The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-15
The Early Days ofWm. L. Marcy.

A correspondent of the Liberal Christian
Il liz his .'"-y about VIM. L. Marcy:
scent d. oi my vacation at Charles
town, 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 miiks the cows, but drives
them to pasture, and goes after them again
every day, just as he has done / know not
how many years. In the morning, as We
sat under the piazza Of the hotel, the old
man was seen walking along the street on
the other side, with quick, energetic step.
when Mr.. Pratt called him over to the
house, rad 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 AZ 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. General Salem
TOwur. our venerable friend was formerly
himself man OF mark and influence, well
fitted By nature and education to associate
with the most eminent of his contemporaries.
The general Is often spoken Of as 1.-THE
man who made Bill Marcy" Bill Marcy
wss 4 native Of the immediate vicinity, and
grew up 70 be wild and heady youth. He
was thought by his parents and all the
neighbors so be the worst boy they knew.
One winter he succeeded, In conjunction
with kindred spirits, Ia outing the teacher
from the district school. Salem Towne,
then young man, was summoned rs the
fi,tcst 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 hal
not passed before Mr.. Towne had discovered
In his pupil an element CT real good and
told him so. This. to the boy, was most
unusual acknowledgements, and 1t touched
his heart. Some one had seen good in him.
He was, ticn, capable OF better things, and
he was determined to make the endcavor.
1t was the turning point OF his life. Such
was his conduct and such his progress in
study that his teacher advised him 10 go on
and prepare himself for college. II was
great surprise to his parents, but at the ur-
gent solicitation Of Mr.. Towne they gave
their consent. .and he was placed under the
instruction Of clergyman in the vicinity Of
his home. At length he entered college,
aud passed through the course with great
success, justifying at every step the conf
dcncc and hope OF his bes. friend. In sub
scquent life he rose from one degree OF en-
inence and usefulness to another until at
last the whole world was familiar With the
-
New York, Vim. l.. Marcy.
Long years alter he had LETT his school
day haunts, and when he had come to de-
served cmincnce, he visited Boston, ard was
the guest Of the then governor Of the old
Bay State. Among the distinguished men
who were invited TO meet him was General
Samuel TowIc. When the governor saw
Marcy and Townc greet each other as old
friends, he very naturally expressed pleas
urable surprise that they knew each other
ST. well. "Why," said Marcy, g that is the
man that made me. When | was q boy ev-
rybody was against me. None-no, not
even my father or mOther-saw any good
in me. He was the first who believed in
ME, bcTriended me, told me what might be-
come, and helped me on in life at that crit
ical jnncture. Whatever of merit or dis
tinction l have since attained to owe to
him more than to any other living person."
We need not say that the teacher, who has
so long survived the illustrious pupil, Is
proud 10 remember that he Ia "the man who
made Bill Marcy"