The life and public services of Henry Wilson : late vice-president of the United States

Front matter

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No

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Preface

A STATESMAN eminent for patriotism and integrity is a national instructor. The record of his life, his services, and his opinions, is, to some extent, an exposition of the spirit and progress of the people whom he represents ; and the people have the right to claim it, not only as a memorial of the past, but as an inspiration for the present, and a light for times to come.

Pre-eminently may this be asserted in regard to the distinguished man whose biography we now purpose to write.

Holding himself steady to his noble purposes, he was so prominent an actor in the remarkable events of the last twenty years, he was so identified with the life of the republic, that an account of his official career becomes, in some respects, the key to the history of the country for that period ; while in the development of the principles of freedom which he made, in the consistent life he led, and in the counsel he imparted, we have our hopes in the permanency of popular government brightened, and our steps directed as we rise to national strength and

grandeur.

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b PREFACE.

In makinoc a register of his life, the authors have had access to original sources of information, and have availed themselves of every aid within their reach for the verification of their statements as to matters of fact. They have endeavored to present opinions frankly and fairly, and to render this biography as complete as the allotted time and space would permit.

If this book, in spite of any errors, tends to do justice to the character and course of one of the representative men of the present times, to give dignity to labor, to inspire working-men with confidence in themselves, and stronger love for our country, the end for which it is written will be attained.

OOI^TEI^TS.

Chapter I. Pa3b

The Colbaths. — Farmington People in 1812. — Mr. "Winthrop Colbath and Wife. — Introduction of Son to Mrs. Guy's School. — School-Books of those Days. — Change of Residence. — Visit to Mrs. Eastman. — Testament. — Hard Times in the Family. — Young Colhath goes to live with Mr. William Knights. — His Labors on the Farm. — Kindness of Mrs. Eastman. — Young Colbath's Love of Books. — His Reading. — Faithfulness to his Employer. — His Frugality. — Freedom. — Compensation. — Change of Name. — Character. — Search for Labor. — Resolves to go to Natick and become a Shoemaker ......t.. ..••.. 13

CHAPTER n.

Journey to Natick. — Visits Bunker Hill and the Office of " The North- American Review." — The Town of Natick. — Shoemaking. — Lets himself to learn the Trade. — Makes Forty-seven Pairs and a Half of Shoes without Bleep. — Forms a Debating Club. — Improves in Speaking. — Deacon Coolidge. — Health impaired. — Visits Washington in 1836. — Opposition to Slavery. — Williams's Slave-Pen. — His Own Account of his Visit. — Attends Academies in New Hampshire. — School-Teaching. — Studies. — Attends an Antislavery Convention at Concord, N.H. — Loss of Funds.— Returns to Natick. — Improvements in the Village. — He begins to manufacture Shoes. — Character as a Business-Man. — Amount of Business done, — His Regard to Principle 22

CHAPTER in.

The Rev. E. D. Moore: his Views, and Regard for Mr. Wilson. — The Rev. Samuel Hunt: his Influence. — Bible-Class. — Presentation of a Watch.— Marriage. — Mrs. Wilson's Character. — Her Influence overher Husband.— • Their House and Home. — Birth of a Son. — Mr. Wilson's Regard for Temperance.— Speech. — Candidate for General Court. — Defeated on the Fifteen-gallon Law. — Enters the Harrison Campaign. — General Enthusiasm of the People. — He makes his first Political Speech. — Addresses more than Sixty Audiences. — His Manner. — Elected to General Court. — Story of the Farmer. — His Industry. — His Views of Slavery. — Advocates Repeal of Law against Intermarriage of Blacks and Whites. — Defeated aa

Candidate for Senate. — Elected to that Body the Next Year, and for 1845.

— Contends for the Right of Colored Children to a Seat in the Public Schools. — Remarks thereon. — Advance in Public Sentiment. — Mr. Wilson's Mission ...• ••••88

CHAPTER IV.

