Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-21

TIE YoUTH OF CHEF JUSTICE CHASE Mrs
Stowe, n sketch of Mr.. Cbase, in 9 Men
Of Our Times says he received his name,
salmon Portland, from an uncle, Salmon
Chase. distinguished lawyer Of Portland,
who died suddenly while making an argu-
ment in Court. She also gives the following
incidents of Mr.. Chase's early years
:" la regard to Chase's early education,
we have not many traditions. HIS parents
were of the best class of New Ham pshire
farmers; Bible-readng, thoughtful, shrewd
closely and wisely economical. 1t is said
that in that region literary material was 81
scarce that the boys first written lessons
were taken on strips of birch bark.
When his father died there was found to
be little property for the support of the fam
lily, and only the small separate estate of his
mother was left. She was of Scotch blood -
that blood which is at once shrewd, pious
courageous and energetic, and was compe-
| tent to make little serve the uses of great
| deal
| But an education, and a college education
is the goal toward which such moth ers ir
New England set their faces as fnt-and
by infolte savings and unknown economies
they compass it.
| When Chase was fourteen years old, his
uncle, the Bishop of Ohio and Illinois, Of
fered to take and educate him, aud he wen
10 Ohio and along with an elder brother who
was attached to Gen. Casss expedition t.
the upper waters of the Mississippi.
While at Buffllo the seniors of the party
made an excursion t. Niagara, but bad NJ
room in their vehicle for the boy. Youn;
chase, upon this, with characteristic energy
picked up another boy who wanted to SEE
the falls, and the two enterprisipg younl
gentlemen footed it through the snow 70
twenty miles, and saw the falls in compan
with their elders.
lie remained two years with the Bishop
who was peremptory man, and used hi
nephew as be did himself and every body els
about him; that is, made him aoork Just "a
hard as he could.
The great missionary Bishop had so muc
to do, and so little to do it With, that he ha
to make up for lack of money by incessan
and severe labor, and with such help as
could get. His nephew being his own fes
and blood, be felt perhaps at liberty to drlv
a little more sharply than the rest, as that
, the form in which the family instinct sh wv
itself in people of his character.
The Bishop supplemented his own scant,
salary oy teaching SCHOOL ana WORKING farm
and so Salmon's preparatory studies wer
seasoned with an abun lance of severe labor
The youth was near sighted, and troubled
with an obstinate lisp. The former disabil
ity was incurable, but the latter he overcam
by means of long and persevering course {
readiog aloud.
On the whole, the Bishop seems to hav
thought well of his nephew, for one day
refusing him leave to 60 in swimming, he dl
80 with the complimentary exclamation
why Salmon, the country might lose il
future President, were 1 to let 20
, drown
After being fitted under his uncle. Chas
entered Dartmouth College.
One anecdote of Chase's college life
characteristic as showing that courageous an
steady sense Of justice which formed a ieae
ing feature of his alter life. One of b