Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-06-21
ARTHUR AS A POET.
The President as - Schoolma ster An
Early POeticNi EnusiOn-How he En-
cOurRwed On DInident Youth.

-
Early POetIcRi EFusiOn-HoW he I'm.
cOurGEed DIffident Youth.
A pleasant reminiscence of Presi
dent Arthur's college days is told by
DR.. Asa G. Stillman, of Abba, a sub
urb of Troy. In the little village OF
North Pownal, VT, thirty-one years
ago. Chester A. Arthur, then a stu.
dent of Williams college, taught school
during vacation at the college to earn
money to help defray the expenses OF
his education. Among the country
lads who were placed under the in
structiOn of the struggling student was
Stillman, then boy of eight sum-
mers. 1t appears that the future presi-
dent Of the United States was unusual
ly strict in the rules governing his
rural school, and vigorously insisted
that each of the young ideas in his
charge should speak piece every ex-
animation day. Young Stillman lacked
the courage to declaim in the presence
of the visitors who called to note the
progress of the pupils. This want of
bravery served as a sufficient excuse
for exemption until Mr.. Arthur re-
solved that it was no longer available,
and insisted that Stillman should spout
with the rest of the boys. Stillman
had been led to believe that the pieces
the other lads had recited were all
original, and complained that he was
unable to compose anything that
would prove acceptable. The day be-
fore the examination arrived, and all
the scholars excepting Stillman were
prepared for burst of eloquence on
the morrow. Stillman was requested
to remain after the school had been
dismissed, and visions of boy receiv-
ing the benefit of birch rod, welded
by our chief magistrate, fitted through
his mind. The scholars had all de-
parted, when Mr.. Arthur, addressing
the quaIIing Stillman, said smilingly:
Don't you think you can speak
piece tomorrow"
81 haven't got one," was the answer.
"Will you learn one if l write it
down for you?"
"Pd try, but l can't read writing
well enough" was the reply of the
"Then I'll print it for YOU" said the
persistent tutor. "Will you learn it if
Ido?"
"I1l do my BEST" sighed the juve-
nile, corDered at last.
Mr.. Arthur thereupon printed in
letters large and distinct the following
poetic gem" The original manuscript
has been preserved by DR.. Stillman
since the day President Arthur printed
the verses in that little Vermont school
house:
Pray, how shall I, little lad,
In speaking make fl cure;
You are but jesting, I'm afraid,
Do wait till get bigger
But since you wish to hear my part,
And urge me 10 begin 1t,
I'll strive Tor praise with all my AIT,
Though small my chance to wini it.
I'll tell tale, how Farmer John
A little roam colt bred, sir,
And every night and every morn,
He watered and he led, sir.
Said Seighbor Joe to Farmer John,
"You surely are dolt, sir,
To spend such daily care upon
A little useless colt, Sir"
The farmer answered wondering Joe,
al bring my little colt up
Not for The good he now can do,
But may do when he's grown up"
The moral you may plainly see,
To keep the tale from spelling,
The little colt you think is me,
/ know it by your smiling.
now entreat you TO excuse,
My lisping and my stammers, views,
And since you've learned my parents
I'll humbly make my manners,
When Asa Stillman made "his man
ners" after relieving himself of the
above, he was met with the congratu-
Iations of his teacher, his parents and
the visitors. President Arthur fre-
quently refers to this maiden effort in
letters to the physician, whose first
son he named Chester Arthur Still
man. This boy, at Sunday-school
gathering, few evenings ago, re-
cited the simple lines, he having then
arrived at precisely the same age as
his father vas when the latter deliver
ed them.-Chicago Tribune.
Locomotive CaDrices.
1t is perfectly well known to expe-
rienced engineers that if dozen diff
ferent locomotive engines were made
af the sone time of the same mower