Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-05-20
The CLOCKMAKER.
BY JAMES PARTON.

HOOf DONS 0au nara time OF III In
New England eighty years ago. OBJ
serve, now, how it Jared with Chauncey
jerome he who founded a celebrated
clock business in Connecticut, that
turned ont SIX hundred clocks day,
and sent them to foreign countries by
the ship-load.
But do not run away with the idea
that it was the hardship an I loneliness
of his boyhood that ''made man of
him." On the contrary, they injured.
narrowed and saddened him. He would
have been twice The man he was, and
happier all his days, if he had passed an
easter and more cheerful childhood.
IL is not good for boys to live as he
lived, and work as he worked, during
the period of growth, aud ] am glad
that fewer boys are now compelled to
beaI such lot as his.
His father was blacksmith aud nail
maker, Of Plymouth, Connecticut, with
a house full of hungry boys and girls !;
and, consequently, as soon as Chanucev
could handle hoe or tie up bundle OF
grain he was kept at work on the farm !;
for, in those DAYS. almost al mechanics
in New e. GLAND cultivated land in the
summer time.
The boy went to school during the
three winter months until lac was ten
years old, then his school-days and
play days were over forever, and his
father took him into the shop to help
make nails.
Even as child he showed that power
of keeping or, to whWh he owed his
after success. There was great lazy
hoy ct tie district school he attended
who had a load Of wood to chop, which
he hated 10 do, aud this small Chauncey,
eight or nine years of age, chopped the
whole of it for him for one cent?
Often he would chop wood for the
neighbcrs in moonlight evening for q
few cents load. 1t is evident that the
quality which made him a successful
mar Of business was not developed by
hardship, for he PEI formed these labors
voluntarily. He VAS naturally industri-
ous and persevering.
When he vas eleven years OF age his
father suddenly died, and he found him
self obliged to leave his happy home
and find farm work as a poor hireling
boy. There were few farmers then in
Connecticut-nay, there were few peo-
pie anywh here IN the world who knew
how to treat an orphan obliged to work
for his subsistence among strangers.
On Monday morning, with his little
bundle of clothes in his hand, and an
almost bursting heart, he bade his
mother and his brothers and sisters
gcod-by, ard walked TO the place which
he had found for himself, on farm a
few miles from home.
He was most willing to work; but his
affecticnate heart was starved at his new
place; and scarcely day passed during
his first year when he burst into tears as
be worked alone IN the field thinking of
the father he had lost, and of the happy
family broken up never 10 live together
again.
Il was lonely farm, and the people
with whom ne lived took no interest in
him as q human being, but regarded
him with little more consideration than
one of their other working animals.
They took care, however, TO keep him
steadily at work, early and late, hot and
cold, ram or shine.
Often he worked all day in the woods
chonpirg down trees with his shoes full
Of snow he never had pair OF boots
ti'lnhc was nearly twenty-one years of
age.
Once II two weeks he had great JOY;
for his ma ter ltt bim go TO church
every % er Sunday. After working two
weeks without seeiug more than half-a-
dozen llt Ople, it gave him peculiar and
intense delight just 70 sit in the church
gallery and LOOK down upon so many
human beings. II WIS the only alleviG-
tion If his dismal lot
Poor little lonely wretch ! One day,
when he was thirteen years Of age, there
occurred ;oiel eclipse Of tiie sun. .
phenomenon of whieh he had scarc.iT
heard, aud he bad not the least idea
what it could be.
He was boeing corn that day in n
solitary place. When the darkness and the
chill of the eclipse fell upon the earth,
feeling cure the day of judgment had
come, be was terrified beyond descrip-
tipn. He watched the sun disappear
ing with the deepest apprehension, and
felt no relief until il shone out bright
aid warm as before.
1t seems strange that people in a
Christian country could have had a
good, steais boy like this in their ho.ise
aud $et do nothing to cheer or comfort
/ H.. Old mer tell me il was q very
comm. case ia New Eugiand seventy
years af ?.