The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-04-25
GREELEY As A BOY.
HE LOVED TRUTH AND WAS WAL
LOPeD FOR HIS INTEGRITY.
The Famous Journalist Acquired Know1-
edge Early Through Great Tribniation.
scaggs, "a Child of the Devil" Was Kind

scaggs, "a Child of the Devil" Was Kind
to the Boy Who Wanted to Learn.
The oft told ami praiseworthy story
about the sterling quality of George
Washington : truthfulness when a lad
and the straightforward confession, i
cannot tel a lie, father; | did it with
my little hatehet THAT have made the
Father Of His Country the idol of hoyish
heart. stands not alone a. an example
OF American youthful integrity,
Another lad. w6en punishment as
keenly dreaded confronted him and
father more rate than Georges parent
Is ever pictured To have been, stood bold
~ forth when questioned and acl,nowl-
edged himself the euprit. 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 preeo-
cious and at the age Of 10 years vas
considered the prodigy Of the town lie
was great reader and eagerly devoured
anything ia the Way Of useful literature
that came in his way His father was
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 toHiSit
by stealth an old neighbor who possessed
a handsome and finely stocked library.
This old fellow vas, TO the mind of
Horace's father, the essence Of all that
was irrcligious. His name was Scasgs
Nathaniel Scaggs-and despite his
quiet method Of living and his acknowl-
edged honesty of character he remained,
to Mr.. Greeley 5 mind, a vile and hard
ened sinner. Old Seaggs rarely attended
any place Of worship and on pleasant
Sunday afternoons could always be seen
sitting in his front garden boldly smok
ing his corGeob pipe. These were the
causes Of Mr. Greeley's condemnation,
and he dubbed the old scholar "a child
of the devil y
But Scaggs had taken a 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
know his father hated old Scaggs and
called him a 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 care and patience philosopbie
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 tho boy stopped short
and exclaimed: Mr. Scaggs, my father
doesn't like you. He says you are a
child of tho devil.
The old man was silent fdTa moment
and then burst out laughing.
why does your father dislike me,
HoraceY' 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 a great sin. am sorry
your father dislikes me- my son. Let us
go on with Cicero " And the reading
continued. That night Horace Greeley
mado up his mind Ia speak to his father
and make a plea for old Scaggs friend
ship. Accordingly, just before bedtime
Horace accosted his father:
Father, Is not God torbearing?" he
asked
YES, my son Why do you ask
"Docs be- not forgive much to those
who are kind anG intelhgent?'
Why do You ask stIll inquired the
father
"Wen, | think Mr. Seaggs is both
kind and intellectual and | somehow
hoped tho good Lord would overlook his
Tho old man at once grew stern, que
toned young Horace regarding his 50.
licitudo for their noi2hhor, aud eventu.
ally the secret of the boy visits and
studies was brought to light Mr., Gree.
ley forbade his son to 30 noar old Scaggs
again, denounced Latin books as inn
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
oompanionship, he said, Il went aud
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 | would tell my father of my visit
our lesson went on as usual. Then |
went home and told my dad, and he wal
loped mo! For whole week | contin-
ned my visits to my old preoeptor, and
each night received thrashing-more
severe each time At the end of the
week had to eat my meals standing up.
Then my father locked me up for few
days, and we left Erie for Vermont in
less than fortnight Yes. | slipped
out and babe old Scaggs goodby
The old man was fearful and gave me
tho worn volume of Cicero as a parting
gift, OF course | got licking for that
visit also, but | had seen my old friend
and had my beloved Latin reader but
toned tightly beneath my waistcoat. |
honored my father always, " Mr. Greeley
concluded, but | never forgave him
those lashings. He was blue Presby-
terrain and could not tolerate Sabbath
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