REGULATIONS 
 
 ARLINGTON-STREET CHURCH LIBRARIES. 
 
 I. 
 
 Books can be taken out, or be returned, at the close of the morn- 
 ing-service on each Sunday; and from the Juvenile Library also at 
 the close of the Sunday School. 
 
 II. 
 
 No one may lake more than two volumes at the same time; nor 
 may any volume from the Juvenile Library be kept more than two 
 weeks, or from the Parish Library more than four weeks, unless 
 re-entered with the Librarian. 
 
 III. 
 
 Every book, either taken out or returned, must be first entered on 
 the Librarian's record. 
 
 IV. 
 
 No books can be taken out by those who have not returned or 
 accounted for books already charged against their names, or who 
 have not replaced ouch as they may have lost. 
 
 V. 
 
 Any one defacing or injuring a book will be debarred from the 
 privilege of taking out books till the volume so damaged shall be 
 repaired or replaced. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Books taken from the shelves should be returned to the place? 
 where they belong. 
 
 Attention to the III. and VI. rules will prevent much trouble and 
 loss.
 
 UBRAJU 
 
 - S2R8Q.
 
 The Boy and the Man. l':^ ->.
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN; 
 
 EDWARD CLEAYELAND, 
 
 " A good nae ia rather to be chosen than great riches." Frov. xxii. 1. 
 " Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in 
 heart" P. xcviL IL 
 
 BITTEN FOB THE MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL 8OCIETT, AJTb 
 AFFECTED BY TEX COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, 
 
 Depository, No. 13 CornliilL
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, m the year WOO, By 
 
 M. U. SAKUENT, TKEASURER, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts
 
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HIS EARLY HOME. 
 
 ]p the reader has taken up this little 
 voli'mc with the expectation of finding 
 here an account of one of those "per- 
 fect children" of whom we hear so much 
 paid, and of whom we so often read, he 
 will be entirely disappointed. 
 
 It is the intention of the writer, very 
 simply, but truthfully, to sketch some ol 
 the incidents in the life, and give some 
 delineation of the character of one who 
 was known and loved by hundreds of 
 youthful hearts, while living, and whose
 
 4 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 memory is fondly and sacredly cherished. 
 And this is done, not merely to beguile 
 an hour of time, but with the wish and 
 earnest prayer that the perusal of these 
 pages may incite the youthful reader to 
 elevate the standard of daily action, and 
 stimulate the mind and soul to more 
 noble and lofty aspirations. 
 
 As mutual friends let us familiarly 
 *race together these " footprints on the 
 
 sands of time," and may the labor prove 
 
 i f 
 
 a pleasant one, and in the most exalted 
 sense profitable. 
 
 We will first go to the early home of 
 Edward Clcaveland. 
 
 It is situated in one of those retired 
 and quiet New England towns, undistin- 
 guished in the annals of fame, and with 
 few if any peculiarities to distinguish it 
 from many sister towns. 
 
 It is true that at one time the town of
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 H. was pronounced 4< the banner town 
 of the banner county of the banner State 
 of the Union," for the number of its sons 
 who had gone forth to preach the gospel of 
 peace, and declare great tidings of great 
 joy. But the just occasion for this en- 
 comium passed away during the earlier 
 years of Edward Cleaveland's life. The 
 inhabitants lived in a plain and simple 
 manner, possessing little wealth, but with 
 a good degree of intelligence, and there 
 were among them many worthy examples 
 of devoted piety. They were emphati- 
 cally a church-going community, and for 
 a long series of years all worshipped in 
 the same sanctuary. The soil was but 
 moderately productive, and the scenery 
 diversified with rocks and hills, fertile 
 meadows, and sterile, sandy plains, but 
 every lover of nature could here find much 
 1*
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 to encourage and gratify a taste for the 
 beautiful. 
 
 But it is not with the inhabitants that 
 we have much to do, only as all sur- 
 rounding circumstances exert an influence 
 in the formation of character. Like 
 most retired farming townships in New 
 England, the youthful enterprise of EL 
 seeks a wider field in which to expand, 
 in some more productive portion of our 
 vast country. Possessing few advantages 
 for business, its population, both as re- 
 gards numbers and wealth, has already 
 decreased, and probably will continue to 
 do so in future years. But let us not 
 tarry longer before visiting the birth- 
 place and early home of our youthful 
 friend. 
 
 It is a quiet, unpretending farm-house, 
 with little in its external appearance to 
 attract the observation of a stranger.
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. \ 
 
 But like many another humble home, It 
 is one arom;d which in future years the 
 treasured memories of loving hearts will 
 cling with tendrils strong and enduring 
 as life itself. At the mention of our 
 "early home," what a tide of emotion 
 will flow over the soul from the deep, 
 broad ocean of the past, hiding from our 
 view all the realities of the present. 
 
 We will first take a survey of the es- 
 terior of the house and its surroundings^ 
 and afterwards, if you please, we will 30 
 in and make the acquaintance of Mr. 
 Clcaveland, and his fajiily, for he is a 
 pleasant, genial man, and always courteous 
 and hospitable to strangers. 
 
 Just across the street, and directly 
 opposite the house, is a green hill-side, 
 and midway up the slope a row of trem 
 bliiig poplars, with one beautiful black 
 walnut. On the brow of the hill are a
 
 8 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 few peach-trees, whose delicious fruit in 
 autumn gladdens the mouths, if not the 
 hearts, of our juvenile friends at the base 
 of the hill. If we stand a few moments 
 on the summit of this hill, we can almost 
 at a glance take a view of the immediate 
 premises, and the more distant scenery. 
 The first object which claims our atten- 
 tion is a tall, majestic, and graceful elm, 
 which is the pride of all the household, 
 and elicits the just admiration of every 
 beholder. The erect, strong trunk sup- 
 ports with easy dignity the far-spreading 
 branches, towering high above all sur- 
 rounding objects. But it is not alone for 
 its beauty that these good people love 
 this tree, but more especially because it 
 was planted here, when a tender sapling, 
 by the hand of a revered ancestor, and 
 for his sake is a cherished treasure. It 
 was the same hand that reclaimed thes9
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 fertile lands from the native wilderness. 
 And it was he also who planted the butter- 
 nut close by^the elm, which yearly furnishes 
 bethels of nuts for youthful hands to crack. 
 In the yard are the indispensable lilies, 
 also damask and the real old-fashioned, 
 fragrant white rose. Along the garden 
 
 * 
 
 fence are lilac bushes, currants, raspber- 
 ries, and caraway, with a mingling of sweet 
 primroses. And then come peach-trees, 
 and cherry-trees, and the pleasant gree^ 
 meadow in the rear of the house. And 
 there are apple-trees, bearing luscious 
 pound-royals, seek-no-furthers, round-hoops, 
 and many others, bearing femiliar but 
 a>ore local names. 
 
 Away to the east of us a few miles, 
 rising against the clear blue sky, stand 
 those twin mountains between whose bases 
 flow the deep waters of the beautiful! 
 Connecticut. A little further to the left
 
 10 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 you can catch a glimpse of College Hill, 
 with its far-famed halls of learning. Here 
 and there may be seen a spire glittering 
 in the sunlight, telling us that in this 
 lonely valley the God of nature and of 
 grace is acknowledged and worshipped as 
 the only living and true God. At the 
 back of us are cultivated fields, green 
 pastures, deep forests, and wood-capped 
 hills. And is there nothing in all this 
 varied scene to inspire the youthful mind 
 with an appreciating love and admiration 
 for the beautiful works of tne great 
 Creator? TLese rocks and hills also 
 teach important lessons to the thoughtful 
 nvjad. And here the hidden germ of high- 
 toned, well-directed enthusiasm may spring 
 up and expand, until, in after years, it 
 shall yield choice fruits, and scatter far 
 %nd wide the golden seeds of coble effort,
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAX. 11 
 
 pure and elevating principles, and the 
 influence of a manly, Christian life. 
 
 And now we will descend the hill, and 
 enter the house. It is substantially built, 
 after the approved style of the last cen- 
 tury, although it has been remodelled and 
 enlarged at a later date. It is almost 
 entirely sheltered by the protecting 
 branches of the elm, where some of the 
 feathered songsters hang their tiny nests. 
 The house in front has two large square 
 rooms, and a small entry between, with 
 stairs leading to the chambers, the 
 kitchen, pantry, bedroom, and all et 
 ceteras in the rear. There are no tokens 
 of luxury, for we are not to find wealth, 
 or its accompaniments, here, but simp 1 !- 
 city, frugality, and comfort. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cleavcland are just in the prime of life, 
 with three dear children, two bright, 
 active boys, and a curly-haired little girl.
 
 12 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 Edward was the oldest of the three, then 
 George, and Susan the youngest. 
 
 Mr. Cleaveland is a tall, thin, pale-look- 
 ing gentleman, for his health was always 
 delicate, but he has a fine, dark, thoughtful 
 eye, glossy hair, and an open, pleasant 
 countenance which at once attracts you. 
 His manner is easy and cordial, and 
 there is about him a true native politeness 
 which makes every one feel at home in his 
 presence. He is intelligent and agreeable, 
 and in conversational powers excels most 
 men in his circumstances. His mind is of 
 a superior order, and if he could have 
 enjoyed firm health and greater educa- 
 tional advantages in early life he would 
 have been a man of mark in almost any 
 profession he might have chosen to pursue. 
 As it is, he is known, beloved, and respect- 
 ed by a large circle of friends at home and 
 abroad. Mrs. Cleaveland is a tall, pleasant-
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 13 
 
 looking lady, and it has been slyly whis- 
 pered in our ear that in her girlhood she 
 was rather beautiful , but whether this be 
 true or false we care but little ; for well 
 has the wise man declared that " Favor is 
 deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman 
 that fcareth the Lord, she shall be praised" 
 Mrjs. 0. is a woman of sterling worth, 
 mentally, morally, and socially. T*-aly, 
 and in a broad sense of the passage, " she 
 looketh well to the ways of her house- 
 hold, and eateth not the bread of idle- 
 ness." "And her children will rise up 
 and call her blessed." 
 
 As we follow Edward in his upward 
 path, we shall often find occasion to notice 
 the influence of early training, and the 
 power of parental precept and example ; 
 and, for this reason, we give greater 
 prominence to these home influences. ID 
 what has been said of this husband and
 
 14 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 wife, this father and mother, the most 
 important feature of their character has 
 been scarcely mentioned. Their piety 
 their whole-souled, warm-hearted, active, 
 Bible piety was the corner-stone, the 
 supporting pillar, and the crowning beauty 
 of all this structure. In early life they 
 found the blessed Saviour very precious 
 to their souls, and publicly consecrated 
 themselves to him and his service forever. 
 Each is one of a large family, the child 
 of praying parents, who long ago made a 
 holy covenant with their God, like Joshua 
 of old, promising that, "As for us and our 
 house, we will serve the Lord." Unitedly, 
 these families number sixteen children who 
 reached mature years, and all but one have 
 had their names enrolled with the church 
 on earth, some of whom, we hope, are 
 ;ow with the church in heaven. 
 
 What richer legacy can a parent be.
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 15 
 
 qucath to a child than the golden treasure 
 of pious teaching, coupled with a beauti- 
 fully consistent Christian life ? None, 
 surely ; for its price is far above rubies, 
 and more precious than the most costly 
 stones; ''Rather to be desired than gold; 
 yea, than much fine gold." Youthful 
 parents, seek not to lay up for yourselves 
 or your children the treasures of this 
 world, but for yourselves and the precious 
 immortals given you by God, " Seek first 
 the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, 
 and all these things shall be added." 
 
 These blessed words were the rule oi 
 action for Mr. an4 Mrs. Clcaveland, when 
 they assumed the responsibilities of the 
 united head of a household. Morning and 
 evening the voice of grateful, fervent 
 prayer arises from this family altar. These 
 children have been early consecrated to 
 God by public baptism in his house, and
 
 6 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 in the inner chambers of these parents 
 hearts, where none but the eye of Omnis- 
 cience looked upon the offering; but, well 
 pleased, he saw and accepted the sacrifice, 
 even as he has promised. And early they 
 are taught to lisp their evening prayers 
 before they lay their infant forms to rest, 
 and after the morning devotions of the 
 family, these three little ones together 
 kneel, and whisper in the ear that ever 
 listens to the cry of the young. The Tes- 
 tament is one of the first books they are 
 taught to read, and their young minds arc 
 early stored with precious Bible truths 
 which in after years may be of unspeak- 
 able service to them. And here, too, we 
 may see family discipline such as we 
 admire, but so often fail to behold. It is 
 not rigid and severe, but kind, mild, ana 
 affectionate, yet firm and unwavering. An 
 obedience ready and cheerful is required
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 17 
 
 and expected. The parents' word is not 
 to be trifled with, and no threats are made 
 except such as are designed to be exe- 
 cuted. We would not imply that these- 
 children are always perfectly well-behaved, 
 models of excellence, to such an extent 
 as to cause apprehension that they "will 
 not live long:, for they are too good for 
 earth." Not a bit of all this, for they are 
 very much like other children, subject to 
 like faults and foibles, but they are taught 
 to love, honor, and obey their parents. The 
 will of the child is to yield to the judg- 
 ment of the parents, and the conquest is 
 always on the right side. The rod is 
 seldom used, but, whenever it is necessary, 
 the parents remember and practise the 
 precept of the wise man, so often repeated 
 in his proverbs. We do not hesitate to 
 declare that this wholesome discipline, this 
 farrily government, will be a source of joy 
 2*
 
 18 THE BOY AND THE MAN", 
 
 and gratitude to these children so long as 
 they live, and they will regard it as one 
 of the greatest blessings a kind Provi- 
 dence could bestow. 
 
