The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-05

on the third Monday Of February. A. n
ISS being the 46fth year +. American
Thea Wershipful-
Present:
Charles l. Hin.cn
Nathaniel q. Rand
Merritt billiard
Ordered that Andrew johnson. an or
phan boy. the son of Jacob Johnson,
j. Selby until he arrive TO lawful age TO
Tern tsic) the trade of a Taylor"
During sohnson's apprenticeship to
Sefby the foreman of the shop was
James Litchford from whom We get
the most interesting alta that We have
relating to "Andyts" boyhood.'
Litchford describes him as a "harum-
scarum boy" restless and mischievous,
out declares the future President
Sulitiess Of any "u~nhonorable traits
II Litchford's memory did not ie-
ceiVe him Andy knew his a b Cs
when he came to the shop" but ad
ded Mr. Litchford, i think / taught
him to read. and he deserves un-
credit, for some people say
as how they a a grand start. but
L reckon he started underground"
There is some slight discrepancy,
but perhaps not more than was to he
expected, between Mr.. Iitchford's
rec~ollectiOnS and the orthodox &C
count of the n in which Andrew
learned to read. The latter
tells Of a charitably inclined gentle
man in Raleigh who had acquired the
habit Of visiting Selby's shop and read
ing aloud to the men as they worked.
His faxOrite book, according to
SaVage,s* was a volume OF speeches.
embracing many OF %ninen British
orators and statesmen; the beauties of
W n IL r. on an ho N 20 b1- III n l-,y rnH n -
style and emphasis of the reader.
Young johnson became Interested. n
his first ambition was to equal the
visitor as a reader, and become ia
nailiar with those speeches which had
a special enec on his mind. He
took up the alphabet without an in
~structor but he obtained assistance
10y applying now to one journeymaR
and then to another. Having ac-
CURED a knowledge OF the letters he
desired to borrow the book which he
had SO often heard read and in which
he was SO profoundly interested.
Thus it may be said, he
learned to spell and read at the same
time in that book. Work
ing, steadily, from ten to twelve hours
daily, the desire to refresh himself at
the intellectual springs of greatness
could receive but little qualification.
The thirst for knowledge, however.
at I1fu ~ appSdSS1ilS1Ils
and the apprentice, after his labor
| was done devoted a couple of hours
nightly to the still widening fasci-
nation of books.
A very affecting picture OF future
greatness terminating in fertile soii
from which we tnrn, gladly enough,
to the more human picture given AS
by good old Mr.. Litchford. "Andy.s'
habit of devoting his evenings to the
still widening fascination OF books
| seems to have made less impression
On Mr.. Litchford than other habits
Of nightly diversion much more
natural to "Andy's' age and char
acter. One of these escapades by
bringing him into temporary trouble
was in reality the turning point in
his career. Near SeIby's place, &C
cording to Litchford, lived a Mrs.
Wells who had two right smart
daughters Just what relation these
two right smart daughters" bear to
the story we are left to conjecture
ter his ten to twelve hours toll,
Andy succeeded in tearing himself
away from the still widening fascina-
ton of books,'' and in company with
some Contemporaries set out to in
dulge in the still more fascinating
diversion of ~''chunking the old ladys
house.' It is not difficult for one
who has been a boy to picture the
little rascals as, after hurting a Volley
Of stones against the ell ladys" cot
tage, they away around the
| next corner, Or drop quickly behind
the first bush in the darkness to
smoker at her rage as she rushes to
/ the door quarreling and threatening
Unfortunately-or shall we not say
luckily for Andy" n his fellow
conspiTators the old lady discovered
who her tormentoTs were and made
-, ~ "a H. 80
| dire threats OF "~persecGting' them be
fore the police court. Perhaps while
drinking at some Of his intellectual
springs of greatness, Andy had i'm
bibed the sentiment that discretion
is the better part of Vaior; at any
rate he determined to act upon that
principle. and together with his
brother William and two other ap-
prentices. under the friend cover of
darkness. cut out for parts I'M