His Military Turn of Mind. — Reading. — Views of War, — Views of the Militia System. — Election as Major, 1843. — Colonel and Brigadier-General, 1846. — Regard for Discipline. — Popularity with Soldiers. — Speech in the Senate. — Peace and War. — Preparations for more Important Duties. — His Regard for Temperance. — Speech at Natick, 1845. — A Citizen at Home. — Appreciated by his Townsmen t t • . t 61

CHAPTER V.

Southern Efforts to annex Texas to the United States. — Mr. Wilson's Amendment to Resolutions against Annexation in the Senate adopted. — Call for a Convention. — Opposed by Whigs. — Held in Faneuil Hall, Jan. 27. — Address to the People. — The True Reformer. — Meeting at Waltham. — Mr. Wilson's Views. — Convention at Concord, 1845. — Mr. Hunt. — Meeting at Cambridge, Oct. 21. — Address of Mr. Wilson. — Persistent Efforts. — Carries Petitions to Washington. — Refuses to take Wine with Mr. Adams.

— State Representative in 1846. — Introduces Resolution on Slavery. — Eloquent Speech thereon. — Mr. Garrison's View of it. — Regard for the Constitution 60

CHAPTER VT.-

Regard of the People. — Delegate to the National Convention. — Withdraws from that Body. — Origin of the Free-soil Party. — "Boston Republican."

— Editor of. — Its Principles and Influence. — Chairman of Free-soil State Committee.' — Member of the House, 1850. — Mr. Webster's 7th-of-March Speech. — The Coalition. — Election of Mr. Sumner to the United-States Senate, 1851. — Mr. Sumner's Letter. — Mr. Wilson made Chairman of the Senate that Tear. — Address on taking the Chair. — A Contrast. — "The Liberator." — Harvard University. — Thanks of the Senate, and Closing Address. — Delegate to Pittsburg. — Candidate for Congress, 1852. — Chairman of the Senate, 1852. — His Course in the Senate. — Welcome to Kos- Buth. — Sympathy between them. — His Punctuality. — Gold Watch . . 88

CHAPTER Vn.

A Friend of his Pastor. — Hard Study. — Temperance. — Books and Authors.

— The Source of Civil Liberty. — No " Back-Blows." — Cheerful Spirit.— Home. — Gift to his Minister. — Revision of the State Constitution. — Elected by Natick and Berlin. — Punctuality. — His Course. — How he looked at a Legal Question. — Chairman pro tem. — Speech in Favor of Colored Troops.

— On the Death of Mr. Gourgas of Concord. — On the Course of Harvard College in Respect to Prof. Bowen. — Address to his Constituents. — Reason

for Defeat of the Amendments. — Cost and Influence of the Convention . 103

CHAPTER vrn.

Candidate for Governor, — Defeated. — Not disheartened. — Visit to Washington. — His Grand Idea. — Ready to surrender Party for Principle. — Convention at "Worcester, 1854. — Again nominated for Governor, and defeated.

— State goes into the American Organization. — His Views. — Southern Domination. — Antislavery Sentiment increasing. — Sumner. — Mr. Wilson nominated United-States Senator. — His Firmness. — His Election. — United- States Senate-Chamber. — His Fitness for the Place. — His Personal Appearance.— His First Speech. — Letter from Mr. Ashmtm. — Extract from Mr. Parker's Sermon, and Letter from the Same . • • . t t • 116

CHAPTER JX.

Defection of the American Party. — Southern Influence. — Wilson's Resolution. Interesting Letter. — Address in New York. — Antislavery Cause in Peril.— Brattleborough, Vt. — Delegate to American National Council, June, 1855.

— Stand for Freedom. — Protest. — Defiant Speech. — Letter from Amasa Walker. — Remarks of" The Tribune." — Activity in forming a New Party. *

— Speech at Springfield. — Twenty-one-Years Amendment. — Opposes it. — Friendly to Foreigners. — Letter to Francia Gillette. — Catholic Spirit 129

CHAPTER X.