 Have we lingered too long on these 
 preliminaries, and arc you weary of the 
 theme ? Pardon me, then, but it is some- 
 times both pleasant and instructive to 
 trace the relation between cause and effect, 
 and this is one great reason for dwelling 
 thus long around this hearthstone. The 
 home of the child, most generally speak- 
 ing, is the mould in which the character is 
 cast, and eternity will alone reveal the 
 true importance of home influence. There 
 arc exceptions, we know, where noble 
 characters have arisen from miserable, 
 wretched families, but they are the excep- 
 tions.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HIS BOYHOOD. 
 
 As we have seen, Edward was tLc eldest 
 of these children. He was a tall and 
 rather slender boy, with fair complexion, 
 dark brown hair, and eyes which were 
 very large and expressive, of a dark blue 
 color, and when animated, as he often 
 was, they darkened and expanded until a 
 casual observer would almost pronounce 
 them black. He was an active child, and 
 seldom still for a moment, unless he had 
 a book in his hand which interested him, 
 and then he was oblivious to all surround- 
 ing sights or sounds. His disposition was 
 affectionate, but cannot be described aa
 
 20 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 mild and gentle, but rather as impulsive 
 and impetuous, which led him to do and 
 say many things which a moment's re- 
 flection would have prevented. His move- 
 ments were quick as thought, and he 
 seemed to be a real lover of mischief, 
 and thoughtless of consequences. But, as 
 his kind mother so often said, "Edward 
 does not mean any harm," and, truly, it 
 was only the outgushiog of an ardent 
 active nature, which must have exercise in 
 some way. 
 
 He loved fun and frolic, and wanted 
 something " going on " constantly, and, 
 though his feelings were kind and tender, 
 he did not always stop to think, and in an 
 instant obeyed the first impulse of his 
 mind. In this way he grieved his more 
 gentle and cautious brother George, who 
 often checked him in his sport. As an 
 example of this, I will give a trifling inci-
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 21 
 
 dcut that a lady who witnessed it loves 
 often to relate as an illustration of the 
 Iwo brothers. In returning from school 
 . x ne day they spied two beautiful little 
 Bellow birds, perched upon a bush by the 
 oaiteide. Quick as thought Edward picked 
 jp a stone and threw into the bush, just 
 for the fun of peeing the timid birds fly 
 away, and then another stone was thrown 
 to make them fly again, and so he con- 
 tinued to annoy them, George begging 
 him all the time to desist, for he was 
 afraid he would hurt the poor frightened 
 birds. At last the tears began to flow, 
 and, in a beseeching tone, George called 
 out to him, " Edward, I do wish you 
 would come away and let those yellow 
 birds alone." So Edward left them, say- 
 ing, "Why, George, it don't hurt them 
 any." 
 
 You would ahao&t lhi^s. } to see Edward
 
 22 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 sometimes, and watch his varied move- 
 ments, that ho had only studied one pas- 
 sage of Scripture, and intended to obey 
 that literally, viz : " Whatsoever thy hand 
 findeth to do, do it with thy might." At 
 school he was behind none in his classes, 
 and in the playground he was first of the 
 band. When he was at work, for he was 
 early obliged to bear his part in the work 
 of the farm, he was as active as in his 
 play. He was, from earliest boyhood, 
 very fond of fishing, and would often say 
 to his brother, when a certain portion of 
 work had been assigned them, " Come, 
 George, let us hurry and finish our task, 
 so that we can go fishing;" and then he 
 would put forth all his strength and 
 energy to complete the labor, and enjoy 
 his favorite sport. When Edward was 
 eight years old his grandparents came to 
 live in the home beneath the old elm.
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 23 
 
 Old Mrs. Cleaveland was in feeble health, 
 being afflicted with that fatal disease, con- 
 sumption. Ilcr appetite was" very delicate, 
 and a little nicely cooked trout, fresh from 
 the brook, would often be most grateful to 
 her taste ; and Edward would always de- 
 light to catch the shining beauties, and, 
 although very fond of eating them himself, 
 it afforded him much more pleasure to 
 give them to his grandmother. He was 
 not quite ten years old when she died, but 
 many a trout had been caught for her by 
 Edward, with his hook and line. There 
 is one feature in the training of these boys 
 which I would not omit to mention. It 
 was the invariable custom for them, during 
 the two long vacations of school, one in 
 spring and the other in autumn, to spend 
 two hours each day in reading. A fixed 
 hour was assigned for the morning, and 
 another for the afternoon. When the
 
 24 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 appointed time arrived, their good mother 
 would call them from their play to engage 
 in reading. A part of this time was 
 always devoted to perusing the Holy Bible, 
 so that before they were ten years old, 
 each had read the whole, both Old and 
 New Testament, entirely through by course 
 several times. This was not regarded by 
 them as a tiresome requirement, but was 
 a present pleasure, and of inestimable 
 benefit to them in after life, and through 
 them to others. 
 
 After Edward was ten years old he 
 never attended school in the summer, as 
 his services were needed on the farm, but 
 previously to that time, after he was three 
 years of age, he was generally in school 
 from eight to ten months of the year. He 
 read the New Testament through in course 
 before he was five, though he was never 
 regarded as a precocious child, and, in this
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 25 
 
 matter of reading, did not surpass the 
 younger children. He always loved the 
 Sabbath school, and nearly all his life 
 was, in some capacity, connected with it. 
 In his early boyhood one custom pre- 
 vailed which has long since passed away. 
 Though it is regarded by many as an 
 altogether absurd practice, yet we know 
 there are not a few who love to look back 
 upon it as a time-hallowed custom of theii 
 childhood, and feel truly grateful that they 
 were ever, we might almost say, forced to 
 engage in it. This was the study and reci- 
 tal of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism. 
 There are many children, I fancy, who 
 have pondered over that word Shorter, 
 totally unable to satisfy themselves what 
 it signified. It would not be easy for a 
 child to comprehend the possibility of a 
 longer Catechism, or one more difficult to 
 commit and recite verbatim, for it is not 
 3
 
 26 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 peculiarly adapted to infant minds. But 
 it has been felt to be a real treasure in 
 after-life, by many who sighed over it 
 when children. In the family of Mr. 
 Cleaveland, as in many pious New Eng- 
 land families, it was a regular Sabbath 
 afternoon exercise to hear the children 
 recite a small portion from the primer, 
 which had been committed during the pre- 
 vious week ; and it was, also, the closing 
 exercise of each week in the district 
 
 ^t 
 
 school. This latter custom, in particular, 
 could not be reasonably observed at the 
 present day, for there is in every commu- 
 nity such a variety of religious sentiment, 
 that such doctrinal teaching could not be 
 tolerated. But, at that time, it might 
 almost be said of the good people in the 
 town of II., that, in religious matters, they 
 were " of one heart and one mind." 
 There were but very few exceptions for
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 27 
 
 many years, though now, as in most towns, 
 there is a diversity of opinion upon reli- 
 gious subjects. 
 
 There was a vacation in the Sabbath 
 Bchool every spring, of a few weeks, before 
 the summer organization took place, and 
 during this interval the children and youth 
 were expected to recite the Catechism in 
 church. The good minister, Mr. G., was 
 a kind friend to all the little folks, and 
 knew every child in his parish by name. 
 He would give notice on one Sabbath that 
 on the next he should question the chil- 
 dren in the Catechism as far as "Effectual 
 Calling;" and such studying of primers as 
 there would be then, by the little girls 
 and boys; for it was a great mortification 
 to make a mistake, and each one was 
 called upon in turn. At the appointed 
 time the children would take their places 
 in the middle aisle, the smaller ones stand
 
 28 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 ing in front of the " Deacon's seat," that 
 they might answer the first questions, 
 which were more simple and easy to 
 remember, and then the line of bright 
 faces would extend, on either side of the 
 aisle, almost to the door. The grand- 
 mothers would often take a position in 
 the square pews behind the children, that 
 they might gently prompt the faltering. 
 Mr. G. would then commence by asking 
 the little one at the head of the row, 
 "What is the chief end of man?" If 
 the answer was correctly given he would 
 encourage the trembling child by a word 
 of approbation, aad pass on. Each little 
 heart would beat more quickly as their 
 turn drew nigh, and, unless they were 
 very confident of a perfect recitation, a 
 relief was manifestly felt when the answer 
 had been given. Not a word was allowed 
 to be either omitted or misplaced, and the
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 29 
 
 articulation must be clear and distinct, to 
 elicit unqualified approval from the good 
 pastor; and to obtain this was the am- 
 bitious desire of every one. Edward 
 Cleavcland's voice would sound forth loud 
 and clear ; for he knew his lesson per- 
 fectly, and was not afraid to speak. He 
 was not a bold boy, neither was he fool- 
 ishly timid ; and when he was called upon 
 to speak, he did not hang down his head, 
 as if ashamed to look up, but, with a 
 sparkling eye and glowing face, he would 
 look his pastor or teacher full in the face, 
 and answer so that all iu the house could 
 hear, and the approving words, "That's 
 right, my boy," were reward enough. 
 
 This exercise was repeated for three or 
 
 four Sabbaths every spring, and the whole 
 
 Catechism was thus yearly recited, and its 
 
 influence on those youthful minds and 
 
 3*
 
 30 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 hearts did not pass away when the custo.Ti 
 ceased to be observed, but still lives. 
 
 We have seen Edward's love of reading, 
 but we would not forget that the facilities 
 for gratifying this taste were much less 
 twenty-five or thirty years ago than at the 
 present day, when " of making books there 
 is no end." The " Youth's Companion " 
 was a constant visitor at Mr. Cleaveland's 
 from its first i.-sue until the children could 
 no longer be counted as such. Its weekly 
 visit was hailed with delight, and its con- 
 tents eagerly read by all the family. The 
 Sabbath School Library did not then afford 
 as great variety of juvenile books as now, 
 but Edward was intensely interested in 
 many volumes which were not altogether 
 adapted to the minds of most children 
 Not that he was a precocious boy, but 
 intelligent, and very fond of reading. 
 
 There was a social library in the town
 
 THE BOY AXD THE MAN. 31 
 
 of II., from which all the members, on a 
 given day, once in two months, could draw 
 a limited number of volumes. Mr. Clcavc- 
 land owned a share in this library, but, as 
 the library room was some two or three 
 miles from his librae, and his health was 
 never firm, he could seldom be present at 
 the meetings of the society, which were 
 always held in the evening; but as soon 
 as Edward was old enough, he was almost 
 always there to obtain his share of the 
 books. If for any reason he could not 
 ride, he much preferred walking the two 
 and a half miles, and home again, to the 
 loss of his reading; and then every leisure 
 moment was employed over his books. 
 The hour after dinner, which, in all ordi- 
 nary cases, was allowed for rest and 
 recreation, before returning to the labors 
 of the field, was not often spent in play 
 while he had an unread book. If L,
 
 32 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 returned from work five minutes before 
 the meal .was ready, his book was in his 
 hand, and not unfrequently would he bring 
 it to the table, to improve the moment 
 after the blessing was invoked, before his 
 turn came to be helped. If he had en- 
 joyed as much opportunity for reading as 
 many boys of his age now do, I hardly 
 think he would have been quite excusable 
 for taking his book to the table with him, 
 for that is not the most suitable place for 
 reading. But we do not feel inclined to 
 censure him for it. He loved history 
 exceedingly, and books of travels in foreign 
 lands were very attractive to his mind. 
 He had a keen sense of the ridiculous, and 
 possessed a taste for the marvellous, but 
 not to excess, and in his reading it was 
 never indulged to any great extent. He 
 read very rapidly, though he grasped the 
 whole. His memory was both ready and
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 33 
 
 retentive ; his perceptive faculties quick 
 and strong; and his eyes and cars were 
 always open to learn something new. He 
 would know the " why and wherefore " of 
 everything, and often annoyed and puzzled 
 his elders by incessant questions, upon 
 nearly every conceivable subject. Of read- 
 ing or hearing stories he would never tire, 
 and his large, prominent blue eyes would 
 expand and sparkle, and his whole counte- 
 nance glow with earnestness, as he read, 
 or listened with almost breathless atten- 
 tion. 
 
 In the winter months Edward was al- 
 ways in school ; for several years at the 
 district school, and afterwards at the 
 academy in his native town. He always 
 boarded at home and walked to school, 
 although the academy was two and a half 
 miles distant. But he cared not for the 
 distance, if he could only enjoy the privi-
 
 S4 THE EOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 Icgc of attending school. He was not a 
 mere " bookworm," although he had a 
 strong desire for knowledge; but he was 
 as ready to enter earnestly into the sports 
 of his playmates, as to engage in his 
 studies in the schoolroom. His thoughts, 
 time, and energy were given, with a right 
 good will, to the occupation before him, 
 whether it was a difficult problem in 
 mathematics, a chapter of history, a les- 
 son in chemistry, or a game of ball on 
 the green. He delighted in experiments 
 in natural philosophy and chemistry, and 
 no study or science was regarded by him 
 as dull or tedious. In the debating club 
 he took an active and prominent part, and 
 in declamation he excelled most of his 
 fellows ; for he had a deep, full voice, and 
 he entered into the spirit of the words he 
 uttered.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 IMPAIRED HEALTH | FIRST EFFORTS IN 
 TEACHING. 
 
 As I have said, Edward was earr/ 
 obliged to assist in the labor of the farm, 
 and both himself and his brother were 
 accustomed to work more constantly and 
 faithfully than most boys of their age. 
 They were generally well, but tall and 
 slender, and less robust than many; still 
 they were as regularly in the field as 
 most men. 
 
