Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-08-01
THE REBEL In ART

So Charles Peals put aside his dreams of romance
and applied himself to his work at the sadd1ery.
Not SO for long. One pleasant sumner evening, he
strol1ing through the streets of Annapolis when
he caught sight of Rachel. She greeted him in q
for her silence his last visit. Her manner, her
shy speech, convinced him that he might try again.
The very next Sunday afternoon he rode out to her
home and made second proposal for her hand. This
time Rachel had words to answer him. They were
formally betrothed. The possibility of marriage
di slant. But Charles could be discour
aged by hopeless outlook. Difficulties to him
something to be tossed out of the way.
Since he felt himself expert saddler he began
to negotiate release from the terms of his appren
ticeship. At Last Mr.. Waters consented to fur
months, reduction service. and James Tilgham
offered to lend him twenty pounds. Charles was de-
Arious with excitement. He wanted to ride off to
Phi lade1 ph1a Immediately to buy supply of material
for his business. But Master Waters had scfsma
of his own. He assembled great array of tools and
stock, most of it worthless, and insisted that
Charles accept it for the triflng of $50 pounds.
Charles protested that he had only 20 pounds.
Waters willing to accept that mount in cash and
a note for the remainder. Evidently, Waters lad
been kind master for Charles did not distrust him.
Certainly Charles had not acquired much business e
peri ence during his apprenticeship. He seemed i'm
pressed by the quantity of goods offered and paid
attention to the quality Nor did he pay much at
tention to the terms of the debt he assuming.
Such trif1es interest could not be too important
to young man who was about to become bridegroom
and to assume his place in the business world. No
longer to be apprentice but real master of mis-
trade. And then, when he felt few qualms at be-
ginning his new life burdened with debt, sti II,
small voice would remind him that he the heir to
English estate. Someday he would 60 there to
claim that money which would lift him from the
craftsman level into r. ranks of the 1eisured. Boy
like, he must have been disappointed that he had
to ride to Philadelphia to the big city.
Charles signed the note. Proudly he watched the
stock he had purchased slowed away in the little shop
he setting up few doors from his old place of
work.
January Il, 1852, the Reverend Barkley married
the young saddler and his Rachel. Her parents held
house for several days the custom of the
time. At the end of the celebrations young Charles
took his bride home to live with his mother and
young sisters and brothers. He opened hi shop.
his first advertisement. So Charles not
business Biographers have found it simple to
trace his through the years in the following
old sheets of this newspaper.
Charles showing, even in his late adolescence,
the stores of energy, enthusiasm and obstinacy viii n
turbulent Did he dream that day when he opened hi
the Colonies break loose from England the
nation? Did he dream that he to record for
canvas the great of those days that to-
day look into the faces living men and not
stare at formal, convent onalized masks? No. He
had glimpses into the future, aspirations to-
ward such fame. He content. He had his
wife. He master Of his shop. And someday
he going to England to collect his inheri-
lance.
he in1ed