The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-06-27

lIldb udIut, w WlObt tOuIu&t anu IHduN
virtues our school history bore testi-
mony. Quiet, earnest, brave, eloquent
and persuasive, young Philip outranked
all his fellows. From the twelfth to
the fifteenth year of his age, or until he
left school, none disputed his sway
The whole school, both girls and boys,
were included in his tribe. The girls
frequently joined us in our Indian
games. They delighted to figure as
princesses," "queens," " squaws
and "pale-face captive maidens."
Beaded with red haws and sweetbrier
berries, and bedecked with flowers,
they shone in beauty among the
braves" hideous in their pokeberry
war-paint and turkey feathers. Philip
excelled in all sports-in leaping, in
throwing, catching and batting the
ball, in fox-chasing and in exercise with
the bow and arrow. He was not
wonderful scholar. Others led him in
the school-room, for he took only to
such books as pleased his taste. He
was fond of natural subjects, and de-
lighted in learning about the birds of
the air, the beasts of the fields, the in
habitants of the water, and the sub
stances in the earth. For a boy he
had much information of this kind.
The next morning the Rankin chill
dren were at school. Philip had visited
their home the evening before and COM
peted the treaty with their mother.
He met them in the school-room and
gave them his countenance and support
He issued no formal proclamation, but
without ceremony adopted them into
! al Do N,.,l 90.
beautiful " little princess" and was
much beloved, while Robert donned
the war-paint as one of the most highly
respected braves"
At ten O'Clock A. NJ. on Saturday
closing the following week there was
a council meeting of the tribe at the
school-house. About all the members
of the tribe were present except the
Rankins. In came the braves and
squaws, bearing baskets, boxes and
bundles, and when they had all as
sembled, with King Philip in the lead,
they filed out and proceeded straight to
the cabin of the Widow Rankin. This
they surrounded and captured without
resistance. Philip explained that it
was surprise party His explanation
was unnecessary. A dinner was pre-
pared for the hungry though happy
tribe from the materials they had
brought. Beside they offered as
presents to the widow and her children
many delicate, ornamental and plain
useful articles, such as rustic neigh
borhood might afford. The mother
hesitated to accept, but Philip insisted
in most eloquent speech. He said
the older folks had just given what
they call donation party to the minis
1.-The Pawpaw Tribe" did not propose
to be outdone.
Mrs. Rankin could no longer hesitate
and with the rest entered heartily into
the spirit of the occasion. A happy
day was spent at the cabin, and fol
many, many days thereafter brighter
light shone in and around it. The in.
vasion of the school tribe broke down
the barriers. Neighborly visits were
frequently made by farmers wives and
mothers, and were returned. One day
several men, handy with the saw and
hammer, met by appointment and put
the old house in comfortable shape for
the winter Loads of wood ready for
the fire were piled by the door
and the stable loft was filled with
fodder for the horses and COW. Ii
having been ascertained that Mrs
Rankin was a skilled needle-woman
she was given all the sewing she cared
to do and at fair prices.
In the spring the widow had an Offer
for her lands. Though the price wa;
small, she was about to accept it ant
move back over the mountains, for the
rough hills were apparently valueless
except as pasture range and for the
timber on them.
fessor White, principal of an Ohio
academy, which in year or two Philip
expected to attend, paid the Moss
family visit. The professor was quite
! geologist. On one of his rambles il
, search of specimens, accompanied by
Philip, they traversed the bed of ston,
creek that wound through the RankiI
,, lands. A rock jutted out from clay
bank. The professor broke off piec,
and examined it. He broke off othe
pieces along the creek and examined
them also. Presently he observed:
g 1t is the true grindstone grit. The
hills are full of it. There is fortune
here for the owners of these lands"
The valuable material was piled up
one layer on another, walling up thu
stream on either side. The professo
put few of the chips into his KNAPP
sack and went on looking after some
thing else, more interested in getting
rare specimens for his cabinet than il
opening rich mines.
But not so with Philip. He though
the matter over, informed the widow
of the discovery and finally prevailed
upon his father to write to John Len
noX, the quarryman. Mr.. Lennon
came, took look among the rocks anC
pronounced the material the best III
had yet found. A few months after
wards quarries were opened, and sooI
their products were distributed through
out the country. Ponderous stone
from the Rankin quarries whirled amiC
the sparks and flashing steel blades il
the largest factories; smaller ones wer
turned by farmers boys in wood-sheds
scythe-stones made merry music amonI