Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1898 — School Notes. [ARTICLE]

School Notes.

Life <>f Nathaniel Hawthorne. One cold winter’s night an old lady, with several grandchildren, sat around the bright warm fire. From the appearance of the children’s faces, you would judge the old lady was telling them a very interesting story. The children had been coaxing her to tell them a story, so she said she would do so. She told the children this story, was going to be wry different from any she had yet told them and possibly they would not like it. They said “Go ahead for anything you tell could not help being interesting.’’ “On a bright stormy night in July, eighteen hundred and four, in the city of Salem was born our great author Nathaniel Hawthorne. He was the grandson of Daniel Hawthorne, who was commander of a privateer in the Revolutionary War. His father was a follower of the sea and died when he son, Nathaniel, was only four years old. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1,825 in the 6ame class as Longfellow did. The first writings which brought him fame was a collection of storieß called “Twice Told Tales” published in 1837. The book called “The Scarlet Letter” brought him more fame. He was also the author of these, “The House of Seven Gables,” “The Wonder Book,” “Snow-Image,” “Tangle-wood tales,” “The Great Stone Face,” “A rill from the town pump,” and the “Sister Years.” He was known as one of the ablest and best contributors to the magazines of his day. In March eighteen hundred and fifty-three he was appointed consul to Liverpool, by Prescient Pierce where he remained till eighteen hundred and fifty seven. Hawthorne was without doubt, the greatest American novelist. He died at Plymouth New Hampshire on the eighteenth of May eighteen hundred and sixty four. * “Now, my dear children,” said the old lady, “I have finished my story and am sure when you are studying, “The Great Stone Face” or any of his beautiful works you will gain a better knowledge of the great man than I co«*ld possibly give you.” Jessie McCarthy, Bth Year.