24 CONARD : 



drivers were satisfied if they got anywhere near the original 

 line. One day at the hotel a Dutchman remarked that his 

 stage had found a new route. All were anxious to hear of 

 something better, and were informed that " it was about two 

 feet under the old one." Jacob Painter always remembered 

 this. 



One time he was about to hire a farmer, when he was told 

 that the man in question was sure to rob him of his chickens 

 and eggs. The bargain was not closed, but Jacob went on 

 to tell his informant about a neighbor whose colored servant 

 was skillful in purloining eggs. The employer was unable to 

 catch him. One evening when the old man had just received 

 his pay, his master noticed that his hat was barely touching 

 his head — just loosely poised on top. He called him back as 

 though intending to confer some favor, and when they were 

 close together, clapped the servant smartly on the head. A 

 stream of broken eggs ran down over his face. 



The botanists entertained a good deal of company in 

 summer, and enjoyed taking their visitors through the arbore- 

 tum and the conservatory back of the house, in which the 

 more delicate species were wintered. Dr. Trimble writes, " I 

 shall never forget the pleasure they took in showing me 

 around the grounds, calling attention to almost every tree and 

 shrub we passed, though it was almost impossible to get 

 through the undergrowth in many places." 



It is evident the Painters did not have to depend on their 

 farm for a living. Nor did they use their means only to 

 gratify their intellectual desires, but were generous to help 

 any one in need. Their alms were given in secret ; many an 

 aged or unfortunate family received gifts of flour, wood, or 

 money, unknown to any but themselves and the givers. As 

 to character and religion, I quote a tribute written of Min- 

 shall Painter by his nephew, John J. Tyler, who had a high 

 personal regard for him. He says: — "He was a Christian 

 in a true sense of the word — demanding reasons for every- 

 thing — through Nature he worshipped Nature's God. He 



