Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-01-13
CHAPTER 1.


Before commencing the narration of
that strange, extraordinary series OF
events which began in my fourteenth
year, 1 must glance back at the earlier
years of my childhood, and at those who
Influenced it.
Ny earliest recollections are Of Tab
ernacle House; previous to those. all is
dim and shadowy. Tabernacle House
was an establishment kept by the Rev.
Obadiah Porter, for the reception OF
some half dozen boys.
The reverend pedagogue was man
whose satyr-like face greatly belied his
professions of profound piety. could
not understand, child as I was, how 1t
ever came into his head to set up as
tutor, or how parents or friends could be
induced to confide the education of chill
dren to the care of a man deficient in
the commonest rudiments Of learning.
His original occupation was that of a
shoemaker, and his hands still retained
coarse, grimed look. His bullet-shaped
head was covered with thick mass
of hair, which had shaggy, ragged ap-
pearance, from being cut In irregular
lengths, or rather chopped away in
pieces. His forehead was very low. He
snake-like eyes. In stature he was short,
thickset, bull-necked; his arms were re-
markably long, his feet splay and i'll
shaped.
Obadiah Porter was a widower, with
one daughter. So powerfully have terri
BILE events engraven her after-image upon
my mind, that 1 can scarcely recall its
first impressions. 1 think she must have
been about fifteen or sixteen, 1 being
some five or six, when first saw her.
She did not bear the slightest resem-
blance to her father; she was tall, thin;
her hair was bright red, her complexion
pale, her eyes large, her features deli
cate. and sharply cut. To this young
lady was handed over the tuition OF her
fathers pupils.
There were five besides myself. There
was a strange bond of sympathy be-
tween us all-not one Of US knew any
thing Of our parents. One knew an
aunt, another an uncle, third grand
mother, or a grandfather, or guard
ian, but no father or mother.
It was popularity of Mr.. Porter s
establishment that he did not take boys
who had parents. His advertisement in
the newspapers ran thus: 1.-THE Rever-
education and religious training of Or
phan boys from the earliest age. I'm
exceptional references as to piety and
discretion will be given. N. B.-No hol-
idays."
It is not my intention to linger upon
this period, or enter into any minute de
scriptions of our uninteresting, monoton-
Gus life. The years crept on, and were
almost wholly passed within the pre-
cincts of Tabernacle House. 1t was q
fine, old-fashioned dwelling. 1t had large
gardens back and front-the latter be
Ing screened from the road by high
wall-besides an extensive orchard anC
a paddock. Altogether, it was quite 6
gentleman's house. But rents are won
derfully low in these parts. Mr.. Por
ter was very well-to-do. His boarderi
alone brought him in a respectable in
come; his chapel was well attended; ane
he numbered many Of the most prosper
GUS Mawworms of the town among hi
congregation, to one of whom-a Mrs
Humphries-this house belonged.
By and by there were changes. ON
boy left, and then another; but other
took their places. Grim-looking person.
came to take them away; but. except II
one case, we knew nothing of their fu
ture destiny or destination, and the,
dropped out Of our lives completely.
seemed as though we were interloper
upon the world, and ought never to hav
been born.
The exceptional case 1 mention wa
that Of a boy named Josiah Cook, whom
Mr.. Porter had transferred from hi
care to that of a printer in the town, a
an apprentice. l little thought tina
Cooks transference to Bury would 8
materially influence my own future lif
that out of that event would spring a
incident destined to shape its whole fl
ture course.
There was one large room at the to
Of the house, in which we six boys slep
two in each of the three beds. Coo
was my bed fellow, and we were fas
friends and companions. He was bolt
venturesome boy, and on the last nigt
of his sojourn amongst US he propose
the daring plan of some night paying I
secret visit and relating all the "at
ventures he should experience in b
new home.
"I can easily climb over the garde
wall from the next field" he said; Il
look, out, boys; if you hear stor
thrown up at your window, it will
me-
Six months passed away and v
heard nothing more Of Cook. He W,
rapidly fading out Of our thoughts, whe
one autumnal night we heard shal
crack at our bedroom window. The boil
est of our number gently lifted the sas
and peered out. 1t was bright moo
light night, and he saw, standing in Il
garden beneath, the wellknown figu
of our old companion.
The back of the house was cover
with a fine old pear tree. 1t had n
been pruned for several years, aud HI
thrown out it's wood somewhat wildly.
few whispered words, and Cook W
mounting the tree with hand and fo
almost as easily as though he had be
ascending ladder. When he clamb
ed into the room we all gathered rou
him in sort of awe-struck manner.
s"Now, look here, boys, ""he said; "wf
do you think has brought me here
right?'
"To see u.s. we supposed.
"Well, that Of course; but do y
think it would be the thing in me
come and make your mouths water W
the story Of all these nice things, uni