Charles Edward Putney Part 8

He was my first teacher, at Norwich, when for the first time I went to school, and his kindness and consideration helped me over the strangeness and discomfort of the new experience. He taught me Latin and I began Greek with him.

He was a most delightful princ.i.p.al of the school, and thought of the pleasantest things for us boys and girls to do, in and out of the cla.s.srooms; for instance, long walks together in which he accompanied us.

All my life I have thought of him with warmth and pleasure, and on the few occasions when I have seen him the old grat.i.tude and confidence have been renewed. He was so good and so delightful all at once.

Sincerely yours,

KATHERINE MORRIS CONE.

CHARLES E. PUTNEY

One lately dying--though alas I deem Myself unfit to praise his high, clear faith-- Followed his Master till the darkling stream Was bravely crossed, sure that in life or death Nothing could separate from the love of Christ.

So faithfully he kept with G.o.d his long, last tryst.

J. A. BELLOWS, DARTMOUTH, '70.

From his brother Freeman.

The hearts of all your father's brothers were terribly wrung by his death. For it has not often been given to a household to have a leading member who commanded such reverently affectionate esteem as did our brother Charles. His life, his spirit, his purposes, his exemplary att.i.tude toward worthy living, his generously helpful thought--always expressed in action--how could they well be other than a constant challenge to his brothers and sisters? We all have rare cause for deep grat.i.tude that he was ours for so many years; we cannot express our grat.i.tude for our memories of him.

From a friend.

There is just one mind and one expression regarding your dear father--"One of the grand old men has gone to his reward." The presence of Mr. Putney has been a benediction to our high school. How thankful you must be that he had no lingering illness but just laid down his books and entered into the fuller life. We thank G.o.d for such a presence in our midst.

From an a.s.sociate teacher.

In the years in school Mr. Putney was always ready with good counsel to the younger men. He never seemed to lose his courage nor even to grow old. The last time I saw him, his smile was as bright and his voice as cheery as I remember it always to have been.

From another a.s.sociate teacher.

I count myself very fortunate to have known your father, and to have been his friend for a short time. He was one of the finest Christian gentlemen I ever knew. His influence in the city, the church and the school is certainly past all measuring.

From a friend.

A man whom literally thousands love and revere in memory, and whose work and influence are still going on.

From a former pupil.

I need not tell you that his going is, as was the death of your blessed mother, like the loss of one of my own parents. The kindness of those two good people to me when I needed help of just the kind they so finely and unselfishly gave has always been a most helpful influence in my life. To grow old looking upon his advancing years and the future with grace and an abiding faith, as Mr. Putney did, is in itself an inspiration to us all.

From a more recent pupil.

I do not need to tell you how we all loved him--everyone did who ever knew him. He was everybody's favorite teacher, and instead of hating to go to his cla.s.ses we loved to do so. Somehow I always felt better after having talked with him, and I only wish everyone in the world could have known him. He was a real gentleman and a scholar.

He is not dead, this friend; not dead, But on some road by mortals tread, Got some few trifling steps ahead; And nearer to the end; So that you too once past the bend, Shall meet again, as face to face this friend You fancy dead.

--ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

APPRECIATIVE WORDS FROM TEACHERS AND PUPILS OF BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, 1920

To live to old age; to keep one's physical health and mental vigor to the very end; to work at one's chosen task with undiminished enthusiasm; to know one's self greatly useful and greatly beloved; to go, at last, swiftly, and to be mourned by many friends;--what could one ask, of all the gifts of life, better than that?

The impression left by Mr. Putney is that of a singularly serene and happy old age. And surely, if ever a man had reason to look upon his life with serenity and quiet satisfaction, Mr. Putney had reason to do so.

It is a touching and also an inspiring thought, how the successive generations of young boys and girls pa.s.sed through his life, each one receiving something of the rich gift which Mr. Putney had to share with all, but then too, each returning something of the fresh outlook and untarnished faith of youth to keep his old age green.