CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1900-11-29

| About eighty years ago gawky boy
OF Twelve arrived at a country academy
In Ohio. He had been three months
on the road. having come all the way
from New Hampshire. In those days
there were NO railways. and it is doubt
tul II he could have used one, had 1t
existed, for he was very poor. His
father was dead, and his uncle. away
on IN Ohio wilderness. as 1t was then.
nao onered to give him home IL he
would come Tor it. and he had accept
% the offer. His uncle was a pioneer
oisnop. who kept \ school and at the
same time carried on farm. Salmon
Tor that was the boys queer name
was given the chores to do, and on
noiidays and vacation time. he worked
upon the farm. One of his schoolmate.
says that at tnat time he was about a,
awkward boy as Was ever sean in
place He WAS very uear-sighted. he
ammered. and he was SO stoop-shoui-
oered. shambling and slouchy in his
appearance and ga. that he was a gem
erai laughing stock And worse, for
ms STOPPING habit had cramped his
lungs. and he was already feeble and
consumptive. There Is told of him
ABOUT that time a funny story. which
gives an idea of his character. One
DAY his uncle was called away on BUSH
ness, and before starting he told Sal
mon TO leave school early enough in
the afternoon to kill and dress a pig.
After much trouble, Salmon caught the
Pig and killed it. But cow could he get
the hair on? He had heard that the
farmers usually scalded noes, so he
heated kettle Of water and soused the
pig in But the water was too hot, or
the pig was kept in too long: at any
rate. instead of being loosened. the hair
was set ald would not come out At
all Salmon dug away with his fingers
until they were raw. but still the hair
stuck fast Then he bethought him
self of the bishops razor. and getting
1t. he shaved toe pig from nose to tail
The job was well done. and everybody
praised him. even the bishop-until he
tried TO shave himself with that razor,
But II was not By shaving pigs that
Salmon made q man Of himself. though
the severe discipline of his life ON the
farm no doubt helped very much to
develop his native force. II has been
said that he was not handsome boy.
One day he was shamblins along the
country road IN his usual manner. A
rail-splittsr By the roadside stoppea
his work to speak with him. The boy
shufiied along in An absent minded way.
his eyes on the ground. seeing nothing.
What fool is that" asked the man
OF another boy. moment after.
Aa ssrt ~ As-A
ops nephew. Salmon heard the un-
complimentary remark. and it reused
him He determined that NO rail-
splitter should be able to speak OF him
In that way again II be could help It
Finally he appealed to another uncle
a senator in Washington. where he
had been teaching schooi-to get MIN
petty clerkship in the treasury. His
uncle said: Il once got q position for
a nephew in the treasury. and it proved
his ruin I'll give you half a dollar
to buy a spade. and 90 out and dig for
n living. but / will not get you a place
under the government" Salmon said
he would not trouble him for the half
dollar. and rose, choking with anger.
to take his leave. You think me
harsh" said the senator, As they parted
at the door: but you will live to sss
that this is the best advice could
give you" Salmon did not believe IL
uuI IL was true. as events proved He
did get a place In the treasury. but II
was many years after. as its chief Of
fieer. Meantime he had risen to emil
nenee as turist, and had served his
state granny as It's governor. He died
chs. Justice OF the United States. Few
of those who were familiar with the
noble character and splendid figure of
Salmon p. Chase in mature LIE ever
suspected what an unpromising subject
he was in his youth.