The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-09-19
ABSENCE FRoM SCHOOL

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL.
Ihere is one thing in connection with all
. schools, OF which parents are not sufficiently
!, sensible, and IN reference to which they are
Uiteh excessively unreasonable. We refer to
: the practice Of taking off their children or
easionaiiy from school, either for purposes of
= BUSINESS or pleasure, though most usnallv for
the latter IhIs Is little thought of al the
time; and STA it is but half day, and she is
so smart she can catch up.with her class to NOR
row, is frequently an excuse urged bv fond
mother Tor allowing her daughter some indul-
gence 1t would be better she should dispense
with while the boys are often taken off bv
tneir fathers to run errands, or permitted 10
play truent from similar inconsiderateness
| ne worst OF 1t is, the blame at least comes uu-
on the innocent instructor. His classes are
deranged by an unequal progress between
those who constantly attend, and those who
are occasionally absent-lessons partIv got are
forgotten, and the ground is to go over again
an mpatlence of the restraints of the School.
togelher with the notification of losing most
! OF honor, or not reaching some object in view
winch another, who has steadily pursued it. has
In the mean time attained, are inevitable con-
sequences OF few days absence-and then
when the quarter comes round, the parent is
sure to find fault with the teacher because the
child Is not so Tar advanced as some of his
mates who have not lost day during the term.
perhaps this feeling is sometimes carried SO
tar that child IS taken away from the school,
on the ground of the supposed neglect or inca
Paclty OF the instructor, when the only difficulty
mas been the constant interruptions to the pro
gress OF the pupil occasioned by the indulgence
Of the pal eIIt.
All our public anu plIvule SCHOOLS suner
more or less from this inconvenience, and it is
one that parents who have the best interests
of their children at heart, should carefully study
to avoid.-R. L. .4mericGn.
A TRUE Story. Some years since, Mai. w
who owned large and beautiful garden in Bos-
ton, was much annoyed by some of his neigh
bors' cows, who claimed and exercised the priv
ilege of promenading his delightful patarre. and
of tasting his delicious fruits without nvitation
from its rich owner. One in particular, had ac-
CURED such dexterity in penetrating the forbid
den premises that no articles of his could pre-
vent her nocturnal visits 1t may be supposed
that the depredations of this sasacious intruder
were not unfrequent Euraged at these repeat
ed acts of vandalism, in moment of anger he
directed one of his domestics to lie in wait for
the four footed destroyer, and as punishment
for the repeated injuries he had sustained il
was decreed she should be deprived of the two
essential appendages of the lady brute, her tail
and eGrs-the sentence was executed with as
much despatch as ever were the mandates Of
Robespierre, and the next morning the poor
animal was seen issuing from the enclosure
where she had so often been before trespas-
ser, completely ShOrn of her useful and orna-
mental gear, to the no small amusement of the
spectators, who, although they commiserated
the sufferings of the poor brute, could not but
smile at her ridiculous appearance, notwith-
standing her punishment exceeded the measure
of her offence But the owner of the animal
sa6dfu etla lie d6 Iiiif1t ca OH
beast a lawsuit was of course resorted to. and
after the usual delays, the cause in due form
was brought before the Judge and Jury for trial
/ the evidence was plenary-the animal was
seen issuing from the garden Of Major w in a
mutilated state, 1cithout the ears or tail that
formerly belonged to her this was positively
sworn to by a credible witness no defence was
made by the counsel for the defendant that he
was not accountable for acts committed on his
premises, but, in despair, he had left the cause
with the jury without argument and the Judge
could see no reason to doubt his guilt and the
jury were only hesitating to determine the a.
mount of the damages that should be given.
when the Major suddenly raising himself from
! one OF the benches, extending forward at the
same time his right foot, and resting his left
hand on a black cane considerably in his rear,
! addressed the court, "plas you honur sur,
( should like to ask the witness one question
J The witness was called, as requested. You
say SUR said the Major, you saw the COW
cum from my garden with her tail and ears
/
sur continued he, /" can you swear she had any
tail or ears on when she went in there ?" The
witness was COMPOUNDED; the court convulsed
with laughter, and the Major acquitted.
The late Rev. John Murray, the Universal
ist, was as distinguished for the peignancyof
his wit, and talent for repartee, as his very pc
culiar and pathetic eloquence. On certain
time when meeting his friends to celebrate
some festive occasion, and the joys of Bacchus
were resorted to, as heightener of social
merriment he was accosted with, g Mr.. Muir
ray, don't you drink ?" " Drink ?" retorted he,
" Yes, that l do drink like beast' He
yet RETAINED from helping himself over-lberal-
ly TO the use of the bottle, Gas every one else
present did which one of his companions re
marking, observed, " Why, Mr.. Murray, how
absent you are-I thought you said, you drank
like a beast "And so l do" reioined the
preacher, q for a beast when he has drank
enough, desists from drinking-and so have
I"-Fau Riper Non.