 Mr. Cleaveland, Edward's father, was 
 never strong, and for many years seldom 
 able to be much in the field. But the 
 good old grandfather lived with them, and
 
 36 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 was for years their almost constant com- 
 panion in labor. He was a godly man, a 
 faithful and active servant of his divine 
 Master ; ho lived honored and respected by 
 all who knew him, and died universally 
 lamented, at the age of nearly fourscore 
 years. It was a necessary consequence of 
 his own early life and habits, that he 
 should have but a limited degree of sym- 
 pathy with the boyish sports dud wild 
 fancies of his grandsons. In reality, he 
 was never a boy himself, but a man from 
 childhood, and his patience was often 
 taxed by the thoughtlessness of his grand- 
 children, particularly of Edward. For in 
 the field Edward's tongue often kept equal 
 pace with his hands, and sometimes he 
 would quite forget himself, or his work, 
 and the hoc, the rake, or the axe, would 
 be idle in his hand, while his thoughts 
 were busy with some stirring scene in the
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 37 
 
 revolution, or following Robinson Crusoe, 
 on his lonely island; or, perchance, he 
 was asking how, or why, or when, and 
 where such and such things were done. 
 He was often careless, too, and, in his 
 rapid movements, his clothes were not 
 unfrequently soiled or torn needlessly, and 
 sometimes he would wound himself, when 
 a little caution on his part would easily 
 have prevented it. Several times in his 
 boyhood he was so much injured by using 
 an axe or scythe with too little care as to 
 be disabled for weeks. Edward was very 
 sorry to be laid aside from work, for Iw 
 knew that his services were always needed, 
 as his father did not possess adequate 
 pecuniary means to hire help continually, 
 although they had a hired man part of the 
 year. But these weeks of lameness were 
 not lost to Edward, for they afforded him 
 a fine opportunity to read, and were dili-
 
 38 
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 gently improved; and he also was fur- 
 nished with an opportunity to cultivate 
 the grace of patience, and this enabled 
 him in after years to endure constant pain 
 with cheerfulness, to such a degree that a 
 looker-on would not suspect that he suf- 
 fered at all. 
 
 I believe our kind and wise heavenly 
 Father had a merciful design in all these 
 events, trifling though they may appear; 
 but "with the Omniscient' there are no 
 such things as trifles." All have a bearing 
 in accomplishing the infinite plan. If I 
 have spoken of faults and defects in the 
 early character, it is because I wish to 
 speak truthfully, for they really existed, 
 and also to exhibit the success of his 
 eflorts to overcome them. When we sec 
 another, who has been enabled by con- 
 stant striving, aided by promised strength 
 from above, to conquer defects of temper
 
 THh BOY AND TflE MAN 39 
 
 or of habit, it may encourage us to re- 
 double our own watchfulness and prayer- 
 fulness in the attempt to overcome some 
 besetting sin in ourselves. 
 
 When Edward was sixteen his grand- 
 father was called home to his eternal rest, 
 as a shock of corn gathered in its season, 
 fully ripe. He left to his children and 
 his children's children the legacy of pious 
 counsels, fervent prayers, and a holy life, 
 and, although he " rests from his labors," 
 yet ' his works do follow him." 
 
 And now a still larger share of labor 
 and responsibility devolved upon Edward 
 and George, Mr. Cleaveland being often 
 only able to advise with them, although at 
 times he could give them the encourage- 
 ment and assistance of his actual presence. 
 
 The brothers still continued to attend 
 school during the winter, at the same time 
 discharging the daily labors of a farmer
 
 40 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 in winter, with but little extra hired 
 help. 
 
 Both Mr. and Mrs. Cleaveland possessed 
 rational and practical views of the relative 
 importance of wealth and mental and moral 
 culture. They regarded frugality and in- 
 dustry as Christian virtues, and ever prac- 
 tised them as such, and not merely because 
 their circumstances seemed to require it. 
 They felt it both a duty and privilege to 
 provide a competence for their family, so 
 far as was possible in consistency with 
 duties of a more strictly moral nature. 
 Their first care and anxiety was for the 
 spiritual welfare of their children, and to 
 see them active, useful members of the 
 shurch of Christ. And next to this, and 
 partly blended with it, was the earnest 
 wish to give them all the advantages for 
 mental cultivation which could consistently 
 be allowed.
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 41 
 
 To accomplish this object they gladly 
 and contentedly denied themselves com- 
 forts and conveniences which they might 
 otherwise have enjoyed. They wanted to 
 see them well-disciplined, intelligent, be- 
 Aevolent Christians, with correct, en- 
 larged views of their relations and obliga- 
 tions to God, and also of their duties 
 and privileges as social beings. 
 
 The almost incessant labors to which 
 Edward had so long devoted himself, at a 
 time when his physical system was rapidly 
 developing, proved too severe a tax upon 
 his strength. He had a good degree of 
 ambition, unusual energy and perseverance, 
 with an undaunted will. As he advanced 
 in years, his desire for knowledge waxed 
 stronger and stronger still, and, as a 
 student, he became more and more dili- 
 gent, and all his energy was directed, for 
 the time, to the one object of acquiring 
 4*
 
 42 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 the knowledge for which he thirsted. I 
 do not mean by this that he did not care 
 for, or engage in anything else, for he was 
 still the same active, ambitious youth, 
 away from his books. 
 
 One day, nearly the last term of his 
 school days, he was spending a part of the 
 intermission in pretty lively exercise, rim- 
 ning a race with some of his fellows. He 
 determined not to be outrun, and did n< 
 stop to reflect upon the possible conse- 
 quences of over-exertion, for his ambition 
 was roused. He continued to run, with 
 all the ardor of his nature, until a sudden 
 pain in his side compelled him to relin- 
 quish the race. It was many years after 
 this before that side was free from pain for 
 a single moment; and this one incident, 
 probably, had a powerful influence in de- 
 ciding the course of his after life. It was 
 not this single exertion alone, but a com-
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 43 
 
 bination of circumstances, and this added 
 to them was the deciding weight in the 
 scale. It was not very apparent at first, 
 but, as time passed on, it became evident 
 that he would be obliged to seek some 
 occupation less laborious than that of a 
 farmer. He longed for a collegiate educa- 
 tion, but this seemed impracticable. Mr. 
 Cleaveland, with his feeble health, had not 
 the pecuniary ability to justify such a 
 course, and Edward had not the physica' 
 strength to warrant the attempt to supply 
 the necessary funds himself. It was noi 
 without a severe and oft-repeated struggle 
 with his own heart, that he could cheer- 
 fully relinquish this ardent wish, and he 
 had not yet learned meekly to say, " Thy 
 will be done." 
 
 He first turned his thoughts to the avo- 
 cation of a teacher, but with no well- 
 defined plan for the future, only to meet
 
 44 THE BOY AND THE MAM. 
 
 the emergency of the present, and there- 
 fore sought some district school for the 
 winter. 
 
 He had reached his twentieth year when 
 he first entered upon the duties of com- 
 mon school teacher, in a retired district, 
 in a neighboring town. His school num- 
 bered not more than twenty scholars, but 
 he could find enough to employ his time 
 and energy in the discipline and instruc- 
 tion of even twenty pupils, varying in age 
 from four to seventeen years. Good order, 
 ready obedience, and thorough recitations, 
 were with him the fundamental rules of 
 teaching. He wished to witness the im- 
 provement of the youthful minds commit- 
 ted to his care, and he knew this would be 
 secured only by the united efforts of both 
 teacher and scholar. He had been a boy 
 himself, and had often suffered from the 
 well-intended but injudicious discipline of
 
 1HE BOY AND THE MAN. 45 
 
 his ir <: tructors, and he resolved to profit 
 by past experience. The term passed 
 pleasantly and profitably to both teacher 
 and scholars, and the result gave gratifying 
 evidence that Edward possessed ability 
 and adaptation to instruct youthful minds 
 successfully. 
 
 The succeeding summer was spent at 
 home, upon the farm, so far as his strength 
 would allow him to labor. In the autumn 
 his services as teacher were sought and 
 obtained for a village school in another 
 adjoining town. This was a larger, and, 
 in many respects, a much more difficult 
 school, than the one of the previous win- 
 ter. There were some strong-willed boys, 
 and, possibly, girls too, who had never 
 learned the beauty of ready submission to 
 a parent's command at home, and, of 
 course, would not cheerfully submit to a 
 teacher's rules at school.
 
 4:6 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 But the contest was neither long nor 
 severe, for a few instances of wholesome 
 discipline established beyond a question 
 the supremacy of the teacher. After a 
 little time, a glance fro.n those expressive 
 eyes was, in most cases, all that was 
 required to secure obedience. But he 
 never ruled with " a rod of iron," for there 
 are very few who so entirely win the 
 hearts of pupils as did Edward Clcave- 
 land. He gave *them his sympathy, and 
 manifested a true interest in their highest 
 welfare and improvement, arid in this way 
 secured for himself their most perfect con- 
 fidence. 
 
 It was then the custom in nearly all 
 districts for the teacher to "board around," 
 and, although this practice is on the whole 
 very undesirable, yet it is not entirely des- 
 titute of advantage to all parties. In the 
 homes of jhe children he became a favorite
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 47 
 
 with both parents and children. And so 
 the winter wore away, giving mutual satis- 
 faction to the employed and the employers. 
 His name is still remembered by many of 
 those pupils and their parents, as that of a 
 beloved, faithful, and successful teacher. 
 
 But his labors were suddenly terminated 
 in this school, before the expiration of his 
 engagement, by an event which will be 
 mentioned in our next chapter.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A SCENE OP SUFFERING AND SORROW. RE- 
 LIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS. 
 
 A DARK cloud was hovering over the 
 home and family of Mr. Cleaveland, the 
 details of which may, possibly, seem un- 
 called for in this little volume, but it is so 
 intimately connected with the religious 
 life and experience of Edward, that I 
 think it can scarcely be deemed out of 
 place. I have thus far said almost nothing 
 of the religious character of Edward, for 
 I preferred rather to give it a place by 
 itself, up to this period, although hereafter 
 it will be as a part and parcel of his every 
 day. Although Edward was always a dili
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 49 
 
 gent reader of the Bible, a lover of the 
 Sabbath school, a constant and attentive 
 listener in the sanctuary, and a conscien- 
 tious, truthful, and strictly moral boy and 
 youth, yet he had reached his majority 
 before his heart was brought to a personal 
 knowledge of salvation through the blood 
 of a crucified Saviour, and the sanctifying 
 influences of the blessed Spirit. "When he 
 was about eighteen years of age, there 
 was a season of special religious interest 
 in the town of H., and some of Edward's 
 young associates were hopefully renewed. 
 Edward was for a time much interested for 
 his own salvation, and for a little season 
 hoped that he had tasted the joys of the 
 penitent, pardoned soul; but he subse- 
 quently relinquished this hope, although I 
 think he was never indifferent to the de- 
 mands of this all-important subject. 
 I have often spoken of the feeble health 
 5
 
 50 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 of Mr. Clcaveland, and for many years he 
 was a victim of pulmonary consumption. 
 Slowly, bat steadily and surely, it was 
 wearing his life away, and for nearly two 
 years previous to the time I have men- 
 tioned, he was unable to do any labor, or 
 attend much to business. It was not until 
 the last six or seven weeks of Mr. Cleave- 
 land's life, that cither himself or family 
 was fully convinced that his stay with them 
 must be short. They had become so much 
 accustomed to the constant cough, the pale, 
 thin form, the sunken cheek, and faltering 
 step, that they scarcely noted the progress 
 of the destroyer. Some closed their eyes 
 to the actual truth, though sometimes 
 reason would show them the falsity of 
 their hopes. It was not because Mr. C. 
 feared to die, or that he shrunk from pass- 
 ing the dark valley, for he felt there was 
 prepared for him a crown of life, which
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 51 
 
 the Lord would give him at the last day, 
 for the sake of Jesus, in whom he had 
 long trusted for salvation. But he loved 
 and enjoyed life as the gift of God, and 
 he loved the service of his Master, while it 
 was his pleasure to prolong his stay on 
 earth. He was deeply interested in all 
 the great moral and religious movements 
 of the day, thoroughly imbued with a self- 
 sacrificing spirit of Christian benevolence, 
 and earnestly devoted to the interests of 
 the Redeemer's kingdom. For many years 
 he was a successful and laborious superin- 
 tendent of the Sabbath school, and at 
 
 other times, whenever health would per- 
 
 
 
 mit, an efficient teacher in tne same 
 blessed institution. As an officer of the 
 church he was long beloved and respected. 
 As a citizen he was known and honored 
 for clearness of intellect, sound judgment, 
 and integrity of character. But the work
 
 52 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 which now remained for him to accomplish 
 in honor of his God and Saviour, was a 
 work of patient suffering. It is not an 
 easy thing for the heart, in sincerity, to 
 say " Thy will, God, be done," but My 
 grace," says the Holy One, "shall be suffi- 
 cient for thee." 
 
 On the first Sabbath of the new year, in 
 the winter of which I have spoken, Mr. 
 Cleaveland enjoyed the privilege of com- 
 memorating a dying Saviour's love, with 
 his fellow Christians, and it was the last 
 time he ever entered the house of God. 
 It was a precious season to his soul, and 
 perhaps the more so because for many 
 mouths he. had been seldom alile to enter 
 the sanctuary that he loved so well. 
 Although very feeble, he felt an almost 
 irresistible desire to speak once more to 
 the beloved Sabbath school. Most kindly 
 and affectionately he spoke a few words
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 53 
 
 of loving admonition, and then he spoke 
 pleasantly and cheerfully of death, as of 
 going home, after a long and weary ab- 
 sence. To the child of God death was but 
 the entrance to his Father's house, an eter- 
 nal home of happiness and joy, where the 
 treasures of his heart would be enjoyed 
 forever. 
 
