Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-11
GREELEY AS A BOY.
HE LOVED TRUTH AND WAS WAL:
LOPED FOR HIS INTEGRITY.

Scaggs, "a Child Of the Devil" Was Kind
to the 10y Who Wanted TO Learn.
The oft told and praiseworthy story
about the sterling quality Of George
Washington s truthfalness when lad
and the ightforward confession. Il
cannot tell lie, father: I did It with
my little hatchet," 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
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 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 ard eagerly devoured
anything in the way of useful literature
that came in his way. His father was q
poor man, and Horace had not many
chances for mental culture. brit 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 Ct
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 Scasgs rarely attended
any place of worship and on pleasant
Sunday afternoons could always be seen
sitting III 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 tie 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 Scaggs and
called him ''lost soul" and he real
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 caro- and patience philosophic
truths SO eagerly listened to 10y young
Horace.
Once in the middle Of a 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 q moment
and then burst out laughing.
"Why does your father dislike me.
Ho-ace?" he asked.
well, you don't go to meeting, you
know. sir, and then you smoke your
pipe on Sunday
Eyes. 1 do, my boy, but I did not
know that was great sin. I 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 Scaggss friend.
ship. Accordingly. just before bedtime
Horace accosted his father:
Father, is not God forbearing:" he
asked.
"Yes, my son. Why do you ask"
"Does he not forgive much to those
who are kind and intelligent"
why do you askr' still inquired the
father.
well, think Mr.. Scaggs is both
kind and intellectual. and l somehow
hoped the good Lord would overlook his
smoking and not going to meeting. -
The old man at once grew stern. ques.
toned young Horace regarding his so.
licitude for their neighbor. and eventu-
| ally the secret of the boys visits and
studies was brought to light. Mr. Gree
ley forbade his son to go near old Scaggs
again, denounced Latin books as i'm.
pious reading and threatened the lad
with the strap.
Horace Greeley, after he got to be the
editor of a big New York newspaper.
used to tell the story with much feeling.
after being forbidden old Scaggs'
companionship," he said. II went and
told the old man about it. He seemed
grieved, but told me to obey my father
The next day was with my teacher at
the usual hour. and after promising
him Iwould tell my father of my visit
our lesson went on as usual. Then |
went home and told my dad, and he wal.
loped me, For a whole week l contin.
ued my visits to my old preceptor. and
each night received a thrashing-more
severe each timel At the end of the
week had to eat my meals standing up
IThen my father locked me up for few
days, and we left Erie for Vermont in
less than fortnight. Yes. l slipped
out and hade old Scaggs goodby.
The old man was fearful and gave me
the worn volume of Cicero as a parting
\ oft Of course I pot a licEin, for fh nj