aunt Sarah said i cood stay out and hear it and then said i cood sit
with Gim Wingit and Willy Swet if i wood behave. i said i wood and we
lissened and after the band went in we went too. most all the seats were
taken and we got some bully seats way up in front. i looked for father
but coodent see him becaus the speakers hadent come in. well jest as
soon as we got in the policeman was up in front and he said they has
been to much whisling and stamping and the next one that whisles or
stamps will get put out. well they was old Swane and Brown and Kize and
Dirgin and every body kept quiet. after a few minits the band began to
play hale to the chief and the speakers came marching up the middle ile.
i looked for father but he wasnt there. evrybody began to clap and stamp
and Gim and Willy asked me where my old man was. i stood up to see if he
was there and jest then i saw the policeman a rushing at me. he grabed
me by the collar and shook me round till i dident know which end my head
was on and he draged me down the ile and threw me out. as we were going
down the ile i saw Aunt Sarah running down the other ile as fast as she
cood go with her bonnet on the back of her head and Keene and Cele and
Georgie following along all bawling. she got out in the entry jest as
he was going to put me out of the front door and she grabed me away from
him and said you misable cowardly retch to treat a boy that way. he said
i whisled and she said he dident and you knew it only you dident dass
take ennyone else.
Then she told us to come home and we went home as fast as we cood all
bawling. when we got home mother was sitting up alone and aunt Sarah
started to tell her and Keene and Cele and Georgie all bawled and you
never heard such a noise, and father was in bed with a headake and
hollered out what in time is the matter. and she told him and i
heard him jump out of bed and in a minit he came out buttoning up his
suspenders. Mother said where in the world are you going George, and
he said things is come to a pretty pass if a boy cant go and hear his
father make a speach without being banged round by a policeman. i am
going down to knock the heads off every policeman there. and he reeched
for his vest. mother said George, dont you go near the hall, and father
said he cood lick anny 2 men on the police force easy and he would show
them how to slam people round and he reeched for his coat, and Keene and
Cele and Georgia began to bawl again to think he wood get hurt and aunt
Sarah and mother said you had better not go George, and father said he
wood give them more fun in 5 minits than they had seen in a political
rally in 5 years and he reeched for his boots and mother said what will
they think of you after you have sent word that you are too sick to
make a speach, to see you come rushing into the hall and go punching the
policemen and father had got on 1 boot and when she said that he began
to look kinder sick and said, thunder that is so. and then his headake
got wirse and he gave me a twenty five cent scrip and Keene and Cele and
Georgie ten cents each and he went to bed and so did we.
i wonder if his head aked really so he coodent make a speach or if he
was scart. i bet he was scart.
school commences monday. father hasent asked once about my diry, so i
aint going to wright enny more.
THIRTY YEARS (OR MORE) AFTER
On looking back over the pages of the "Diary" it appears to me that some
sort of an amende honorable is due to those citizens now living, and the
relatives and friends of those now dead, whose names have appeared in
the "Diary" and who have, so to speak, been handled without gloves. That
I have been neither mobbed, nor horsewhipped, nor sued, nor prosecuted,
but that I have enjoyed many a good laugh with--and have received many
pleasant words from--the victims, and their friends, is good evidence
that they, and their more fortunate brothers who have not been therein
mentioned, have taken the "Diary" in the very spirit in which it was
published, that of affectionate and amusing retrospect. And it is indeed
with affection that I recall those men, at that time in their prime.
That I could not then understand the reason why they did not fully enter
into and appreciate the spirit that prompted me and my boon companions
to transgress so many rules, laws, and statutes is not surprising. Boys
seldom can understand it. But, although I now fully appreciate it, I
often wonder at the spirit that prompted so many of those men in after
years to show me so many kindnesses, so much encouragement, and such
great forbearance.
So many inquiries have been made of me about that cornet, the
soul-filling ambition of my early years, that I feel that the
uncertainty in regard to that delightful instrument ought to be cleared
up. I never did save up enough money to buy a cornet. I haven't to this
day. But many years afterwards, when my ambition had been turned into
other and equally profitless channels, upon the death of a dear friend
his beautiful cornet was sent me. I have it now, as the neighbors and
the members of my family can testify fully and with deep feeling, if
called upon.