 He alluded to the physical suffering that 
 might be experienced before we could 
 enter those shining portals, and said, " If 
 we had been absent a long time from our 
 home, and the dearest ones of our hearts, 
 and we were about returning to this 
 beloved place, to dwell with the joyous 
 circle who would there welcome us with 
 delight, would not our hearts be filled 
 with pleasant anticipations ? If some one 
 should tell us that just before we reached 
 this home we should step upon a thorn, 
 that would pierce our foot and cause us 
 5*
 
 54 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 momentary pain, would it lessen our joyful 
 hope, or darken our bright anticipations ? 
 No, we should -scarcely give it a passing 
 thought. And the pains of death are only 
 as a little thorn in our way to our heav- 
 enly home, where we shall live forever 
 before the throne." 
 
 It was no ordinary thorn on which he 
 was called to tread as he neared his 
 Jerusalem home, but he leaned upon the 
 arm of Jesus, the Great Physician, and he 
 bound up each wound with the holy oint- 
 ment of Christian patience, and cheered 
 every pain with the light of his loving 
 countenance. 
 
 It was a pleasant diversion for Mr. 
 Cleaveland, in his retirement and debility, 
 to watch the changes of the weather, as 
 indicated by the thermometer ; and it was 
 his custom, on first rising in the morning, 
 to step out upon the piazza and look at
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 55 
 
 the little instrument. One morning, soon 
 after the sacred season to which I have 
 referred, when the dampness of a winter 
 fog had frozen upon the floor, he stepped 
 out, as usual, on to the piazza, cautiously, 
 as ho thought, to avoid the ice, but at the 
 iirst step from the threshold his foot 
 slipped, and he fell violently upon the 
 floor. There was no apparent local injury, 
 but the severe shock to his general system 
 was more than his feeble frame could 
 endure, and he never recovered from it; 
 and from that hour his strength wasted, 
 and his sufferings became intense. 
 
 For two or three weeks he continued 
 to take his meals with the family^ as usual, 
 and to lead the devotions at the family 
 altar ; but the cough was more and more 
 troublesome, and the difficulty of breathing 
 was, at times, distressing, until, at length, 
 he could leave his room no more. And
 
 56 THE BOY AND THE MAN". 
 
 that sick-room was a place where God 
 made rich and glorious displays of his 
 power and loving -kindness. There was 
 manifested the sweet submission of a 
 stricken child, and the holy joy of the 
 dying believer. 
 
 The heart of that wife and mother was 
 sorely trijd as she saw the loved com- 
 panion of her youth about to leave her, 
 but she bowed her will to the Supreme. 
 In bitter tears would she ask herself, 
 " Who will take his place at the family 
 altar? Who will offer the morning and 
 evening sacrifice ? " For as yet the in- 
 cense of humble, penitent prayer went 
 not up from the heart of one of her three 
 children. And must the sacrifice hence- 
 forth be offered by a priestess in this 
 household, which, from generation to gen- 
 eration, had enjoyed the ministry of God's 
 chosen servants ? Yes, surely, rather than
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAtf. 57 
 
 that the altar be destroyed. But is not 
 the covenant " to them and to their chil- 
 dren?" 
 
 But we will turn to that sacred room 
 again. That pious father believed in God, 
 and knew in whom he had believed. No 
 doubts of acceptance dimmed the bright- 
 ness of his spiritual vision. Not for him- 
 self had he one anxiety, but he remembered 
 perishing souls around him, and the loved 
 church to which he belonged, and earnestly 
 in faith did he pray that the Spirit might 
 descend with mighty power, to arouse 
 slumbering Christians, and bring multi- 
 tudes of the impenitent to the feet of 
 Jesus. He did not forget his own beloved 
 children, yet he seemed to have taken them 
 in the arms of faith and laid them upon 
 God's altar, with an almost perfect trust 
 that the Lord would accept the offering. 
 He said and truly felt that the souls of
 
 58 THE BOY AND THE MAN/ 
 
 his children were no more precious than 
 the souls of any others. Was it that the 
 father was wholly swallowed up in the 
 Christian, that he seemed to feel as deeply 
 for other sinners as for his own children ? 
 If so, we have good reason to believe that 
 it was well pleasing to God. 
 
 For days and weeks the watchers by 
 that couch of severe suffering looked 
 almost hourly for the release of the fet- 
 tered spirit, and for himself his prayer was 
 that he might have grace to wait and 
 suffer God's appointed time. 
 
 It was to minister to the comfort of his 
 dying father that Edward left his school 
 before the close of the term, and, though 
 a mournful one, it was a precious privi- 
 lege to all who were allowed to witness 
 the cheerful trust of the believer. Al- 
 though it caused the bravest hearts to 
 ,iuail, as they saw the contest between
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 59 
 
 nature and the destroying foe, yet many 
 friends felt that it was good to be there, 
 and not a few precious souls will praise 
 God through eternity for the sanctified 
 lessons of those weeks. 
 
 Some three weeks before his final de- 
 parture, as the family were for a brief 
 hour left alone, Mr. Cleaveland, feeling 
 that his breath might cease at any moment, 
 desired to take leave of the dear circle. 
 They gathered around his bed, and, while 
 tears which could not be repressed flowed 
 from all other eyes, with eyes that were 
 to weep no more, and a calm and cheerful 
 smile, he gave to each the parting hand, 
 and breathed the word farewell ; and then 
 with a few feebly uttered but earnest 
 words, he commended himself and his 
 precious family to his Saviour's care, and 
 prayed that " we may all meet, a happy 
 family, in heaven." But weeks of weari-
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 ness and pain were assigned to him before 
 the crown of victory could be given him, 
 all of which were borne without one mur- 
 muring word. 
 
 At one time he said, " This is a dark 
 cloud of suffering which is now hanging 
 over us, but there is a bright cloud of 
 glory behind it." On a bright and beau- 
 tiful Sabbath morning he said, with a smile, 
 "This is a beautiful world; it is God's 
 world ; but I had hoped to be in a better 
 world this morning." It was with great 
 difficulty that he could converse at all, 
 and was only able to speak a few words 
 at intervals; but the few words of gentle 
 admonition, patient submission, or of glo- 
 rious hope, were as good seed sown and 
 watered by the Holy Spirit, which took 
 root in the hearts of those around him, 
 and afterwards, as we believe, brought
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 61 
 
 forth fruit to the glory of God in tiie 
 salvation of immortal souls. 
 
 One morning when his daughter, who 
 was an invalid, entered the room, giving 
 her his hand, he said, with a face radiant 
 with a smile which told of perfect peace, 
 though panting for breath, " Good morning, 
 I am glad to see you looking better to- 
 day ;" then added, most impressively, " I 
 want you should give your heart to Jesus." 
 Her only reply was a silent pressure of 
 the thin, white hand she held, but from 
 that moment she felt that her wprd was 
 sacredly pledged to that dying father, who 
 was almost the idol of her heart, to " seek 
 first the kingdom of God and his righto 
 ousness." 
 
 And while this cloud of suffering was 
 hanging over our friends, a great cloud of 
 mercy was hovering over this portion of 
 Zion, and before Mr. Cleaveland closed
 
 62 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 his eyes in his last sleep, he had the sweet 
 pleasure of knowing that the Spirit of 
 God was moving the hearts of the impeni- 
 tent around him, and that many were 
 turning to the Lord. It would almost 
 seem that his life had been unexpectedly 
 prolonged, that he might witness on earth 
 the answer to his long-continued, earnest 
 prayers for a blessing. 
 
 But he did not live to hear the song 
 of praise for pardoning mercy from the 
 lips of his own children, though we hope 
 it was not long before he rejoiced, in com- 
 pany with the angels in heaven, over those 
 repenting souls. 
 
 And, finally, the day arrived when this 
 ransomed soul exchanged its frail, ema- 
 ciated tenement of clay for a " mansion 
 not made with hands, eternal in the 
 heavens." He was almost the first to 
 notice the signs of immediate dissolution,
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 63 
 
 and each hour he watched the progress 
 of death. But death came to him only as 
 a welcome friend, and he felt no fear, for 
 he leaned upon the arm of his Beloved. 
 When his sight was wholly obscured, and 
 he knew his release was very near, he 
 called for his family, and, one by one, they 
 received the last kiss from those icy lips, 
 and heard his last farewell. Then, quietly 
 folding his hands upon his breast, he 
 breathed the words, " Come, Lord Jesus, 
 come quickly." " Into thy hands I commit 
 my spirit." These were his last words. 
 Short and shorter was each breath, each 
 pulse more feeble, until the heart ceased 
 to beat, and he was free. 
 
 And he went not " as one lies down to 
 pleasant dreams," but as one enters on 
 unspeakably bright and sure realities. It 
 was at evening, just as the last red light 
 was fading from the sky of early spring,
 
 64 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 that this ransomed spirit was borne to the 
 courts of the New Jerusalem, to be robed 
 in spotless white, and with the heavenly 
 choir to sing the praises of the Lamb that 
 was slain, to ^o no more out forever. 
 
 "AND THERE SHALL BE NO NIGHT THERE." 
 
 And two days after, while the clouds 
 dropped rain, and tears flowed from many 
 eyes, they bore his sacred form to its last 
 silent resting-place, and beside the open 
 grave they sang that beautiful hymn com- 
 mencing, 
 
 "Unveil th7 bosom, faithful tomb," 
 
 and heard those blessed words, " I am the 
 resurrection and the life." And there 
 l hey laid him, to await the trump of the 
 last great day, and left him alone with 
 his God. And there vre, too, will leave 
 him, and return to the lonely home, and to 
 our friend Edward; but let us carry with
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 65 
 
 us from this scene a hallowed influence for 
 good. 
 
 And now all offices of love and atten- 
 tion were at an end for the loved one 
 who had so long engrossed the thoughts 
 and time of this family circle, and it only 
 remained for them to make a wise and 
 spiritual improvement of this dispensation, 
 and the lessons it so forcibly taught them. 
 
 For one short week that afflicted moth- 
 er's voice was heard amid her tears, plead- 
 ing importunately from that altar, whose 
 priest had been raised to a more exalted 
 service, that these afflictions might be 
 sanctified to them all by the blessing of 
 the gracious Spirit. All felt that now was 
 the time to seek the Lord, that this was, 
 indeed, a day of grace. The mercy-drops 
 were falling around them; meetings for 
 conference and prayer were solemn and 
 impressive, and preaching services deeply
 
 66 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 interesting. But to the hearts of those 
 three children the still small voice from 
 that sick-room was most intensely power- 
 ful. Their education had been eminently 
 religious, and this they now saw and felt 
 increased their guilt in the sight of a 
 righteous God. They knew there was 
 none other name or way than that of the 
 blessed Jesus and his blood, by which they 
 could hope for salvation, and each silently 
 resolved to rest not until they should find 
 peace beside the cross of Calvary. A sol- 
 emn stillness pervaded the house : little 
 was said; but the Spirit was working pow- 
 erfully and effectively in each heart. 
 
 A few days after the death of Mr. 
 Cleaveland, as Edward was present at a 
 little meeting for social prayer, the forty- 
 second psalm, most beautifully commencing, 
 " As the hart pantcth after the water 
 brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, ( 
 5
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 67 
 
 God ; my soul tlrirsteth for God, for the 
 living God," was read. While he listened 
 intently to those words, he felt them to be 
 the earnest utterance of his own longing 
 soul. And God was not far from that 
 troubled sinner, but very near, even in his 
 heart. It was then that the glorious Sun 
 of Righteousness dawned, with a healing 
 light, upon his sin-sick soul. There he 
 laid his burden down beside the cross, and 
 calmly raised his trusting eyes to the 
 beanwng face of a crucified and forgiving 
 Saviour, and, with humble confidence, said 
 with the Psalmist, " Why art thou cast 
 down, my soul? why art thou disquieted 
 in me ? Hope thou in God, for I shall 
 yet praise him who is the health of my 
 countenance and nay God." 
 
 In just one week after the remains of 
 the father were consigned to their kindred 
 dust, Edward knelt beside that family
 
 68 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 altar, and breathed forth the prayer of 
 his contrite and believing soul; and ero 
 another week had passed, his brother 
 George had a new song put into his 
 mouth, and he was ready to bear his part 
 in the ministrations of the altar; and 
 from that time, while both remained at 
 home, these brothers alternated morning 
 and evening in the performance of this 
 beautiful and delightful household duty. 
 
 In less than two weeks from the hour 
 when they had heard the last farewell 
 from the lips of that fondly loved husband 
 and father, each member of that bereaved 
 circle was hopefully trusting in God as 
 their Father, in Jesus as their blessed 
 Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as their 
 Sanctifier and Comforter. That mother's 
 heart was made to leap for joy in the 
 midst of the " valley of Baca," and the 
 days of her first great sorrow were light-
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN". 69 
 
 ened by a new and grateful gladness. The 
 Lord was better to her than she feared, 
 and her faith in him and his promises was 
 strengthened. 
 
 But it was not in the family alone that 
 the voices of these young Christians was 
 heard in prayer, for at once they began 
 to take an active part in the social meet- 
 ings, and the influence of these early labors 
 was never lost upon themselves, whatever 
 the effect may have been upon others. 
 
