Page 36
History of Orange County
Town of Montgomery
Page 36
The old gentleman and his son William lived on adjoining farms. One day in the spring of the year he called up and said:
"Well, Bill, what are you going to do with Sam this summer? I want him to come and ride horse and in the fall will make him a handsome present."
The matter was agreed upon, and in a few days the contract was in process of execution. Ploughing was done with a pair of oxen and one horse before them rode by a boy. Of all the dull, lazy, stupid and irksome employments a boy was ever condemned to perform, riding horse on a snail pace, in the broiling sun, through a long summer's day, before oxen dragging a plough, excels it in unmitigated stupidity, whatever it may be. It is too unexciting for thought and we should think a few summers wasted in that was would convert an intelligent lad into a fool. The work progressed, the season passed away, the ploughing ceased for the year and the boy returned to his father. Notwithstanding the nature of the *application was calculated to bar out the process of mental operation, still, a thought of what the present would be, occasionally struggled through the boy’s mind. Imagination kindly lent her wings, and fancy whispered it might be a farm—possibly, a horse—but more probably, a jack-knife. But, whatever it might be, it filled the boy with dread and anxiety to know the reality. In due time the present was procured and formally presented and reader, what do you imagine it was? You cannot guess and must give it up. At this late day, partaking largely of this feelings of that moment, the pen almost falls from the hand as we write it. With renovated recollections refreshed by the present recital we can distinctly see in all its regular outline and mathematical proportions, the new, broad-brimmed and small round crowned wool hat, that cost a dollar. It was made to order and for a special purpose. The recommendation which accompanied the delivery was unique, and not excelled by any nostrum advertisement of the present day.—” There, boy, is a most capital article, neat and well made: take it and make a good use of it, and if you do not wear it out, it will last you your life time.’’
All the high hopes and fancied expectations, with vanity mid pride, like a cobweb came tumbling down to nothing, and were crushed in a moment. So overwhelming was the chief incident of the occasion, that he was unable to thank his aged benefactor for the magnitude of the gift. A broadbrimmed, round-crowned wool hat for a long summer’s work, riding horse before oxen—and then, to crown the climax of utility, it was to last a life time.
In justice, however, to the hat and manufacturer we feel constrained to say it was a most capital fit—a complete hemisphere by actual calculation, and when rightly put on, touched and confined to its place every hair of the head.— It sat for all nature as if it grew there—a part of the boy himself. We have known this boy well in youth and manhood, and are sure he will not be offended at the reference made to this early occupation and round-crowned wool hat. If there was an individual in the county who held fashion in sovereign contempt, and was strongly inclined to put it down and keep it under foot, Mr. Eager was emphatically that one. If he could have had his way there would have been but one fashion of garments in a century, alike to time young and the aged; nor would those of the other sex have escaped the rigor of the rule. We are not certain, all things considered, but that we would have been as content and satisfied under the Draco law of Mr. Eager, as under the pestilent and ever-changeable deity who governs and rules the fashions of the present day, and with absolute authority issues his decrees every ninety days, "presto, change!" Though the saying is, “You may as well be out of the world as out of the fashion of it,’’ still, in sober earnest, there is a just and convenient medium in all things. In more senses than one,— In medio tutissimus ibis.
Mr. Eager lived nearer to the Neelytown meeting house than any other of the congregation; and though not a member in full communion, had a great respect for all the Christian ordinances, and was among the foremost in their maintenance. The love of money was no ingredient of his character; and for years he kept a kind of ministerial hotel for the benefit of the church. This was as agreeable to his personal feelings, as convenient and accommodating to the church establishment and its officers. Those who have a large share of this custom know the family trouble and inconvenience of it, oftentimes; and the clergy themselves are very competent judges of such things from observation and experience. Nothing gave this gentleman greater satisfaction than to be the instrument of doing good in administering to the wants and convenience of the clergy. It will be observed on reading the notice taken in our paper of the Rev. Robert Annan, the first pastor of the church at Neelytown, that he changed situations and moved about quite often. It so happened that while he was in this county Mr. Eager assisted him at each removal. When he accepted a call, and was about leaving Neelytown to proceed to Boston in the fall of 1785, Mr. Eager conveyed him to Newburgh. The weather was very cold and they stopped at an inn to warm. While sitting by the fire in conversation, Mr. Annan said to Mr. Eager, “Since I have known you, you have assisted in moving me four times: are you willing to do it once more?”
The answer was a quick, emphatic “No.”
“Why not?” enquired Mr. Annan.
“You are going,” said he, “to the great city of Boston, and after you shall have been there a few years you will die and go to heaven, and I hope you will be satisfied to stay there.”
The quick wit and truthful censure of the answer satisfied the enquirer and they left.
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*Errata--read occupation