H. A. S.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
A good many years ago, during my college days, it was my custom and that
of my room-mate, Brown of Exeter, to make our room the gathering-place
for Exeter boys, both "stewdcats" and homesick Exeter youths then
filling positions in Boston. It happened that frequently undergraduates
from other towns and cities came in at these Saturday evening gatherings
and it was a matter of wonder to them that we had so much to talk about
in relation to our native town; and it was their frequent remark that
"either Exeter is a remarkable place, or you are a remarkably loyal set
of fellows."
That Exeter is a remarkable place is an axiom, and no better evidence of
the fact can be found (were evidence necessary to sustain an axiom) than
in the loyalty that every citizen displays, and the sincere love that
prompts every one who has ever come under the spell of our dear old town
to revisit her at every opportunity.
Where else could a diary of this nature, dealing with actual persons
and actual events, be published and be received with such absolute
goodnature and even enthusiasm by the persons now living who are
mentioned therein?
It is therefore with affection as well as amusement that I append
the following brief biographical sketches of persons mentioned in the
"Diary," preserving as nearly as possible the order of their appearance
in the book. As many readers of the "Diary" have expressed a desire to
know more of the subsequent histories and achievements of those therein
mentioned, it is hoped this information will satisfy a curiosity and
interest which, to a loyal son of Exeter, appear quite natural:--
1. Father. GEORGE S. SHUTE.
A native of Exeter. For twenty-six years a clerk in the Boston Naval
Office. Still living in Exeter, an old man with a young tongue; in fact,
the quickest man at repartee in Exeter.
2. Mother.
My mother died in the winter of 1896. No words can do justice to her
qualities. "A sweeter woman ne'er drew breath."
3. "Gim" Melcher.
An old friend of my father's. Died in Maiden a few years ago.
4. Some of the men who were "wrighting fast" in the Custom House
were the following:--
GEORGE DAVIS, of Lexington, who a year ago celebrated his fiftieth
consecutive year of service in the Naval Office; COLONEL IVORY POPE,
of Cambridge; BENJAMIN A. SIDWELL, of East Boston; JACOB A. HOWE, of
Maiden; FRANK HARRIMAN, a brother of the late Governor Harriman
of Concord, N. H. HIRAM BARRUS, of Reading, Mass. deceased; C. C.
WHITTEMORE, of Portsmouth, N. H.; CHARLES MUDGE, of Maiden; MATTHEW
F. WHITTIER, of Medford, a brother of the poet Whittier, and a
newspaper-writer of considerable prominence, writing under the pen-name
of "Ethan Spike"; and TRISTRAM TALBOT, of Newburyport, with others
whom the writer does not now recall. A few years later the writer spent
several of his college vacations as deputy clerk in the same Naval
Office, and made pleasant acquaintances with all of the above-named men.
He found them very competent clerks, courteous gentlemen, and the best
story-tellers that he ever knew, and recollects those vacations as very
pleasant periods in his school life. Some of them still hold positions
in the Custom House.
5. Charles "Talor": CHARLES TAYLOR.
A great friend of the family. Died in Exeter about ten years ago.
6. "Beany": E. L. WATSON.
In business at Williamstown, Mass. Attained his boyhood ambition and
married Lizzie "Tole," Ed's sister.
7. "Pewter": C. E. PURINGTON.
My near neighbor, a decorative painter, who early displayed talent in
this direction.
8. "Skinny Bruce": WM. J. BRUCE.
A tinsmith of Exeter who still thinks he could have licked Frank
Elliott.
9. Frank Elliott.
A successful mechanic in Boston, who is confident that he could have
licked "Skinny" Bruce.
10. "Nipper": JOHN A. BROWN.
Exeter. Chairman of the School Board. Trustee of the Seminary. Trustee
of the Library. My room-mate at Harvard.
11. "Micky" Gould.
I do not know what became of "Mickey." Wherever he is, there is a
good-natured, jolly man.
12. Mr. Winsor.
Address not known. How he could throw a snowball.
18. "Ed" Towle.
Exeter, N. H. With a keen memory for old days.
14. "Dany" Wingate.
A very prominent man. The father of J. D. P. and C. E. L. Wingate of the
Boston Journal. Died at Exeter many years ago.
15. "Whacker": COL. A. M. CHADWICK.
Lowell, Mass.
16. "Pozzy": AUSTIN K. CHADWICK.
