The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-06-25
BIDDEFORD, ME-, FRIDAY

one spell l would let myself out entirely; but
nv mother held n corcus, and decided that as
she was getting old and blind like, 1t took too
long and cost too much to sew up the legs OF
my trousers, and so put stop to it, and con-
cluded that six foot five would do for feller
that couldn't afford the luxury Of a wife to
make his britches. II was only the love Of my
mother that stopped my growth. IL I'd any
ides Of sewing machine, there's no telling
what might have done
You have so many gold pieces in your pock-
ct, you can afford to get your trowsers made
now. Why don't you get your mother to hold
another caucus and see what you can do! If
she should let you expand yourself, you might
sell out TO Barnum and make fortune travel
ing with Tom Thumb, and take the old woman
along
Stranger said the rough. great man, and
his whole face loomed up with, mingled cx-
precision of pain and pride, Stranger, l spoke a
word here didn't mean to; slightly word
like, about my mother. would give all the
gold in my pocket to bring her back for one
hour to look upon this country us 1t now is.
She had her cabin here when Chicager was no
where; here she raised her boys; she couldn't
give her boys learning, but she taught us better
things than books can giyc-to be honest, truth
full and industrious. She taught us to be faith
full and true; to stand by our friends and be
generous to our enemy. It's thirty years,
stranger, since we dug her grave by the lake
side with our hands, and with many tear and
sob turned ourselves away from the cabin where
we'd been raised. The Indians had killed our
father long before, and we'd nothing to keep us
and so we went TO seek our fortunes My
brother, he took to st. Louis, and married there
some'er and just went where the wind
blowod, and when had scraped money enough
together, cum back and bought few acres Of
land around my mothers old cabin, for the place
where they laid her bones was sacred, like.
Well, in the course Of time IL turned up right
in the middle Of Chicagcr. I couldn't stand
that; | loved mother too we'll to let omnibuses
rattle over her grave, so sum back about ff-
teen years ago and moved her back to the bury
ing ground and then went back TO Texas,
and wrote TO m agent afterwards to sell my
land. What cost few dollars TO begin ON /
sold for over forty thousand If I'd kept 1t till
now, 'twould have been worth ten times that /;
that's so, but got enough fort. soon turn
ed that forty thousand into eighty thousand,
and that into twice as much, and so on, till |
don't know nor care what I'm worth; that's so ;
| work hard, am the same rough customer-re-
member every day of my life what my mother
taught me, never to drink or fight; wish
didn't swear or chew; but them's got to be q
sort of second natui' like, and the only thirg
that troubles mo is my money-hayn't goi :,
wife and children, and I'm going to hunt w
brothers. folks. II his boys is clever and id-
dustrous, aint ashamed Of my big boots and
old-fashioncd ways, and his gals is young wo-
men, not ladies; If they help their mother and
don't put on mOrc'n two frocks a day, rdmakC
them rich every one Of them
Now, gentleman, faint often I'm lei to tell
ON mysclflikc this fashion, but these old places
where trapped when was boy made me feel
like child again-and l felt like telling these
youngsters about the changes and chances a
fellow may meet in life if he only tries to make
the most Of himself
'But, boys said he, turning to party OF
young mcn, there's something better than money.
Get education. Why, boys, il had as much
learning as money, could be President in 1867
Just as o-a-s-y. Why, could bu IN up half the
North, AMI not miss it out of my pile. But get
learning don't chew tobacco don't take IL
ouor don't swear, and mind your mothers
that's the advice of real live Stacker and II
you mind what say you may be men some
day (and it amt every feler that wears goa,ee
and brecchcs that's man, by long ways).
Follow out her counsel never do thing that
will make You ashamed to meet her in heaven.
Why, boys, never done bad thing but
heard my mothers voice reproyn' me; nev-
er done a good thing and made good move but
| seemed to hear her say, that's right, Jack,
and that has been the best Of all. Nothing like
mother, boys nothing like a mothcr-thats
so.'
All this had passed. while waiting to wool,
just out of Chicago. The great man was SWELL
ing with emotion, called up by the dark shad-
ows of the past this big round frame heared
like bow upon the ocean, Tears sprang to
his deep-sct and earnest eyes-they swellcd to
the brim, and swan round asking TO be let fall
to his mothers mcmory-tributes to the past.
But he chokci them down, and humming a
snatch Of an old ballad he thrust his hand down
into his pocket, walkcd to the end Of the car,
pulled the gigantic collar ofhis shaggy coat up
around his elrs, buttonel it close anl leaned
back against the window in silence.
The cars ratified on. What mind was there
what giant intellect, sleeping buried away
from light and usefulness by rubbish of
prejudice, habit and custom-dCjng but half
work, for want Of culture.
y nlutc luHluIluus VI '"'hN'
going about the world struggling with his own
soul, vet bound by the claims of ignorance which
prccluded his doing but a mOiety of the good IL
lay in his power TO do.
All the way through the long, teiiOus jour
ney, he had eyer been on watch to do good. lie
gave M his seat by the firc to an Irish woman
and her child and took one further back; soon
a young girl seated herself by his side; as the
night hours rolled on, and she nodded wearily.
he rose, spread his beautiful leopard skin with
its soft, rich lining, on the seat, made pillow
ofhis carpet-bag AMI insisted she should lie
down and sleep.
what will you do = said she.
.Ncvcr mind mel can stand up and sleep
like buffalo /; | am uscNl to it-that's 20 y
A little boy pullcl up from n sound nap to
;,o ,,l,rc In incomcrs was pacifel and male