Troubles in Kansas. — Slave and Free Labor Antagonistic. — Reply to Mr. Toucey . — Mr. Douglas. — Assault on Mr. Sumner. — Aided by Mr. Wilson.

— Scene in the Senate-Chamber. — Challenge of P. S. Brooks. — Reply. — How received. — Letter of Mr. Harte. — Reply to Mr. Butler of South Carolina.— Letter from Whittier. — Labors in the Senate. — Views on Slavery.— Speech July 9. — Musket-Ball. — Speech against sending Military Supplies to subjugate Freemen in Kansas ........ 149

CHAPTER XI.

Philadelphia Convention, 1856. — Platform. — The Campaign. — Sons of New Hampshire. — South for the Dissolution of the Union. — Kansas and Nebraska Bill. — Speech on the Republican Party. — Opening of the Grand-Trunk Railroad. — Speech at Montreal. — Activity in the United-States Senate. — Measures proposed. — Speech on the Lecompton Constitution. — Letter flrom the Hon. George T. Bigelow; also from the Hon. G. R. Russell . . . 21€

CHAPTER Xn.

Character of his Reply to Mr. Hammond. — "Cotton is King." — Souraem Institutions. — A Contrast. — Social Condition of the North and South. — Mud-sills. — Free Labor of the North. — Conclusion of his Argument. — Reply to Mr. Gwin's Challenge. — The Affair amicably adjusted . . • 229

CHAPTER Xm.

Re-elected by a Large Majority. — Reasons for it, — His Industry. — Patronage, — Advocates Central Route for the Pacific Railroad. — Extract from hia Bpeech. — A Radical Southern Party. — A Personal Interview. — His Course. — Temperance Meeting. — Printers' Banquet. — Paul Morphy. — . Fourth of July at Lawrence. — His Address. — His Course in respect to the Raid of John Brown. — Meeting at Natick. — Reply to Mr. Iverson. — Vote of Thanks by the General Court. — Speech on the Slave-Trade . . • 250

CHAPTER XIV.

Mr. Lincoln nominated. — Mr. Wilson's Energy in his Support. — Speech a. Myrick's. — East Boston. — Free and Slave Labor. — Letter of Mr. Packarc.

— Secession of the Southern States. — Mr. Wilson Fearless, — Speech in the Senate. — Labors in the Military Committee with Mr, Davis, — He foresees a tremendous Contest. — His Position. — Q-reat Speech on Mr. Crittenden's Compromise. — Letters from Mr. Whittier, Mr.s. L, M, Child, Gerrit Smith, Amasa Walker, — Vote of Thanks 273

CHAPTER XV.

The Beginning of Hostilities. — His Advice to the President. — Activity.— Labors as Chairman of Military Committee. — BUls introduced by him. — Letter from Gen. Scott. — The Soldier's Friend. — Battle of Bull Run, July 21. — He raises nearly Twenty-three Hundred Men. — Made Colonel of the Twenty-second Regiment. — Goes with it to Washington. — Character of this Regiment. — Aide-de-camp to Gen. McClellan. — Letter of Gen. Williams. — Receives no Compensation for Service. — Unfounded Charge of Mr. Russell. — Mr. Wilson's Letter. — His Record. — Rebellion strengthens. — Character of the Republican Leaders. — Measures introduced and carried through Congress by Mr. Wilson. — Letter of Mr. Cameron. — Emancipation in the District of Columbia. — An Early Aspiration realized. — Letters from Lewis Tappan and John Jay 304

CHAPTER XVI.

The Conflicting Powers, — The Army and Congress. — Position of Mr. Wilson.

