In a short time, however, I received a very encouraging reply expressing a friendly interest in me and advising me to come to St. Johnsbury in season to take an entrance examination and stating that a willing boy could most always find work.
The letter was not dictated nor was it typewritten. It was written in long hand and by the princ.i.p.al himself. The spelling, grammar, and punctuation were, I felt sure, absolutely perfect; but the handwriting, to my great joy, was no handsomer than mine. This and the kindly tone of the letter helped me to a quick and firm determination to pack all of my worldly possessions, including some cookies, loaves of bread, etc., into a rough wooden box and start for St. Johnsbury in season for the opening of the fall term.
Within an hour after my arrival I found myself in the home of the princ.i.p.al sitting quite near him, hearing him say in a quiet, sincere voice, that he was glad I came; that he had found work for me; that he wanted me to know that he was interested in all boys who came to the Academy with a desire to work and to learn. I went from him to the family where I was to live and work, inspired with confidence in him and respect for him.
Master editor, these things happened nearly twenty years before your birth, and in all these years the only change in my feelings toward this princ.i.p.al of St. Johnsbury Academy that I am conscious of, is an increased and unbounded faith in him as a Christian gentleman, love and respect for him as a true friend, grat.i.tude and admiration for him as a teacher and wise counsellor who has ministered generously to the physical and spiritual needs of many besides myself.
You know, of course, that I refer to Prof. C. E. Putney who was princ.i.p.al of St. Johnsbury Academy in the days when it ranked with Andover and Exeter and for a number of years has been teaching Latin and Greek in the Burlington, Vermont, High School. February 26, will be his seventy-fifth birthday. This is why that day has a particular meaning and interest for me and many others.
ROLAND E. STEVENS.
Hartford, Vermont, February 22, 1915.
On Mr. Putney"s seventy-fifth birthday the teachers of Edmunds High School presented him with a beautiful loving cup. This note accompanied the cup:
To our honored Friend and Co-worker, Mr. Charles E. Putney.
The teachers of the High School, with the superintendent and his wife, wish to send you hearty congratulations on your birthday and the many years of usefulness that lie in its wake. They wish to emphasize their appreciation of what it means to the whole school to have in their midst a loyal old soldier, a kindly and genial friend, and a real gentleman of "the old school."
They hope this loving cup will be to you a substantial evidence of their appreciation in the past, as also of their good wishes for the future.
TRIBUTES UPON OTHER BIRTHDAYS
At Seventy
With a step elastic, Vigorous of mind, Strenuous of purpose, Casting doubts behind,-- Vigilant for duty, Strong to banish fears,-- What a wealth of tribute To your seventy years.
Backward glance disclosing Many a service field, To whose faithful tilling Bounteous harvests yield,-- Priceless treasures, wrested From the soil of truth, Treasures from rich sowing In the lives of youth;
Treasures from the valley, Where the shadows lay Till your voice of comfort Whispered them away; Treasures from the hillside, Whose ascent seemed drear Till your note of courage Fell upon the ear.
Treasures from the garden, Where the Graces bloom, Lavishly exuding Breaths of rich perfume; Treasures from the vineyard, To whose soil were given Streams of gracious influence Born of Hope and Heaven;
Treasures from the hilltop, Where the Eternal Love Fell in showers of blessing From the fount above; Treasures gleaned from sorrow, When to longing eyes Came a glimpse of mansions Reared in Paradise.
Ten and threescore cycles Are complete today; Loving benedictions Speed you on your way.
Age has no forebodings,-- Clouds and shadows fly From the glow and radiance Of your western sky.
Peaceful, glad and trustful Is your forward glance,-- Faith begetting vision As the years advance.
Is the sight entrancing?
Do you long to go?
List! the Father speaketh, Lovingly and low:
"Safe are all the treasures For which you have wrought; Safe the precious jewels Prayer and love have bought; All your aspirations-- Incense of the soul-- With the seal eternal, Safe in My control.
"Heaven awaits your coming With a warmth that cheers; But the earth-friends need you For a few more years; Tarry yet a season, That My will may be, Through the twilight hour, Perfected in thee."
MRS. A. L. HARDY.
Of late we have heard much on the subject of preparedness. We have been told that the prepared man is the man who achieves the thing he goes after. He is happy. He is satisfied with himself.
On the twenty-sixth of February, seventy-six years ago, there was born into the world a man who now holds a very high place in the thoughts of hundreds of men and women. That man was Charles Edward Putney, our beloved and respected teacher.
The lives of great men, it has been said, are the greatest teachers. Let us then take the life of Mr. Putney and see what a lesson it teaches us in preparedness.
At the early age of seventeen, Mr. Putney was teaching school. If he had not studied and prepared himself could he have filled such a position at the early age? The answer is plainly "No." Mr. Putney had moreover the moral and the physical courage as well as mental ability. In 1861 he answered Lincoln"s call for volunteers and fought bravely for the Union.
He had prepared to do the right and when duty called he responded.
After the great war was over he entered Dartmouth College. He was graduated from the inst.i.tution as "honor man." And since then wherever he has gone he has been the "honor man." Men, now old themselves, speak with fondest regard of their teacher and state that he showed them the right way to success. He prepared not only himself but others. Isn"t that a glorious thing? What greater hero is there than the fashioner of the thoughts and character of the young?
Let us then, as I have said before, set up Mr. Putney"s life as a life to live by. Prepare ourselves as he did and then when we have reached the autumn of our lives, we can look back with pride on a life well spent, on a character that was prepared for all that was right. If we can do that, surely we shall be happy, we shall be satisfied with ourselves.--_Burlington High School Register._
There are many people who are seventy-one years old, but there are very few who can claim the distinction of being seventy-one years young which belongs to our respected Greek teacher. We rejoice with Mr. Putney in his undimmed triumph over time and congratulate him on his many years of constant usefulness. As the philosophic Greeks once honored one of their race with the words "not who but what" so we honor and esteem Mr. Putney for his faithful service to Old Edmunds and for the great good he has done for her sons. We love him for his splendid personality, his patience, his fort.i.tude and the kindly interest that he always shows in our welfare. After we leave this school, when we turn and recall the many bright days we have spent in the Burlington High School, the memory of Mr. Putney will ever awake affection and make our heart glow with its warmth.--_Burlington High School Register._
February 24, 1912.
Here are my congratulations and best wishes for you. Another year of service is added to your enviable list. It must be a great satisfaction to look back upon a life so well spent and to realize how many lives have been benefited because you have been here all these years.
You cannot but know the honor and respect with which the teachers look up to you, and how we are trying to reach something like the high standard which you have attained; but I wonder if you realize the love which your pupils have for you. Some of them come into my room every day at the close of school for an hour"s uninterrupted study and I am going to tell you some of the things which they have said to me about you. "Mr. Putney is such a lovable man." "I thought I should be afraid of him, but he makes us feel he is interested in us and I don"t feel one bit afraid even though he does know so much." "He is full of fun too. There is no one in the cla.s.s who sees anything funny quicker than he." "I am so glad he is in the school while I am here. I shall always feel it to have been a great privilege to have had him for a teacher."
And I want to say that I, too, feel it to be a great privilege to be in the school with you and to have felt your quiet presence and to have known your ready sympathy and interest. May the coming year be a happy one.
Very sincerely yours, HARRIET TOWNE.
ONE OF THE "BOYS OF SEVENTY-SIX"