Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-08-08

sureoie, or something, would have fol-
lowed him everywhere, and we boys and
you girls could not have got through the
sureole and up to his altogether human
heart. James b. Crawford was a great,
and that is all there IS to il. That con-
science was the magnet that held his con-
duct ever to the north star OF right
Twouid not for the world detract from
the splendid tribute Eleanor Delaney pays
20 him who did more than any one, other
than my father and mother, to prepare my
mind and heart for the great struggles Of
life, and IL ever have resisted when re-
ward seemed sure but questi onabIe; II
ever have done noble act that the world
has sppiauded; If ambition has ever lifted
me from the common rat to heights that
others envicd, / owe 10 to the inspirations
OF James b. Crawford as, with his arm
around me. we wandered at night fall
among the big oaks of the campus and he
whispered in my ears his conception and
understanding OF high ideals, and burnt
into the tablets OF my soul his impress
siops OF what real man ought to be-
Bot all the same he was q very human
man, sure-enough, blood and bone man,
but nature, In combining them, closely
followed some mighty copy, and the re-
suit was a perfect man.
/ could relate many anecdotes in which
Mr.. Crawford was a prime factor, but J
have already imposed too much on the
patience Of the editor / will tell one
more that illustrates traits in his char
acter that help to prove that he had
great, strong, generous and kuightiy
heart in his bosom, and does infinite
honor to his manly manhood.
There was young fellow at the semi
nary who was the son of Methodist
minister in humble circumstances. The
boy was determined somehow to obtain an
education, notwithstanding his poverty.
I wen remember how devoted he was to
his studies, and 1t was easy to be seen
that he had no money to waste. He eked
out his slender income by doing odd jobs
where he could get them, and one OF them
WAS bringing the mail from the postofiice.
Living in Bucksport at that time was an
overgrown young man, the son of a
wealthy citizen who shall be nameless
here, and who went TO sea in one of his
fathers vessels In summer and staggered
around town through the winter. This
young tough, for some reason, took a dis
like TO the ministers boy, and often would
take his mail from him and distribute IL
in the snow, aud a; other times would beat
and otherwise naItreat him.
The minister's son was fraii boy ana
no more a match physically for the bury
thug than is kitten for a mastin.
Finally the boy was afraid 10 go down
town at all, and asked to be excused from
going for the mail, bat assigned no reason
therefor.
Bat Mr.. Crawford WAS soon informed of
the whole situation, and know Who told
him. One day Mr.. Crawford, ia the name
Of the boy, sent word to the tough that II
he would come to certain place on the
campus at a certain hour In the evening,
he would fight him. The boy knew
nothing OF fh., arrangement, OF course,
and the tough was delighted at the pros
peot. Mr.. Crawford supposed that he
alone was IN the game, and that no one
else knew anything about IT.
Well, the night came her q cold night
In early winter-and, half an hour before
the time sci for the curtain to rise, some
half dozen large oaks, more or less, had as
many husky Young fellows behind them,
and know every blessed one OF them.
Pretty soon dark figure walked slowly
down the old familiar path that led to
the street below. The figure had an over
coat on and the collar Was turned up, bat
the audience" knew who the actor was.
Then came heavy figure slonohing up
the path. Near a bare spot on the snow
blown hill the two figures met. There
was moments parley, but do not think
any words were spoken, they merely
paused for recognition Of each other. The
recognition was mutual, and hearty,
Quicker than 1t can be told there was a
bin, bang. bin, and in jiny only one
man was standing up and directly he faded
away into the night, and toward the sem
mary.
The figures faded away from behind the
trees and into the night, and toward the
seminary. Next morning, at chapel ser
vices, it was noticed that Mr. Crawford
looked uneomonly fine, and do not think
l ever heard him pray so powerfully as he
did then. By this time most all the stu
dents knew of the exhibition of the night
before, and it would not have been
difficult to prove to them that Mr. Craw-
ford was a saint all right, but | have INV
doubts about so convincing the young
tough whom We last saw the night before
wallowing In the snow.
A. s. CONDOR.