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of nature had been wide open before him, even though his father's fiat had deprived him of other sources of information.

But He who guides the steps of his creatures had provided a way for the gratification of the thirst for knowledge which was consuming the farmer's boy, and that by what seemed an untoward Providence. At the age of sixteen, he was brought to the borders of the grave by a severe illness; for a long time he lingered between life and death; and, while in this condition, his friends despairing of his recovery, and his father, whose heart yearned over him, watching his enfeebled frame, seemingly nigh to dissolution, the apparently dying boy turned his large, full eyes upon his father's face, and, in an almost inaudible whisper, begged that if he recovered, he might be allowed to go to Hampton Academy, and prepare to become a teacher. Was not this, indeed, an example of "the ruling passion strong in death?" The father could not refuse the request proffered at such a time; what father could? The boy did recover, and he did go to the academy, a plain farmer's boy: he dressed in plain farmer's clothes, and hence, some self-conceited puppies, whose more fashionable exterior could not hide the meanness of their souls, deemed him fit subject for their gibes and sneers; but his earnest nature and his intense love of study were not to be thwarted by such rebuffs; he pursued the even tenor of his way, and, having spent some months at the academy, he taught a district school for the ensuing winter, and then returned again to the academy. Here his progress in study was rapid; but, the ensuing winter, we find him again teaching in his native town, and his further studies were prosecuted without assistance. The next winter he had determined to make teaching a profession, and accordingly, having taught a district school at Newbury, Mass., during the winter, at its close he opened a private school: a daring step for a young man but nineteen years of age, and who had enjoyed so few advantages of education, but the success which followed fully justitied the self-reliance which led him to attempt it. At the beginning he had five pupils, but he persevered, and before the close of the term, the number he had contemplated was full. Here, as everywhere else, during his career as a teacher, was manifested that diligence, industry, and careful preparation for his duties, which made him so eminently successful. He studied the lessons he was to teach, thorough

ly, that he might impart instruction with that freshness and interest which such study would give; he studied his scholars thoroughly, that he might adapt his teachings to their several capacities, encouraging the diffident and sluggish, restraining the froward, and rousing the listless and careless to unwonted interest and energy; he studied, too, their moral natures, and sought to rouse in their youthful hearts aspirations for goodness and purity; and he studied whatever would enlarge his sphere of thought, intelligence, and usefulness.

Such a teacher was sure to rise in reputation, slowly, perhaps, but certainly; and hence it need not surprise us to learn that within two years he was associate principal of the Newburyport High School, having charge of the English department. Here, for twelve years, he was associated with Roger S. Howard, Esq., one of the most eminent teachers in Massachusetts, and how well he fulfilled his duties, Mr. Howard, who survived him, testifies. The same intense fondness for study characterized him, leading him to acquire a very competent knowledge of the Latin language, and something of the Greek; that same earnest and conscientious performance of all his school duties, and delight in them, was manifested here as in his humbler position. It was while occupying this post, that he first began to come before the public as a lecturer. He was an active and prominent member of the Essex County Teacher's Association, one of the most efficient educational organizations in Massachusetts, and delivered before that body several lectures which Hon. Horace Mann characterized as the best ever delivered before that or any other body. Of one of these, on "The Mutual Duties of Parents and Teachers," six thousand copies were printed and distributed (3000 of them at Mr. Mann's expense) throughout the State. Mr. Page's powers as an orator and debater were of a very high order; he possessed, says Mr. Mann (himself an orator of no mean powers), "that rare quality, so indispensable to an orator, the power to think, standing on his feet, and before folks." As a teacher, he exhibited two valuable qualifications: the ability to turn the attention of his pupils to the principles which explain facts, and in such a way that they could see clearly the connection; and the talent for reading the character of his scholars, so accurately, that he could at once discern what were their governing passions and tendencies, what in them needed encouragement, and what repression. Thus, useful, active, and grow

ing in reputation, Mr. Page remained at Newburyport, till December, 1844.

In the winter preceding, the legislature of New York, wearied with the costly but unsuccessful measures which, year after year, had been adopted for the improvement of her public schools, had appointed a committee of their own body, warm friends of education, to visit the normal schools of Massachusetts, and make a report thereon. The committee attended to their duties, and made an elaborate report in favor of the adoption of the normal school system. That report was adopted, and an appropriation of ten thousand dollars outfit and ten thousand dollars per annum, for five years, was voted, to establish a normal school as an experiment. The friends of education in New York felt that, liberal as this appropriation was, every thing depended upon securing the right man to take charge of it, and long and carefully did they ponder the question, who that man should be.

Mr. Page's reputation had already outrun the town and the county in which he resided; and, on the recommendation of Hon. Horace Mann, and other friends of education in Massachusetts, Dr. (afterward Bishop) Potter, Col. Young, and other members of the executive committee, entered into correspondence with him on the subject. In reply to the first communication, he addressed numerous inquiries to the committee, concerning the plan proposed for the organization and management of the school.

