Puslapio vaizdai
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the thronged streets of New York, that he saw nothing but his boots, yet few of the quick young eyes of the crowd see more than he does, for he searches to the very bottom of everything, and penetrates all with a mere glance.

Solon Robinson is a true specimen of Yankee character, and possesses great versatility of talent. He could build a ship or a log-cabin-write a philippic or a sermon— "set the table in a roar," or draw tears from a "full house." His nature is an odd compound of seriousness and mirth. His voice is soft enough for a parlor and quiet conversation, or full, clear, and distinct enough, when he speaks in the open air, for thousands of people to hear him. His eyes are blue, but very sharp; his hair was of a soft dark brown, and skin fair, in all of which he resembles his mother, as well as in form and stature.

His nature is truthful and candid—if he likes you, you will know it if he does not, you will not long remain in doubt as to the fact. He is too plain and blunt ever to be personally popular. The vicious will always hate him. Those who read his book will see that he is no friend to Vice, particularly that which makes the world vicious-the Rum Traffic. His aim is to build up (not to pull down) society to his own level. His versatility of talent has surprised a good many people. They have wondered that a man who could write so well upon farming, could give such graphic reports as he does every week of the cattle and horse markets of New York, should also have the power to draw tears from the million with the story of "Little Katy." They think, perhaps, as one did of old, "How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plow, and that

glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labors, and whose talk is of bullocks; who giveth his mind to make furrows, and is diligent to give the kine fodder."

Yet the subject of this sketch has got all the wisdom he possesses, amid just such scenes and occupations, for he was born and has always lived amid the green fields, and has followed after the plow and led the kine until within a few years past, and has not yet done talking of bullocks, having made the reports of the New York Cattle Market a prominent • feature in the Tribune.

Solon Robinson was born October 21st, 1803, about a mile south of the village of Tolland, Connecticut. His father, whose name was Jacob, the son and grandson of Jacob, and lineal descendant of James, the Puritan, whose son came over with the Pilgrims, was born in Scotland parish, a few miles east of the scene of the great bull-frog fight, or fright, which has made their native town of Windham wide-world renowned.

Solon's mother was Salinda Ladd, of Coventry. His father, a small farmer on the hard lands of that part of the state, and a cooper, died when Solon, the fourth son, was about six years old, and his mother, who had one son a week after her husband's death, found herself, as many a widow has, obliged to sell everything to pay debts, and to put her boys out to places with farmers, who would teach them to hold the plow and talk of bullocks.

After a second marriage, and a sixth son, she died, and his three eldest brothers subsequently, with a similar pulmonary complaint. Solon, himself, has several times been "given up

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