The evening times., 1896-12-10
HIS HAPPiEST FURLOUGH.
Gen. Grants Canal Boat Voyage When
But 10 Years of Age.

Gen. Grants Canal Boat Voyage When
But 10 Years of Age.
Il don't know just what to do with
Ulysses; he has good education, and isn't
just satisfied with what there is to do here,
and yet he wants to live an outdoor Ife,"
said Jesse K. Grant one day as he sat talk
ing with j ohm " Low IN the latter's office, in
Batavia, Ohio, where he had dropped in for
d friendly chat.
why not send him to West POint!"
| replied Mr.. Low, who was himself always
inclined toward a military life, having as
| boy play at soldier from the time he could
stand alone, and who afterward served
with Grant through the Mexican war Oniyto
fall ia battle still later in the war of the re-
| bellOn. why not send him TO West
Point? l know Gen. Hamar well, and
would be glad TO use my influence with him
| for Ulysses. You talk it over with the boy
| and VIII write the general.
That was the beginning. Two years
| later finds this same Mr. Low writing his
pretty sister in New York inviting her 10
| cUrne 10 Batavia to pay him visit, adding
thatas hisfriend at West Point, Cadet Grant,
| was coming home ia Tie near future, he
| could provide her i safe escort But the city
! bred young woman was too much a stickler
| for the proprieties to accept the protection
| OF young man, even though he Were the
| intimate friend OF her brother, for a ten
days trip, and replied to her invitation TO
| that effect. She had, however. "a young
| niece who was self-reliant and mature
beyond her years, and 1t was finally ar
ranged that with her for companion, Miss
| Low could safely iyundertakcthelongJ journey.
So, having postponed their departure
unit! quite sure that no suspicion OF
cadet obscured the horizon, they set sail
| for Anboy, where they were To take the
train for Philadelphia They were no
| sooner en- Route for Pittsburg, however,
| than they discovered two West Point
| cadets occupying a seat just in front Of
| them.
| What if it should be Cadet Grant,"
| whispered the indlscreet young girl.
"sh.h-h! That is quite impossible re-
Piled Low. Mr.. Grant started for the
| West more than week ago
| At Harrisburg came the change to the
canal boat, and scarcely had they set
| tied themselves for that long, delicious
| journey through Juniata Canal than they
were addressed by kind and genial old
| lady, who lost no time in finding out
who they were and whittier bound At
| the first mention of the family name, she
gave little cry of delight
"Oh. | know your brother well, and
now we shall have Your company Tor the
| whole distance. l am almost thankful
for the illness that detained me-and with
me my grandson Ulysses-at Philadelphia
for week
| Introductions followed and the little
/ n. tala
| est possible terms, the child and grand
mother becoming the greatest chums, while
| the young man and N alden did just what
young men and maidens have ever done
| since time was A nd the two OF the little
| company who still survive speak OF that
| Journey as one of the most enchanting cx-
periences that could Come into person $
life: full of u charm that rapid transit,
| alas, has put beyond the reach OF latter
| day mortals-
1t fell i the end of the lovely month of
June, the way led through the exquisite
scenery of Pennsylvania, and the boat
! abounded in material comforts. Grant him
self, in spea king of the charms of this route,
says: With the comfortable packets. no
mode Of conveyance could be more pleasant
when time was not an object and, OBJ
",
The slow motion of the vessel allowed
them to land at any moment. and Grant
and Miss Low frequently walked from
lock To lock, sometimes arriving / n advance
of the packet, at other times dallying by
/ The. wayside, until few sharp whistles
would lead Grant to eXclaim: There, they
are blowing us up gain! We must hasten"
At Hollidaysburg it was necessary 20 bid
adieu to the friendly ca nal boat, for straight
| in front of them loomed the Alleghanies.
Here they boarded a car and we're pulled
over a series of inclined planes to the top
| of the mountain, where they passed the
| ui-nt. and made the descent the follow ing
day by the same method. Then it vas by
| way of canal again to Pittsburg, where
they took a boat for the charming sail dow
| the Ohio River to Cincinnati, arriving one
| radiant evening just ten days after the
date of starting. They decided to spend the
night on the boat, and early the next
| morning Cadet Grant was dispatched by his
| grandmother to investigate the stage
/ route to Batavia for the young ladies.
| Though he started in ample time, he some
how didn't return until the coach was
well on its way, nd then there was no al
| Tentative but walt until the next day or
| 90 to Batavia by private conveyance The
latter was at once decided upon, and the
designing young man was soondrivinS with
the young ladies over the familiar coun-
try roads to the hospitable Western home.
! After warm and hearty welcome the
carriage was sent back and Grant was re-
tanned, and thus began an intimacy that
vas kept Up throughout that delightful va
cation. Visits back and forth were fire.
! cuont Mics Low at one time gDendinQ q