The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-06-27

ABOUT tncms even
though we may never meet them face TO
face. IL is about boy OF this kind that
I want 20 tell you now.
This boys life began in the Valley OF
Virginia, one hundred and one years
ago, and 1t was so different from that oil
his brothers and OF all his young COM
panions. that we follow II with an in-
terest that never flags. He was active,
hardy and tall beyond his years, and
the name that he was most often called
by and that chung TO him through all
his after life, is Sam.
In the days OF our pioneer forefathers
support for a family could be wrung
from the forest only by hard and patti
snt labor, and every healthy boy was
expected to do his part. Sam was
healthy boy; indeed the records OF that
day seem TO give no account OF any
other kind. and he worked with his old
er brothers all day for the privilege OF
running across fields 10 the school
house that he might keep his place In
The spelling -class-the last 10 recite
before dismissal.
Yet Sam learned 10 read, and write
and 10 cipher, and reading was, In MS
hands. a key TO unlock a storehouse
OF wonderful treasure. Often and often
had he heard from his mother stories
OF the brave Scotch Highlanders, who
were his ancestors, and many a detail
OF the famous siege of Derry in which
his forefathers took part. where the gal
liant defenders fought and starved and
prayed and hoped till AT last reliei
came. Soldiers OF the Revolution found
a welcome that never failed at his faith
ers freside. and their young listen
ers heard many tale OF battles fought, |
OF peril and suffering undergone.
When Sam was thirteen his studies /
and sports In the old Washington Col |
lege building were forever interrupted. |
His father died, and his mother was left |
with nine children 10 face the future.
: There were fertile lands on the Ten /
nessee. ample enough to furnish home |
for each brave son who consented 10 /
leave the home in that beautiful valley /
and cross the Allegheny Mountains. II |
was a perilous undertaking. and full |
OF wild adventure, but they rested at
last not many miles from the Tennes-
see.
Hard work and plenty of II young
Sam shared cheerfully with his broth
ers: but he was able TO give some at
tendance at an academy, too. He had
read and re-read an English transla-
ton OF Homer until his mind was filed
with the desire to read the poems in
the tongue in which they were written.
He asked his teacher in the academy
TO instruct him in Latin and Greek,
and was promptly refused. Perhaps, |
long afterwards, when this man saw |
what a great career opened before his |
young and bashful pupil, he repented |
his decision.
About this time an opening that was |
thought a very good one presented it |
self. A man who kept small trading |
store was in need OF an assistant, and |
brotherly influence prevailed 10 put |
Sam in the position. Just the number
OF days it took to I'll up the measure OF
his disgust is not recorded, but Sam sud
denly disappeared, and with him his ri
fie and his much-loved books.
Beyond the Tennessee lay the coun-
try OF the Cherokees, a brave and pow
erful nation living in peace and abund
ance on their own lands. To them Sam |
went, and they received him with much |
friendship and their chief, the stately !
and revered Oolooteka, in course of