 It is so much easier to take up the 
 cross in the service of Christ when his 
 love is first shed abroad in the heart, and 
 the glow of devotion is new to the soul, 
 than to delay until silence has become 
 habitual. I am not one of those who 
 believe that every one should be made to 
 speak or pray in public, or be unreason- 
 ably urged to do so ; but I do think that 
 
 
 
 their efforts to do so should be encouraged
 
 70 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 by elder Christians. I have heard pro- 
 fessors of religion say that they did not 
 wish to hear young converts speak or pray 
 in meetings when there were more expe- 
 rienced Christians present, for it was not 
 their place, they could not do it to edi- 
 fication, and it was only the same thing 
 over and over again. It was tiresome to 
 listen to them. Is it tiresome to listen to 
 the voice which tells of the joy of par- 
 doned sin, and the love of Christ ? Has 
 not the heart of many an advanced disciple 
 been melted, his love quickened, his faith 
 strengthened, and his good resolutions re- 
 newed, as he has listened to the trembling, 
 yet earnest words of some new-born soul? 
 And is not the youthful soldier better pre- 
 pared to take a bold stand in the army of 
 the Lord for each judicious effort to bear 
 a humble part in the Christian warfare ? 
 Let us, then, be careful not to offend one
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 71 
 
 of these little ones, who are precious in 
 the sight of the Lord. 
 
 In a few mouths Edward Cleaveland, 
 with his brother and sister, in company 
 with nearly fifty of the recent hopeful 
 converts, publicly professed their faith in 
 Christ and entered into solemn covenant 
 to be the faithful servants of the Lord. In 
 reference to this occasion Edward said to 
 his brother and sister that it was pleasant 
 to think of uniting with the visible church 
 in company with so many, but, if he should 
 consult his own personal feelings merely, 
 he should prefer to come alone and conse- 
 crate himself publicly; for it seemed to 
 him that the solemn sense of individual 
 responsibility, both toward God and his 
 fellow-men, would be greater. 
 
 Edward was always strictly moral in all 
 his habits and deportment, so that there 
 was less change in his external character
 
 72 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 than may be seen in many, or, perhaps, 
 most young men. He always loved the 
 truth, and was obedient to his parents. 
 He ever respected religion, and admired 
 the examples of piety with which he was 
 familiar, and some portions of the Bible 
 possessed great attractions for him, espe- 
 cially the historical part of it. But the 
 change of heart was none the less real, 
 and none the less needed because of this 
 morality and integrity ; for the motive was 
 not love to God, and he had not until now 
 a saving faith in the atonement of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 But now he truly loved those truths 
 which before he only respected, and de- 
 lighted in the performance of those ser- 
 vices which had been, in a great degree, 
 matters of habit and early education. His 
 heart was now deeply interested in that 
 which formerly only reached his intellect
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAX. 13 
 
 He was, indeed, a new creature in Christ 
 Jesus, and he saw the necessity of watch- 
 fulness and prayer to overcome a host of 
 easily besetting sins. 
 
 Christian principle now governed his 
 conduct, and controlled his naturally impul- 
 sive and somewhat impetuous disposition. 
 Grace modified, purified, and strengthened 
 the more noble and elevating elements of 
 his character, and subdued and softened 
 less desirable traits, thus forming a beau- 
 tiful and symmetrical whole. His aspira- 
 tions were lofty, but not ambitious, only as 
 he coveted earnestly the best gifts. His 
 standard for moral and intellectual attain- 
 ments was high, and constantly ascending 
 as he progressed onward and upward. 
 And then came renewed longings of soul 
 for superior advantages and a more thor- 
 ough educational training. But there were 
 even additional reasons why these earnest 
 4*
 
 74 THE BOY AND THE MAX. 
 
 desires could not be gratified, and reluc- 
 tantly but cheerfully he yielded, following 
 the dictates of conscience rather than 
 inclination. He could now trust his heav- 
 enly Father's guidance, and fully believe 
 that, although he could not at present 
 understand the reason for this chain of 
 opposing circumstances, yet all was or- 
 dered by unerring and infinite Wisdom and 
 Love, and would result in his highest good.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HOME DUTIES. GOES ABROAD TO TEACH. 
 
 AFTER the death of liis father, Edward 
 felt that, for a time at least, his place was 
 at home, to minister to the comfort of his 
 widowed mother, and superintend and 
 assist in the general business of the farm ; 
 as his brother was not yet qualified by age 
 to take charge of such affairs legally. It 
 is almost invariably the fact, when a man 
 in moderate circumstances leaves an estate 
 to be settled by others, the amount of 
 property remaining after settlement is less 
 than was expected; so it proved in the 
 case of Mr. Cleaveland. 
 
 He was conscious that his pecuniary
 
 76 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 affairs were somewhat embarrassed ; still, 
 he left his family with the assured feeling 
 that a pleasant home, and means for a 
 comfortable subsistence would remain for 
 them, after all liabilities were discharged. 
 But the result did not fully realize this 
 expectation. Yet he left them a legacy far 
 richer and more to be desired than houses 
 or lands, or millions of gold and silver, 
 which perish with the using. 
 
 Edward did not improve in health as the 
 months passed away, and the effort of 
 watching and tending his father in his last 
 distressing illness greatly increased the 
 difficulty in his side, so that it was more 
 than ever apparent that he could never 
 endure the severe practical life of a farm. 
 He consequently decided to leave home as 
 soon, as suitable arrangements could be 
 made, and devote his energies to teaching, 
 The year following the death of his father
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 77 
 
 he procured a situation in one of the Mid- 
 dle States, and there he labored for four 
 years acceptably and successfully, gaining 
 for himself the warm-hearted affection of 
 his pupils, and the sincere friendship and 
 enduring respect of the community. 
 
 A large circle of friends gathered around 
 him, who admired his native talents, refined 
 tastes, and high mental, moral, and social 
 character. The flattering attentions he 
 received, and the high position in society 
 which was at once given him, instead of 
 fostering a foolish and vain pride, which is 
 both disgusting to others, and destructive 
 to the continued progress of its possessor, 
 only stimulated Edward Cleaveland to 
 higher attainments, that he might become 
 more truly worthy of the confidence al- 
 ready reposed in him. To the noble mind 
 and heart of one who seeks cultivation and 
 improvement from a correct sense of moral 
 5*
 
 78 THE BOY AND THE MAN 
 
 obligation, success will induce a gena.~ a 
 and healthy gratitude, that leads to still 
 more ardent endeavors for future growth; 
 and such was the effect upon our friend. 
 He regarded himself as a creature of God, 
 endowed with powers and faculties capa- 
 ble of endless improvement and expansion. 
 It was to him a holy joy that upward 
 progress would be eternal, and he looked 
 upon it as a sacred duty which he owed to 
 his God and Saviour, to himself and to his 
 fellow-men, to cultivate and enlarge these 
 immortal powers, and, at the same time, it 
 was to him a source of the purest enjoy- 
 ment. And he wished to bless others to 
 the extent of his ability, and for this 
 reason it was a real pleasure to him to 
 impart instruction, and here lay one great 
 element of his success as a teacher. He 
 loved his work, and gave himself to it
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 79 
 
 enthusiastically. It was not to him a 
 task, but a delightful occupation. 
 
 Although Edward ' Cleaveland had gone 
 forth from his early home, he carried with 
 him a truly filial heart, and felt that, as 
 the eldest son, he was henceforth to be the 
 stay and support of his widowed mother ; 
 and for this he labored, and to fulfil this 
 mission was a fixed and abiding purpose of 
 his life. Nor was it simply in the relation 
 of a son that the more beautiful and lovely 
 traits, of his character were displayed ; for 
 his generous affection and self-sacrificing 
 devotion were not less apparent in the 
 brother than the son. 
 
 I have scarcely mentioned Edward's only 
 sister Susan, nor would I here speak of 
 her, did I not feel that the omission of it 
 would do injustice to the subject of this 
 little sketch. Susan was the youngest 
 flower in the little home garden of Mr
 
 80 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 Cleaveland. The bud was lovely and 
 beautiful, giving to those tender parents 
 fair promise for the full and bright devel- 
 opment of their cherished plant. 
 
 Those brothers, too, loved her most ten- 
 derly, and when she was a wee bit of a 
 baby, Edward, though a very little boy, 
 would sit in his little chair, and entreat 
 his mother to let him hold his dear sister, 
 and when she placed her in his arms he 
 would hold her most carefully, and gaze 
 admiringly on her chubby, round face, and 
 bright black eyes. And, to his vision, at 
 least, she was exceedingly beautiful. 
 
 But scarce six summers had passed over 
 her curly head when the blighting breath 
 of disease swept over her. The rose faded 
 from her cheek, and never blossomed there 
 more, and the blooming flower was changed 
 to the pale, white lily. Those sparkling 
 eyes were dimmed, and, at times, the win-
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 81 
 
 dows of her little soul -were almost blot- 
 ted out. 
 
 For many years a deep green shade at 
 all times screened her eyes from the glad 
 light of the sun, and almost covered her 
 pale face. Although she dearly loved to 
 read and study, it was only with her ears 
 that her desire for knowledge could be 
 gratified. But kind friends often read 
 to her, and during their vacations her 
 brothers used daily to devote an hour or 
 two to reading her lessons in geography, 
 history, and other primary studies, and 
 then question her on what they had read. 
 In this way she learned a little without 
 using her eyes. 
 
 She was always the pet of the house- 
 hold, but a new element entered into their 
 hearts as they beheld the stricken child. 
 The loving pride which was awakened by 
 the beautiful bud, gave place to a more
 
 82 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 tender, sympathizing, watchful love. Not 
 that they ever failed to love her truly, but 
 they afterwards felt that too much of 
 pride had been indulged, and they saw the 
 goodness and mercy of their kind heavenly 
 Father in thus testing their love to him by 
 laying his hand upon their little idol. 
 
 Although after many years of suffering, 
 medical treatment, under the blessing of 
 God, availed to remove in a great measure 
 the effect of disease, yet she was never 
 fully restored, but was ever a fragile plant, 
 that those tender friends believed could 
 never endure the rougher duties of life, 
 and most lovingly they sought to shield 
 her from each rude blast. 
 
 Edward Cleaveland always loved his 
 . sister with the strength of his warm, gen- 
 erous, noble heart, and when that beloved, 
 affectionate father was taken away, ho 
 cherished for her not only a brother'?
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 83 
 
 constant affection, but there was also 
 added to and blended with it something 
 of a father's watchful care. 
 
 When she was able to attend school, 
 which was not until after the death of her 
 father, Edward from his own salary de- 
 frayed her expenses, and was never weary 
 of contributing to her comfort and im- 
 provement. It was not without self-denial 
 that these offices of love were performed 
 by him, for he had only a moderate salary. 
 But the more he cared for her wants and 
 ministered to her necessity, the more 
 closely was his heart bound to her, until 
 their very lives seemed blended together. 
 Her school friends used playfully to tell 
 Susan that they were "much more like 
 lovers than brother and sister, nor was 
 their attachment less strong, deep, and 
 abiding, though, of course, different in its 
 nature, from the affection of two hearts
 
 84 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 bearing to each other the relation of 
 lovers. 
 
 One who knew Edward Cleaveland well 
 for the last five years of his life said, in 
 alluding to this brother and sister, " They 
 are my beau ideal of what a brother and 
 sister should be to each other." And, 
 certainly, there are very few whose char- 
 acter as a brother shines brighter than did 
 that of Edward Cleaveland; and he was 
 honored and respected for it while living, 
 and by many has bis name been praised 
 for it since he passed away to the better 
 land. 
 
 There are not a few young men who 
 seem to feel that their manliness and dig- 
 nity are compromised by any polite and 
 affectionate attentions to their sisters, 
 especially if any other young ladies are 
 present ; and more particularly is this feel- 
 ing manifested by those brothers who nave
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 85 
 
 enjoyed greater social and educational ad- 
 vantages than their sisters. But such young 
 men never win for themselves the respect 
 of the truly noble in society. And the 
 same remark may apply with equal force 
 to many a " would be " accomplished young 
 lady, who treats with marked indifference, 
 or even disrespect, her worthy but less 
 favored brother. Alas ! such foolish, short- 
 sighted creatures realize little the injury 
 they are thus doing to both themselves 
 and others. The truly cultivated and 
 refined brother or sister may be of incal- 
 culable service to other members of the 
 home circle without any sacrifice of real 
 good, but, on the contrary, will reap a rich 
 reward in their own hearts. Self-denial, 
 when exercised from right motives, and 
 for the real good of others, yields some 
 of the choicest fruit, and is the source of 
 the sweetest joy that this world affords. 
 8
 
 86 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 The consciousness of being a comfort and 
 blessing to others will compensate for the 
 loss of many more selfish pleasures, and 
 this joy gladdened the soul of Edward 
 Cleaveland ' for many years of his life. 
 The promise is sure, " The liberal soul 
 shall be made fat; and he that watereth 
 shall be watered also himself." To be 
 sure, it is not always that the riches of 
 this world are granted as the reward of 
 true benevolence, but there are riches far 
 more precious than the golden treasures 
 of earth, which often " take to themselves 
 wings and fly away," but these shall abide 
 forever. 
 
 And here I would mention a very rare 
 but strikingly beautiful instance of filial 
 and fraternal affection, overruling all other 
 emotions and wishes, strong and tender as 
 those other natural and reasonable long- 
 ings of the soul might be. It was a high
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 87 
 
 and noble but secret resolve that Edward 
 Cleaveland made, and pledged himself to 
 his own heart and his God to perform. 
 He solemnly determined that his first 
 duty was to provide for his mother and 
 sister, and firmly resolved that he would 
 never seek a home of his own, or allow 
 his heart to fix its purest and holiest 
 affections upon another, who might be the 
 sunlight of such a home and the sharer of 
 all his joys and sorrows, until his pecu- 
 niary resources should be such that he 
 could do so without any infringement upon 
 what he regarded as his first duty. 
 
