The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-07-18
Horace Greeley.
WHAT HE TOLD JAMES PATTON ABOUT
IIS EARLY LIFE.


have seldom been more interested
than in hearing Horace Greeley tell the
story Of his coming 10 New York in
1881, and gradually working his way
into business there. james Parton
writes: He was living, Mt the ago Of
twenty years, with his parents in n
small log cabin in n new clearing Of
Western Pennsylvania, about twenty
miles from Eric. His father, Yankee
Ny birth, had recently moved to that
region and was trying 10 raise sheep
there, as ho had been accustomed 10 do
in Vermont. The wolves were too many
for him. II was part Of tho business
Of Horace and his brother 10 watch the
flock Of sheep, and sometimes they
campcd out all night, sleeping with
their feet TO tho fire, Indian fashion. He
told mo that occasionally n pack Of
wolves would come 10 near that he could
zee their cye-balls glare in the darkness,
and hear them pant, EIen rs he lay IN
the loft Of his fathers cabin he could
hear them bowling in the fields. In
spite Of all their care, the wolves killed
in one season Il hundred Of his fathers
sheep, and then he gave up the attempt
The family were 30 poor that il wax n
matter Of doubt sometimes whether
they could get food enough TO live
through the long winter; and 80 Horace,
who had learned the printers trade in
Vermont, started out on foot in search
Of work in n village printing Office. He
walked from village to village and from
town TO town, until at last ho went 10
Erie, the largest place in the vicinity.
There ho was taken for runaway APP
prentice, and certainly his appearance
justified suspicion. Tall and gawky as
he was in person, with tow.cOlOrcd hair
and scaniy suit Of Bhabbicst home
spun, his appearance excited astonish.
mcnt or ridiculc wherever he went. He
Ind never worn good suit Of clothes in
his life.
He had singularly fair, white com.
plexion, n piping, whining voice, and
these pcculiaritlcs gave the effect Of his
being wanting in intellect. II was not
until people conycrBcd with him TINT
they discovered his worth and inteli-
gencc. llo had been an ardent reader
from his childhood mp, and had taken
Of late years the most intense interest
In politics and held very positive opily
ions, which no defended in conversation
with great carncsinoSs aud ability. A
second application Mt Eric procured him
cmployment for fow months in the
Office n the Eric GdzCtte, and ho won
his way not only to tho respect but to
the affection Of his companions and his
employer. That employer was Judge
j. NJ. Stcrrctt, and from him ] heard
many curious particulars Of Horace
Greclcy's residence in Erie As ho was
only working in the Office az II subNi-
tutc, the return Of the absentee deprived
him of his place, and he WIS obliged to
seek work elsewhere His employer
said 10 him one day:
"Now, IIoTco, you havo n good deal
of money coming to you; don't go about
the town any longer in that oulandsh
rig. Let me give you nm order on the
store. Dress upalittle, Horace"
The young man looked down ut his
clothes as though ho had never seen
them before, aud then said by way Of
apology:
"You see, Mr. Stcrrctt, my father il
on now place, and want to help him
NIL | can"
In fact, upon the settlement of his nc
count Mt the end Of lis seven months
labor, he had drawn for his personal ex.
pcnses 80 only. OF the rest of his
wages he retained $40 for himself, and
gave all the rest, amounting to about
$l20, 10 his father, who, | am afraid,
did not make the best use Of all of it.
With the great sum Of fifteen dollars in
his pocket, Horace now resolved upon I
bold movement. After spending few
days at home, ho tied up his sparo
clothes ina bundle, not very largo, and
took tho shortest road through the
woods that led to the Eric Canal. He
WINS going to Now York, and he was
going cheapl A walk of sixty miles or
30, much of it through the primeval for
est, brought him to Buffalo, where he
took passage on the Erie Canal, and
after various detcntions, ho reached AL.
bany ON Thursday morning Just in
time TO acc the regular steamboat Of the
day move out into tho stream. At 10
o'clock ON tho Same morning, he en-.
bmkcd on board of towboat, which re-
quired nearly twenty-four hours to de-
Bcend the river, and thus afforded him
ample time to enjoy the beauty Of its
shores.
On the 18th of August, 1881, about
sunrise, he set foot in the City Of New
York, then continuing about 200, 900 in
habitants, One-sixth Of its present popu-
lation. He had managed his Affairs with
such strict economy that his journey of
600 miles had cost him little moro than
So, and no had ten left with which TO be-
gin life in the metropolis. This sum of
money and the knowledge of the print
ers trade made up his capital, There
was not person in all New York, 30 far
Ms he knew, who had ever seen him be.
ioro. Ills appearance, too, was much
against him, for although he had really
hne face, noble forehead and the most
benign expression ] ever saw upon n
human countenance, yet his clothes and
bearing quite spoiled him. His round
jacket made him look like tall bow who
mad grown too iast for his strength he
stopped little and walked in loose.
lointed manner. He was very bashfnl
and totally destitute Of the power Of
pushing his way, or arguing with man
who said no to him. He had brought no
letters of recommendation, and had no
kind of evidence to show that no had
learned his trade. The first business
was, Of coutsc, to find cheap boarding
house, M he had made up his mind to
try New York as IN experiment. and if
he did not succeed in finding work, 10
start homeward while he still had por-
ton of his money. After walking
awhile, he went into what looked to him
like low-priced tavern, at the corner of
Wall and Broad streets.
Glow much do you charge for board ?"