The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-08-02

families promptly. Forn,arIy twenty years the
young cadets worldly fortune was slow, poor
and almost dcspairing, His father had lost
patience with him repeatedly; but the
strength of the type showed out in the yonng
man when the great conflict of the rebellion
came Wearing his fathers great, stern.
wheel jaw, and compressed mouth, and com.
bativc brow, the retired army officer made
his way and wholly recovered the old mans
confidence and pride.
ANECDOTE.
Mr.. Phillips, of Cincinnati, told me that, in
1868, when the contest at NiCksburg was yet
undecided, a clergyman in confidence with
Jesse Grant and himself, responded to the
old mans remark, that hi, son had executive
ability enough to take NickSburg, by saying
d" He can't do it, he wants the brain-thc
mind" With this, tie dcatiSh old man, who
either overheard or expected the criticism
said with tirmncss: Il tell you my son
Ulysses has got executive ability to do any
thing; to be President Of the United States
as he will be some time
THE BEST uoLD.
Ii was General Grants good fortune to
marry the daughter of a man tar ahead OF his
father in worldly resources and acquaintance
Old Mr.. Dent was his protector for twenty
wears. When the young man came to COnSld.
Grafton, his father cndeavorcd at the begin
ming, to avoid making himself notable; but
the strong prciudiCcS Of his character made
him more and, more an object of remark
he held the office OF postmaster OF CoyngtOn
under both Andrew Johnson and his son;
and his administration of the pOstOflice,
though not characterized by any special
erranrv, was, on the whole, queer and laugh
able He ,quarrcled with some friends, and
,I,,r s,,,N a.
had an opinion on every question, and never
failed to express 1t. He was along, siX.foOted
bcnt-shouldercd, gaunt old man, strongly at
tachcd to his Church; and he did not seek To
widen the area Of social acquaintance, but
rather to be positive and unanswerabe within
tbs sphere which he had mastered previously
hence his friends were mainly provincial,
remote. sc0ueStcrud, and generally very rclig-
Gus. As a tradcsman he had some of the best
capacitics of people in his line, and could
estimate the number of pounds IN hide by
looking at it, or the quality OF the tanning by
quietly giving it Il feel behind his back tie
had the misfortune to reside in 4 SUBURB oil
Cincinnati where his sons principles were
not applaudcd Hence the old man had to
brave out great deal Of misunderstanding
of his renowned boy; but itmay be questioned
whether. on the whole, we can not ascribc
President Grant to the gigantic fiber Of his
old Scotch father and the sweet and steady
mOthcrincSs of that widow who has never
yet been the recipient of an evil criticism or
comment from any living being,
MORE ANECDOTE.
\ photographer who had made pictures OF
Jesse Grant and his wife together, said to ne:
" President Grants mother was the cleyercst
of the two. She had the most perception, the
most modcsty and the most good sense. She
was not Hurried nor particular, like the old
man; but in her native nature, sat down be
fore the camera, and made the best picture Of
the two without trying to do so.'
Old Mr. Jesse Grant, in later life wore Il
pair of opectaclcs, and a pair Of closed eyes
behind them, which, with his bic bonc-hcaded
stick, made him look like It blind man. He
was close. and shrcWd, and Scotch 10 the last
moment of hi, life and had courage enough
to fight mad dog on the street, or u man OF
half his age who would take the advantage OF
IA cent upon him Cola, angular prcjudiccd,
he died consistently without furry; and,
when he died, it was remembered that he had
been Of the type Of men who had made both
Ohio and Kentucky imperial by their yigor
on, frames frugal methods Of life, and indi
viduality of character,