These questions were so pointed and so well chosen, that Col. Young, on hearing them, at once exclaimed, "That is the man we need," and expressed himself entirely satisfied, without any further evidence. So cautious, however, were the committee, that it was decided that, before closing the negotiation, Dr. Potter should visit Newburyport, and have a personal interview with Mr. Page. He accordingly repaired thither, called at Mr. Page's residence, and found him in his everyday dress, and engaged in some mechanical work connected with the improvement of his dwelling. An interview of a single half hour so fully prepossessed him with Mr. Page's personal bearing and conversation, that he at once closed the negotiations with him, and-secured his services as Principal of the New York State Normal School.

Mr. Page closed his connection with the Newburyport High School about the middle of December, 1844, not without numberless demonstrations of regret and affectionate

regard on the part of his pupils and friends. While on his way to Albany, he spent a night with Mr. Mann, in Boston, and the new duties he was about to undertake, the obstacles and difficulties, the opposition and misrepresentations he would meet, and the importance and necessity of success, formed themes of converse which occupied them till the early morning hours; in parting, Mr. Mann said to Mr. Page, as a veteran commander might have said to a youthful officer going to lead a forlorn hope, "Succeed or die." The words sank deep into his heart; they were adopted as his motto in the brief but brilliant career which followed, and once, on recovering from a dangerous illness, he reminded his friend of his injunction, and added, "I thought I was about to fulfill your last alternative." He arrived at Albany a few days before the commencement of the "experiment, as the Normal School was designated, and found every thing in a chaotic state; the rooms intended for its accommodation, yet unfinished; there was no organization, no apparatus, and indeed very few of the appliances necessary to a successful beginning; while the few were hoping, though not without fear, for its success, and the many were prophesying its utter failure. From this chaos, the systematic mind of Mr. Page soon evolved order: full of hope and confident of the success of the Normal School system himself, he infused energy and courage into the hearts of its desponding friends, and caused its enemies to falter, as they saw how all obstacles yielded to the fascination of his presence, or the power of his will. The school commenced with twenty-five scholars, but ere the close of its first term, the number had increased to one hundred. At the commencement of the second term, two hundred assembled for instruction. From this time its course was onward; every term increased its popularity; and the accommodations provided for it, large as they were, were soon crowded. For the first three years, it had to contend with numerous and unscrupulous foes, some of whom attacked the system, others its practical workings, others still, who were strangers to his person, attacked the character of the principal of the school. Meantime, Mr. Page labored indefatigably; against the assaults upon the organization, or its practical operations, he interposed able, manly, and courteous defenses; those which were leveled at himself, he bore in silence; but no man, whatever his position in the State, and however bitter might have been his

hostility to the school, or to its principal, ever came within the magnetism of his presence and influence without being changed from an enemy into a friend. Among the most decided, as well as the most conscientious opposers of the Normal School was the Hon. Silas Wright; indeed, in his election as governor, the enemies of the school claimed a triumph, and counted largely on his eminent abilities to aid them in putting it down, but a very few months' residence in Albany converted this man, of strong and determined will, into one of its sincerest friends. During the vacations of the school, Mr. Page gave himself no rest; he visited different parts of the State, attended teachers' institutes, lectured day after day, and, wherever he went, removed prejudices, cleared up doubts, and won golden opinions. Every such visit drew a large number of pupils to the school, from the section visited, the ensuing term. The State superintendent was accustomed to say "that he needed only to look at the catalogue of the Normal School, to tell where Mr. Page had spent his vacations.

Before four years had passed, the school had ceased to be an "experiment;" it was too firmly rooted in the hearts of the people to be abandoned, and the opposition, which had at first been so formidable, had dwindled into insignificance. But the toil requisite to accomplish this had been too arduous for any constitution, however vigorous, to endure. The autumnal term of 1847 found him cheerful and hopeful as ever, but with waning physical strength; he sought (an unusual thing for him) the aid of his colleagues in the performance of duties he had usually undertaken alone, and at length consented to take a vacation of a week or two during the Christmas holidays. Alas! the relaxation came too late; the even.ing before he was to leave, there was a meeting of the faculty at his residence; he was cheerful, but complained of slight indisposition, and retired early. With the night, however, came violent fever and restlessness, and by the morning light the physicians in attendance pronounced the disease pneumonia. At first, the attack excited little alarm, but it soon became evident that his overtasked vital powers had not the ability to resist the violence of the disorder. On the fourth day, he expressed to a friend his conviction that he should not recover. The severity of the disease soon increased, and, on the morning of January 1st, 1848, he passed away. Six months before his death, he had, in company with one of his colleagues. made a brief visit to his former home,

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