Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-09-07

their harness when not Immediately
engaged in teaching He gave excel
lent advice to young and old, and set
an example of industry and self reli-
ance worthy of imitation.
He excelled both in reading and
speaking, He could read scripture
lessons with pathos and power not
often equaled by the most eloquent di-
vine. And in the debating societies
connected with his winter schools his
eloquence reminded us of the most
chaste and impressive speakers. His
gifts being of high order, and having
a vast amount of Information, he might
have been an ornament in any profes-
sion. He might have stood side by
side with such men as Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster, or have honored the
very highest station in the gift of a
great and free people. But his habit
of intemperancc closed up the pathway
to greatness and extensive usefulness.
There were other reasons, however,
why Uncle Davy was tolerated as
teacher, Notwithstanding his dissipa-
ton, in places where the majority were
pious and temperate. He always de-
meaned himself with propriety in fam
lilies where he boarded. If he came to
boarding house in state Of inebri-
ETY., which he very seldom did, he was
only a little more polite than when du-
ly sober. And again, he was greatly
superior in learning to the majority of
teachers around him, whose qualifica
tions were generally indifferent-their
scholarship being greatly at fault
The teacher of that day was poorly
remembered. There was no Common
School System in the State, and of
course no school funds to pay the
teacher at the end of his term. He
had to look to his subscribers for pay,
and often failed to collect the small
pittance due him. This sad state of
things was doubtless the cause why
frst-rate teachers were so scarce. The
relatives of Uncle Davy were in their
faith, Presbyterians. They hated his
intemperance, and treated him rather
cooI~.
He knew he had given sufficient
cause for this GOODNESS, and hence he
never showed resentment toward them.
He knew that his own misconduct was
the cause of that misfortune that kept
him from high esteem in society, yet
degree of misanthropy showed itself
in his character, making him an un
charitable tault-fnder. He was mas
terly in satire, but when he exercised
his rare gifts in that direction the lash
sometimes, at least. fell on those
whose faults and follies rendered them
culpable; and it was fortunate for the
objects of his bitter and almost une-
quail castigation that they proceeded
from one of rather limited influence
otherwise they might have inflicted
far more dangerous wounds. He seem
ed, however, to have an almost parent
al affection for all that were or had ev-
er been his scholars. A mishap to any
one of them touched his heart, calling
forth his pity and sympathy, while
he rejoiced in their prosperity as they
advanced forward in life, as if they
were the children of his own bowels
His pupils, though they treated him
with respect, would have been much
more attached to him if he had been
uniformly sober and judicious in life
He was familiarly known as Uncle
Davy far and near. He loved that
name; no scholar would dare to give
him any other title. His harm1essness,
when under the influence of stroug
drink, kept him from quarelling and
fighting. 1t is true he had a great
many friends, but not an equal num-
Der of acarna ones. While some blaln-
ed, others seemed to pity him, and
thus he plodded on through life with
no remarkable change. He appeared
in high good natnEe-4piitl4 everything
about him while in his cups, his only
object seeming to be to make loud
and eloquent display of his knowledge
in general.
While words of learned length and laundering
sound
Amazed the listening rustics ranged around
The writer, with few more of his
students, went with him, at his re-
quest, one afternoon to a cornhusking
some miles distant at the home of a
wealthy old farmer who was particu-
lar friend of his. The farmer kept
choice old liquors and abundance of
good things for the table. I suppose
the teacher had respect to these things
while making preparations for the Wis
it, Perhaps it might not be amiss, at
this stage of our narrative, to give
something descriptive of an old-time
) Kentucky cornhusking:
, Well, the unhusked corn was thrown
into ridge several rods long and as
. high as ones head. Two men were
chosen captains who divided the ridge
in the middle by placing rail or pole
across it. They then made choice, al.
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