The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-14

L
now, and Uttered with retired rocking
chairs and cast off clothing.
This house has ali been rebuilt since
the Sampson family lived here" explain
ed my guide. Formerly there were only a
few rooms, but an entire front portion has
been built on, the older house having
been moved further back from the road"
At present the building is a substantial
frame cottage, setting sonew hat into the
hillside. 1t was here that the admirafs ia
Their, James Sampson, settled in the late
90s. The elder Sampson was an Irishman
of sterling north of Ireland Presbyterian
stock. He came to New York in 1885, before
railroad building in that western country
had been dreamed of. Hannah Walker who
was afierward to become his wife, came
in the same expedition. although they
were not then acquainted. Sampson was at
that time plain day laborer, Years later
he did odd jobs of carpentry and mason
work, although 10 the day of his death
there was never a time when he received
more than days wages. The admiral was
the oldest boy of large family of children.
After a struggle lasting many years, the
e1der Sampson was able to lay aside
enough money to buy a lot across
from The cemetery, nearly mile from the
village, where he built himself a bit of a
cottage a story and a half high, with a
comfortable veranda in front, and grape
arbor reaching out at one side, providing
a pleasant shade for those who went be-
yond to the barn. Here the numerous fam
lily of boys and girls grew up.
The elder Sampson was a man of little
ambition. He was steady, Flooding and dull
minded; he possessed few of the active viz
tues, but in those of a negative sort he
was rich. Thus he was temperate and self
Controlled he was kindly in his family; he
worked steadily and spent his evenings at
home, and what money he could he saved
Moreover, he was a man of powerful ply
sique and clean morally, with a certain
quiet dignity which makes a workman
honored whatever may be his work These
characteristics, although negative and I'M
ebtrusive, he bequeatned to his children.
But what he lacked his wife, the adj
miraPs mother, made up. By common
consent of those who remember them well,
Mrs. Sampson was woman of rare abil-
ity and native, though unschooled culture.
she was sweet, even beautiful in face, and
strong and steady and kindly in charac-
ter. She was proud of her children and
ambitious with all the ambition that moth
er-love could feel for their advancement
both spiritually and in the great world of
affairs. She was a deeply religious wo-
man, and as long as she kept her health,
every Sunday found her in the pew Of the
old Presbyterian Church in the main street
of the village
Although the mother of a large family
of children and weighted down with the
cares Of workingmans household, she
yet found time to read much and TO en-
courage two of her children in their stud
les. The admiral, William. and his sister
Lizzie were both naturally studious. and
between these three, the mother and son
and the daughter, there sprung up a warm
companionship and friendliness which
meant more to them, perhaps, than their
kinship.
The boy Sampson was exceedingly
handsome, although Shy and dignihed.
His friend, Plny P. Sexton, who is now
the president of the village bank of
Palmyra, said of him: II don't remember
that he ever played games, nor thar he
ever took part IN the pranks which are
common among schoolboys. He was much
too busy. 1t. was necessary for him to
go nome the moment school was out TO
help ms rather or TO do chores for the
helgnbors. l have seen him many times
spading garden or saving wood or digging
bitches with his father while the resi- az
US were off to play ball or TO skate. Rut
TINS made no difference in our regard for
lllni' ne was always one of the best-liked
boys in school, although he was never
what would be called popular. His
friends in school called him VIII. never
Biny. He was invariably at the mead Of
mis- class, and we were not surprised after
ward TO hear that he was the -four
supper of his class at Annapolis"
MISS Hannah Sampson the adniraps
SISTER who stlll lives at the old family
nome at Palmyra. says that the admire,
as a boy was great reader. He de-
Voured all manner of books on bistor,,
mechanics and certain branches Of
science, and he even read Mathematics
Novels never interested him. Mr. sev
ton told me that young William visitaa
his fathers home and borrowed hool,s
one after another until he read every
thing in the library. Then he vis;tsd
other homes in the same way. unit, notb-
ing was left in town of the books that he
liked for him to read. '
Young Sampson had the rare ousut,,
OF impressins himself strongly ON nearl,,
~ everyone he met. 1t was not in uba,
ne said for he was always exceedingly