 And faithfully did he execute his pur- 
 pose, despite the earnest remonstrance of 
 friends who could not read his heart, for 
 he boasted not of his noble motive, and 
 revealed it to very few. His sensitive 
 spirit was often grieved as the thoughtless 
 jest or the words of ridicule were turned
 
 88 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 against him, by those who did not under- 
 stand and could not appreciate the circum- 
 stances. He had the consciousness of 
 right intent and the approval of his own 
 heart, and, he fully believed, the blessed 
 sanction of his Friend above. He was 
 ever cheerful and happy, enjoying the many 
 pleasures which surrounded him, without 
 making himself unhappy by fruitless re- 
 pinings for other joys.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HIS HEALTH FAILS. HE IS OBLIGED TO 
 LEAVE TEACHING FOB A TIME. 
 
 THE months and years passed very 
 pleasantly to Edward Cleaveland, for he 
 loved his work, and rejoiced in the visible 
 improvement of his pupils, and the -in- 
 creasing favor and respect of his patrons. 
 But he labored too constantly, and allowed 
 himself too little time for recreation and 
 rest. He had not yet learned to exercise 
 that care and attention to his physical 
 well-being which experience taught him 
 were indispensable to the preservation of 
 his health. 
 
 With the exception of a yearly visit to 
 his home friends, he scarcely allowed him- 
 8*
 
 90 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 self a week of relaxation for four years, 
 and his duties were often very arduous. 
 At the expiration of his fourth year of 
 teaching he was so much debilitated as to 
 render rest, or, at least, a change of occu- 
 pation absolutely indispensable, unless he 
 was willing to incur the guilt of commit- 
 ting slow, but certain suicide. It was not 
 from choice, but necessity, that he bade 
 adieu to his pupils and many friends in 
 the delightful village of M. and its vicinity, 
 and turned his face northward, expecting 
 to return no more to his beloved charge. 
 The pain in his side had been constant, 
 and often very severe, and yet, so bright 
 and cheerful was his spirit, and his face 
 always so animated and pleasant, that no 
 one would ever suspect that he experi- 
 enced aught of pain. It is a blessed 
 power which is given to some people to 
 rise above the sufferingi of the physical
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 91 
 
 nature, and maintain a habitual and un- 
 feigned cheerfulness under the most trying 
 experiences of a diseased system. It is 
 an attainment well worth striving after 
 most earnestly and prayerfully, for it often 
 adds very essentially to the comfort of 
 those about us, and tends in a high degree 
 to hasten the recovery of the sufferer. It 
 is an occasion of gratitude to our kind 
 Father in heaven, if ever such self-control 
 is granted, and such perfect submission to 
 all his dealings, that we can truly " rejoice 
 in the Lord at all times," and " count 
 it all joy," when we are passing through 
 the various trials or " temptations " we 
 experience here below. 
 
 Edward left with the best wishes of 
 many true friends, and their unfeigned 
 regrets. He returned home much en- 
 feebled, and many fears were entertained 
 that he would never be fully restored to
 
 92 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 health; and, indeed, he could not expect 
 to be strong and robust, for his constitu- 
 tion was greatly impaired. 
 
 He passed some weeks very pleasantly 
 wit*h the home circle, and spent a part 
 of the summer in travelling through the 
 Green Mountain State, and the north- 
 eastern portion of New York. He pos- 
 sessed, in a remarkable degree, an eye and 
 taste for whatever was beautiful or sub- 
 lime in nature or art. His soul would 
 seem filled with delight as he gazed upon 
 a charming landscape, and it would be so 
 indelibly painted upon his mind that it wag 
 ever after a source of pleasure to him; 
 and the true and rational happiness ho 
 experienced from a ramble over the hills 
 and vales of our beautiful New Eng- 
 land contributed very essentially to the 
 promotion of physical health. He looked 
 upon the beauties of this world as the gift
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 93 
 
 of our kind Creator, and regarded it as 
 ingratitude to him not to love, admire, 
 and appreciate these tokens of his power 
 and loving care, and wherever he went 
 ho endeavored to cultivate this refining 
 and elevating taste, both in himself and 
 others. He was not a man of " one idea," 
 and never sought to excel in one particular 
 merely, but he labored to attain a high 
 standard in mental, moral, social, and reli- 
 gious excellence ; and he was ever on the 
 watch for some opportunity to gain useful 
 knowledge, and was quite as ready to im- 
 part to others what he had acquired. He 
 was a keen observer of men and things, 
 and therefore his travels were not in vain. 
 Life to him was not simply existence, nor 
 was it a weary toil, but a noble, God-given 
 blessing. To quote his own words, " Oh, 
 forsaken of God and despised by man 
 must he be who has no eye for beauty, no
 
 94 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 ear for music, no band for toil, no head 
 for thought, and no heart for love." 
 
 For more than a year Edward Cleave- 
 land passed his time principally in the 
 pursuit of health, partly at home, partly 
 in travelling and other temporary occu- 
 pations. And very delightful to the mem- 
 ory of some of his friends is the remem- 
 brance of those weeks and months when 
 they enjoyed his presence. 
 
 Those pleasant'social readings, the rides 
 and walks, the quiet talks and cheerful 
 hours of those days, are precious treasures 
 of the heart. The rest and change were 
 beneficial to his health, the pain in his 
 side entirely left him, and he once more 
 returned to his loved employment of teach- 
 ing. 
 
 He was called to take charge of a 
 grammar school in one of the most beau- 
 tiful villages in Massachusetts, and soon
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 95 
 
 the place grew to be a prosperous inland 
 city. 
 
 His health was so far restored that he 
 thought best to accept the offer, nor did 
 he ever regret the decision. For eight 
 years he labored in the same school, and 
 there hundreds were brought under his 
 influence, who have since gone forth into 
 the wide world, many of them bearing in 
 their characters the impress of his mould- 
 ing hand. He did not feel that he was 
 laboring merely for a present good, or 
 that the effect was to cease with time and 
 the life of the pupil here below. He 
 looked beyond the fleeting hours, and the 
 eventful scenes even of this world, and 
 remembered that he was training minds 
 not only to bear the responsibilities of the 
 present life, but also for immortality.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " HIS OWN IDEAS OP A TEACHER'S RESPONSI- 
 BILITIES. 
 
 WE can best understand his aim and 
 success as a teacher of youth by glancing 
 at some of his own written opinions on 
 the subject; and, hoping the influence upon 
 the reader may be one of practical good, 
 I will venture to quote some passages 
 addressed to his fellow-teachers. It will 
 be seen that he regarded tbe parent and 
 teacher as coworkers in the high and 
 holy calling of training the youthful mind, 
 and that they were mutually dependent 
 upon each other for success, 
 
 " The physical, mental, and moral growth 
 and development of a child should be
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 97 
 
 watched and guarded with the most care- 
 ful attention by every parent and teacher. 
 There is no employment on earth which 
 carries with it such heavy responsibilities, 
 and which is so endless in its consequences 
 as the moulding of the character and 
 tastes, and, in a great measure, control- 
 ling the happiness and destiny of an im- 
 mortal being. This work has been com- 
 mitted almost wholly to the parent and 
 the teacher. The trust is most assuredly 
 theirs. 
 
 " Plans for breaking up bad habits, such as 
 idleness, carelessness, profanity, and lying, 
 should be mutually discussed, and when 
 adopted, should be carried to. a successful 
 result by the earnest and hearty cooperation 
 of both parent and teacher. The first thing 
 to be secured is the habit of obedience, 
 without which nothing can be accomplished. 
 This is of vital importance, and no child 
 9
 
 08 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 can be well educated without it. It is tho 
 corner-stone in the character of an intelli- 
 gent, moral, and noble-minded man. Diso- 
 bedience has filled our reform schools, our 
 prisons, and our penitentiaries, and has 
 brought and is bringing incalculable misery 
 upon the human family. 
 
 " Mobs are headed, riots instigated, laws 
 trampled upon, and governments over- 
 thrown, by those, and those only, who 
 were accustomed to disobey their parents 
 and teachers. Here should be the most 
 perfect unanimity of feeling and action. 
 If the rules and regulations of a school 
 are just, obedience should be uncom- 
 promisingly maintained, by both parent 
 and teacher. A misunderstanding on this 
 point may prove fatal to progress, and 
 forever ruin the child. 
 
 " The health of the young should be an 
 object of special attention. 'A souud
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 99 
 
 mind in a sound body,' is a maxim full 
 of meaning. Habits which debilitate the 
 body and impair its vigor should be broken 
 up, a stooping posture changed to an erect 
 one, awkwardness of manner to case and 
 grace, roughness and vulgarity to gentle- 
 ness and purity. The mental powers 
 should be harmoniously developed and 
 judiciously directed. Thoroughness of in- 
 struction is also a matter of great im- 
 portance. Many, it is to be feared, are 
 too superficial in their instruction ; forcing 
 the child through a great number of pages, 
 without his deriving any available knowl- 
 edge, or permanent power. 
 
 " The habits, passions, and morals of 
 the young should be watched and guided 
 with ceaseless vigilance. Habits may be 
 formed which shall make the individual 
 a disagreeable, disorderly, and unendurable 
 member of society, or a pleasant, amiable,
 
 100 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 and ever-wclcorae visitant at every fireside. 
 Passions, which, if left uncontrolled, may 
 prompt the blasphemous oath, and delight 
 in scenes of wickedness and cruelty, may, 
 if rightly directed, make heroes as brave 
 as Washington, philanthropists as perse- 
 vering as Howard, or preachers as earnest 
 and powerful as Baxter and Whitefield. 
 
 " The morals of a child may become so 
 depraved that virtue cannot breathe in its 
 presence, and goodness shall shrink back 
 at its approach as from a leper's touch, 
 and its effect upon society may be more 
 dreaded than the breath of a pestilence; 
 or its principles may be so correct, and 
 its life so pure, as to exert an elevating 
 and ennobling influence over all with whom 
 it comes in contact. 
 
 " Thus we see that the most weighty 
 responsibilities rest upon parents and 
 teachers, and to train the young aright
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 101 
 
 demands unwearied diligence, an enlight- 
 ened view of what true education is, and 
 a conscientious discharge of every duty. 
 What is time for, unless it is given us to 
 prepare ourselves, and those over whom 
 we have an influence, for usefulness here 
 and lasting happiness hereafter ? Shall 
 the decaying body receive the most careful 
 attention, and the imperishable mind no 
 watchful care and assiduous culture ? Far 
 better would it be for a man to leave a 
 hovel, with intelligence and virtue, as an 
 inheritance to his children, than the riches 
 of Astor, with ignorance and depravity. 
 
 " When parents and teachers shall look 
 upon the subject of education in its true 
 light, faithfully discharge every duty, and 
 conscientiously fulfil every obligation to 
 the young, a new era will be ushered in. 
 Then, indeed, we may hope with assurance 
 < that our sons may be as plants grown up 
 9*
 
 102 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 in their youth ; and our daughters may be 
 as corner-stones, polished after the simili- 
 tude of a palace.' " 
 
 And again, he says, " Let the teacher 
 forget that he is engaged in a vexing, 
 thankless, and life-exhausting profession, 
 and laboring for an unrcquiting remunera- 
 tion ; but let him remember that deathless 
 minds are given him to cultivate, and with 
 a resistless energy, an ardent zeal, and an 
 all-absorbing love, let him devote himself 
 to doing good to his pupils. Let his soul 
 burn within him as he meets their smiling 
 and intelligent countenances, and witnesses 
 the daily development of their growing 
 minds. Let his eye brighten as he reads 
 their destiny in the future. One may yet 
 guide the helm of state like Washington, 
 or, like him, lead the armies of his country 
 to battle. One, like Franklin, may yet 
 represent the wisdom of his country at
 
 THE BOY AN'D THE MAN. 103 
 
 foreign courts. One may preside on the 
 cc ?<;!?. like Marshall ; or lead iu the coun- 
 cils of state, like Webster: or sway the 
 Hind* f the masses, like Clay; or deliver 
 a. message from the Most High, like White 
 ^eld. Or there may be some who l shall 
 tread the fiimament with a Newton's step, 
 or strike the harp of song with a Milton's 
 baud.' And, higher and nobler than all, 
 they ars candidates for the society of 
 augiJs au'l glorified spirits at the court 
 of the K^ng of kings. 
 
 " Let us icoio.niber that there is a pur- 
 pose to be aocGinpl'sbed in living, and that 
 life is too short, Its mc'iip.uto too precious, 
 and the consequences which hang upon it 
 arc too momentous, to hare i*. spent in 
 idleness and inactivity. We have minds 
 to be cultivated, and hearts to oe iniriiicd. 
 'It is not all of life to live.' E\:s:^nce is
 
 104 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 not life. Breath is not life, the life of 
 the mind and soul. 
 
 " The existence of the grazing ox, of the 
 condemned criminal, or the ignorant Hin- 
 doo, or the degraded Hottentot, is not the 
 life we covet. It is not the joyous and 
 happy existence of the intellect. It is 
 not the refined and elevated enjoyment of 
 a cultivated mind. It is not the hallowed 
 bliss of a noble, pure, and Christian heart. 
 
 " ' We live in deeds, not years ; in thoughts, not 
 
 breaths ; 
 
 In feelings, not in figures on a dial. 
 We should count time by heart-throbs, when they 
 
 beat 
 
 For God, for man, and duty. lie most lives 
 Who thinks most, feels noblest, acts the best ; 
 And he whose heart beats quickest lives the 
 
 longest, 
 
 Lives more in one hour than in years do some, 
 Whose blood sleeps as it slips along their veins.' "
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 105 
 
 And in these passages may be read the 
 great and noble principles and feelings 
 which ruled the conduct and life of Edward 
 Cleavcland, in the various relations he 
 sustained, as teacher, friend, citizen, and 
 Christian ; for he was an earnest man, and, 
 in the noblest sense, enthusiastic. 
 
