The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-19
From "MemOir OF Bishop Burgess"
of bishop burgess. hoy
hood.

The following, from the pen OF the Rev.
Francis Ninton, ID. D., companion of his
childhood and youth, well illustrates his
character previous to his college days.
"Among the "reminiscences of the youth
of George Burgess, one or two characteris-
tics stand out in the fore front of memory.
His love of peace and good will among his
schoolmatcs was cvinccd in many cases
wherein he acted as mediator. And yet he
appeared as belligerent, on q certain oc
casion, to the amazement of his compan-
ions.
We attended the same school in Prov-
dence. big bully of a fellow who shall
be namelcss, was the dread of all the little
boys, who bore his prosecutions with becom-
ing patience, because they could not help
themselves. Like the boy in saying his
catechsm. who confessed that he ought to
fnrgive his adversary who should strike him,
provided Che was the bigger boy. so we cx
ercised the same questionable charity to-
wards our big foe.
But one day the mean fellow exercised
his cruel propensities towards pretty girl
whom we respected. The pain and mortfi
cation which she could not help expressing
created n sympathetic sensation among us
all, except the bully, who laughed at her
misfortune He was at once detected as the
base and guilty one No boy doubted it.
All OF us looked daggcrs at him. This might
have been the extent of our Indignation =;
but when we were let out for recreation,
George Burgess, the pacific boy, went up to
him and le,elled blow at his face, announc
| ing take that, you scoundrel, fer putting
| that pin on Ms seat
The contest was not long. George was
| ovcrpowered. We returned TO our duties
;,,e ,l,,& al,
the encounter, was, nevertheless, admired
as the champion of innocent beauty both by
girls and boys.
When the school was dismissed, George
| attacked the tyrant again, and with the help
| Of the other small boys he gave the fellow
drubbing. The teacher took the matter in
hand, and dismissed the bully.
Another "Reminiscences. When my elder
| brother returned from West Point, on a
| short leave of absence in winter, he observed
| us one morning rolling large balls of snow
| in my grandfathers garden. lie suggested
a snow fort. We built it in the angle ofthc
| fence, and felt very proud of our achieve
mcnt My brother then proposed that we
should defend the fort against his attack.
| So, when we had provided an arsenal of
snow-Dalls, and hn had nrrur"l~.- ! &c i'..S Z
| pile, we challenged him to come on. We
| threw our snow-balls at him, which he easily
| lodged And when our ammunition was
nearly exhausted, he gathered up his pile
into his arms, and made the attack with a
stride and whoop. There were four ofus
We received the fire pretty well for two or
three minutes, when three of us leaped over
the fence, leaving George Burgess alone to
bear the brunt Of the assault.
l recall him at that moment. Sc a., his
bent figure, crouching behind the parapet,
| and ever and anon looking over to fire at
his antagonist, until all his snow-balls were
gone. Then my brother advanced close to
the snow wall, which he overtoppcd, and
pelted George with his whole armory.
George never fiinched, but received the
entire battery on his person. His clothes
were dotted with the marks of the snow
balls. My brother proclaimed him the vic
tor and the brave defender of the fort while
he reproached us with well-descrved cpl
thets.
| repossess my shame. recollect my adj
mration of George Burgess as he stood up
with flushed face, bearing on his body the
marks of his bravery.
The first anecdote illustrates the chirairic
courage; this anecdote exemplifies the con-
eientious fo,titade ofGcorgc Burgess. The
child is father ofthe man.