The Real Diary of a Real Boy - Part 7
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Part 7

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, Ma.s.s. 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, Ma.s.s. 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 s...o...b..ll.

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, Ma.s.s.

16. "Pozzy": AUSTIN K. CHADWICK.

Lowell, Ma.s.s.

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. "n.i.g.g.e.r" 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-princ.i.p.als 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, Ma.s.s. 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.