Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-11-23
What n Poor Farmer Boy Made
Only a life incident.

Only a life incident
This chapter is for BOYS; and not for
parents, or girls, or women, or old men.
1t is a chapter for boys.
One night: nineteen years ago, sitting
by cosy fire in one of these old f,sh-
toned fire places in n farm house, sat five
boys and three girla. They were chatting.
laughing, telling little stories. cracking
wslnuts and eating apples. OF aud Of
had the family fire place been surrounded
by such little parties, but this night was
peculiar one. for one of the Toys was on
the morrow to leave home.
Said the one who was soon 20 le .ve It's
school mates:
Well, boys and eirl-, TN going to-mor-
row. You'll have lots of good times hen
am gone the older barrel will stuff r,
the nuts will be cracked, and you'll romp
with each other Just as usual Sometime
I will be wishing to be back here, | sup
pese, but as have q fortune to MAKE, |
shall have 10 tins to fool away. On, YOU
will hear of me I'll be rich some Day.
You may stay here and work on the
farm and in the old mill, but I'm going
to be rich some day
Sid one of the girls
Yes, and you'll forget your ola friends
| inst as other folks do. When you have 4
fine house, and lots of money, it will Re
40 different from now that you wouldn't
| know any of u7 unless we come with
| some cider, or walnut meats, TO call mp old
times
Then they all laughed, and cracked
| Jokes alike.
That was nineteen years ago. A f4w
| 4 oolloI hnSi1oS, Z.
prominent merchant OF this city to invite
boyhood, to spend Thanksgiving. Sid
| be:
L do wish you to go with me 1t rhall
not cost you penny, ami all the folk
will be glad to see you It will be ju-t
nineteen years come Thanksqiv:pg d ~
since [ left home. 1t seems but few
lays But it is good, ling time ago. and
told him IF a little surprise [ had for
| the little party ut our house the night
before I left. Every one is alive yet, and
| all married.
'He was to iavite them all to his house
for a Thanksgiving dinner, and here is
his telegram, saying all of them will be
there with their wives or husbands,
| though two of them come from Chicago
to be present.
i told them I would be rich some dav,
but they all laughed at me. [ want to
get tho laugh on them now. 1t is hard
time have had here, working in that old
machine.shop as an apprentice. then as =
iourneyman, then as foreman, then "a the
Junior, but now az the senior partner.
We've made good many boilers and en-
gines since then, snd no doubt some of
the old playmates think I've forgotten
them, but never-Dever an hour. L had
20 much to do I could not write, but
never forgot them.
See here How is this? An oil paint
ing representing that little party the
night before I left home. 1t was
rather hard work to get the faees all good
-ambrotypes are not the best things in
the world to paint from. Bat they are
all there all of US. And [ have seven
| more, ell as near alike as the artist could
make them. They cost me for the eight
inst two thousand dollars. I'm going up
there TO happen in about dinner time, and
seq if they have forgotten me. I'm a little
wrinkled 10 the face, bot that's thought
and work. My heart is just the same.
I've done pretty we'll. you know; made
of debt, can afford to make few pres
ents, to let old friends know they are not
forgotten. Come, go up with me I won't
hear such a word as no y
We looked at the man before Us. The
ligl danced in his eyes as he spoke in
-uch earnestness. His heart was alreany
back with the nutshells and cracking EN-
bers of the remembered past. When that
little girl said be would forget them, he
WAS little bit nettled, and now he is
going for his revenge. They will be glad
to see him. PERHAPS he will tell his story
1t is a good one. He learned his trade.
He learned it well. He began life deter
mined to be a man. He lived in such a
way as to retain his own respect, and to
win the respect of others. He studied.
He worked. He saved. He built On a
good foundation for the future, and now
his fortune rests securely on the founda-
ton be laid years ago.