Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-01-17
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My Apprenticeship.

Horace Greeley is publishing in the
columns of the New York Ledger Sc
ries of papers entitled Recollections Of
a Busy Life" They are full of interest
and instruction, and worthy the perusal
of all, especially the young, as they af
ford an eminent example of what self
reliance and industry can accomplish.
Number seven of the series is entitled
my Apprenticeship" and relates to his
residence in Rutland county, in this State,
giving some incidents in political affairs,
which cannot fail to be of interest to our
readers, and we copy it as follows:
Having loved and devoured newspa-
pers-indeed, every form of periodicals.
from childhood, I early resolved to be a
printer if / could. When but eleven
years old, hearing that an apprentice was
wanted in the newspaper Office at White
hall, l accompanied my father to that
Office, and tried hard to find favor in the
printers eyes; but he promptly rejected
me as too young, and would not relent I;
SO went home downcast and sorrowful.
No new opportunity was presented till
the spring of 1926, when an apprentice
was advertised for by the publishers of
the Northern Spectator, at East Poultney
VT. Thatpaper hadjust been purchased by
an association of the leading citizens of
the place from its founders, Messrs.
Smith and Shute, who had started it as
the Poultney Gazette, three or four years
before. The village, though larger and
more active then than now, was not ade-
quate to the support of newspaper; but
the citizens thought otherwise, and re-
solved to maintain one, under the man.
agement of committee. So they hired
from New York an editor, Mr.. E. G.
Stone, brother of the more distinguished
editor of the Commercial Advertiser
paid handsomely for the printing Office
and good will, and went ahead. Much
of the old force leaving with the retiring
publishers, there was room for new ap-
prentice, and wanted the place. My
father was about leaving for the wide
West in quest of future home; SO, not
needing my services, he readily acceded
to my wishes. / walked over to Poultney
saw the publishers, had an understanding
with them, and returned few days after
terward-April 18th, 1S26-my father
took me down and verbally agreed with
them for my services. / was to remain
till twenty years of age, be allowed my
board for six months, and thereafter forty
dollars per annum for my clothing. So
stopped and went to work, while he re
turned to Westhaven, and soon left in
quest of more inviting region. He
made his way to the township of Wayne
Erie county, Pennsylvania, on the State
line opposite Clymer, Chautaqua county
N. Y, a spot where his brothers Benja.
min and Leonard had, three or foul
years earlier, made holes in the tall
dense forest, which then covered all that
region for twenty to fifty miles in every
direction. He bought out first one, then
another pioneer, until at length he had
two or three hundred acres of good land
but covered with a heavy growth o.
beach, maple, elm, hemlock, &c. Hay
ing made his first purchase, which inclu
ded a log hut and four acres of clearing
he returned for his family, and walked
over from Poultney to spend Sabbath
with and bid them farewell.
1t was a sad parting. We had seer
hard times together, and were very fond
ly attached to each other. was urged
by some of my kindred to give up Poult
ney-where were some things in thu
Office not exactly to my mind-and ac
company them to their new home whence
they urged, 1 could easily find, in thi
vicinity, another and better chance t.
learn my chosen trade. Twas strongly
tempted to comply; but it would hav'
been bad faith to do so, and turned my