The morning times., 1895-09-22

when the Indians infested the Wachusett
region and of their raids upon the settlers.
One incident related made a deep i'm
preston upon sim. 1t Was of an old settler
who lived ON friendly terms with his red
neighbors by giving them shelter and food
and salt enough to cure their wild meat
in the fall. The savages never molested
this man in any of their raids, and the'
brought him all the game he wanted. 1t
may have beeT these early talks with bis
uncle that excited in him sympathetic
interest in the red men and caused him in
after years, when he was an Indian fighter,
re deaf mercifuly with them. While he
was stationed in Arizona and the white
people were dissatisfied because he did not
make a wholesale slaughter of the Apaches
he said, THE United States troops are
soldiers, not butchers"
The same uncles tales of the Revolu-
tionary war had an even greater fascina-
ton for him, particularly the story of how
Washington crossed the Delaware and
Presoott's exploits at Bunker Hill.
When he became seventeen his resolute
spirit asserted itself, and he went to this
uncle and said: II don't want to work on
the farm. 1 want to go to Boston"
THAT is the best thing you can do" said
his ambitious relative. Your Uncles
George and Nelson win find You something
to do when you get there" Following this
suggestion young Miles started upon his
journey, dressed in a green Jacket, short
trousers and n green tarpaulin hat, made
of straw and covered with cloth. He was
laughable spectacle of raw country lad
when he arrived in Boston. His uncles, who
were men of means, at once fitted him out
with a more conventional costume.
His uncle, George Curtis, father of the
present mayor of Boston, found him
place in John CollamUre's large crockery
store ON Washington street. His pay was
very small, and his uncle, Nelson Curtis,
for whom he was named, took him into his
family to live at West Roxbury, and gave
him his board. But young Miles was too
independent to consent to such an arrange
ment. So he hired n room in Boston, and
as his earnings would not admit of his
going to clearinghouse he took his food
TO his room and boarded himself.
AT first he acted as errand boy and made
himself generally useful, but he was no
long time in gaining the confidence of his
employer by his faithfUlness and honesty.
Eventually he did all AIr Collanlore's finan-
Cial business at the bank. His employer
was merchant OF the old school, uncompro-
missing and OF sterling character, and when
he found traits so likehis own in young Miles,
"he set great store by the boy" as the GEN
erals uncle expressed it
While performing his duties at the store
through the day he was going TO night
school. For he had only attended short
terms at the district school at home. A
few of the older members of the croekery
trade in Boston to-day remember Nelson A
Miles as a bright, fTesh-looking, stalwart
young man, and capable clerk. Some
stories are still current about him. One
is that shortly after he entered the store,
and had caused a greatsmash-u oforockery,
he surveyed the havoc with such coolness
that Mr.. Coliamore said: That boy could
see men shot all around him on battle
field and not get excited" After he
had gone to the war Mr.. Collaniore ex-
pressed the opinion that if Nelson Miles
could kill rebels as we'll as he could break
crockery. he would make good soldier.
But the soldiers instinct, which MS EN-
pleyer had unconsciously discovered, de-
veloped as soon as the war broke out and
fired him with desire to enlist He spoke