Lowell, Mass.
Two of the best known and most respected citizens of Lowell. Dignified
and sedate, but just touch on old Exeter days and watch their eyes
twinkle and their tongues loosen.
17. "Pricilla": PROF. CHARLES A. HOBBS.
Boston. Has written some dreadful mathematical works, and revisits
Exeter often, but not often enough.
18. "Pheby": CHARLES A. TAYLOR.
Has inherited the very qualities that made his father so good a friend.
19. "Lublin."
Address not known.
20. "Nigger" Bell.
So called because his hair was so very white. Professor of Chemistry in
a Western University. Died recently in Maiden.
21. Tommy Thompson: R. G. THOMPSON.
New London, Conn.
22. "Dutchy": DR. WILLIAM A. SEAMANS.
New York City. Fullback on the Harvard '77 eleven. There are several
ex-principals of the Exeter High School who will remember Thompson and
Seamans in very clear and vivid colors.
28. "Chick" Chickering: PROF. JOHN J. CHECKERING.
Flushing, L. I. Commissioner of Public Education of New York State.
24. "Tody": TIMOTHY FINTON.
Exeter. An expert wood-worker with a leaning for politics.
25. "Gim" Wingate: JAMES D. P. WINGATE.
Winchester, Mass. The business manager of the Boston Journal.
26. "Skipy": H. C. MOSES.
Exeter. For many years in the wholesale wool business in Boston. One of
the keenest sportsmen and best wing shots in New Hampshire.
27. "Pile": JOHN G. WOOD.
Chicago. Manager of the McKay Cordage Factory in Chicago. Promises to
return to Exeter when he has made his "pile" ($100,000). From present
indications, the prospect is favorable.
28. Billy Folsom: WM. H. FOLSOM.
Exeter. Member of the firm of E. Folsom & Co. Brass Works. One of
Harvard's greatest pitchers.
29. "Hoppy" Gadd.
A very eccentric but sterling citizen, who could make cowhide boots
which, like the panels in the "one-horse shay," "would last like iron
for things like these." Died in Exeter a few years ago.
30. "Si" Smith.
The man with the "funny sine." Died in Exeter nearly thirty years ago.
31. "Gran" Miller and "Ben" Rundlet. Addresses not known.
32. Squire Lane.
Died in Lynn.
33. Charles Burley.
Died in Exeter. For many years Treasurer of Phillips Exeter Academy, and
Superintendent of the "Unitarial" Sunday School.
34. "Keene": MY SISTER, MRS. C. E. BYINGTON.
Exeter. A very able and accomplished woman. The one to whom all members
of the family go when in trouble.
35. Lucy Watson.
Mrs. Frank Conner of Lynn.
36. "Curley" Conner: MR. FRANK CONNER.
Lynn. Husband of the aforesaid.
37, "Jo" Parsons: MR. JOSEPH S. PARSONS.
Boston. An expert bookkeeper.
38. "Billy" Swett: MR. WM. SWETT.
Jamaica Plain. I remember him as one of the most polite and affable boys
I ever met.
39. Mr. "Lovel," who said, "o hell": C. LOVELL, 2d.
One of the best amateur actors and jolliest men I ever knew. Died
recently.
40. John Flanagan.
Exeter. A tinsmith and co-laborer with "Skinny" Bruce.
41. "Gimmy" Fitzgerald.
Died at Exeter thirty years ago.
42. "Old" Head: OREN HEAD.
Many students will affectionately remember him. Deceased.
43. "Bob" Carter.
The old janitor of the Town Hall. Gruff, but very kind-hearted.
Deceased.
44. "Wats": IRVING M. WATSON.
Father of "Beany," and pleasantly like him.
45. John Getchell.
A liberal, free, and kind-hearted Exeter merchant. Deceased.
46. Eben Folsom.
Uncle of "Billy," and head of the firm of which Billy is a member.
47. "Charlie": DR. C. H. GERRISH.
48. "Doc" Prey: DR. J. E. S. PRAY.
Gentlemen both, of whom the writer can say everything good.
49. Alice "Gewett," who was "a dairy maid": Miss ALICE JEWELL
Instructor of singing in the schools of Exeter.
50. "Old Kize": PHILANDER KEYES.
A policeman of thirty years ago. Deceased.
51. "Bill" Hartnett.
