A Biographical Sketch of the Life and Character of Joseph Charless | Page 5

in this school for some time, after which he commenced the
study of the law, agreeably to his father’s wishes, under the supervision
of Francis Spalding, who was at that time an eminent lawyer in St.
Louis. After having read law awhile, he was sent to complete his legal
education at the Transylvania University, Kentucky.
While in the printing office he and another boy received a terrible
flogging one day for laughing at a poor, unfortunate man, who had a
very bad impediment in his speech, which being accompanied, with
ludicrous gestures and grimaces, was more than their youthful risibility
could withstand. They made a manly, but vain attempt to suppress a
roar of laughter, which only gathered strength from being dammed up,
and at last burst over all bounds. I never could forgive his father for
whipping the poor boys so severely for what they could not avoid. He
was too just and generous a man, however, to have been so unmerciful,
if his better feelings and his better judgment had not been warped by a
burst of passion.
The following is from the pen of his old friend and playmate, Mr. N. P.,
of St. Louis:
“You ask me to state what I know of the early character of your late
husband. This I proceed to do. In his boyhood there were not the same
temptations in St. Louis to irregularity of habits and vice that assail the
young men of the present day. I do not think I err when I say that
Joseph Charless was a good boy-–kind, tractable, obedient to his
parents, and giving them no further solicitude than such as every parent
may well feel when watching the progress of a son to manhood. He had
no bad habits. As a boy, there was nothing dishonorable about him, and
he had quite as few frailties, or weaknesses, as attach to any of us. In
the sports and amusements of that day he stood well with his fellows,

and was well received in ever society. Of course, from what I have said,
you will infer that he was of an amiable disposition, exhibiting less of
heated temper than most of us. Not quick in inviting a quarrel, but,
being in, defending himself resolutely and manfully. I do not think he
was the favorite of his parents at that day. Edward was. John, another
brother, was passionate and hard to govern, but he was the only one of
the family who had these qualities in a marked degree.
“I think Joseph gave as little cause for anxiety to his parents and friends
as any boy could possibly do. He has been taken from us, and I have
written in a more public manner (as editor of ‘The Republican’) my
estimate of his character in all the relations of life,” &c.,&c.
At the age of twelve years, his brother John, who was two years older
than himself, was taken sick and died. This was the first great sorrow
that your dear grandfather ever knew. I have often heard him speak of it,
but never without a shade passing over his countenance, denoting that
time could not efface the recollection of that painful event. Oh, how his
loving young heart must have swelled with unutterable grief when his
playmate brother lay in his coffin, so still and cold, his hands clasped
upon his breast, with cheeks so pale, and his bright blue eyes dimmed
and closed! But grandpa still had brothers and sisters left, and a kind
father and mother. The world which looked so dark, soon became a
pleasant world to him again; the flowers looked pretty and the air was
fresh, and he was again seen sporting and romping. But at night, when
he knelt down to pray, and his thoughts went up to Heaven, he would
think of his brother, and, weeping, to relieve his little, aching heart, he
would go to bed, feeling lonely and sad.
Did you ever think what a blessing it is to go to sleep, my dear little
children? What pleasant dreams; and how gay and bright the morning
appears after a good night’s rest upon a comfortable bed. And do you
ever think how good God is to have given you a praying mother, when
so many little children have never heard of God or Heaven? Grandpa
had a Christian mother, too, and she taught him to pray. She told him
all about the great God who made Heaven and earth, and all things, and
about his SON JESUS, who came into the world as a little child; that,

though rich, he became poor, and was laid in a manger. This blessed
Jesus is your friend. He can hear, and he can answer your prayers, and
knows all you think and