 It was his custom to spend the vacations 
 in travelling, or in some active rural em- 
 ployment which would be both healthful 
 and pleasant; for he had learned lessons 
 of wisdom from past experience. But 
 whether he was climbing the rugged ascent 
 of Mount Washington, or feasting his eyes 
 upon the beautiful scenery around the base 
 of Catskill, or camping out in the forests 
 about Moosehead Lake, or gazing with 
 rapture upon the unspeakable grandeur 
 and sublimity of Niagara, listening to the 
 melody of its falling waters, he did not 
 fail to remember his beloved and loving
 
 106 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 charge. But lie always treasured in his 
 retentive memory the brightest scenes, the 
 fairest sights, and most instructive inci- 
 dents, to relate to his pupils on his return. 
 And he possessed such a power of descrip- 
 tion, and such vividness of expression, that 
 it would seem to his eager listeners as an 
 almost present and visible reality. They 
 always expected a rich treat whenever he 
 returned to them from any such excursion. 
 One of his pupils once said, " I wi.-h 
 Mr. Cleaveland could travel round the 
 globe, and then come back and describe 
 it to us." 
 
 He was exceedingly fond of poetry, and 
 his mind was a rich storehouse of beautiful 
 extracts, expressing the loftiest thoughts 
 of the choicest writers of ancient and 
 modern times. And he inculcated the 
 habit in his pupils of committing to mem- 
 ory such passages as were worth pre-
 
 THE BOY AXD THE MAX. 107 
 
 serving, and then they might be ever- 
 present and available sources of pleasure 
 and profit to themselves and others. And 
 he not unfrequcntly read to them selections 
 from some of the most gifted authors, to 
 cultivate and improve in them an appre- 
 ciative taste for the truly beautiful in 
 prose and poetry. And sometimes, too, 
 he would grant them a little salutary 
 relaxation and amusement by reading some 
 humorous or ludicrous description or inci- 
 dent, and allowing them all to join with 
 him in a genuine, hearty laugh, together. 
 They regarded it as a special favor when 
 he would comply with the earnest request, 
 (< Do please read us something this after- 
 noon, Mr. Clcavcland." And sparkling 
 eyes would beam upon him from a hundred 
 deeply interested and grateful counte- 
 nances as he read, while his own eye 
 would kindle, and his whole face glow in
 
 108 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 full sympathy with the spirit of the author 
 he was reading. 
 
 If there was one point in which Mr. 
 Cleaveland excelled above all others as a 
 teacher, it was in his discipline. The most 
 perfect order and obedience were always 
 maintained, and rarely can a school be 
 found where such quiet regularity prevails. 
 But there was no display of authority, and 
 no severity exercised. If punishment was 
 needful, it was judiciously and thoroughly 
 administered, but with such calmness and 
 force of reason that the delinquent would 
 invariably feel and acknowledge the justice 
 of the discipline. 
 
 His pupils, it might well-nigh be trutn- 
 fully said, without a single exception, loved 
 and almost adored him. It is true, they 
 feared to displease him; but it was the 
 fear of love, and no slavish feeling. At 
 recess, or out of school, they would gather
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 109 
 
 about him with all the familiarity of a 
 child with a loving father: and well he 
 knew how to amuse and interest them; 
 often proposing some question or quoting 
 some maxim that would long be treasured 
 for good. But the instant the pointer of 
 the clock indicated the hour for study, 
 they would quietly and almost noiselessly 
 resume their seats. 
 
 Mr. Cleavelaud also excelled in illustra- 
 tions of any truth or principle, and conse- 
 quently the recitations in his school were 
 attractive and pleasant, as well as thor- 
 oughly practical, and clearly understood 
 by the scholar. 
 
 But it was not in the public school alone 
 that Mr. Cleaveland's influence was felt 
 and appreciated. From the first, he was, 
 in some capacity, connected with the Sab- 
 bath school, in the church to which he 
 removed his relation in the city where he
 
 110 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 resided. He was, for a little time, a pupil 
 in a class of young men, for I have said 
 before that he always loved the Sabbath 
 school. 
 
 He was soon invited to take charge of a 
 class of young ladies, and he complied 
 with the request. And here, as in the 
 day school, he was beloved and respected, 
 and his memory is still very dear and 
 pleasant to the members of that class. 
 
 We have seen that in his boyhood he 
 became familiar with the pages of Iloly 
 Writ, and years increased his knowledge 
 of the Scriptures, and grace gave him a 
 true heart-appreciation of the truths there- 
 in revealed, while his refined taste de- 
 lighted in the unsurpassed beauty and 
 sublimity of those inspired pages. 
 
 lie was afterwards chosen to fill the 
 office of superintendent in the school, 
 which position he occupied for several
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. Ill 
 
 rears, until he found the tax upon his 
 physical strength too great an addition 
 to the duties of the week to justify its 
 jontinuancc. This relation was a pleasant 
 }nc to both superintendent and the school, 
 for he possessed the respect and confi- 
 dence of the older members, and the 
 affectionate regard of the children. He 
 was always, and in every place, a great 
 favorite with the little folks ; for he knew 
 them all, and never met them without a 
 j-leasant word, or, at least, a kindly smile 
 of recognition. 
 
 Mr. Cleavcland interested himself and 
 others particularly in the exercises of the 
 Sabbath-school concert, until it became 
 the most delightful and fully attended 
 evening meeting of the church. Old and 
 young seemed equally interested in the 
 return of this anticipated monthly meet- 
 ing. The children claimed it as thci
 
 112 7HE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 meeting, in a peculiar sense, and the older 
 members, not only of the Sabbath school, 
 but of the whole congregation, looked 
 upon the "children's meeting" as best 
 of all. 
 
 While Mr. Cleaveland was superinten- 
 dent of the school, which was for several 
 years, he felt that much of the responsi- 
 bility of this meeting rested upon him. 
 It is true there were other able, willing, 
 and efficient helpers, but he was expected 
 to take a leading part in the exercises. 
 He never went without previous thought 
 and preparation, and always endeavored 
 to bring with him some new and instructive 
 story to relate to the children, and, with 
 a few well-chosen words, seek to enforce 
 the moral which the story was calculated 
 to inculcate ; and he was ever listened to 
 with eager attention. 
 
 Although years have passed away since
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 113 
 
 bis voice was hushed by the angel of death, 
 there are now members of that church who 
 never enter one of those meetings, and 
 mingle in the pleasant exercises, without 
 remembering the tall, slender form, the 
 pale, expressive countenance, the large, 
 11 thought-speaking " eye, and clear, deep 
 voice, and impressive manner of the former 
 beloved superintendent. And thus, though 
 dead, he yet speaks to them in words of 
 earnest and heartfelt instruction, urging 
 them onward in life's great work. 
 
 And he was also a regular attendant of 
 the other weekly meetings of the church, 
 for social conference and prayer. Often 
 has his voice been heard in that conse- 
 crated chapel, in words of supplication 
 and fervent thanksgiving, as well as earn- 
 est exhortation, and mingling in the songs 
 of praise. 
 
 He was ever a welcome guest at the 
 10*
 
 114 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 fireside or in the social circle, and he 
 possessed a rare power of entertaining 
 all, both old and young. And so bright 
 and cheerful was he that sadness would 
 flee away in his presence, though his heart 
 was ever full of tender sympathy for the 
 sorrowing. But he was in an eminent 
 degree hopeful, both for himself and 
 others, and looked more upon the bright 
 than the dark side of life. He seemed to 
 carry sunlight in his heart, and shed a glad 
 ray of it wherever he went. 
 
 This cheerfulness was not so much the 
 effect of his natural disposition as the 
 result of an active Christian principle, 
 and confiding trust in the kindness and 
 wisdom of his heavenly Father. lie 
 looked upon what arc often termed the 
 trilling events of life as no less under 
 the guidance of Providence than great 
 events.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HIS MARRIAGE, AND OTHER INCIDENTS. 
 
 I HAVE already spoken of the reason 
 why Mr. Cleave land remained single so 
 long; and still those same dear friends 
 were, in a great measure, dependent upon 
 him for pecuniary assistance. And cheer- 
 fully and heartily was it always given, and 
 the " Lord loveth the cheerful giver." Al- 
 though his brother had a willing heart, 
 he was so situated that he could do no 
 more than care for the wants of his own 
 family. 
 
 And there is one thing worthy of men- 
 tion with reference to his care and faithful 
 kindness for his mother and sister. During
 
 116 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 the many years in which he supplied their 
 wants, they were rarely ever obliged to 
 call upon him for what they needed. Their 
 wants were almost invariably anticipated 
 by him, and, when their present need was 
 supplied, he always added, " If you need 
 anything more let me know, and it will 
 give me pleasure to furnish it." This may 
 appear a thing of no consequence, but it 
 contributed not a little to the happiness 
 of that dear mother and sister, and is 
 recorded for imitation by others. 
 
 But at length he felt that the Lord had 
 prospered him in such measure that he 
 might add another to the family circle, 
 without curtailing his kind offices t<5 its 
 present members. "With continued health 
 And prosperity he might now look forward 
 to a home of his own, " with a loving 
 heart to cheer him." 
 
 He was well fitted to enjoy domestic
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 117 
 
 life, and also to make home a happy place 
 to others, and he would appreciate home 
 comforts none the less for the years of 
 boarding he had experienced, although he 
 was richly favored in finding pleasant 
 homes as a boarder, for he was always 
 recognized as a member of the family and 
 a valued friend. 
 
 But this did not satisfy the longings of 
 his warm and loving heart, for there was 
 a void which common friends, or tenderly 
 attached friends, could never fill. He 
 wanted one to love and call his own. And 
 God blessed him in the wish, and gave him 
 a fair and lovely bride, with a faithful, 
 loving, trusting heart, in whom he might 
 safely repose all the wealth of his strong, 
 deep, constant, and overflowing affections. 
 And it was no common heart he offered 
 her; but a manly, noble, and truly sincere 
 and affectionate soul. And she was will-
 
 118 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 ing to share and encourage his kindly 
 attentions to those he loved. 
 
 When he brought her to his temporary 
 home his heart seemed full of grateful 
 joy, and he often expressed the hope that 
 they might live many years, and " grow old 
 together." 
 
 Swiftly and happily the months glided 
 away, and he seemed fully to realize his 
 bright hopes and visions of bliss. He was 
 not ambitious to make a display, or to 
 "live in style," as it is so often termed, 
 but was willing to conform to his circum- 
 stances, fully believing that those friends 
 who were worthy to bear that sacred 
 name would love and respect him none the 
 less for consistently pursuing the course 
 he thought best. It is true that wealth 
 and station have far too great an influence 
 in forming the opinions of society, in 
 individual cases, and, perhaps, with the
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 119 
 
 masses; but true worth, and purity of 
 character, with a cultivated intellect, will 
 generally be eventually respected and ap- 
 preciated for its own sake, by the better 
 portion of any community. And most 
 certainly is this true in the city where Mr. 
 Cleaveland resided. 
 
 Quietly, but very pleasantly the year 
 passed away, with no event of unusual 
 interest to our friend. It was doubtless 
 to him the happiest year of his life, and 
 this is saying much, in his case, for in 
 other years he had enjoyed more real 
 happiness than most of the human family. 
 It was a favorite saying with him, that he 
 believed he "had lived longer than Me- 
 thusaleh did in his nine hundred and sixty- 
 nine years, counting its length by what 
 really constituted true life on earth." 
 And not less happy was the young wife 
 he had chosen, for her fondest hopes were
 
 120 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 realized in the tender, thoughtful, consid- 
 erate kindness of her husband. Precious, 
 very precious to her now lonely and deso- 
 late heart is the memory of those glad 
 days, so full of deep and quiet joy. 
 
 Just at the close of the second winter 
 of their union God gave them a fair and 
 beautiful rosebud to cherish and nurture 
 with loving care. A lovely little daughter 
 nestled closely to that young mother's 
 heart, and a new fountain of love was 
 opened in that father's soul. Their cup 
 of joy seemed filled to the brim, and they 
 gave God thanks. 
 
 They received the treasure as a gift 
 from God, bringing with it new responsi- 
 bilities, and new joys. It was an im- 
 mortal being, and must be trained for the 
 glory of the Creator. 
 
 And each morning and evening, as the 
 father knelt at the family altar, his hear*
 
 The Boy and the Man. Page 120.
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 121 
 
 gave utterance to words of fervent prayer 
 for the richest of Heaven's blessings to 
 rest on the little one committed to their 
 care; that she might grow up to be a 
 useful member of Christ's church below, 
 and finally, through the washing of regen- 
 eration in the blood of a crucified Saviour, 
 be permitted to dwell in the presence of 
 God, angels, and glorified spirits for- 
 ever. 
 
 Could he have foreseen the sudden and 
 dreadful blow which was soon to smite 
 that beloved band, he would scarcely have 
 been more earnest in his petitions at the 
 throne of grace, or more tender and 
 urgent in his words of counsel to the 
 wife he loved so devotedly, to train the 
 little one aright, and especially entreat- 
 ing her to secure the obedience of the 
 child. 
 
 May we not believe that our loving 
 11
 
 122 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 heavenly Father, all unseen and unfelt at 
 the time, prepares the way, in a measure, 
 for the events which he sees we are soon 
 to meet?
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE CLOSING SCENE. 
 
 WE must now turn from the brighter 
 scenes and joyous hopes of past pages, 
 and look at the darkness and sad desola- 
 tion which so suddenly came upon the 
 family and friends of Edward Cleaveland. 
 The night of sorrow closed over them 
 with little warning, though to him, we 
 firmly believe, it was but the glorious 
 dawning of an endless day. 
 