Who used to make it lively for the last mentioned. A man of many good
qualities notwithstanding. Deceased.
52. "Old" Swain.
A contemporary of "Old Kize," and a co-laborer in the same vineyard.
53. "Mister" Gordon: HON. NATHANIEL GORDON.
A retired lawyer of Exeter.
54. Dora Moses.
55. Mary "Loverin": MRS. MARY LETHBEIDGE.
Two beautiful girls and inseparable companions, whose deaths were
untimely and irreparable.
56. "Cele": My sister, CELIA E. SHUTE.
Exeter. A stenographer, and a writer of short stories for magazines.
57. "Caxcaw" Harding: PROF. B. F. HARDING.
Boston. An early advocate of those methods of instruction that result in
"mens sana in corpore sano."
58. "Doctor" Dearborn.
A most eccentric old apothecary. Died in Exeter a few years ago.
59. "Aunt Sarah": Miss SARAH F. SHUTE.
Exeter. The favorite aunt of a large family, all of whose geese are
swans.
60. "Fatty" Melcher: F. A. MELCHER.
Boston. So named because he was not fat.
61. "Genny" Morrison: MRS. JOHN J. JOYCE.
Andover, Mass. By not appearing at our Grammar School Reunion "Genny"
disappointed five hundred people.
62. J. Albert Clark.
Exeter. One of the proprietors of the Exeter Machine Works. He has
always had a very kindly interest in "Beany" and "Plupy," in spite of
the many annoyances he suffered at their boyish hands.
63. "Bill" Morrill: MR. WM. B. MORRILL.
For many years selectman of Exeter. Died in 1878.
64. "Dave" Quimby.
Every student will recollect him. Died at Exeter recently.
65. "Chitter"': JAMES ROBINSON.
A truckman in Boston.
66. "Boog" Chadwick.
A New York broker, whose "heart's in the highlands;" to wit, Exeter.
67. "Pop" Clark: WILL CLARK.
Roxbury, Mass. A born comedian and a delightfully entertaining man.
68. "Shinny" Thyng.
One of the few Exeter boys who continues his father's business at the
old stand. If more did the same, the prosperity of country towns would
be assured.
69. "Gim" Erly.
Lives somewhere in the West.
70. "Honey" Donovan: WILLIAM DONOVAN.
Providence.
71. "Mose" Gordon.
A Texas cattle-man.
72. Mr. Lamed.
Unitarian clergyman. Deceased.
73. "Gil" Steels.
A merchant in Denver.
74. "Mis Packer A": MRS. MARY PACKARD.
A famous local singer, now living in California.
75. "Gim Loverin": JAMES M. LOVERING.
A very shrewd politician. Deceased.
76. "Old Mister Stickney": JUDGE W. W. STICKNEY.
With whom I studied law. Deceased; not, however, because of that fact.
Judge Stickney was a sound lawyer and an upright, kind-hearted man.
77. "Ed" Dearborn.
The old bell-ringer. Deceased.
78. John Quincy "Ann" Pollard: J. Q. A. POLLARD.
A very old man, upon whom the boys were wont to play tricks, but who had
developed wonderful precision of aim with a knotted cane. Deceased.
79. Dan Ranlet; D. W. RANLET.
Boston Produce Exchange.
80. George M. Perkins
For many years an expressman between Boston and Exeter.
81. John E. Gibson.
Master of the Agassiz School, Boston. Residence, Jamaica Plain. I take
the opportunity to notify him that the Exeter High School holds its
quinquennial reunion June, 1903.
82. Isaac Shute.
A retired merchant of Exeter. Deceased.
83. Major Blake.
A famous Boniface, and for many years proprietor of the Squamscott.
Deceased.
84. Charles D. Towle.
An equally famous livery-stable keeper, who periodically fought to a
finish with Major Blake for passengers to Hampton Beach. Deceased.
85. Frank Haines.
A farmer. Residence, Exeter.
86. "The Baby": EDWARD A. SHUTE.
Exeter. Who can now handle his elder brother with ease.
87. "Frankie": FRANK F. SHUTE.
Who thinks he can do likewise, but cannot. A hotel-keeper at Lakewood,
New Jersey.
88. "Annie": Miss ANNIE P. SHUTE.
Who, by virtue of a clerkship in my office, owns the entire
establishment.
