The Americanization of Edward Bok

Friend and a Bo

stenography. But as this class met only twice a week, Edward, impatient to learn the art of "pothooks" as quickly as possible, supplemented this instruction by a course given on two other evenings at moderate cost by a Broo

l, and as the typewriter had not then come into its ow

y dinner. The speakers were to be the President of the United States, General Grant, General Sherman, Mr. Evarts, and General She

reporters with wine, and as the glasses were placed before Edward's plate he realized that he had to make a decision then and there. He had, of course, constantly seen wine on his father's table, as is the

s began to speak! Edward worked hard, but the President was too rapid for him; he did not get the speech, and he noticed that the reporters for the other papers fared no better. Nothing daunted, however, after the speechmaking, Edward reso

ously for a moment, and then sai

red him tha

President came up to where the b

you have the wine-glasse

at the question, but he explained

cision this evening?"

h

me?" the Preside

as t

u live,

d tol

this card for me," said the President, reach

oy di

. Low, on Columbia Heights. Is th

w

my carriage," said the President

re now whether he was o

etc. On arriving at Mr. Low's house, the President went up-stairs, and in a few moments came down with his speech

midnight. Musing a moment, he said: "You say you are

ast eig

cond thought: "By the way, I can get another copy of the

gh the boy did not then appreciate this act of consideration, his instinct fortunately led hi

repaid by seeing that The Eagle was the only paper w

ay was no

e, what was the boy's astonishm

YOUNG

r last evening, and she was very much interested. She would like to see you,

ithfull

FORD B

ctly felt its lack for this occasion. But, dressed in the best he had, he set o

"The President and Mrs. Hayes are waiting for you!" The ring of those magic words still sounds

re the boy knew it he was telling the President and his wife all about his precious Encyclopedia, his evening with General Grant, and his efforts to become something more than an office boy. No boy had ever so gracious a listener before; no mother could have been more ten

later from "Spiegel Grove"; a constant and unflagging interest followed each undertaking on which the boy embarked. Opportunitie

ar Fr

ully if I could. You are

lly you

ford B

for your ste

his wine-glasses had won for

New England group: Longfellow, Holmes, and, particularly, of Emerson. The philosophy of the Concord sage made a peculiarly strong appeal to t

had a great desire personally to meet these writers; and, having saved a little money, he decided to take his week's summer vacation in the winter, when he knew he should

act that he was there, and what his errand was, and asking whether he might come up and see Doctor Holmes any time the next day. Edward naively told him that he cou

the boy brought

EAR

ning at eight o'clock to have a piece of pie

rdially

WENDELL

ven-thirty, and found the author already at his desk in that room overlo

. I used to have my breakfast at seven," and then telling the boy all about his boyhood, the cheery poet led him to the dining-

the smiling face that looked out over the plates and cups gave t

you?" chuckled the poet. "Now, tell me, wha

hat would be likely to help him, and that Edward wanted to see the men who had written

: "Do you know that I am a full-fledged carpent

ont-basement room where was

t good for a man to work all the time at one thing. So this is my hobby. This is my change. I like to putter away at these things. Every day I try to come down here for an hour or so. It res

like it, the more dangerous it is. When you grow up you will understand what I mean by an 'outlet'-a hobby, that is-in your life, and it must be so different from your regular work that it will take your thoughts into an entirely

d to his study and stood before the large bay window. "I love this river," he said. "Yes, I lov

hich of his poems

,' written at this window, 'The Battle of Bunker Hill,' and 'Dorothy Q,' written to the portrait of my great-grandmother which you see on the wall there. All these I have a l

of 'The Chambered Nau

Shay.' That was one of those random conceptions that gallop through the brai

and as Doctor Holmes opened it on his

ee?" and he handed the boy a set of three little books, six inches by four in size, beautifully bou

em with loving glee. "Lucky, too, for me that they should happen to come now, for I have been wondering what I could give you as a souvenir of your visit to me, and here it is, sure enough! My publishers must have guessed you were here

touch the ma

e four lines in this

r the poet's pen Edward said, a

a man of the rarest sort

ouch the ma

me is proud

hose who n

all their m

Wendell

Charles a moment, and then, turning to the b

to hear you say it. It means much to those on the down-hill

with its swan-quill holder

'Elsie Venner' and the 'Autocrat'

d, as he reached out once more for the pen. "Well, then, would you

to send Longfellow was Edward himself, although the

nd, for I'm going down to Park Street to thank my publishers for the

pointed out the residences where lived people of inte

time, and see the tulips and croci an

u? I should like to hear about them. I may not have more books coming in, but I might have a very good-looking photograph of a very old-looking little man," he

with his fare in his hand he held it ou

me your fare, and I'm going to keep