Some interesting reminiscences are given, by some of his pupils, of these school-days in Boston.  The Reverend John Barnard, of Marblehead, who was born in Boston in 1681, speaks of his early days at the Latin School, in his Autobiography, which is now in the Massachusetts Historical Society.  Among other things he says:  “I remember once, in making a piece of Latin, my master found fault with the syntax of one word, which was not used by me heedlessly, but designedly, and therefore I told him there was a plain grammar rule for it.  He angrily replied, there was no such rule.  I took the grammar and showed the rule to him.  Then he smilingly said, ‘Thou art a brave boy; I had forgot it.’  And no wonder:  for he was then above eighty years old.”  President Stiles of Yale College, in his Diary, says that he had seen a man who said that he “well knew a famous grammar-school master, Mr. E. Cheever, of Boston, author of The Accidence; that he wore a long white beard, terminating in a point; that when he stroked his beard to the point, it was a sign for the boys to stand clear.”

Judge Sewall, in his Diary, often refers to him.  He speaks of a visit from him, at one time, when Mr. Cheever told him that he had entered his eighty-eighth year, and was the oldest man in town; and another time, when he says:  “Master Chiever, his coming to me last Saturday January 31, on purpose to tell me he blessed God that I had stood up for the Truth, is more comfort to me than Mr. Borland’s unhandsomeness is discomfort.”  He also speaks of him as being a bearer several times at funerals, where, at one, with others, he received a scarf and ring which were “given at the House after coming from the Grave.”  A peculiarity of the venerable schoolmaster is seen where Judge Sewall says:  “Mr. Wadsworth appears at Lecture in his Perriwigg.  Mr. Chiever is grieved at it.”  In 1708, the judge gives in this Diary some touching particulars as to the sickness and death of Mr. Cheever.  They are valuable not only for themselves, but as preserving in a literary form the close friendship which existed between these two strong men of that day.  Hence they are given here:—­

“Aug. 12, 1708.—­Mr. Chiever is abroad and hears Mr. Cotton Mather preach.  This is the last of his going abroad.  Was taken very sick, like to die with a Flux. Aug. 13.—­I go to see him, went in with his son Thomas and Mr. Lewis.  His Son spake to him and he knew him not; I spake to him and he bid me speak again; then he said, Now I know you, and speaking cheerily mentioned my name.  I ask’d his Blessing for me and my family; He said I was Bless’d, and it could not be Reversed.  Yet at my going away He pray’d for a Blessing for me.

“Aug. 19.—­I visited Mr. Chiever again, just before Lecture; Thank’d him for his kindness to me and mine; desired his prayers for me, my family, Boston, Salem, the Province.  He rec’d me with abundance of Affection, taking me by the hand several times.  He said, The Afflictions of God’s people, God by them did as a Goldsmith, knock, knock, knock; knock, knock, knock, to finish the plate; It was to perfect them not to punish them.  I went and told Mr. Pemberton (the Pastor of Old South) who preached.