Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-05-31
GREELEY AS A BOY.
He LOVED TRUTH AND WAS WAL
LOPED FOR HIS INTEGRITY.


LOPED FOR HIS INTEGRITY.
The Famous Journalist Acquired Knowl-
edge Early Through Great TribuIation.
Scaggs, 'a Child of the Devil" Was Kind
to the Boy Who Wanted to Learn.
The oft told and praiseworthy story
about the sterling quality of George
Washington s truthfulness when lad
and the straightforward confession, 81
cannot tell lie, father; 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 a
father more irate than Georges parent |
is ever pictured to have been, stood bold \
" forth when questioned and acknowl- \
edged himself the oulprit. 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 and eagerly devoured
anything in the way of useful literature
that came in his way. His father was a
Door 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
Horaces father, the essence Of all that
was irre]igious. 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 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 care and patience philosophic
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 saya you are a
child of tho devil"
The old man was silent for moment
and then burst out laughing.
"Why does your father dislike me,
Horace?" he asked.
s"Well, you don't go to meeting, you
know, sir, and then you smoke your
pipe Oh Sunday
"Yes, do, my boy, but l did not
know that was great sin. / am sorry
your father dislikes me, my son. Let us
go on with Cicero" And the reading
continued. That night Horace Greeley
made up his mind to speak to his father
and make plea for old Scaggs friend.
ship. Accordingly. just before bedtime
Horace accosted his father:
Father, is not God forbearing?" he
asked.
Eyes, my son. Why do you ask"
''Does he not forgive much to those
who are kind and intelligent?''
"Why do you ask?" still inquired the
father.
"Well, / think Mr.. scaggs is both
kind and intellectual, and / somehow
hoped the good Lord would overlook his
smoking and not going to meeting"
| L u0 O1O ludA az OAO0 grow SeOAAS NuOo-
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 60 near old Scaggs
again, denounced Latin books as i'm
pious reading and threatened the lad
| with the strap.
Horace Greeley, after be got to be the
editor Of big New York newspaper,
used to tell the story with much feeling.
"After being forbidden old Scaggs'
companionship he said, Il 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 would tell my father Of my visit
our lesson went Oh as usual Then l
went homo and told my dad, and he wal
loped mel For a whole week ! contin-
ued my visits to my old preceptor, and
each night received thrashing-more
severe each timel At the end of the
week l 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
the 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 II
honored my father always, Mr. Greeley
concluded, "but l never forgave him
those lashings He was blue Presby-
terrain and could not tolerate Sabbath
breaking He was mighty good man,
but when | think of those whippings'
and then Mr.. Greeley used to squirm,
much to the delight of his listeners. II
New York Recorder