Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-04-07
MY Little Gentleman.

of interest and observation, and chief sub
Jet for talk to the quiet country neighbor-
hood surrounding it, llillsdale was an old
town-a still, stcady-going farming place
where the young men ploughed the mwil-
ling fields, and coaxed reluctant crops out Of
the hard-hearted New England soil, as faith
CTS aud gNndiathers had done before them.
But in all the generations since the town
was settled, no one had ever thought Of
building on Prospect Hill 1t had been used
rs pasture-grouud until now, when a man
from Boston had bought it, aud had had a
road made to its top, aud house built on
its very brow,
This house was a wonder of architectural
beauty
WIN TO-. baitlgmeuts hlgh IN the hush u the aif,
Aud the uinets thefeou."
II was built Of a kind of mixed stone, SO
that its yariegated coloring had an air of
brightness and gayety very unusual. The
farmers about were exercised in mind over
the amount Of oX-hesh and patience required
to drag stone enough for the great building
up the high hill but that did not trouble
the architect, who gave his orders com
posedly and went on with his business, quite
unheediug comment The house, itself puz-
zlcd the neighbors with its superb arch din
ing-hall, its lovely frescoed drawing-room, its
wide passages, its little MUSHROOM, and its
great library, all lined with carven oak.
Then. why should there be so many cham
bers. unless indeed, Mr. Salisbury had
very large family
But it was when the furniture began to
come in that wonder reached its height.
Such plenishngs had never been seen be-
fore in IIllsdale The carpet on the draw
ing-room must have been woven in some
loom of unheard-of size, for it seemed to be
all in one piece, with medallion in the cen
ire. a border round the edge, and all over
its soft yelvet-into which your feet sank rs
into woodland moss-the daintiest flowers
that ever grew. Marble statues cleaned in
front OF the great mirrors and pictures of
lovely landscapes, aud radiant sunsets and
handsome men, and fair women, hung upon
the walls In the music-room were placed
grand piano, harp and a guitar. The
shelves which ran around the library on all
sides. half way from floor to ceiling, were
filed with substantially bound books, and
above them were busts of great men by
whom immortal words had been written. 1t
was dream of beauty all through-and
when it was finished and troopof servants,
men and women, came TO make all things
ready, expectation reached its height
A Presidential progress could hardly have
excited more interest than did the arrival of
a quiet gentlemanly-looking man, dressed in
gray, with iron-gray hair and beard, at the
little railroad station, where a carriage had
been sent down from Prospect Hill to meet
him. This of course, was Mr.. SALISBURY.
lie was accompanied, in spite of the many
chambers, by a family of only two--a lady
much younger than himself, dressed with
elegant simplicity, with face full Of all wo-
manly sweetness, and a boy, about twelve or
/ thirteen, apparently hgh-bred little fel-
| low in his appearance, but somewhat pale
and delicate. and in need of the bracing air
of Prospect Hill.
/ They drove home in the sunset-this little
| family of three-and looked for the first time
on their new abode. Mr.. SALISBURY had Sc
lected the location, and bought the land,
somewhat more than year before and then
put the whole matter into the hands of a
competent architect, while he took his family
to Europe, so that the new residence had as
entirely the charm Of novelty for him as for
others.
For a month after that he was to be seen
busily experimenting matters about his
place in the forenoon, while his wife aud boy
sauntered along, never far away from him, OF
driving with them in the pleasant May after
noons--aways these three ouly, and Away,
together,
The first of June the summer term Of Tia,
district school began. 1t was an intense
surprise TO the scholars to find, first Of all il
his place, young Salisbury from the hill
" Robert SALISBURY. thirteen years ole" he
replied to the teacher, who asked his nam'
and age. lie studi ii quietly till recess, anC
even then fingered Ia his seat, with evident
shyness, though he watched the others will
look of interest ON his face, They stooC
apart, and talked OF him among themselves
instead of rilshingout at once to play, AS wa
their wont.
At last, after good deal OF wondermen
and talk, one boy, holder or more reckless
than the rest. marched up to him.
al say, Velvet Jacket, how came yoI
here z" was his salutation. Seems to m'
you're too much of gentleman for our folks.
, A slight flush warmed young Shaftbuiyi
pale cheeks, but he answered with franknes
as absolute rs his courtesy was perfect
2 81 have been taught at home, up to now
! but my father wants me to be with othe
boys of my own age and he says a tru
gentleman belongs everywhere
The boys all heard what he said, and il
spite OF their boyish rudeness it inspire'
[ them with q certain respect. That was tn
, beginning of the title which they gave hin
, among Themselves, of little gentleman ."
only among themselves at first; though al
! forwards, when they grew more familia
5 with him, they used to address him by it.
If there had been philosophical observe
to take note of it, it would have been curiou
- to watch how uncOnsciously the boys wer
q influenced 10y my little gentleman-how thei
+ manners grew more gentle-how the
[ avoided coarse or unclean or proiane word
. in his presence, as if he had been a woman
lie led his classes easily in their studio.
The teacher had never to reprove him TO
q. carelessness in his duties or for broke
), rules. His father had said, A true gent,
a man belongs everywhere" and he was gu
city proving it,
The scholars liked him-they could nc
help it-for his manner was as courteous a
q his nature was unselfsh and kindly an
yet, in their feeling for him there was a littl
strain of enyy-a slight disposition to blam
e him for the luxury and elegance to which h
o was born and because of his very courtesy
r to underate his courage and the real mani
ness of his character.
y But there was one in whose eyes he wa,
: from first to last, hero. Jamie Strong wa
yet more delicate than young SALISBURY
He had something the matter with one G
4 MS dlhltn, anu Noulu noN Joln III tnc rug
sports of the others. lie was the only so
!, of his mother, and she was widow lie
i husband aud her other three children had a
died of typhoid fever and been, one aite
another, carried out of the little, lonesom
cottage at the foot of the hill, where the su
: seldom came and now Jamie was the last.
!, lie would never be strong enough to d
J hard work. Sowing, ploughing, moving
harvesting---he could never manage any q
9 these; so for his weak limbs his quick brai
: must make up and Widow Strong had d,
I, terlnined that he should be scholar-a mir
! lister, if it pleased the Lord to call him I
l. that if not, teacher.
So she quietly struggled ON TO keep hin
: at school, and TO earn money 10 provide fo
! future years of academy and college. Sh
4 sewed, she washed, she picked berries--sh
!. did anything by which she could add
!. dollar to her hoard.
4 Jamie understood and shared her amb
1 ton, and studied with might and mair
!. lie was used to harshness and rudeness fror
p stronger boys, and he had grown shy an
Z shrunk into himself. To~him the comm
. of my little gentleman was as grace froI
7 heaven. Here was one who never mocke
/ at his feebleness and poverty-who was a