The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-05-08
GREELEY AS A BOY.
HE LOVED TRUTH AND WAS WAL
LOPED FOR HIS INTEGRITY.

Scaggs ga Child of the Devil" Was Kind
to the Boy Who Wanted to Learn.
The oft told and pra1seworthy story
about the sterling quality of George
Washington s truthfulness when a lad
and the straightforward confession, 81
cannot tell lie, father; I did it with
my little hatohet, that have made the
Father of His Country the idol of boyish
hearts stands not alone as an example
of American youthful integrity.
Another lad, when punishment as
keenly dreaded confronted him and a
father more irate than Georges parent
is ever pictured to have been, stood bold
ly forth when questioned and acknowl-
edged himself the culprit. This other
boy was Horace Greeley, and the story
is an interesting one
1t happened in the town Of Erie, Pa,
where Horace spent a great part of his
boyhood. The lad was unusually preco-
cious and at the age of 10 years was
considered the prodigy of the town. He
was great reader and eagerly devoured
anything in the way of useful literature
that came in his way. His father was a
poor man, and Horace had not many
chances for mental culture, but SO keen
was the boys love of study and ambi-
ton for knowledge that he used to visit
by stealth an old neighbor who possessed
handsome and finely stocked library.
This old fellow was to the mind Of
Horace's father, the essence of all that
was irreligious. His name was Scaggs
Nathaniel Scaggs-and despite his
quiet method of living and his acknowl-
edged honesty of character he remained,
to Mr.. Greeley's mind, vile and hard
ened sinner. Old Scaggs rarely attended
any place of worship and on pleasant
Sunday afternoons could always be seen
sitting in his front garden boldly smok-
ing his corncob pipe These were the
causes of Mr.. Greeley's condemnation,
and he dubbed the old scholar "a child
of the devil. -
But Scaggs had taken fancy to the
bright faced Horace and invited the boy
to his home After the first visit and a
glimpse of that wonderful storehouse of
books Horace could not stay away. He
knew his father hated old Soaggs and
Cd1l6U IT'LL a 4OSO 6OuAS duO A0 A0d4-
lied if his visits to their neighbor reach
ed his ears that his father would in
stantly prohibit his calls.
At the same time old Scaggs' kind
ness had won his heart. His wisdom
had gained his admiration, and he felt
the injustice of his fathers dislike to-
ward his old friend. Besides the old
man was teaching him Latin and OPEN
ing daily to the boyish mind fields of
thought and speculation and pointing
out with care and patience philosophio
truths so eagerly listened to by young
Horace.
Once in the middle of sentence of
Cicero, while the two were engaged in
their daily reading the boy stopped short
and exclaimed: "Mr. Scaggs, my father
doesn't like you. He says you are a
child of the devil. -
The old man was silent for moment
and then burst out laughing
"Why does your father dislike me,
Horace?' he asked.
'Well, you don't go to meeting, you
know. sir, and then you smoke your
pipe on Sunday
Eyes, do. my boy, but | did not
know that was great sin | am sorry
your father dislikes me, my son. Let us
60 on with Cicero" And the reading
continued. That night Horace Greeley
made up his mind to speak to his father
and make a plea for old Scaggs' friend