Hills of the Shatemuc

of fortune; but to write and read co

hemp to hackle; and at which ever corner of the fireplace Winthrop might set himself down, a pair of little feet would come pattering round him, and petitions, soft but strong, to cut an apple, or to play jackstraws, or to crack hickory nuts, or to roast chestnuts, were sure to be preferred; and if none of these, or if these were put off, there was still too much of that sweet companionship to suit with the rough road to learning. Winnie was rarely put off, and never rejecte

night, "they have got no o

n't. The foolish man thought twelve dollars

foolish, M

- which it isn't the part of a wise man to

am worth more

d his father good- humouredly. "I sho

- his mother sa

take Mr. Dolts'

What, in the

f I can get

at

nth would hire a man to

what for? What do

I might get mor

- for

o study

eh?" said Mr. Landholm, with a breath that was drawn ve

t like it, Winthrop," sa

like the t

ould have a better chance. I am willing to work both my hands off - if that would be of a

ay a man who would do as mu

that's all st

to teach school?"

haps

said the little boy clapping his hands, -

cried W

Hear what you

should have to resort

they would tak

If they don't,

k you

w him out into the kitchen. Mr. Landholm sat a few

College too," he said

y to go after anyth

dho

ertain. Well, I'll d

think he'll succeed in," t

. There's a sharp edge to Rufus's metal, - but I think Winthrop'

blocks; and one fiery red shock, all of whose ideas seemed to be standing on end and ready to fly away, so little hold had they upon either knowledge, wit, or experience. And every one of these wanted different handling, and every one called for diligent study and patient painstaking. There were often fine parts to be found under that rough and untrained state of nature; there were blocks that could be waked into life

found his stomach was gone for Latin and Virgil. Ears and eyes and mind were sick of the din of repetitions, wearied with confusions of thought not his own; he was fain to let his own rest. The children "got on," the parents said, "first-rate;" but the poor teacher was standing still. Week passed after week, and each Saturday night found him

his mother when she saw him weari

t go at al

id that it

what go?"

sch

does

and I am tired

ike being sc

N

" said

in it, Winthrop,"

only till winter. I'l

said to himself. He was doubly needed at home now, for Mr. Landholm had again been elected to the Legislature; and

a Greek grammar, though the only one he could get that suited his purse was the Westminster grammar, in which the alternatives of Greek wer

ent to open it. There he found a man, tall and personable, well- dressed though like a traveller, with a little leathe

h shewed they were not denizens of his tongue. "I am wanting t

d then when he was seated

untains, about my affairs, and I just want to know if you can let me have a bed to sleep on at night,

leman stay here a few days? he has business in

de river, but I was told dere was no room for me, and I come to an ozer place and dey told me to come to dis

commodated in the 'big bedroom.' This was the best room, occupying one corner of the front of the house, while the 'keeping-room' was at th

ame to ask if the st

l take anysing, what y

hose of a naturalist and kept him out of doors from morning till night; and in the house he shewed a particular simplicity both of politeness and kind feeling; in part springing perhaps from his German nature, and in part from the honest truthful acq

ons; tracked up the streams of brooks, shewed the paths of the mountains, rowed up the river and down the river; and often and often made his uncommon strength and agility avail for so

do!" - he remarked one day when Winthrop h

eye," Winthrop replied, with a p

- of every kind," said the natura

aid Winthrop. "I ought

man say, 'I have much knowledge,' - I know he never will have much mo

t, and presently M

learning do yo

know, sir

ve you s

op hes

le Lati

much Latin h

and nearly the firs

e very li

and the Aeneid. Are you

s much as I c

ek t

am only b

de ozer night and I wondered - excuse me - who wa

si

rn de German - da

own language ye

is

gli

, here amongst de hills - is

si

anything," said Mr. Herder, with a little smile; "only i

gin where

o de Université; from

at is what I am tryin

will go up - I see it in your face - you will go up, like you go up these rocks; it is pretty steep, but you k

t, sir," Winthro

no matter what, he should fit himself for some ozer thing. Or else, he may be just one thing -

well

, when I first went to de Université of

if to see whether he were c

d now I am in de eight Université - in Mannahatta - an

m afraid Mannahatta would

But vere w

know si

l come to Mannahatta and let me s

ead. "I don't know w

rd

mountain gorges; the naturalist stopping frequently to give closer

ducing his little hammer, - "two little direction, or I shou

you woul

ant to know is in de middle of dat rock," said he striking it, "knock de rock all t

at I think,

Dere is nozing dat it is not goot to know. You may say, it is no use to you to know dat colour of de outside of dis rock, and dis colour of de inside; you are wrong; you ought to learn to know it if yo

, sir; and I wi

Greek, you will learn German?" said the natural

ughed at hi

will. You will find

ings are not possi

r of huge wings above them; - "It would be very useful to me." The creature was sailing through the di

e-headed eagle,

s a thing in which is no goot; as he is too far off for me to reach him. Better

parting he assured Winthrop "he should be very glad to do hi

red upon; neither of them could be forwarded much, with all the stress that hope or despair could make. Snowstorm, and thaw, and frost, and sun, came after and after each other, and as surely and constantly the vario

ally did, for private carriage. It was near the end of March that the rar

d coming home found his mother sitting before the fire with anot

ter, m

from

id it

by Mr. Un

matter? what

you can see

's one fr

ok it, and Winth

ver, March

in mind and body prepared, I think, for any line of enterprise to which fortune may call me. Or if nothing can be done with me, - if what has been spent must be thrown away - it is n

t weary of his case, and mine is not a silken one. I have been here long enough. My aunt Landholm is very kind; but I think she would like an increase of her household accommodations, and also that she would prefer working it by the rule of subtraction rather than by the more usual and obvious way of addition. She is a good soul, but really I believe her larder contains nothing but pork, and her pantry nothing but - pumpkins! She has actually contrived, by so

peedily, for I am in earn

see you at al

le ones and to de

uf

tary on this epistle. She gave him the other letter, and

l, March

ear O

irst use I shall make of my recovered freedom will be - can you doubt it? - to hasten home to my family. My dear family - they are closer to me all the time than you think, and f

of that point I spoke to you of in my last. The opposition of parties has run very hi

en very attentive and kind, and the Cha

ad better do so. I cannot afford to keep him any longer there, and there seems

I see you, my dear

Land

h hill-field with the plough, as soon as he can; I think the frost must be out of the ground with you. I intend to put wheat there and in the big bor

t, and folded up, by the res

home," the mother s

e made over to her hand th

pretty much all ploughe

said his mother. "But I am afrai

ma," he answered

on't sati

ma. It helps my hope of being

are, Governor, if it is on

d not smile; and a stranger might have thought he w

d, again with that half sighing breath; "and now we mu