— Bill for Sutlers. — Signal Service. — Pay to Officers. — Medical Department.— Volunteers. — Seniority of Commanders. — Storekeepers. — District of Columbia. — Medals. — Pay in Advance. — Abolition in District of Columbia.— The Confederates. — Militia Bill. — President's Proclamation. — Rosecrans. — Bureau of Emancipation. — Enrolment Bill. — Remarks. — Colored Youth. — Wounded Soldiers. — Corps of Engineers. — Letter of Dr. Silas Reed. — Fall of Vicksburg. — Conference with the Cabinet. — Battle of Gettysburg. — Gen. Grant. — Address before the Antislavery Society. — Thanks to the Army. — Bounties, — Ambulances. — ^Colored Soldiers Free.

— Thirteenth Amendment. — Speech. — Appropriation Bill. — Wives and Children of Colored Soldiers Free. — Fourth of July at Washington. — Gen. Grant. — "New-Bedford Mercury." — A Letter 320

CHAPTER XVn.

Mr. Wilson returned to the United-States Senate. — Notice of Election by "The Bostoa Journal." — Freedmen's Bureau. — Military Appointments. — Visit to Fort Sumter. — Death of Mr. Lincoln. — Mr. Wilson's View of him. ^ Speech at Washington July 4. — Mayor Wallach. — Advice to the Colored People. — The Course of the Executive. — Silver Wedding. — Description of. —Articles presented. — Respect of his Townsmen. — Record of Antislavery Measures in Congress. — Character of the Work. — Opinion of " The Atlantic Monthly." — Summary of the Work. — Slaves used for Military Purposes made Free. — Fugitives. — District of Columbia. — "Black Code."

— Witnesses. — Schools. — Railroads. — Territories Free. — Emancipation.

— Captives of War. — Rebel Claimants of Slaves. — Hayti and Liberia. — Slaves in Military Service. — Fugitive-slave Acts. — Slave-Trade. — Courts, Testimony in. — Reconstruction. — United-States Mail. — Wives and Children of Slaves. — Bureau of Freedmen. — Amendment of the Constitution.

— The Negro a Citizen. — Colored People indebted to the Labors of Mr. Wilson 338

CHAPTER XVili.

Course of the President. — Reconstruction Diflicult. — Mr. WUson's View.— No Desire to degrade the South. — Bill to maintain the Rights of the Freedmen.— Supports Mr. Trumbull's Bill to enlarge the Freedmen's Bureau. — What he means by Equality. — Honorable Sentiments. — Joint Resolution for disbanding Military Organizations. — Speech on the Resolution of Mr. Stevens against the Admission of Southern Representation. — The Nature of the Struggle. — Condition of Freedmen. — Mistake of the President. — G-en. Grant. — Legislative Labors. — Speech in Boston. — Natick. — Defection of the President. — Massachusetts. — Congress a Co-ordinate Branch of the Government. — Tour through the West. — Speech at Chicago. — Elective Franchise in the District of Columbia. — Corporal Punishment. — Buying and selling Votes. — Address on Religion. — Testimony of Statesmen to Christianity. — An Admonition. — Death of his Son. — Monument. — Address at Quincy. — Good Advice. — His Work on Military Legislation in Congress. — Its Character 351

CHAPTER XIX.

Peonage. — Whipping. — Colored Persons in the Militia. — Bill to facilitate Restoration. — Speech thereon. — Feelings toward the Rebels. — Temperance in Congress. — Hon. Richard Yates. — Reception at Tremont Temple. — Remarks of W. B.Spooner. — Mr. Wilson's Address. — Mr. Yates's. — Liquors banished from the Capitol. — Enforcement of the Law. — Visit to the South.

— At Richmond, Va. — Petersburg. — Animosity of Goldsborough, N.C. — Reception at Wilmington. — Mr. Robinson. — At Charleston May 2. — New Orleans. — Gen. Longstrcet's Opinion. — Declines going to Europe. — Bill vacating Offices. — Appointing Civilians incorporated in Mr. Trumbull's Bill. — Remarks on its Passage. — President of Convention at Worcester. — Speech. — Gen. Sheridan. — Hopeful View of the Republic. — Speech at Marlborough. — Effects of Intemperance, — Who are Weak? — Strong Appeal.— Speech at Bangor.— Gen. Grant. — Speech inFaneuU Hall.— Friend of "Working-Men.- Reconstruction Measures. — Style and Subject-Matter. —A Wedding .'..,. 374

CHAPTER XX.

