety-six dollars. lie put more with
this and purchased ten lots, for which he paid
twenty-five hundred dollars. These in two years
he sold for twelve thousand dollars.
His attention was called soon after this to the
wants of Williams College. He expended between
FIVE and six thousand dollars on building which
is called Jackson Hall. Aterward he gave the
college above twenty thousand dollars more
Many generations will rise up to bless the name
Of Nathan Jackson. BY wisely saving and prop
erly investing his first dollar, he laid the iounda-
ton for a large fortune. A portion of this he has
so employed that he has been public benefac-
tor.
Every son of Williams College will bless the
man, who, though he had only common school
education, has done much for the cause which
be loves
We can see how great results may spring FROM
small causes Esquire Bidwell did not foresee.
when he gave the boy dollar, that he would so
use it as to bless the race.
Had he spent it foolishy, no such result would
have attended his Thanksgiving present.
The New York World (Dem.) makes an ad-
nissinn dan gernns 70 Democratic supremaey when