The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-11
nANColK's lOUlIrUL DAYS.
An Aged sohoolmastCr Gives Some Interest
inE kOInIninnAnunn.

HAHC0CK's YOUTHFUL DAYS.
An Aged sohOolmaStOr GlvGS sOms Interest
iUE "Reminiscences,
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. l0.-There WAS one
very old gentleman in this city in whose
heart the news aauk like lead. lie was
the lamented Generals lcaoolmastcr,
Eliphat Roberts. III is very feeble now,
and he toLLtrs when hs walks. Ills head
ia covered With thick whito hair, his sight
Ia dim, and llis hearing Is bad. IIe Is 30
years old to-day, aud II will be tho sRdGest
birthday, perhaps, ho has ever known
"a gentleman wants to SEQ you, uncle"
said bright little woman ut Mr.. Roberts
home thia evening. "YOu were General
HaucoCk's sChoolmaster?" Queried the
stranger, then the dim eyes frightened
aud he answered earnestly, "Yes, indeed
was and tell you Sir" here the
bright little woman interrupted him with
GQbs that is4 a great subject. He's
just in eS'!acy II he can get anybody to
talk about hiB General"
"DOesn't hs know OF his death?" wills
pered tho stranger.
-Four faCes blanched, four voices hoarsely
said mo" and the old man looked and
wondered, and arose from his big arm
chair. Then tho bright little womln-sad
little woman now-put her face tenderly
to his and said pAthetiCally, "UnCle, your
brave pupil is dead"
"Deadl" said. the old man In q strange
voice. "DeadN and he dropped like a
log into the big chair and buried his face
In his hands, II was crushing blow to
him. The old Eclioolmaster was the first
to break the silence. "Winleld came to
my school in Norristown when he was
only years old" he snid, land / taught
him for seven years. won't ilattor him.
He was Just like other boys about study.
Ing his lessons, but always liked the
little fellow rs schoolboy, and you know
him as q man. That boy was born com.
mander.
YOUTHFUL "REMINISCENCES.
lie hadn't been at school six weeks be-
fore he organized u company and was
captain, and he had them in good drill, too.
These schoolbOy soldiers never thought Of
having any other commander. remem.
her afunny story about him. One time
the proud boy captain was reviewing his
troops when order came from headquar.
ters that he would have 10 come In and
wipe the dishes because his mother was
sick. TheIlittle fellow shUathed the
wooden sword bravely for the apron and
dish towel, but his troops stood at the
kitchen window and tauntod him 80 that
finally, exasperated, he chased the whole
lot OF them several blocks with the towel.
Then again picked him bodily out Of n
6ght and carried him into The school
house, .,... -....
When he left my school ho went to
West Point and didn't see MIN again for
twenty-five years. heard he had been
brought here from Gettysburg wounded,
and with some trepidati0n as to how the
great General would receive me, went to
the hotel to sec him. III never forget
bis welcome In my lite. lie grGgped both
my hands and satd My old friend, ICould
never forget you Then one time after
the war when lie wag reviewing the troops
he was coming out Of the Lapier House,
where the Lafayette now stands, accom-.
panied by his stat, and edged my way
through the crowd Just to get glimpse Of
him. The Colored porter was very OIL.
oious end was ordering mo aud others oil
the steps when Hancock caught sight q
me. He Bprang bstweUn the porter and
me, aud taking ne by the hands brought
me upon the steps and introduced me 10
all the officers as Ills school master who
had once saved him from being whipped
IN a fsht by carrying him oil. 0ne day
last March was sitting In ths parlor here
when the door bell rang, | opened the
door, and a hne looking man entered.
He said, Don't YOU know meT My
sight was bad then, and didn't Then
hS said; i am Hancock. II was a happy
meeting. lie learned about my daughter
Clara aud went from here to Washington,
and by his influence got her III the mint,
where she now is. He once acted as A
pAll.beatsr when a member Of my family
died, and he always has been more than
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