Mrs. Wilson's Death and Character. — Mrs. Ames's Opinion. — ^Visit to Europe. — American Missionary Society. — Rise and Fall of the Slave-Power. — Extract. — Nomination as Vice-President. — Letter of Acceptance. — Address at Boston. — Regard for the Memory of Mrs. WUson. — Visit to North Carolina and Virginia. — Regret for One Expression. — American Party and Credit MobUier. — Mr. Sumner's Course regretted. — Election as Vice-President. — His Poverty 386

CHAPTER XXI.

Mr. WUson presiding over the Senate. — His Industry. — Declension of his Health. — His Retirement from Labor. — Visit to New Hampshire. — Letter to "The Springfield Republican." — The Bounty Bill. — Death of Charles Sumner. — Health Improving. — The Second Volume of " The Rise and Fall of the Slave-Power in America." — His Back Pay as Senator. — His Opinion of President Grant. — His Tour to the South-west. — Summer at Saratoga.

— The Republican Convention at Worcester. — His Last Sickness and Death.

CHAPTER XXn.

The National Grief at the Death of Mr. WUson. — President Grant's Order. — Honors paid to the Remains at Washington. — Dr. Rankin's Address. — The Baltimore Fifth Regiment. — Honors at PhUadelphia; New York. — Announcement of Gov. Gaston. — Remarks of Mr. Stebbtns; of Judge Clark. — Reception of the News at Natick. — Meeting in FaneuU HaU. — Address of Gen. Banks. — The Remains in Doric HaU. — Memorial Services in the House of Representatives. — Dr. Manning's Eulogy. — Services at Natick. — Address of the Revs. E. Dowse and F. N. Peloubet. — The Burial at DeU Park Cemetery. — Mr. Wilson'a Will. — His Character ... 427

LIFE OF HENRY WILSON.

CHAPTER I.

ENTRODUCTIOlSr. MR. WILSON S FAMILY, BIRTH, BOYHOOD,

APPRENTICESHIP, AND EDUCATION^.

The Colbaths. — Farmington People in 1812. — Mr. Winthrop Colbalh and Wife. — Introduction of Son to Mrs. Guy's School. — School-Books of those Days. — Change of Residence. — Visit to Mrs. Eastman. — Testament. — Hard Times in the Family. — Young Colbath goes to live "with LIr. William Knights. — His Labors on the Farm. — Kindness of Mrs. Eastman. — Young Colbath's Love of Books. — His Reading. — Faithfulness to his Employer. — His Frugality. — Freedom. — Compensation. — Change of Name. — Character. — Search for Labor. — Resolves to go to Natick and become a Shoemaker.

ONE of tlie essential benefits of liberal institutions is the opportunity afforded by them for developing the mental energies of the masses of the population. Freedom is the fostering mother of the intellect and intelligence of the entire people.

The voice of civil liberty, like that of Christianity, is, " Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters ; and he that hath no money; and whosoever will, let him come." Hence America is the best country in the world for men to make themselves.

" Sometimes," remarked an intelligent Japanese, " we express our feelings In Japan : opinions we have none."

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Here we entertain opinions ; we express them freely ; and, tlirough the clashing of opinions, make advancement. Our destiny is placed in our own hands ; and every man is rated, as he ought to be, according to his worth. There is the goal, the prize : the track is clear, and the best champion wins.

Tims from the bosom of the people came up Washington, Jackson, Clay, and Lincoln ; and thus arose the legislator whose career we now attempt to trace.

Henry Wilson is the son of Winthrop and Abigail Colbath ; and was born in Farmington, N.H., on the sixteenth day of February, 1812. His father was the son of Winthrop Colbath ; and was born in that town on the seventh day of April, 1787; and died in Natick, Mass., on the tenth day of February, 1860. His mother was born on the twenty-first day of March, 1785 ; and died on the eighth day of August, 1866. They rest side by side in the cemetery at Natick, where the son has erected marble headstones to their memory.

