The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1907-08-08
THE LITTLE
Where the Young Harry and Charles
Met the Future Lord Protector.

Where the Young Harry and Charles
Met the Future Lord Protector. /.
divers birthplace, Cromwell
House," is today ~supplantod by a more
modern structure, standing rather re-
moved from the little town at the end
Of O twisting lane. AS we peep through
the iron gate, we feel sure that the gen.
eral aspect is not 80 different from
what 1t was some centuries ago; an
ample, square house, with windows
opening to the ground, through which
the children could step out on the
smooth English lawn shaded by oaks
and fir trees.
Here little Oliver grew up with his
eight brothers and sisters.
The second day following his fourth
birthday was a great day for Hunting
don and a greater day still for the
Cromwell family. Up on the hill at
Hinchingbroke Manor, where divers
uncle lived, all was in a turmoil; the
best linen was brought out; the pew
ter and silver polished to its brightest
l%uster; cooks and scullions fumed IN
the kitchen; lackeys and maids sour
ried through the corridor and hall, fof
there was to be o guest that night, and
such a guest!-no less a parsonage
than James vi. Of Scotland on his TIL
umphal progress from Edinburgh to
London to succeed Queen Elizabeth,
and to found the Inflated House OF
Stuart as James l. Of England. And
when the august presence arrived.
what a clatter In the courts as the
heavy coach wheels rolled over the paw
ing stones! What a stamping of hoofs
and neighing of steeds! What low
obeisances, and what q sumptuous din
ner!-a table grooming under loads Of
silver and smoking viands.
divers father. brother of the host
was much occupied, we may be sure
as was his mother, too. So can we not
picture u f~our-year-old boy, on his
sturdy little legs, wandering about witt
his brothers and sisters under the guild
ance Of a nursery-maid, his gray eyes
wide, his mouth agape at all the goings'
on? Can we not picture him staring a,
the young princes-as little Henry
Prince of Wales, who was to die scarce
nine years later, and leave his brother
Charles heir to the throne OF Eng.
land? Between oliver and this sam
Charles there was but a years differ
ence in age, and one cannot help won
dering, in thinking Of these two chill
dren face to face, If any thoughts bu
ohild-thoughts crowded divers Httl'
brain; any inkling that n day n
would wrest the crown OF Englan(
from this same weak prince, and him
self sit in the highest seat, be lord pro
tector of the. commonwealth, the great
est man not only in England, but II
all Europe! Next day King James
went on, to sit upon his throne il
WHITEHALL; and Oliver grew UP, not
as some writer's would have us be
lieve-in a country village, shut OF
from the active life of the day, but II
a thriving town, Only twelve hours
Journey from the metropolis, and or
the great highway between London ant
Edinburg.
In the courtyard of the George
(then much as 1t remains today az
might have seen the stages each DAY
bring in their loads of people. anc
his father, who had been In parlia-
ment. receive the news of the hour.
Soon the boy was put in the gram
mar school under the tutelage OF or
DR.. Beard; and the teachings OF thi'
worthy master, a great friend OF Mr.
Richard Cromwell's, must have left al
indelible imprint upon the lads char
acter. He seems to have conquered
lasting affection in his pupils heart
for all through Cromwelrs career thu
two men remained in close touch
From Ernest c. Pixotto's "Whel
Cromwell Was a Boy" in st. Nicholas