The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-15
n, MARY q. PHILLIPS.

,ha, the future creator Of Ameri-
i can romance was brought when a
babe some thirteen months old.
Here. IN the heart Of the wilderness, his
infancy was passed. Otsego Hall shell
tered his budding boyhood and yourg
manhood Grace and refinement dwelt
within the household. without voices
If tb. forest awakened and nurtured
his naturally active mind, which later
an was not less Influenced by the mys-
tories II the sea. The Six Nations were
vet , power in the Mohawk Valley, then
IN. hishway to the land of the setting
sun h,yond And they are now remem-
ber,d IN the names Of the principal
lake, and streams Of the country that
ono. was theirs. The boy was face to
face with the grim warriors, braves
and rhicftains that the man Fenimore
Conprr translated into his pages with
a touch true to the red mans life" his
instinct in trading his friendly and hos
tile intent Here nature was his first
and unforgettable teacher. From
pages and Pictures" by his daughter,
Susan Fenimore Cooper much will be
given in this book. Miss Cooper has
drawn some pretty pen pictures OF her
father. child life. She writes: From
the first bow and arrow. kite and ball.
TO later feats in fishing. riding, shooting
and skating. all were connected with his
highland home" He was healthy and
active. brave. blithe hearted, impetu-
Gus. most generous and upright boy"
OF hi, childhood another record Isl "A
gra, ,ycd light haired, rudy boy, nim-
bic a. deer and gay as a bird: on the
lakr plying his oar Justify or trimming
his .au to the mountain breeze: and
whenever he found a wave high enough
to hit his little boat his veins would thrill
with strange delight. and he would
ask himself whether this was like those
ocean wa,es of which he had heard
such wonders" The little lads next
step IN learning was taken under tn
gentle rule of his elder sister, Hannah.
who had her schooling in New York
city and afterward improved her leisure
by extensive reading.
It was not long before this youngest
son was sent from home. The eventful
Journey to Albany was made in the
care OF "A near and worthy farmer. who
was carrying toward the Hudson load
Of wheat from the fields OF Otsego."
They went over the fine turnpike-the
great highway OF that day-"just
finished from the Hudson to Cherry VAL
L., ~, ,b;lI hat no, ri much Of tbis
wonder Of roads from the gentlemen at
hi, fathers table who were interested
In IT, and he was eager TO see its toll
gates and stone bridges. After leaving
"the corduroy tracks leading to 1t from
Coop.rstown the famous turnpike burst
upon the gratified schoolboy's vision.
A. they trotted slowly along the farmer
pointed out, among other marvels OF
the way. "a tavern for every mile" Of
the s.Nty between Albany and Lake
Otsego A long train Of farmers
Wagons filed with the precious wheat,
was slowly rolling eastward, passing
emlsIaut wagons OF growing families"
and household gear moving westward to
the great lake countries. All this de-
lighted the boy Of 3. who was finally
set down at the door Of st. Peters
rectury at Albany. " y.
Durug 1901 a man near so. Clearly
clad u sailors gear but without stock
lngs or neckband. appeared before
Juder cooper and asked II the lot be-
tweeu Fenimore and the village was
for sale. The answer was Yes, but the
price - high" and naming 1t, the
stranger requested that deed be made
out ar once; he counted down the
amount in gold and gave his name as
Esa.dS iIausman. He had built for
himself a small rude house on this lot
and lived alone in 1t for years. The
secrets Of his former life, his wide
learning 'once found teaching college
president Hebrew), and disappearance
al times, were never solved. Only his
death revealed purse OF gold worn
betWe"n his shoulder blades. There was
no Will So 10 public sale went the little
hut and It's lakeshore lot. This man OF
mysiery made deep impression ON
Cooper boy mind. and later. in 1883
was N" suhject OF several pages of the
author chronicle OF Cooperstown.
Cooper owned to having learned little
al college When left to his own bent
his early love for out Of door life drew
him to foam the hills and explore near