The Colbath family, originally, as supposed, from Argyleshire in Scotland, emigrated to the north of Ireland in the troublesome times of James the First ; thence to America, and settled at Newington, N.H., early in the eighteenth century.

At the time of Mr. Wilson's birth, his parents were livino; in a small cottaore on the right bank of the Cocheco River, about one mile south of the "Dock," as the village of Farmino-ton was then called. The site of the cottage is on a gentle eminence commanding a pleasant prospect of the river and surrounding country.

Farmington, which is in Strafford County, and about thirty-five miles north-east from Concord, and seventeen north-west from Dover, contained, at this period, about

INTEODUCTION. 15

twelve hundred inliabifants ; and they were mostly engaged in agricultural pursuits. They earned their livelihood by the sweat of the brow. They had but slender educational advantages ; and their style of speech, of dress, of building, and of life in general, was plain and unpretending. They generally spun and wove their own garments from wool of their own raising. They stored their barns with hay in summer, their cellars with apples and cider in the autumn. They spent the long winter evenings around the ample fireplace in shelling corn, making brooms, cracking nuts, singing songs, and telling stories of the times gone by. .

Mr. Winthrop'Colbath was a poor day-laborer, engaged for many years in running a saw-mill on the river below his house. He was rather tall, good-looking, agile, brave, and quick at repartee. His wife was handsome, fond of reading, sensible, and industrious. Her eyes were very keen and piercing. For his father and mother Mr. Wilson ever entertained and cherished the most affectionate and kind regard.

Like other indigent and hard-working people of New England, Mr. Wilson's parents saw the value of the public school, and early introduced their bright-eyed son to the tuition of Mistress Guy, who quickly taught him how to read and spell, from Perry's " Spelling-Book " and " The Primer," in the old wooden schoolhouse.

He was a studious and obedient pupil, improving well the opportunities he had for learning in his boyhood.

The school-books at that time in Farmino;ton were Welch's and Adams's " Arithmetics," " The English Reader," " The American Preceptor," and " The Columbian Orator." Over these this boy spent many an hour in the long seats of the unpainted district schoolhouse ;

and whatever entered his retentive memory remained aa in a vice, — fixed and unchangeable.

When he was about seven years old, his father built a small house in front of an old grove of pines, just where the Cocheco River makes a beautiful bend to the right, and to this place removed his little family. Nothing now remains to indicate the spot except the cellar, and some peach and cherry trees growing in the enclosure.

When he was eight years old (1820), a little incident took place which had some influence upon his future course of life. Mrs. Anstress (Woodbury) Eastman, wife of the Hon. Nehemiah Eastman, and sister of the Hon. Levi Woodbury, seeing him pass her house, called him to her, gave him some clothes of which he was in need, and inquired if he knew how to read. " Yes, pretty well," he answered her. " Come, then, and see me at my house to-morrow," she replied with kindness. Early the next morning he presented himself before the lady ; when she said to him, "I had intended to give a Testament to some good boy that would be likely to make, a proper use of it. You tell me you can read : now take this book, and let me hear you." He read a chapter in the Testament. " Now carry the book home with you," said she, "read it entirely through, and you shall have it."

Gladly he accepted the condition ; for a book he had never owned, and to him it was a golden treasure. He hurried home to read it. After seven days he called again at Mrs. Eastman's house, and said to her that he had read the book from beo-innino; to end.

" It cannot be ! " said Mrs. Eastman with surprise. " But let me try you." So, calling him to her side, she carefully examined him till she was fully satisfied that he had read the Testament entirely through, and fairly won the prize he coveted.

INTEODUCTION. 17

Mr. Wilson has publicly declared that the reading of this Testament, which he still keeps, together with the subsequent examination, was the starting-point in his intellectual life.