89. "Georgie"
Instructor in Latin and French in the Albany Academy, Albany, N. Y.
90. "Nibby."
A summer visitor named Hartwell. Deceased.
91. Hiram Mingo.
A colored boy. Address not known.
92. Joe Palmer.
A hackman with whom the boys used to ride. Address not known.
93. John E. Gardner.
A member of an old family of merchants in Exeter. Deceased. Brother of
Elizabeth Gardner Bouguereau, the artist.
94. General Marston.
A famous New Hampshire lawyer and veteran of the Civil War. Deceased.
95. Amos Tuck.
A famous lawyer, politician, financier, and Member of Congress.
Deceased.
96. Mr. Gravel.
Address not known.
97. Elkins and Graves.
Famous auctioneers at that period. Deceased.
98. Scott "Briggam."
One of the boys then, one of the boys now. Exeter.
99. Charlie Woodbury.
Deceased.
100. "Potter" Gorham: ARTHUR GORHAM.
Killed by an accidental discharge of his gun nearly thirty years ago. A
born naturalist.
101. "Old Francis."
For thirty-three years principal at the Grammar School at Exeter. On his
resignation, a few years ago, a reunion was held which was attended by
old pupils from every State in the Union, to do him honor. Still hale
and hearty, and living in Exeter.
102. Doctor Perry.
An old family physician, who has ushered more children and children's
children into the world than any man in the county, and who is beloved
and revered by every one of them. Miss Jewett, in her "Country Doctor,"
based her delightful description upon Dr. William G. Perry, her uncle.
Living in Exeter.
103. John Adams.
Who his trimmed enough carriages to set all New Hampshire awheel, and
who still practises his trade in Exeter.
104. Nell Towle: MBS. GEORGE W. HOOPER.
Exeter. As rosy, good-natured, and musically inclined as she was in the
good old days.
105. William Perry Moulton.
A prosperous real-estate and insurance man, who unfortunately for
his peace of mind tried to raise Bartlett pears, Concord grapes, and
Astrachan apples in the neighborhood that was infested by "Plupy"
and his associates; who frequently tracked, chased, and caught them
red-handed, but who was too kind-hearted even then to deprive them of
their ill-gotten gains.
106. "Chris" Staples.
Who remembers the fight with Charlie Clark.
107. Charlie Clark.
Deceased. Just before he died he read the "Diary" and sent word to the
author that he remembered the scene in which he figured and much enjoyed
the book.
108. Mr. Ashman.
A veteran band-leader of Boston.
109. Frank Hervey.
A veteran restaurant-keeper in Exeter. New living in Concord, N. H.
110. "Rashe Belnap": WILLIAM H. BELKNAP.
A retired banker and real-estate man of Exeter. Town clerk of Exeter for
twenty-five years.
111. Henry Simpson.
Periodical dealer in the late sixties. Living in Maine.
112. Luke Maniac.
Now living in Texas. As a boy he could curve a snowball round the
corner, like T. B. Aldrich's "Binny Wallace."
113. "Bob Ridley": GEORGE ELLIOTT.
Exeter. A right good fellow.
114. Sam Dyer.
A rather eccentric blacksmith. Died in the West.
115. Horace Cobb.
A good-natured, short, and extremely fat man. A native of Exeter, and
last of a very prominent family. Died several years ago.
116. Dennis Cokely.
Address not known. I have always felt badly "to think the fight was
throwed away, and neither of them licked."
117. Johnnie Rogers.
A cousin of the Chadwicks. Deceased.
118. Cap. John W. Chadwick.
A retired sea-captain. Father of "Poz," "Boog," "Whack," and "Willie,"
"Whack's little brother." A most cultivated gentleman, whose heart was
kind, but whose word was law. Deceased.
119. "Zee" Smith: FRANK SMITH.
Deceased in Lowell.
120. Miss Pratt.
A laundress much patronized by students. She accumulated much property
by practising the gentle art of polishing shirts.
121. "Old Durgin": ME. EZRA DURGIN.
A rather quick-tempered but worthy policeman, contemporary with "Old
Swain" and "Old Kize."
122. Various "stewdcats."
Who have played their parts and gone.
123. "Plupy," "Skinny," "Polelegs": THE AUTHOR.
De minimis non curat lex.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Real Diary of a Real Boy, by Henry A. Shute