Diary of Hiram Harvey Hurlburt Jr - Chapter 14

A part of the Diary of Hiram Harvey Hurlburt Jr

The winter I was 17 years old I went to school most two miles from where I lived to Arnon A. Atwood. At that time it was called the "Hollow". There was the post office, layer, town clerks office, gristmill and tannery. There was but few scholars. This school was kept in part of the tannery, and the scholars were the most queer set I ever remember of. Some young girls that were about my age, appearing very lady like, they put on no airs, seemed natural, and the studies, algebra, philosophy, chemistry and geology were attended to. There was Sorelle Smith, Amelia Cook, Eliza Sanford, of boys of any size I can remember but one, B. Henry Bacon, somewhat more than a year my senior. I did not make his acquaintance very quickly it seemed to be several weeks before we saw fit to make approaches in that light. But we finally come to acquaintance that lasted without break for ten years.

Henry really was the only boy or young man strictly acquaintance I ever had, after some months we became confidential all but in regard to the one girl I had placed my best thoughts on, the loveliest most bewitching creature, worshiped at a distance, and continued in that manner, as by something then carelessly said one day, I was sure that this young lady was his intended. At what stage of courtship I could not know. He was a near neighbor, and perhaps more advanced than myself in art at appearing at easy in company of a young lady. So I smothered all hopes, and kept my mind on my studies.

This young lady Miss Sorelle Smith was the only child of Landlord Smith of the hotel. So this young lady had the opportunity of meeting tourists who traveled and stopped off at this tavern already a summer resort. She had been sent to the Middleburg Seminary several terms, and was especially attractive young lady at balls, dances and parties; had made acquaintance at Middleburg with the "Jeweler" John Dyer only child "Hattie" also with Mary May of a fine family. Miss Dyer afterwards married Sattler Phelps, son of John Phelps quite noted in Vermont.

Now really, as I had set my choicest thoughts on Miss Smith, I kept it all to myself, I seemed to have perception enough for that. The winter passed away and my acquaintance at school did not become any closer, though I was in studies, being somewhat advanced beyond all the rest either older or younger and the teacher "Atwood" who was an uncle of Miss Smith seemed to acknowledge he carried me through our studies as far as he knew.

I went after school was out, back to the saw-mill and kept studying ever while running the mill. Especially music, so I became familiar with many songs in use at that time. As I had but one object of adoration, I was living to improve all my abilities to become advanced to be qual to the class of people I imagined Miss Smith belonged to. I attended the Congregational Church, was urged into the choir. I was then singing under a leader, name Norman Lewis, one of the deacons. But Lewis had a difference with Rev. Asa Hemenway, one of the finest gentlemen ever permitted to stay on this earth awhile.

Deacon Lewis undertook to drive the minister away, left the choir, so as to obstruct the service. But one member of the church with Mr. Hemenway came to see me, and to my great astonishment, wished me to take the leadership of the choir. It seemed to me I was not advanced enough, and I hesitated, but the two cleared all obstacles, I finally consented, And when the Rev gentlemen clasped with me at parting at fathers saw mill, the tears were coursing down his cheeks.

I never knew just what the trouble was, but always concluded Dea. Lewis had been exasperating in his conduct, that Mr Hemenway could not bear any more. Mr. Hemenway's last words at that time were "I shall always remember this of you."

Mr. Hemenway came to Ripton to take charge of the church there from the City of Bankok, Siam. Besides his labors there as a missionary he taught the English language to the prince of Siam, and they were in correspondence at this time. I think that prince is now the present Emperor.