New-York tribune., 1899-07-23
RONANTO MILLER'S STORY.
THE SUCCESS OF BOY WHOSE FATHER
SENT HIM TO THE HOUSE
OE REEIfGE

OF h.
Rochester July 22-This is true story OF
happenings In the town OF Wheatland, which is
in Monroe County to the southwark anciently
settled and rich in folklore. Its hero is still
living wealthy. and with many children who
have done honor to his name The year In
which the events recorded took place was before
the Civil War: and although the things which were
done were against all laws OF parental authority
and very nearly resulted disastrously for the chief
actor vet he Is wont TO say that from the hour on
which they occurred his good fortune is TO be reck
oned.
Talcott Miller was one OF the early settlers In the
town OF Wheatand. near the village OF Scottsville
He waxed rich in farm lands. but shrewdly Invest
ed his money in other ventures. He ran big gen.
eral warehouse in which a man desirous OF start
ing a mill repairing spinning wheel or purchas-
ing an outfttng OF furniture for new mouse could
easily find satisfaction. Talcott Miller also owned
many hotels two on the Genesee River not far
from Rochester famous hostleries for winter night
sleighing parties. and three to the west between
Scottsvile and Buffalo.
Two sons born TO Talcott Miller one OF
them IS the central figure OF this tale. His name
is Romantic T. Miller. and his farms are accounted
the most fertile and his pastures the richest In all
the Genesee Valley TO this day. About five years
before the opening of the Civil War Romantic was
a blIthe hearty boy. twelve years old good
swimmer, runner. and. 1t Is said. hghter likewise
He was bright and quick in mind and as fun OF
tricks a monkey. one day MS father sald 10
him: Romantic you are growing TO be big boy
now: you should begin 10 be an aid to me- Ro-
manto told his father he should be glad to help
him in what manner he could. 81 have to-day pur-
chased six heavy feather beds y said the rather,
land | have put them in the warehouse They
need cleaning | want you TO take them In hand,
Romantic and see what you can do
Romantic thought profoundly. He gathered to-
eether three of his bosom friends and impaired to
them his new found task. Come on he said. I'VE
will all help clean the feather beds. So they set
forth for the warehouse.
1t so happened that the week before Tacott Miller
had bought an old fashioned second hand tanning
mill such as farmers use TO separate chaff from
wheat The grain went In one end. the big fan
wheels revoved and the chan being light, New
out the other. The wheat settled to the bottom.
Romantic drew out the six feather beds TO the side
OF the tanning mill. The four boys cut each one
open and, while ran he fan as 1t had never
been whiried before. the others poured in bushel
after bushel OF fine white geese feathers. The
warehouse in the twinkng of an eye was filled
with a snowy storm OF binding feathers. The air
was thick and unbreatha bic with them.
At noon the boys ceased from their labors, for
they not only had exhausted the supply Of feather
beds but also had begun TO feel hunger from their
unwonted exercise. Each went 10 his nome.
Romantic quietly and unosten tiously entered the
dining to confront his ia ther and mother lie
was downy with feathers Explanations followed
fast. The reports from some OF the hotels had not
been favorable of late and Talcott Miller was not
in the best of humor. At last the father lost all
pointment to me all your life" he said sternly Il
have finished. You will be put where you can do
The next day the unrelentng old father had his
son committed to the House OF refuge al d K9ch1s n
| and leave him there. She always silently upheld
| was htched to the chaise the father said: Wife
while you are In Roeheser 40 you draw % out out nie fFS
| supplies
When the son and his mother orove into Roches
ter they put out the horse at the old National Hotel
| barns and had dinner Then the son proposed that
mother should draw the money y out Of the bank
pn's 'Hs IN qa SAID
ee en ne d
hs and Ms fxpl Me aoU%e went int H. She
one the officers. Where the horse and the chaise
Mrs Miller did not remember the money until after
ward. Her husband reminded her Of 1t when she
Five days later Romantic. in the old chaise be-
hind the gray horse s9emny drove een o ase
the hotels. do not think that the men you en-
Sd6 sms Sem Il IL hsF Sere
| put the horse out, and only heard few Of the re-
The old man did not attempt enforce the com
mtment of his SON Perhaps the mother had f some s
| Years. and not once in those five. years did the
father, so much as notice him He might ha have sor
| been dead a Democrat. Then came the war.
After Bull Run had been clumsly lost Romantic
decided that he should TO the 'front.' his rather
| nodded his head; his mother wept a little and
| Romantic went He did return until the war
| had ended His parents heard from him from time
TO time. The, reports were only commenaat0rS @ paoD
| ton had been offered him twice but he had re-
| fused It, His comrades said ne was the life OF the
| whole regiment. and kept many heartbroken sol,
| dier from death by his CHEEKY face and happy
| voice He always managed to keep In funds and and
lent money TO the soldiers charging justly. but not
exorbitantly-a little for the principals sake HIS
| reputation as a financier spread 10 the other regi
| ments and Romantic Miller became the regimenta
| banker Thousands of men borrowed from him or
deposited their money with him Always scrnpn' T.
| iousIy honest he managed their affairs skllfully
and came back comparatively rich man. III. IL
| Ills father died forgiving his SON Part Of the
great Miller estate fell to him Romantic Miller Is
now an old man. respected. loved and held high In
the consideration of his country neighbors Whe
know his story and his boyhood escapades nks
epics Of the heroic days