The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-02
Correspondence Philadelphia Press, lsth.1
Henry Wilson's Home ut Natich, Massachu-

LeuuluS uWelllilSs II ID feiy pialhi oul
rounded by a hedge, the entrance to the
house being from a side piazza, and the
double parlor windows face the street. The
street runs strait and level for about mile,
and is rather compactly built, and orna-
mented with shade trees on both sides. |
was fortunate in finding gentleman who
had been acquainted with Mr.. Wilson since
1888, to whom am indebted for the ma
terials gathered concerning the place and its
principal citizens. He describes Wilson as
he was.
WHEN AN APPRENTICE,
ON his first appearance in Massachusetts,
dressed in plain homespun. rough in man
ner, with an impedimant in his speech,
which made it difficult to understand him
when he spoke hurriedly, thoroughly in
earnest, determined to know what was to
be known aud to be a man. He was not
ashamed to work, and there was not q lazy
bone in his body. His ambition was to work
more hours than any other man in town,
AM, never let half hour 60 by without
having accomplished an allotted task, so
that at the end of each day, each week,
each month and each year agiven number OF
uairs of shoes were turned out, and for all
such HOLIDAYS as political conventions, pub
lie meetings, recrcations, &C., time had to
be gained. This made the hours Of work
from five A. M. to nine p. NJ. One night
uer week was devoted to debating club,
with such additions at either end OF the day
as became necessary to gain the time for
other duties and pleasures. After nine
O'Clock work was suspended, when three
or four hours were given to study, reading,
composition ard conversation with young
men of his own age and pursuits.
The gentleman with whom ! eonversed
related how he and few other young TEL"
lows were out skating one night, and alter
eleven O'Clock they took turn up brook
and narrow run of meadow which was COW
cred with ice, till they came in sight OF a
hight in little ten-by-twelye building, low,
dingy and filled with
SHOE BENCHES, hi .s
and looking in, they saw Henry Wilson
hard at work, q book in one corner of his
bench, evidently intended to be used for the
snatching of q few sentences at intervals,
when his wearied arms and hands re-
quired moments rest. Two of them
went in and talked for two hours, while he
kept on at his labor and added twenty-five
cents to his stock of worldly goods. This
was one of the nights when time was to be
gained, and the conversation enabled him to
work an hour or two longer than he in
tended. 1 s
In this manner he pegged away until he
had accumulated more than eight hundred
dollars; his debts were all paid, a new suit
of clothes INDUCED in, and at the age of
twenty-three years he started for an acade-
my in New Hampshire. Soon after this,
by the failure Of friend to whom his
money was loaned, every dollar was lost,
and young Wilson was compelled to COM
snence life anew. "When | heard of this
disaster" said the gentleman, II could not
keep back the tears" Such was the in
terest this youth excited among his ASSOC
ciates. s.af
But he was discouraged only for the mo-
ment, and, gathering up his resolutions and
energies, started once more at the foot OF
the ladder, and fought his way up again
step by step, and while rising and showing
Others the way to rise, kept his sympathies
fresh with
THE TOILING MYRLADS ~
who are YEARLY fighting, with great odds,
the battle oflife, and carrying with him the
respect and good will of all classes and OF
all parties in the community where he is
known. They universally speak Of him in
the highest terms as a man, and only few
complain of him as a politician, being nota-
bly, those who have been disappointed in not
receiving expected recognition for services
rendered. No leading politician can return
favor for favor in kind, and hence some
must be disappointed in their hopes and
calculations.