44 Life of Count Rumford. 



tion as a teacher. The traditions that linger in the 

 older homes at Concord, like those at Wilmington, 

 include a large element of reminiscences of certain ac- 

 complishments and activities of the young teacher which 

 were* not of a strictly official character. He was skilled 

 in vaulting and other athletic feats, and he won very 

 early in his life the repute of gallantry. 



When Count Rumford, looking back from the 

 achievements and honors of his foreign career, told 

 his friend Pictet of his deep indebtedness to the Rev. 

 Mr. Walker for kindly oversight and counsel, for 

 fostering patronage, and for fatherly love, his thoughts 

 must have turned into feelings as he tenderly recalled 

 some happy scenes and hours in that country parson- 

 age. There, and to the house of the younger Walker, 

 Thompson often went to give account of his peda- 

 gogueship and to enjoy social pleasures. There, too, 

 and at other places, he would meet the daughter and 

 sister in her early widowhood. He told Pictet that 

 she married him, rather than he her. The tradition 

 is that she facilitated what is often to the young man 

 the difficult crisis in a relation which is easy before and 

 after that crisis is past. An engagement was speedily 

 effected between the parties with the entire approbation 

 of the reverend father. 



The before-mentioned curricle, left among the effects 

 of Colonel Rolfe, was now put to service. The lady 

 invited the young teacher, who was no longer to preside 

 over a school, to accompany her on an excursion to 

 Boston, a drive of over sixty miles, she having friends 

 on the way whose hospitality was sure. She took care, 

 with his own efficient co-operation, to have him fur- 

 nished in Boston with all that was requisite at that 



