River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-07-23
BILL NYEIN BOSTON.
An Account OF a Visit to His birthplace In
the 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 seem TO be much of rush
this spring, thought would go and
visit It myself. / was telling n friend
the other day that the public did not
seem to manifest the interest in my
birthplace that / thought it ought to,
and he said | ought not to mind that.
just wait, said he, ''till the people
OF the United States have an 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 crystaliZe
the affection now existing. but still IN
a nebulous and gummy state.
4 iuan ought not to criticise his
birthplace, | presume, and yet, if |
were to do it all over again, ! do not
know whether | would select that par
ticular spot or not. 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-
ed in late years into mutual respect aud
esteem. 1t was there that what might
be termed a 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 and 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, rs | 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 yet.
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
a lesson it should teach the boys of
America! Here, amid the barren and
the inhospitabe waste of rocks and
cold, the last place in the world that a
man would naturally select to be born
in, began the lite Of one who. by his
own unaided effort, in after years rose
20 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 OH 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 a 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 predisposition to premature
badness and bitter hatred OF rum,
with no personal property but mislit
suspcnder and one-bruise. began a
life history which has never ceased to
be 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 and
a good appetite viii always win in the
end 1t teaches us that wealth is not
indispensable, and that if we live as we
should. draw out OF politics at the
proper time. and die few days before
the public absolutely demand it, the
matter of our birthplace will not be
considered.
Still, my birthplace is all right as
birthplace. 1t was a good, quiet place
to be born. All the Old neighbors said
that Shirley was very quiet place up
to the time | was born there, and when
! took my parents by the hands and
gently led them away in the spring of
'43, saying; Parents, this is no place
for US, :" it became quiet.
1t is the only birthplace have. l.Dw-
ever, and hope that all the readers of
TIE Globc will feel perfectly free to 90
there any time and visit it, and carry
their dinner, as did EXtrayagant
cordially and oyeftowing hospitality
have always kept ny birthplace back,
- Boston S3tl5rjaY lobe.