The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-13
The Genius of the Roadside.

il is marvellous that boys forum
should turn upon q horseshoe, and yet
for many of US, some of the creates
events of our lives have turned upon a
small pivot. Even in the humbIes
lives, little opportunities lie concealed
all along the way like fairy doors which
when the right spring is touched, will
fly open. revealing most glorioss fu.
ture.
One fair summer day distinguished
looking gentleman might have been seen
in his carriage riding along country
road in Ulster county, New York. His
name was Aaron Burr; not the despised
and haunted Aaron Burr we read of now;
he was then Senator Burr, one OF the
most talented and highly esteemed men
in our country. He was not an evil
looking man; on the contrary, his was a
kindly, pleasant face, lit up with brilliant
black eyes.
But, about the horse shoe. AS he was
driving rapidly along, Que of the horses
lost shoe and he stopped at the next
blacksmith shop to have it replaced. It
was lonely country place, and while
the blacksmith was at work. Burr stroll
ed through the woods and fields that lay
around. Returning, he noticed upon the
side of the stable, near the blacksmith's
shop, a sketch in charcoal of his own
horse and carriage. He was startled at
first, as it was so wonderfully accurate
and spirited. He knew, too, that it must
have been executed in a very minutes,
and he stood for some time gazing at in
admiration. Turning around at length,
he noticed little boy little way off
dressed in coarse homespun.
"Who did that?' said Burr, pointing
at the picture.
81 did," said the boy.
The Senator was astonished. Enter
ing into conversation, he discovered that
the boy, although ignorant, was intellect
ual. He also found that this young art
list had never had any instruction in
drawing, and that he was apprenticed to
the blacksmith business for six months |
Burr wrote few lines on a piece Of
paper, saying as he wrote:
%tMy boy, you are too smart to stay |
here all your life. If ever you should
want to change your employment and
see the world, just put a clean shirt in
your pocket, come to New York, and go
straight to that address," handing the
boy the paper.
A child's intuitions are quick, and as
the boy gazed into the kindly face bent
down to his, he felt that he had won a
friend that he could love and trust.
The travellers horses now being ready |
he mounted his carriage and was out of
sight in a few minutes, while the be-
boy returned to his work in the
blacksmith shop. He treasured the bit
of paper though, and many day as he
worked the blacksmith's bellows that
the glowing embers, he built up
golden dream castles, while brave, ambi-
tious thought leaped up into his heart,
as the fame leaped up from the livid
coal.
Months passed away and these circum
stances had nearly faded away from the
busy Senator's mind. In his beautiful
home at Richmond Hill, he was sitting
ut breakfast one morning, with his daugh-
Ter Theodosia. 1t was upon this daugh-
Ter, so lovely, so pure, that Aaron Burr
lavished the wealth of a soul overflow
ing with secret tendern ass. Long after
his fall from power, she, it is said, was
he solitary star, shining with beautiful
ustre over the rough and darkened path
way of his life.
hat a servant entered the breakfast
room, and placed in Col. Burr's hand a
mall paper parcel, saying it was brought
BY a boy who was waiting outside. The
,dosia gazed on wonderingly as her faith
,r opened the parcel and found a coarse,
country made clean shirt. OF course,
hey both laughed merrily over it, and
Burr, supposing it TO be some mistake,
ordered the boy to be shown in.
Who should enter but our genius of
he roadside, blushing in confusion. By
he elegance of the room and the pres
nee of the beautiful daughter, he was
till more abashed, but the face of his
riend reassured him. Very modestly
le placed in his hand a piece of worn
,aper, the one had treasured for so ma
~ months. As Burr traced the almost
llegible words he recognized his own
and a new light flashed
'ver his face. Taking the child's trem-
ling hands in his own, he gave him
uch a welcome as only warm, generous
learts know how to give. Then pre-
enting the lad to his daughter, he told
Ter his story. She gave him her hand
1 once, for she was as much pleased
vith him as her father.
From that hour the boy was loved and
ared for as one of the family. He was
ducated and placed under one of the
est Of masters in the art he had shown
uch a talent for. Young Vanderlyn,
or that was the boys name, was after
Eards sent to Europe by Burr, where he
pent five years in the study of painting, ,
Intil he became, it Is said, an artist
Eorthy of the name.
Years and years afterwards, when Burr
Tas wandering in Europe, a poor lonely ,
xile, Vanderlyn was exhibiting pictures
{ the Louvre, Paris. He had not only ,
een presented with gold medal by Ma !
'oleon, but was receiving compliments ,
nd congratulations from the Emperor's /;
wn lips. His cup of joy seemed almost
uil. II was then that he heard that his
enefactor was in Paris, and he hastened
D give him as warm a welcome as he {
imself had received one winters morn 1
ng so long ago. The poor old man, ,
owed down with disgrace, and the CRATE ,
al, and now famous artist, whom he ,
imself had uplifted from blacksmith's