St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-04-26
SOME DEWEY STORIES.
Incidents Of his Boyhood Life i'm
Vermont.

DR.. julius Dewey. the father of the adj
,uiral. while earning the means with
,~h;ch to pay for his professional train
inc by teaching school in Vermont, &C.
n9red habits of economy which chung to
him through life.
After his marriage and establishment
IN Montpelier large family connection
living in his native town, Berlin, four
miles distant, fell into way when bust
ness called them to the capital OF stop
Ding with their teams at his house.
The doctor stood it for time in ST.
lence, but on a certain market day his
patience suddenly gave way, and meet
mo his guests at the gate he directed
them to hotel in an adjacent square,
where he assured them they would find
better accommodations than he could
furnish and at Current rates."
From this incident, which he frequent
" related, he dated his prosperity. He
had always high sense Of his religious
obligations, however, and was, indeed,
the founder of Christ Protestant Episco-
pal church, in Montpelier, where his dis.
tinpuished son was baptised, attended
Sunday school and was confirmed, and
which became the ecclesiastical home of
+he family. The house which he occu-
MED, and in which all Of his children
we're born, was originally exceedingly
small, but was several times added to.
Within the last two or three years,
wishing to replace this modest structure
with handsomer, more modern edi6ce,
Edward Dewey. the second son, sold the
dwelling and barn (retaining the
~ (ar C1E0 Thraa 1oup off
wards the buildings were re-sold for
$780, the last purchaser, who paid the
cost OF removal, placing them on lot
on State street.
Since the battle of Manila this house,
as the birthplace and early home of its
hero, has been an object OF interest to
tourists and relic hunters. The latter,
indeed, have threatened to carry it away
pecemeal, a souvenir fiend in one in
stance wrenching off silver-plated fau-
Get. and leaving the water running in
bathroom with the pressure of the full
system of 1853 pounds.
OF characteristic stories of Dewey
many are preserved in the mental ar.
chives of those who were his compan-
ions in the boyish escapades of which he
was the instigator, and in which he al
ways played a prominent part.
An incident in his earliest boyhood,
graphically portrayed by one of these,
brings wildly before us delightful tragi
comedy, with the stage setting of front
yard and yine.clad cottage. AS the two
children were at play one morning a
LADY,, with the indubitable toothache
symptoms of swollen face and hand
pressed to cheek, alighted from vehicle
before the gate and asked to see the doc
tor. Deciding to apply the only infalli-
bic remedy, and wishing to get the best
light upon his patient, that gentleman
asked that she would take her seat in
the front doorway, resting her feet on
the upper step. But here new difficulty
arose. The improvised dental chair pro-
vded no support for the head, and sum-
moning the little visitor the operator
directed him to stand behind her, put his
hands on either side OF her face, and let
her brace herself against his shoulder.
II did as / was told" continued the
narrator, but at the first twist of the
od.fashioned turnkey the patient uttered
yell which, never having heard an
Indian war-whoop. thrilled me with
horror, and, deserving my post, fled in
dismay. In an instant George was i'll
my place, and can now see the set look
of determination upon his face and the
resolute pose of his sturdy little figure,
as with the lady's head pillowed upon
his breast, he grasped an ear firmly with
either small hand.
"When the tooth was out and we were
again alone he endeavored to convince
me that 'woman's screams couldn't
hurt, but had my own opinion on the
subject, which logic failed to alter"
On another occasion when the two
boys came into possession Of bottle o
maple syrup they agreed to go to the
school house where fire still burned II
the stove and sugar it."
Upon their arrival they happened to
try the door leading to an upper room
and finding it fast. although there wa:
no lock upon it, they concluded that II
was being held by some intruder, who
intent upon mischief had concealed him
self within. They called several times
and, receiving no answer, retired to
convenient distance and held counsel o
war, when George, as tacitly acknowl
edged organizer, decided that they would
get into the upper window by climbing
upon a shed roof, and dislodge tn
enemy.
"You get club from the woodpile,
he said, "and I"-unclasping it, and slip
ping it into the breast pocket Of his littl
spencer-"will take my knife. Let me g
first, and If there are two OF them 20,
can club one while finish the other"
"All this was as real to us them" SAT-
my informant, "as was the battle a
Manila afterwards to him. We mad
our way stealthily to the upper window
opening it with the utmost caution, les
our prey, apprised of our approach
should escape us, but upon entering tn
room there was not creature to b
seen. On examining the door we foun
that the fire shovel had fallen against
in such a way as to prevent its bein
opened from the outside, and the my:
terry being thus solved, we descended tn
stairway and set about our syrup boi
ing"
Another adventure in which the DANCE
was by no means imaginary threatene
more serious termination, and Nigh
have reversed the victory at Manila.
There was pile Of logs in the bac
yard at the Dewey's, and the docto
having professional call likely to d.
tain him all day, George procured hal
filled powder horn, and calling. his youn
companions together, invited them t
unite with hin, in a celf- n DDOiflted cell