A Short Biographical History Of Nearly 70 Years Of The Life Of N. B. Beers, Written By Himself, January 1st, 1886

NO. II. In a foriner paper I gave an account of some of my cxperieuces wlien I was a boy, and I will now say something on the subject of education. I assure my youtliful readers, it was iiot so easy to acquiro an education when I was a boy, as it 3 now. There were no free schools and high schools. There were private academies and colleges. I found at 12 years of age I had learneil about all I could at the common school and then determined to go to a private acadeuiy. One of my school-mates, whose name I will give, a name familiar to thousands, was the famone showman, P. T. Barnum. After my time had expired at tlic acadeuiy it was thought advisable for me to study medicine. I was the youngest of a family of nine children and the seventh sou. In the olden time the charm for a medicine man was in the seventh son. I had two brothers who were practicing physicians at that time. I continued the study of medicine about two years, a part of the time with my brotber. the remainder with Dr. Vanderburgh who lired in Beekman, Dutcbcss County, New York. I did Bot feel satislled and deteruilned to give up the study of medicine, that I niight engago in something tliat would le nutre agreeable to me. I met with opposition froni my fatlier and brother but resolved to overeóme it all, and paddie my own canoe. I was auxious to study astrnnumy, uavlgation, pnictical surveyveying, civil engineering, etc , etc. I had heard of Prof. Hooker whose home was in Troy, N. Y. In Yale College he was professor of these branches of studies, but had been obliged to leave the college on account of failiug health, and had returned to his home in Troy. I was anxii us to see hun thinking he might possibly consent to give me private instruction. Without money and with no friend in my own family to advise with, what could I do. There was one person that I thought I could approach ¦with some confidence, and I made up my mind to submit my plans and wishes to him. His name was Perry Smith, cougressmau at that time and afterward U. S. Senator. I retnember he had Baid to me, "My boy, f you get in a tight place, let me know ind perhaps I eau help you out." He lived in the same township and had always known me. I went to see him, my plans were approved, I was to keep him posted in regard to rny progress and he would render me assistance in a pecunlary way when necessary, and would use his influence to help me to obtalu some desirable situation after my course of study was completed. Haring tbis assurance from my friend Siuith, one of the most lufluentlal men both in and out of congress that Coiuiecticut had at that day or perhaps at any time since, I feit sure that I was all right and could go ahead. One tning necessary for me to do, was to tiiiil employment, to earn something toward meeting my expenses while pursuing my studies. With this object in view I went to the City of Albany. I left home on the flist day of May. My journey was accómplished In due time. 5Iy ride the first day was forty-flve miles to Poughkcep8ie, on the Hudsou river i% a onehorse wagon on wooden springs, steel springs were not known at that time. The vehicle was quite pacioua accouimodating two passengers with baggage and a driver. The steamboat was due at ten p. m., which would land me at Albany in the morning. Arrived at my destination, had breakfast on the steamboat, landed and had baggage taken to a hotel, examlned my flnancial condition and found I had six dollars and a little small change. My friend Smith, had given me a letter of introduction "To hom lt may concern," and with this In my pocket I started out in a strange city to find a boarding place. Walking along the Street, looklng at signs at the various business places, I huw a familiar name. It was the sign of Dr. Orton, a gentleman I had known several years before, in a town adjoining the one where my father lived. I stepped Uito his office and made myself known I liad grown so much since he had seen me, he did not know me at first, but we soon renewed our acquaintance. He assisted me in flnding a boardiug place, as he knew a widow lady who had no son, her family conslstlng of herself and two daughters, and she would take some one to board on account of being so lonely. Dr. Orton and his wife were well acquainted with Mrs. Kelly, the lady in question, and he proffered his services to go wilh me and glvc me an introduction to her. Mrs. Kelly received us and after some explanations, the Dr. excused hiinself and returned to his office. I enquired what would be her price for board. She 8aid shc kept no boarding house, but desired some one to make it a home as oue of the family, and it' I h.id a miud to de so, I could pay her two dollars a week. I could have two rooms, i pleasant study and a lodgiug room. The liargain was concluded and I returned to the hotel to take dinner and to order my baggage taken to my new home. My next move was la fiud a good carpenter shop and to try to get a job of work that I inlght replemsh my purse which now contained only flve dollars. I found one and was to commence work the next day. Fortune seemed to smile on me thus far - I had KOOTad a good home and a place to work and turn some niouey, and would complete the days work by going to ace the professor. Between Albany and Troy there were carriagcs running at short intervals, a good road, distance only six miles aud being anxious to know what arrangements could l made In regard to my studies, I resolved to go at once. My interview with Prof. Hooker was very pleasant. ile was kind and obliging and possessed all the requirements that properly belonged to a gentleman. Hu would give me special instruction, and furnish me books to use and I was to go three times each week to recite to hiin. I returned to Albany, spent the evening at my new home very pleasantly. Morning came with its anxleties and anticipations, and after breakfast I started for the earpenter shop where I was to commence work. After talkinj; with the bosses, Messrs. Mills & Ryder, I was assigned to the second story of the building, where they had twelve hands at work, to superintend that part for a time. Ulancing at the rituattón I could see that I had gotten into business that required some knowledge and skill. I had worked with my brother who was a earpenter and had taken lessons in drawing at the academy and the position really suited me better than any other they could have glven me trom the fact that it was not hard work and some of the time I could be outside. I was receiving one dollar a day and had tho privilege of goiiig three times each week to Troy to attend my recitation at four p. m. One month had passed, I had been making good pingli in my study and liad been succesetul with my work, and uccording to the ngreement, at the end of the month Messrs. Mills & Rider were to let me know how they liked me. They were satislied aud would raise my wages to f 1.50 per day, $9.00 per week if I would stiiy with them one year or as leng u I remained in the city. Tlils otter I accepted as it was all I could expect and even more, for it was the higuest wages paid in the city for that business. Now, my wages being raised' 1 could keep evervthing in the way of expenses paid up and it was fortúnate for me thut a few hours of sleep were sufflcient as I found it neeessary to study many Unies until one and two o'clock ia the morning. At the end of the second month my progress had been so great, the Professor made this reinark to me: "It 8eem8 to me all that is ncessary for you to do is to read a book through, and you have a niemory nnd mind to retain it, and in future I will point out to you the books you will have to read. You can come when it is most convenient for you and I will hear you recite the most difflcult parts. You learn so easily you will have a good time of it." These words of the professor were very flattering to me and I resolved to im prove all my time as profltably as I could.