Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-08-12
BILL NYEIN BOSTON,
IN Account OF n ViSlt to His birthplace In
tho State of Maine.


|
Last week | visited my birthplace in
the state of Maine. / waited thirty
years for the public to visit it. and as
there didn't seem to DO much OF rush
this spring, thought would 60 and
visit it myself. was telling y friend
the other day that the public did not
seem to manifest tho interest in my
birthplace that | thought it ought to,
and he said ought not to mind that.
Just watt" sail he. It'll tho people
OF the United States have IN opportu-
nifty TO visit your tomb, and You will
be surprised to see how they will run
excursion trains up there to Moose
head lake. or wherever you plant your
self. 1t will be perfect picnic. Your
hold on the American people, William,
is wonderful, but your death would
seem to assure it, and kind of crystalizc
the affection now existing, but still in
nebulous and gummy state"
a man ought not to criticise his
birthplace, | presume, and yet, il l
were to do it all over again, 1 do not
know whether would select that par
ticular spot ornot. Sometimes think
| would not. And yet, what memories
cluster about that old house! There
was the place where first met my pa
rent. 1t was at that time that an ac-
quaintance sprang up which has ripen-
cd in late years into mutualrespcct and
esteem. 1t was there that what might
be termed Il casual meeting took place
that has. under the alchemy of resist
less years, turned to golden links,
forming pleasant but powerful bond
of union between my parents aSd my
self. For that reason hope that
may be spared to my parents for many
years to come.
Many old memories now cluster
about that old home, as l have said.'
There is, also, other old bric-a-brac
which has accumulated since | was
born there. took small stone from
the front yard as kind of "memento"
of the occasion and the place. do
not think it has been detected vet.
There was another stone in the yard,
so it may be weeks before anyone finds
out that took one of them.
How humble the home, and yet what
4 lesson it should teach the boys of
America! Here, amid the barren and
the inhosptablc waste of rocks and
cold, the last place in the world that a
man would naturally select to DO born
in, began the life of one who, by his
own unaided effort, in after years rose
to the proud height of postmaster at
Laramie City, Wyoming, and, with an
estimate Of the future that was almost
prophetic, resigned before he could be
characterized as an offensive partisan.
Here on the banks of the raging Pts
cataquis, where winter fingers in the
lap OF spring till it occasions n good
deal of talk, there began career
which has been the wonder and admir-
alton of every vigilance committee west
OF the turbulent Missouri.
There on that spot, with no inherit
ance but u predisposition to premature
badness and 4 bitter hatred of rum,
with no personal property but misft
suspcnder and Il stone-bruise, began 8
life history which has never ceased to
be u warning to people who sell grocer
les on credit.
1t should teach the youth OF this
young land what glorious possibilities
may lie concealed in the rough and
tough bosom OF the reluctant present.
1t shows how steady perseverance aud
Il good appetite will always win in the
end. 1t teaches us that wealth is not
indispensable, and that il We live as we
should, draw out of politics ut the
proper time, and die few days before
the public absolutely demand it, tho
matter OF our birthplace will not be
considered.
Still, my birthplace is all right as q
birthplace. 1t was Il good, quiet place
to be born. All the old neighbors said
that Shirley WAS y very quiet place up
to the time was born there, and when
1 took my parents by the hands and
gently led them away in the spring Of
'43, saying: Parents, this ~ no place
for US" it became quiet.
1t is the only birthplace | have, how
ever, and hope that all the readers of
The Globe will feel perfectly free to 60
there any time aud visit it. and carry
their dinner, as | did. Extravagant
and Overlooking hospitality
have always kept my birthplace back.
--BoSt0n Sunday Gtobe,