The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-21

MANSSS.sNESNNSM srs and mothers who
{ NaWWSNSI gathered in = little
J. WN\W log schoolhouss &c
quite possible that some Of them were the
parents OF a son who might some day him.
self hold the office which Jefferson then ex-
eroised. II was such preaching as this that
revealed to she people OF that day in part
what this republic 10, aud how it is possible
in It for even tho hunblest child to look
forward to posts Of honor and influence.
OF all that company who heard thil
preacher probably zone would have been re-
gardsd Is less likely ever to become presi-
dent than q bare-footsd little fellow who
quite eagerly to the sermon of she preacher.
For this little chap was absolutely poor. 1t
did not seem likely that he would be able
to get 30 much schooling as would serve
him in the trade for which he was designed.
He could only look forward. seemingly, to
q life Of drsdgsry. He was sure to be ap-
prenticsd either to some farmer or some
tanner in that vicinity in the expectation
that he would learn either to become a jour
neynan or = farmers help.
The words which this little fellow heard
from the preacher made = great impression
upon his mind. He did not believe that it
would ever be possible for him to BE- presi-
dent. but hs was shrswd enough to see that
certainly 20 humble a chap 40 he might also
hone to bstter his condition.
Whom he was in his teens the boy WAS ap-
prenticsd to a wool-esrder, and it was be-
lieved that he would make that his bust
ness for life. He was intelligent, industri-
Gus, and his habits were very good, 50 that
after he served his apprenticeship and be-
came a journsyman some of those
who know him thought that he might
some day do 30 we'll as himself to con-
troll . little business OF this sort. But
those things which the preacher had said
we're constantly in his mind, 20 that he not
only did his duty asa wool-e arder we'll,
in study. Thus he taught himself many
things which other lads, more fortunate
than he, were able to learn in the schools.
One day this wool~esrder, being now al
most a man in years, happened to stray
into 4 court room and there he heard a
then he said to himself (for he Afterwards
told the story to a gentleman who repeated
it to the writer) "Ah. this is the way for
me to get along. l will get 4 law book and
study it and then l will get another, so thai
perhaps by and BY l may become a
lawyer myself. It il easier for a law
yer to gain political honor shan for anyone
law books and while he worked at wool
oarding during the day hs read these law
books at night, and of the two tasks the
reading was the harder. for there were
many things which he did not understand.
A lawyer who learned Of his energy took
49, ---- Ah4 - -
planned those things he did not understand
to linn. By and by after several years had
passed this young man believed that he had
learned enough of law to Justify him in
asking to be admitted TO the bar. He went
before the judge and the lawyers and they
asked him his name
''Millard Fillmore" he said.
How long have you been reading law?'
Several years." And he answered with
some tlmidity, fearing that he would be
told that he must study more before he
could be admitted.
The lawyers were kind to him, however,
and examined him. saying that he was
we'll fitted to begin practice. And so the
wool-carder became q lawyer, and nothing
that ever came to him in the way of honor
in his life, he aftsrward said, gave him such
exquisite Joy as when he saw his little sign.
'Millard Fillmore. Law O61ce,'' hung from
the loo of his office. He began to practice
in Buffalo, IN which city many years after
another poor boy began the study of law,
president one day.
There was q political meeting in Buffalo
during the campaign which first resulted in
the election of Andrew Jackson for presi-
dent. This meeting was held by those who
were opposed to Jackson's election. There
came into the hall where it was held a very
tall young man who was 4 stranger to most
of those gathered there. He seemed to
have come merely as a spectator. and he
was with q friend. The speeches did not
seem to interest this stranger z eatly until
q young man. tall. muscular, with a finely
shaped head and pleasing voice, although
hesitatinR in his speech, began to speak,
He seemed 9 little timid, for it was his
FIST speech in \ political gathering. But
he had not uttered many sentences before
the attention OF this stranger was fixed
Upon him.
"Who is that young nanY" said the
stranger TO his friend when the speech was
finished.
that is Il young lawyer named Willard
Fillmore, who used to be a wool-carder
and has only recently begun TO practice
law"
We'll, there is something in him. re-
Piled the stranger, and l would like to
meet him.
$50 it happened that within an hour this
S~NS 1F"'AE AAo = Ia Was DIG
scented to the stranger, whose name was
Thurlow Weed, and that was the first meet
ing between one who was to become the
most successful politician OF his time and
the man whom he was largely instrumental
in bringing to the presidency.
They ehatted for an hour, sach Of tbau
talking about his early struggles, and then
Mr.. Weed told young Fillmore that his
party ought to sen him to the New York
legislature. The young lawyer said that il
would give him great JOY to be elected. hut
he did not see how he could get tho uomi-
nation.
II think l can arrange that" said Mr.
Weed, and he did. He saw the politlcinra
and urged them to nominate young VIII
more, and they did so and elected him.
Thu Willard Fillmore began his uolticsl
career at % years of age. In Albany he
met Mr.. Weed and another man who wns
to become very famous az a politician and
statesman and almost TO attain the ore.i
dency, William II. Seward. FIom that
time on through the friendship of NJ"
Weed and his own abilities young Fill-
mors's progress was rapid. Mr.. Weed
helped him secure = nomination for con
Rress, and in less than fifteen years from
the time whom he was a wool carder Mr.
Fillmore was chairman of the most iupo,-
tant committee in congress-. for it was tba
one which prepared the bills providing for
the raising OF money, and also at that time
for the expenditure of it for the support of
tho government.
Through Mr.. Weeds efforts very largely
Mr.. Fiiimore was nominated for governor
OF New York, but no was beaten. a defeat
which RfterWavd hronpbt hio <o ~ ..