Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-12-23
Written for this paper.
"Uncle Georges Story"
By GEORGE W. sLAYToN.

story you PROMISED me this morning,
and Charlie drew his chair nearer his
Uncles. "You said when I had come
from school, and finished my chores
you would tell me how a poor boy,
began life by running of crrands to
pay his board while he went to school
became great scholar and a man of
mucl%use to his fellow men,"
"Well, Charlie, my boy for he was
only ~ years of age, 81 guess shall
have to crafty your curiosity by keep
ing my promise"
"First will you give your whole at
tention and not interrupt me while
talking, beside wish you to notice
how this boy commenced In life and
what his reward was in the end, then
try to follow in the same paths. The
boy Of whom I shall tell you is man
now and his locks are silvered over
with the frosts of many winters"
'Willyou not tell me the name ? and
Charlie looked up wishfully into the
face of his kind old Uncle
"No, wait till l am through, then |
will tell you, for should tell you now
you might not appreciate his history,
now listen while I tell you how George
became self-made man. His father
was a mechanic a blacksmith who
lived in the small town of Warren,
you know where that is p
eyes sir, but it is now a large
town.
"Certainly, but sixty years ago it
was very small; and this boys father
was a smity and fine workman but
poor manager of pecuniary affairs,
and do you know the reason p
"Was it because he was too gener-
Gus ?"
"He was generous and would soon
err borrow money to relieve sufferer
than pass him unnotlced, he managed
to be always in debt which is great
failing and hope you, my boy, will
bear it in mind that it is a force of
habit and the credit system is poor
one. The blacksmith had large fam
lily to support and was getting along
in years so he thought twould be well
to bind out some of his boys which he
did; one was taken by a Lawyers fam
lily, another by Cobbler's: the lat
ter is the hero of my story, as it will
be easier in some respects to assume
his character myself, I will do so"
"When I was your age I went to
live with John Mason, who asknown
to all the villagers as Cobbler John,
he was good man and one upon
whom I shall ever look with graft
tude. When / first went there used
to run Of brands and help him in the
shop and in four years l could make
as good shoe as the man himself /
had no intention of learning the trade
as means of support, but could not
avoid acquiring considerable knowl-
edge of it in assisting him. In my
leisure hours the time was given to
study and reading good and valuable
books, those which instructed and
pleased me at the same time I do
not deny having read fictitious litera.
ture but l aimed at such as contained
agood moral history, however, was
my principal study, the history of the
war and of great men, possessing a
good memory twas very pleasant to
commit historical events and be able
to refer to them any time. succeed
ed beyond my own expectations for
when sixteen years old my teacher
gave me class in history which en-
joyed teaching very much this encour
aged me and as matter Of course
made me proud, perhaps felt two or
three inches taller than my fellow stu
dents. I remained four years longer
working for my board, finally conclud
ed must be earning money to enable
me to pursue College course accord
ingly I told my employer my plans
and wishes and he asked if was will
ling to remain with him for wages,
I assented and at once commenced
work by the job or for so much apaii.
Now for the first time / was working
for wages, but l did not neglect study
tor during business hours | had my
book open upon the bench and done