The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-08-13

Asf
trade, as it were-but this opinion would
be quickly dispelled by a chat with the old
Chappaqua settlers who knew the habits,
manners and customs of this curious fam
lily.
THE first time / ever saw Horace Greeley
is indelibly stamped on my memory - said
an old lady to the writer a few days since.
II had begun to write for The Jeffer.
sonian, a little two leafed paper published
in New York. He was home on a visit to
his parents. My father and I were invited
to spend a day and night at the Greeley
homestead. We rode Is miles on horse
back, and when we finally reached our des-
tination a lanky, awkward youth, with q
shock of tow colored hair and the longest of
arms and legs, came forward to assist me
off my horse. This feat he performed so
ciumsily that my dress was caught in the
saddle, and l fell forward into his arms.
was mortified and indignant, supposing
him to be n hired man, but judge of my
amazement when l found that this awk-
ward youth, who looked like nothing SO
much as a great green gosling, was none
other than Horace himself, a real live
writer.
"The family" continued the narrator,
'lived in the most primitive fashion.
There were of course no carpets, the ia
bic was of pine, and each one dipped food
from one great dish. Everybody washed
at the same tin bowl outside on a bench.
There were no partitions in the chamber,
merely curtains hung up to separate the
various beds. The chickens and turkeys
were permitted to walk upon the door
steps and even to enter the kitchen in So
ciable fashion. Amid such surroundings
had Horace grown up. The family were
too poor to afford candles, and so it was
Horace's custom to tramp to the neigh
boring woods and bring huge pine knots
for the fireplace. When these blazed up,
the boy would throw himself down on the
floor ard read aloud to his mother as she
Eat spinning and eagerly listening, for it
was to his mother Horace owed his love Of
knowledge.
when ho was first married and brought
his bride home on ayisit, a sugar party was
given in their honor on aneighboring farm.
All the guests had arrived, and we were
looking out, watching for the belated bride
and groom. At last we saw something ap-
pear in the distance. AS this object came
nearer we discovered it was the old white
horse of the Greeleys slowly picking his
way through the mud. On his back sat
the bride in a brilliant yellow frock with a
green velvet belt, and behind her, wrapped
in his famous white overcoat, sat the ed
itor of the New York Tribune. 1t was tho
funniest sight l ever saw and set us off i'll
fits of laughter. | remember" concluded
m informant, laughing again at her rccol-
lection, that | simply lay down and rolled
upon the floor in II spasm OF mirth."
Mir. Greeley came hone every year, and
after a day or two on the old farm would
start out to walk miles and call on people.
He was never known to knock at a farm
hous door. No matter whether he knew
the inmates or not, he would push open the
door, walk right in, sit down by the fire
place and fall to discussing crops and other
topics dear TO the farmers heart. Every
body was glad to welcome this gentle,
brusque intruder. Then, too, he always as
sembled his neighbors in q school or'meet-
ing house" and lectured to them on some
popular topic. He was regarded with great
veneration by these plain people-a vcnera-
tlon which at times deepened into awe. On
one occasion after lecturiug he Immediately
left the building, as he was to be carried to
the train 30 miles away. Hehastily brushed
through the throng, and as he passed one
dear old lady turned to another with a ra-
diant face, "Why, don't you believe, he
touched metz she said in an almost breath
less tone Of Qualification. That touch doubt
less TRANSPORTED her homely existence.
Mr.. Greeley was a jealous Universalist
n believed that we get our punishment
right along hero every day. In view of this
belief the following story hitherto unpub-
lished and which was told me by a lifelong
friend of the editor has Il droll enough side:
When he came home on these visits, he was
of course constantly petitioned for favors
and donations. One day "A travelling mis-
gionary called upon him to ask financial aid
to build another meeting house"
Mr.. Greeley was deep in the preparation
OF some editorial work and was not in any
mood to be bothered. However, the mis-
~sionary, wko was an obtuse though excel
tsnt man, kept twanging away in his mo