The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1895-05-23
GREELEY AS A BOY.
He LOVED TRUTH AND WAS WAL
LoPED FOR HIS INTEGRITY.

Ne LOVED TRUTH AND WAS WAL
LOPED FOR HIS INTEGRITY.
The Famous Journalist Acquired Knowl.
edge EARLY Through Great Tribulation.
scaggs, SEA 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
Washingt tons truthfulness when lad
and the straightforward confession, 81
cannot tell lie, father; / did it with
my little hatchet.'' that have made the
Father of Fills 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 q
father more irate than Georges parent
Il eye- pictured to have been. stood bold
" forth when questioned and aoknowl-
edged himself the oulprit. This other
boy was Horace Greeley, and the story
Il an interesting one.
It 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 camo in his way. His father was q
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,
a 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 q
glimpse Of that wonderful storehouse OF
books Horace could not stay away. a. 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 philosophit
truths so eagerly listened to by young
Horace.
Once in the middle Of sentence O
Cicero, while the two were engaged II
their daily reading the boy stopped shor
and exclaimed: "Mr. Scaggs, my father
doesn't like you. He says you are
child of the devil
The old man was silent for a mouen
and then burst out laughing.
"Why does your father dislike me
Horace?'' he asked
"Well, You don't 60 to meeting 20
know, si5. ard nd then y0a smoke yop
pipe ?sY Sa ' | deny boy; bus did no
know that was u great sin. I am SOFT
your father dislikes me, my son. Let
90 on with Cicero, = And the readin
Continued That night Horace Creole
made up bis mind to speak to his faths
and make plea for old ScaRgs frient
ship. Accordingly just before bedtimn
Horace aocosted his father:
Father. is not God forbearing" :
asked. s1s5 1se.. g% .g-n
eyes, my son. Why dogUa ask?'
"Does he not forgive much to thos
who are kind and Intelligent"
."Why do you ask?" still inquired Il
father. - aas-g hna
"Well, think Mr.. Scaggs is bot
kind and intellectual, and someho
hoped the good Lord would overlook b
smoking and not going to meeting.
The old man at once grew stern, que
toned young Horace regarding his
licitude for their neighbor, and event
ally the secret of the boys visits al
studies was brought to light. Mr.. Gre
lev forbade his son to go near old Scag
again. denounced Latin books as il
mons reading and threatened the Il
with the strap.
Horace Greeley, after he got to be t
editor Of big New York newspape
used to tell the story with much feelin
"After being forbidden old Scagi
companionship," he said. Il went q
told the old man about it. he seem
rrieyed. but told me to obey my fath'
The next day / was with my teacher
the usual hour, and after promisl
him would tell my father OF my vi
our lesson went ON as usual. Thel
went home and told my dad, and hew
Toned mel For whole week l cont
ned nv visits to my old preceptor,
each night received q thrashing-m'
severe each timel At the end OF
week Ihad to eat my meals standing
Then my father locked me up for
davs. and we left Erie for Vermont
less than fortnight Yes. ! slipl
ont and babe old Scaggs good
The old man was fearful and gave
the worn volume of Cicero as part
sift. OF course I got licking for t
visit also, but had seen my old fri
and had my beloved Latin reader
toned tightly beneath my waistooat.
L.,.od father ALWAYS. - Mr.. Gree