Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-06-06
a Plucky Vermont Boy.

N Iiutky NeTUtOIib boy.
About fifteen years ago young man
barely out of his teens, stepped Of the
train on the Cleveland and Toledo, (now
Lake Shore Railroad at Oberlin, Ohio,
carpet bag in hand, aud inquired for the
nearest hotel. He was directed to Chaun-
cey Wack's famous house, not far from
the depot, and at once proceeded thither
and engaged room.
Our hero registered at Wack's inno-
Gently enough, and then started up town
to prospect. Being the son of clergy
man in Vermont, and having but few
shillings in his pocket, he naturally
sought out the good citizens of Oberlin,
in his quest eff employment. At first
they lent a ready ear TO his story, and
inquired into particulars, but as soon as
they learned that he was stopping at
Wack's they fed-dismayed. The young
man, after several incidents of this kind
strangely suspected that he had got into
smallpox hospital (; but being plucky
and self-reliant, he determined to make
the best OF it and be under obligations
to nobody.
! II
from a little shop, saying to the passer-
by, House and Sign Painting" and a
look within disclosed the young Yer
monter deep in the combinations of white
lead and linseeG oil. Soon from morn
till night he could be seen perched on
his ladder around the town, renovating
walls and making his marks. Skill and
perseverance brought him employment,
and he continued to board at Wack's !!
And even worse, then he actually had
the audacity to accompany Miss Helen
Wack, then beautiful and accomplish
ed Miss in her teens, to lectures and
public entertainments.
| Careful mothers expostulated with their
sons about associating with him, and if
the inpertinent offspring asked for rea-
sons, they we're triumphantly overwhelm-
ed with the reply, "He boards at
Wack's! This was clincher, and
thereafter no further questions were ask
ed.
The rebellion broke out, and among
the first to take an active part in the
work of recruits was this plucky, indie
pendent painter.
a few months later the telegraphic re-
ports of the bloodiest battles in the
South contained especial mention of the
gallantry of Lieut., of the Artillery.
Already the young man had in great
measure, in the eye of patriotic Oberlin,
atoned for the sin of boarding at Wack' s
by the active part he had taken in the
war and when at length he revisited the
town on brief leave of absence, his so,
eiety was somewhat courted by the liter
airy and leading citizens. They thought
they could discover something very man
ly about him, and began to wonder why
they had not observed it sooner.
A year later and the poor painter wal
Captain of Artillery and in command o
Fort He'll, in front of Petersburg. His
name was in everybody's mouth, and i
was considered an honor to grasp his
manly hand.
After peace came the first official aet
of this Captain was to return to Oberlir
and make a bride of Miss Helen Wack
, Oberlin then actually rejoiced with hin
and bade him God speed" as he lef
for Alabama.
After time he returned to Ohio ant
f started large manufacturing establish
ment at Sandusky. Some two year
since, having amassed a handsome for
tune, he went to Arkansas and eventual
ly became President of and built tn
, Arkansas Central Railroad.
To-day that poor boy who ran ava,
) from his Green Mountain home, went t.
, Oberlin, started paint-shop without ev
. er handling brush before in his life
) fought his way up to captaincy, marrie'
the prettiest girl in Oberlin, and mad
his fortune, is Hon. Stephen w. Dorsey
United States Senator from Kansas !
q nobler heart than Steve Dorsey's neve
, beat, and no one who has known him a
! q boy and man, will begrudge him hi
good fortune..- Cincinnati Commercial.