The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-09-21
The Early DAYS Of William L. Marcy.

A correspondent of the Liberal Chris
tian tells this story about William l..
Marcy:
l spent day of my vacation at Charl-
ton, Mass As we rode into the village
on the evening Of our arrival, we saw an
old man on his way from his house to
the barn close by, going, with pail in
hand, to milk the cows. He was ninety
two years old. He not only milks the
COWS, but drives them to pasture and
goes after them again every day, just as
he has done for know not how many
years. In the morning, as we sat upon
the piazza of the hotel, the old man was
seen walking along the street on the
other side, with q quick, energetic step,
when Mr.. Pratt called him over to the
house, and introduced us to him. He
sat down and was very chatty, talking
over the times that were long ago, and
telling us of the years when he saw such
men as George Washington and John
Adams and Fisher Ames, and mingled
with the great spirits of generation
which seems quite distant from the men
of to-day. For General Salem Towne,
our venerable friend, was formerly him
self man of mark and influence, well
fitted by nature and education to associ-
ate with the most eminent Of his con-
temporaries. The General is often spo-
ken of as the man who made Bill Mar
cy." Bill Marcy was native Of the inn
mediate vicinity, and grew up to be a
wild and heady youth. He was thought
by his parents and by all the neighbors
to be the worst boy they knew. One
winter he succeeded, in conjunction with
kindred spirits, in ousting the teacher
from the district school. Salem Towne,
then young man, was summoned as
the fittest person to take charge Of these
unruly youth and complete the term.
Everybody thought the new teacher
would certainly have trouble with Bill
Marcy. But the trouble did not come.
The first day had not passed before Mr..
Towne had discovered in his pupil an
element of real good, and told him so.
This, to the boy, was q most unusual
acknowledgment, and it touched his
heart. Some one had seen good in him.
He was, then, capable of better things,
and he was determined to make the en-
deavor.
1t was the turning-point OF his life.
Such was his conduct and such his pro
gress in study that his teacher advised
him to go on and prepare himself fol-
college. 1t was a great surprise to his
parents, but at the urgent solicitation OF
Mr.. Towne they gave their consent, and
he was placed under the instruction of q
clergyman in the vicinity Of his home
At length he entered college, and passed
through the course with great success
iustifying ct every step the confidence
and hope of his best friend. In subsc'
ouent life he rose from one degree o.
eminence to another, until at last the
whole world was familiar with the name
and fame of the great statesman of New
York, William l.. Marcy.
Long years after he had left his school
day heunts, and when he had come t.
deserved eminence, he visited Boston
and was the guest of the then Governo
of the old Bay State. Among the dis
tinguished men who were invited t,
meet him was General Salem Towne
When the Governor saw Marcy ant
Towne greet each other as old friends
he very naturally expressed a pleasure
Bile surprise that they knew each othe
so we'll "Why " said Marcy, "that
the man that made me. When l was
boy everybody was against me. Non
no, not even my own father or mothe
saw any good in me. He was the frs
who believed in me, befriended me, tol
ME what 1 might become, and helpe
me Oh in life at that critical juncturt
Whatever Of merit or distinction | hav
attained to, owe TO him more than t
! any other living person" We need nc
say that the teacher, who has so Ion
survived the illustrious pupil, is prou
! to remember that he is "the man wh
! made Bill Marcy"