 There were some who had watched the 
 thin, pale face of Mr. Cleaveland through 
 the winter with solicitude, for they feared 
 he was taxing his strength too much. But 
 he was so happy and hopeful, so active,
 
 124 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 and so fully confident that he was not 
 only quite as well, but even much better 
 than usual, that his home friends were 
 satisfied. 
 
 A week before the close of his winter 
 term in school, and when his infant daugh- 
 ter was but three weeks old, he was 
 attacked with a severe cold. For the 
 first few days little apprehension was felt, 
 although he had some fever, and he seemed 
 more prostrated than he usually did from 
 attacks of illness. Still, it was thought 
 to be partly exhaustion from the labors of 
 a long term, rather than the effect of dis- 
 ease. Medical advice was promptly called, 
 and his physician attended him with all 
 the faithfulness and care of a friend and 
 brother. Although the affectionate wife 
 was unable to minister to his wants, other 
 careful hands and loving hearts nursed him 
 most tenderly. He seemed from the first
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 125 
 
 unlike his former self, for his elasticity 
 and buoyancy of spirit, which ever char- 
 acterized him, even in sickness, was gone, 
 though he fondly expected to be with his 
 dear pupils again before the close of the 
 week. 
 
 On the sixth day of his illness, when 
 the physician and friends indulged the hope 
 that he was better, the disease suddenly 
 and unexpectedly became seated upon his 
 lungs, where the seeds of destruction had 
 long been working, silently, and all un- 
 known to himself and friends, save his 
 physician. 
 
 He was from that hour delirious, and 
 never for one moment realized his situa- 
 tion in the least. He recognized his 
 friends, and manifested a thoughtful care 
 for their health and comfort, but was 
 wholly unconscious of the anxiety and 
 sorrow which filled their almost bursting 
 11*
 
 126 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 hearts, but which they strove to conceal 
 from him. 
 
 Could he have known and realized the 
 numberless expressions of love and sym- 
 pathy given by a multitude of anxious 
 friends, his warm heart would have melted 
 with tender gratitude, and he could not 
 have desired a dearer place in the hearts of 
 any people than he held in the community 
 where he lived and labored for so many 
 years. If he did not understand these 
 proofs of love, they were not unnoticed 
 by Him who has said, " Inasmuch as ye 
 have done it unto the least of these, 
 ye have done it unto me." And if 
 the daily prayers of that afflicted circle 
 avail anything before the Throne, then, 
 indeed, will the friends of those dark and 
 bitter hours be richly blessed of heaven's 
 great King. 
 
 And many were the fervent prayers
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 127 
 
 which went up from scores of hearts, that 
 the great Physician would graciously re- 
 store to health and active duties this 
 beloved man ; for they felt that " he could 
 not be spared." 
 
 All that tender love and medical skill 
 could do for him was faithfully done, and 
 then, in faith, they sought to leave the 
 result with a faithful, covenant-keeping 
 God, asking for submission to his righteous 
 will, whatever it might be. 
 
 " My thoughts are not your thoughts, 
 neither are your ways my ways, saith the 
 Lord. For as the heavens are higher 
 than the earth, so are my ways higher 
 than your ways, and my thoughts than 
 your thoughts." The Most High had need 
 of this servant in an upper sphere, and 
 he saw, too, that it was needful to try the 
 hearts of this household band, and many 
 friends, and test their love and confidence
 
 128 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 in him, by taking from them " the strong 
 stay and beautiful staff" on whom they 
 had so lovingly and confidingly leaned. 
 It was not in anger, but in tender love 
 that he sent this arrow from his quiver. 
 It is in mercy that 
 
 " He comes and takes the heart, and lays it 
 
 On his hard anvil, minded so 
 Into his own fair shape to beat it, 
 
 With his great hammer, blow on blow." 
 
 And rapidly, very rapidly, his system 
 yielded to the power of disease. The 
 ninth day of his illness, being the third 
 after his more critical attack, was the 
 holy Sabbath, and it was a Sabbath never 
 to be forgotten by that circle of weeping 
 friends, for it was the last day that the 
 eyes of their loved one opened on earth. 
 Through the long hours of that day hope 
 and fear kept them in fearful suspense. 
 

 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 129 
 
 He was constantly delirious, and had no 
 suspicion of the change before him. No 
 parting words were left, as precious lega- 
 cies of a dying hour, but in youth and 
 health he had made his peace with God, 
 and committed his soul to his Saviour's 
 care and keeping. His work on earth was 
 ended. 
 
 At evening he seemed to fall asleep, 
 but it was the sleep of death. For two 
 hours he lay all unconscious of those 
 about him, and then his spirit soared 
 away to be forever with the Lord. He 
 had no share in the bitterness and anguish 
 of parting, but was kindly spared it all. 
 It would have been very hard for him thua 
 to leave his beloved and helpless family, 
 though we fully believe grace would have 
 been granted, that would enable him to 
 say heartily, "Thy will, O God, be done." 
 
 In life, he delighted in pleasant sur-
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 prises, and was it not a glad surprise that 
 broke upon his raptured soul, as he beheld 
 the glory of tho celestial city, and entered 
 its pearly gates? 
 
 "Why should we grieve that to him 'tis given 
 To tune his lyre in the courts of heaven ? " 
 
 But those loving hearts were rent with 
 anguish. The blow, so sudden and so 
 heavy, had well-nigh crushed them. They 
 could not murmur, for they knew and felt 
 that God docth all things well. 
 
 It was "well " that the young, affection- 
 ate wife should be left in early widow- 
 hood, with the care of a tender infant, 
 that she might claim the promise, " Thy 
 Maker is thy husband, the Lord of Hosts 
 is his name." It was " well " that the 
 precious daughter of only one short month 
 should thus early be left with no father
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 131 
 
 to guide and protect her, save him who 
 has said, " I will be a Father unto thee." 
 
 It was " well " that the widowed mother, 
 in her declining years, then at a distance 
 from the sorrowing circle, should receive 
 the sudden intelligence which fell upon 
 her almost as a thunderbolt from a clear 
 eky, that the darling son on whom she 
 leaned had passed away from earth, that 
 ehe might listen to the words, " Call upon 
 me in the day of trouble, I will deliver 
 thee, and thou thalt glorify me." And 
 again, I will never leave thee, nor for- 
 sake taee." "Feai not, for I am with 
 thee." l will hold thee." 
 
 It was ''well" that the bereaved brother, 
 who had relied on the dear departed one 
 for counsel, should obey the voice which 
 jays, " If any man lack wisdom, let him 
 ask of God* who gfteth t alt 'men liber-
 
 132 THE B07 AND THE MAN. 
 
 ally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be 
 given him." 
 
 It was "well" that the stricken sister, 
 whose very life seemed bound with that 
 of this brother-father, should learn to look 
 to the " Elder Brother " more entirely, 
 and remember " There is a Friend who 
 sticketh closer than a brother." 
 
 And it was " well " that the hundreds 
 of pupils and friends should "cease from 
 man, whose breath is in his nostrils," and 
 heed the warning which loudly said to 
 them, " Prepare to meet thy God." All 
 this was well, for the Lord had done it. 
 
 And now let us turn for a moment to 
 the words of this dear friend, which he 
 addressed to a bereaved friend, for it may 
 show us from whence he derived consola- 
 tion in sorrow, and may apply to the 
 stricken ofrttfc fi^Mcluifie. j4cf ^ 'IJ4 .is a 
 sed thing, when all other sources of
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 133 
 
 consolation fail, to feel we have a Friend 
 above, who is ever present, and ever ready 
 to minister to us in the day of affliction. 
 Like David, we should ' trust in the Lord 
 at all times.' If our friends, whom we so 
 dearly love, are taken from us, we should 
 be thankful that they have been spared to 
 us so long, and that we have been permit- 
 ted to enjoy so much in their presence, 
 and to be so happy with them while they 
 lived. 
 
 " I know what it is to stand by the sick 
 bed of those I loved, and watch for the 
 approach of the destroying angel. 
 
 " I know what it is to receive the dyin 
 blessing of a fond father, and to have 
 heart stricken, and my home made dc 
 late, and the world look dark 
 covered, as it w 
 
 foi , and 
 
 12
 
 134 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 afforded, and I could rejoice in him who 
 doeth all thkgs well. 
 
 "Kind friends can do much to assuage 
 our grief, and it is very pleasant to know 
 that others sympathize with us. But 
 nothing is so efficacious as prayer. We 
 can pour our petitions into an ear that is 
 ever open, and know, if we pray aright, we 
 shall be comforted. 
 
 " It is a blessed thing that we are per- 
 mitted to feel that Jesus has prepared 
 mansions for us, where sickness and sor- 
 row shall never enter, and where we shall 
 never be called to part with those we love. 
 It is a blessed thing that when our trials 
 greater than we can bear, we can feel 
 'verlasting arm underneath us, and 
 ni v voice whispering 'peace* 
 
 trust, is
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 135 
 
 Jehovah let the sorrowing ones 
 find rest. 
 
 As Mr. Cleaveland lay shrouded for the 
 tomb, many of his former pupils and 
 friends came to gaze, through fast-falling 
 tears, on the pale, still face of him they 
 loved so well, and who so lately was 
 among them in life and health. The swol- 
 len eyes, the suppressed or bursting sob, 
 and the sad, downcast expression, told 
 most plainly that a much-loved friend had 
 left them, though few were the words they 
 uttered. One smart, intelligent Irish lad, 
 whom he had encouraged, said, as he 
 looked upon him for the last time, while 
 lears rolled down his cheeks, "He was 
 ny friend, and never can a man be found 
 to fill his place." A poor colored woman 
 came with some who had been members 
 of his school, and, in the fulness of her 
 heart, she said, " He was a good man, and
 
 136 THE BOY AND THE MAN 
 
 always treated black folks just 
 as he did white ones." 
 
 The rich and poor, the old and young, 
 all united in the expression of affectionate 
 and sincere respect. 
 
 It was an April day when that manly 
 form was borne to its final home. The 
 morning was bright and pleasant, but 
 clouds soon gathered in the sky, and the 
 close of day was dark and rainy, in sad 
 harmony with the smitten hearts who 
 could see for themselves no light on 
 earth, only loneliness and sorrow. 
 
 A few friends gathered with the pas- 
 tor at an early hour in the house of 
 mourning, and there the dear fatherless 
 babe was consecrated in baptism, and 
 commended to the tender care of a cove- 
 nant-keeping God. 
 
 It was a touching sight to see that fair 
 bride of just sixteen months before, now
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 137 
 
 tfn the garb of widowhood, thus early 
 bringing her firstborn to the altar, alone. 
 And we believe there was One who looked 
 down from the throne, and with tender 
 compassion accepted the offering, and will 
 ever care for and bless this precious lamb. 
 And then those dear remains were car- 
 ried to the church, and placed upon the 
 platform, where, in months and years that 
 were past, he had so often stood before 
 the Sabbath school. And now 
 
 .-- 
 
 "Fragrant flowers in wreaths lay near him, 
 In this saddened scene of death," 
 
 wreaths that were woven by loving hands 
 for a teacher's burial. In almost hushed 
 and softened strains the organ poured 
 sweet melody, and the choir touchingly 
 sung that beautiful hymn, 
 12*
 
 138 THE EOT AND THE MAN. 
 
 "Why lament the Christian dying? 
 Why indulge in tears or gloom? 
 Calmly on the Lord relying, 
 He can greet the opening tomb. 
 
 "What if death, with icy fingers, 
 All the fount of life congeals ? 
 Tis not there thy brother lingers, 
 'Tis not death his spirit feels. 
 
 * Though for him thy soul is mourning, 
 
 Though for him thy heart is riven, 
 While to dust his flesh is turning, 
 All his soul is filled with heaven. 
 
 " Scenes seraphic, high and glorious, 
 
 Now forbid his longer stay; 
 See him rise o'er death victorious; 
 Angels beckon him away. 
 
 "Hark! the golden harps are ringing; 
 
 Sounds . celestial fill his ear; 
 Millions now in heaven singing, 
 Greet his joyful entrance there.'*
 
 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 139 
 
 And then the ninety-first Psalm was 
 read, which had long been a precious 
 favorite with the deceased. 
 
 Ilumble, fervent, and appropriate prayers 
 were offered, and, at the close of the exer- 
 cises, the many hundreds who had gathered 
 to pay this tribute of affection to the be- 
 loved friend, teacher, citizen, and Christian 
 brother, gave one last look at those famil- 
 iar features, then turned away, with tearful 
 eyes 'and sorrowing hearts. 
 
 In the afternoon, a faithful band of 
 oiourners accompanied his precious dust 
 to his native town, and then, in the church 
 where he first professed his faith in Christ, 
 the last sad services were held, and there 
 were assembled many who had known and 
 loved the boy, the youth, and the man. 
 
 Then all that was mortal of Edward 
 Gleaveland was carried to the quiet rest- 
 ing-place of his fathers, there to repose
 
 140 THE BOY AND THE MAN. 
 
 till the last great day. And there we will 
 leave him, for God will guard that sacred 
 dust. 
 
 Is there no influence for good to be 
 derived from these few pages? no high 
 resolve for upward progres's strengthened 
 and encouraged to active, persevering ef- 
 fort? Is there no wish to imitate what 
 was noble and Godlike ? 
 
 If a single good seed has been sown, 
 cherish and nurture it carefully, that it 
 may bring forth fruit a hundred-fold. 
 
 " But look not back 1 Oh, triumph in the 'strength 
 Of an exalted purpose 1 Eagle-like 
 Press sunward on. Thou shalt not be alone. 
 Have but an eye on God, as surely God 
 Will have an eye on thee, press on ! press on ! " 
 
 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of 
 life, to depart from the snares of death.
 
 JS8&6 LIBRARY