The times, especially for the working-men, were very gloomy at this period. The war with England had impoverished the country. Money was scarce ; wages were low. Want and sickness entered the Colbath family. Three of the little children died, and were buried in the field opposite the house. In reference to these days of trial, Mr. Wilson once, in public, said, " I was born in poverty : Want sat by my cradle. I know what it is to ask a mother for bread when she has none to give."

So, in his reply to Mr. Hammond, who had characterized working-men as " the mud-sills of society," he thus touchingly alluded to these early days of trial : —

" Poverty cast her dark and chilling shadow over the home of my childhood, and Want was there sometimes an unbidden guest. At the age of ten years, to aid him who- gave me being in keeping the gaunt spectre from' the hearth of the mother who bore me, I left the home of my boyhood, and went to earn my bread by ' daily labor.' " - This active boy, nurtured in adversity, had a vigorous constitution : above all, he had an inspiration ; and a boy with an inspiration is far better than a boy with a great fortune.

• In the summer of 1822 he was bound by indenture to a hard-working farmer of the neighborhood to serve him on his farm until the age of twenty-one. By the terms of the indenture, he was to have one month's schooling in the winter, food and raiment, with six sheep and a yoke of oxen to be delivered to him at the expiration of his time of service. He went to live with Mr. Knight upon the

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seventh day of August, being then a Uttle more than ten years old, and began at once the hard work of the farm. As he mcreased in age, his toil became more steady and severe. In summer he swung the scythe, or handled the sickle, till the evening stars appeared : in winter he cut timber in the forest.

But while thus laboring uncomplainingly, and developing by incessant toil his physical system, he was also turning every moment he could save from house and larm work to the improvement of his mind. He read with intense avidity whatever books came in his way ; and he remembered what he read.

" I believe," says Walter Scott, " one reason why such numerous instances of erudition occur among the lower ranks is, that, with the same powers of mind, the poor student is limited to a narrow circle for indulging his passion for books, and must necessarily make himself master of the few he possesses ere he can acquire more."

This poor boy had, at first, no books except his Testament and the text-books of the district school. He read them over and over again, committed many parts of them to memory, and longed for more. Mrs. Eastman, as a. kind of guardian angel, still watched over him. She noticed his regard for books : she kindly made selections for him from her husband's library, and lent him volume after volume. This was a godsend to him. Every moment he could now steal from toil was spent iii reading. This was his pastime and his recreation. Some of the happiest moments of his life were spent in running, when work was over, to the dwelling of his benefactress for another book. By the light of the kitchen-fire — for he had no money to purchase oil — he went through volume after volume ; sometimes reading on, unconscious of the

INTRODUCTION. 19

flight of time, until the morning broke. In this way he perused the leading works of the British and American statesmen and historians, the fascinating pages of Irving, Cooper, and Scott, all the then published numbers of " The North-American Review," and many other current publications of the day.

Judge Whitehouse of Farmington also lent him many books, and directed him in his course of reading. It was fortunate that he met with such intelligent guides, and that the best works in English and American literature thus fell into his hands ; for it is the quality rather than the quantity of the material received into the mind that yields valuable increase.

So industriously had this hard-working boy availed himself of these means of culture, that, at the expiration of his time of service (February, 1833), he had read, and then held in mind, nearly a thousand volumes of history, biography, philosophy, and general literature. Thus he bore away from that hard farm more sohd information, and a heart better prepared to toil and to achieve, than many bear away with the diploma from the university.

To the interests of his employer he was ever faithful. His eye was quick, his judgment clear ; his health was good ; his habits were correct ; and hence his services were valuable.

On closing them he received the promised compensation, — six sheep and a yoke of oxen, all of which he sold immediately for the sum of eighty-four dollars cash. So poor had he been up to this period, that he had never possessed two dollars ; and a single dollar would cover every penny he had ever spent.

Having now arrived at the age of twenty-one, he, by an act of the legislature, had his name changed from Jeremiah

20 LIFE OF HENBY WILSON.